Bryce Canyon Vs. Grand Canyon [Which of the Southwest’s Canyons to Visit in 2023]

The southwest corner of the United States has some of the absolute best national parks in the country with breathtaking views.

But because of how large they are, you may need to choose which to visit, so you might be deciding between Bryce Canyon vs Grand Canyon.

These two giant canyons are both bucket list-worthy locations that each have their own special things to see.

And while the parks are very similar in many ways, they’re also very different, and all of these things should be considered when planning a trip.

In this post, we’ll cover in detail everything that you need to know to make the best possible decision for your perfect southwestern USA vacation.

Bryce Canyon vs Grand Canyon: Overviews

Located in the northern half of Arizona, the Grand Canyon is one of the most well-known and most visited national parks out there, with nearly 6 million visitors per year.

The formation of this massive hole in the earth began nearly 2 billion years ago and is still happening today, continuing to widen and deepen the canyon.

The canyon itself is about 1 mile deep, 277 miles long, and 18 miles wide, making it larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.

With two different main areas of the park, each being massive, you’ll definitely get your fair share of magnificent canyon views.

On the other hand, Bryce Canyon is located in southern Utah and is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos on the planet.

With incredible hiking, fewer crowds than some of Utah’s other parks, and bright orange rock formations surrounded by green trees, this park leaves nothing to be desired.

Each park is beautiful in its own way and truly is worth visiting, but if you only have time for one, it can be tough to decide which to go to.

Below you’ll find that I go into detail about everything you should know from the best times to visit to activities to the differences in views.

Differences Between the Two Canyons

Activities in Each Park

Views and Landscapes

Since the main attraction of both of these parks is a canyon, they are pretty similar in their views and landscapes.

You’ll see lots of red rock formations and of course, deep ravines in the Earth.

The Grand Canyon has many raised plateaus that then drop over steep cliffs into the canyons, where desert basins are found.

At Bryce Canyon, you’ll find tall, red rock structures called hoodoos, which seem to just jut out of the ground and into the sky.

These also drop down into the canyon, but the canyon certainly isn’t as deep as the one that you’ll find at the Grand Canyon, which is 1 mile deep.

Hiking

If you’re a big hiker when it comes to national parks, then you may be wondering which park is best for hiking.

Both parks have great options for hiking, with each having a few longer trails and a few shorter ones.

Bryce Canyon has more options for day hikes, while the Grand Canyon also has a few options for multi-day backpacking trips.

It really depends on what type of hiking you like best, but if I were to choose, I would say that Bryce Canyon has better hiking.

There’s more variability, as where the Grand Canyon feels like the views are relatively the same for the entire hike.

Family Friendliness

If you have little ones and are looking for a park that will be good for kiddos, you’ll be pleased to know that both parks are pretty family-friendly.

Both parks have many trails that are easy and good for kiddos that won’t be able to walk miles and climb tons of elevation.

There are also many viewpoints around each park that allow you to see the views without having to do any hiking.

Park Location

Both parks are located in different states, but are only about 5 hours away from each other, to the nearest entrances.

Bryce is found in southern Utah, near the small towns of Bryce and Bryce Canyon City.

It’s within a short distance of other parks in Utah such as Zion National Park.

The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona and has two main areas of the park, the North Rim and the South Rim.

Park Size

These two parks are vastly different in size and in fact, Grand Canyon National Park is about 34 times the size of Bryce Canyon National Park!

BCNP comes in at a grand total of 35,835 acres while GCNP is at 1,218,375 acres!

This just goes to show how much more time you might need at the Grand Canyon if you’re hoping to cover the entire thing!

Canyon Size

Apart from just the size of the national park, the canyons in each park are totally different sizes.

The Grand Canyon is the United States’ largest canyon, with an average depth of 1 mile at its deepest points.

It is also 277 miles long and 18 miles wide, and not all of the canyon is actually located in the park!

In comparison, Bryce Canyon is only about 800 feet deep, 12 miles long, and 3 miles wide.

Nearest International Airport

Choosing a park that has a nearby airport is important because you’ll of course need to travel to the area.

The closest airport to the Grand Canyon is the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is about 3.5 hours from the South Rim.

Or, the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is 1.5 hours from GCNP.

And from Bryce, the closest international airport is the Las Vegas Airport, which is 4.25 hours away.

If you’re looking for something a bit closer, consider the Cedar City Regional Airport, which is 1.5 hours from BCNP.

How to Get Around

The best way to get around either of these parks is by car, whether that be your own or a rental.

But if you don’t have either, there are a few ways to get around both parks.

Between April and October, the Bryce Canyon Shuttle operates and visitors can catch a ride to their destination for free with park admission.

As for the Grand Canyon, you can also ride their free shuttle bus, but it only operates around the South Rim.

I really recommend having your own car if possible, and specifically an Escape Campervan, because they make camping and driving super easy!

Best Time to Visit

Both parks are phenomenal year-round and are actually sometimes the most beautiful in the times that you would least expect it.

You’ll find that many articles say that the best time to visit both Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon is in the summer, but I honestly disagree!

I think that the best time to visit both parks is in either the spring or the fall, as these are the shoulder seasons.

Shoulder seasons in national parks are your best friend, as you’ll typically see milder weather and fewer crowds.

Especially in Utah and Arizona, spring and fall are going to have comfortable weather, rather than the blazing hot that the summer gets.

And you won’t see nearly as many crowds as you would in the dead of summer, so they’re winners in my book!

Time Needed to Visit

How long you have to spend in the park is a very important consideration, because you don’t want to miss anything!

It’s recommended to have at least 2 days in BCNP to ensure that you can do a little hiking, watch the sunrise or sunset, and see the viewpoints.

In GCNP, you might want a bit longer, especially if you plan to visit both the North and South Rims.

If you’re just visiting one rim, then 2 days in the park will suffice.

If you want to visit both, then give yourself at least 4-5 days, because the drive from one rim to the other is over 200 miles.

Crowds and Wait Times

If you’re visiting during peak season, in the summer, then you’re going to want to consider wait times and crowds.

You’ll typically see fewer crowds at Bryce Canyon vs Grand Canyon because it’s just a less visited park.

BCNP typically sees about 1.5 million visitors per year while GCNP sees nearly 6 million every year.

Crowds are going to be the most common during the summer at popular locations such as viewpoints and well-known parking lots.

I recommend getting to the parking lots early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid missing out on a spot and having to deal with lots of other people.

Entrance Fees

Both parks have the same entrance fee of $35 per vehicle, which is valid for one consecutive week.

The other option (and the best option!), is to purchase an America the Beautiful pass, which costs $80 annually and grants you entrance into all national parks.

How is Bryce Canyon Different From the Grand Canyon?

While both parks are home to two of the United States canyons, they are both vastly different in a few ways.

Firstly, the Grand Canyon is much larger than Bryce, which can be seen quite clearly once you arrive and look out at the park. In fact, it’s nearly 40 times larger.

Second, BCNP has hoodoos, compared to the plateau-like formations in GCNP.

Third, they are in different states, and their elevations are different, with BC having a peak elevation of 9,100 feet and GC having a peak of 8,800 feet.

The views and hiking are different in each park, as well as how many visitors they get per year.

Overall, both parks are similar in a few ways, but are very different in many ways!

How Far Apart are Bryce and the Grand Canyon?

Quite honestly, it can be tough to mark how far apart national parks are because they often have multiple entrances.

With GCNP, there are two areas of the park, so below I’ve added the distances to each rim.

• Bryce Canyon —> North Rim: 3 hours
• Bryce Canyon —> South Rim: 4 hours 30 minutes

Which Park is Better if I’m Not a Hiker?

If you aren’t interested in hiking but still want to visit a national park, that’s perfectly fine because there is still plenty to do at each park!

If I were to choose, I would say that Bryce Canyon is best for those who aren’t hikers.

The views from above the rim are still just as great at this park, while it feels like in the Grand Canyon, it’s better to get into the ravine.

At Bryce, you can drive the main scenic road, stop at the many viewpoints, go stargazing, or just embark on short trails.

The Verdict

Now that we’ve gone over all of the details regarding these two beautiful national parks, let’s make a decision on which is the best to visit.

When we look at everything from the time needed to visit to activities for hikers and non-hikers to the park location, we can make a choice.

Out of all of these factors, I prefer Bryce Canyon National Park for many reasons.

Firstly, it’s a great park for those who love to hike, as well as those who don’t enjoy hiking. Meaning that it’s also family-friendly and great for those with littles.

Secondly, there are typically fewer crowds, especially during the shoulder season and off-season.

Thirdly, the location of the park is much easier to get to compared to the Grand Canyon, and the park is smaller, so it’s easier to navigate.

Lastly, I love that the park has a free shuttle to use and you don’t need as many days to visit.

Overall, both of these parks are fantastic and are worthy of adding to your bucket list. But if you’re looking to only choose one, Bryce Canyon is the winner.

FAQs

Wrap-Up: Grand Canyon Vs Bryce Canyon

Choosing between some of Utah and Arizona’s national parks can be pretty tough, as they are all beautiful and deserving of a visit.

But if you have limited time, you might need to make that difficult choice.

If you’re trying to decide whether to visit Bryce Canyon vs Grand Canyon, there are many things to consider, and I hope that this post helped you make your decision!

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