Capitol Reef National Park is a national park in the United States located in south-central Utah. Approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) in length along its north-south axis and just 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) broad on average, the park is divided into two halves. The park, which was founded in 1971 to conserve 241,904 acres of desert scenery, is open all year, with the peak visitor season being from May to September. Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden gem surrounded by cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline that stretches over 100 miles across the United States’ western border.
Entrances to the Capitol Reef National Park?
Traveling westbound on Interstate 70
- Take exit 149 off the highway
- Take Utah State Route 24 (SR-24) west toward Hanksville (exit 149), and continue for 43.8 miles until you reach Salt Lake City (70.5 km)
- Continue on SR-24 west for 37.3 miles, then turn right to return to the start (60 km)
- The Capitol Reef Visitor Center will be on the left as you go down the road.
Traveling eastward on Interstate 70
- Take I-70 east until you reach exit 40.
- Turn right onto Utah State Route 120 south/North Main Street and follow it for 1.2 miles until you reach the end (1.9 km)
- Take a left onto Utah State Route 118 north/E 300 N and follow it for 0.8 miles until it ends (1.3 km)
- Take a little right onto Utah State Route 119 east and follow it for 8.8 miles until you reach the end (14.2 km)
- Take a right onto Utah State Route 24 east and follow it for 63.4 miles until it ends (102 km)
- The Capitol Reef Visitor Center will be on the right as you enter the park.
Traveling northward on Interstate 15
- Continue north on I-15 until you reach exit 95.
- Take Utah State Route 20 in the direction of US-89/Panguitch/Circleville (exit 95) and continue for 20.4 miles to your destination (32.8 km)
- Take a left onto US-89 North and follow it for 21.3 miles until it ends (34.3 km)
- Turn right onto Utah State Route 62 and follow it for 12.4 miles until you reach the end (20 km)
- After 30.6 miles, turn left onto Utah State Route 62 north and follow it for another 30.6 miles (49.2 km)
- Take a right onto Utah State Route 24 east and follow it for 47.1 miles until you reach the end (75.8 km)
- The Capitol Reef Visitor Center will be on the right as you enter the park.
Traveling southbound on Interstate 15,
- Take exit 188 off the highway
- Take US-50 east toward Scipio (exit 188) and turn left onto Utah State Route 50, which will take you for 0.7 miles and bring you to your destination (1.1 km)
- Take a right onto US-50 east/North State Street and follow it for 24.4 miles until you reach the end of the road (39.3 km)
- Take a right onto Utah State Route 260 south and follow it for 4.2 miles until it ends (6.8 km)
- Turn right onto Utah State Route 24 (SR-24) east and follow it for 2.8 miles until you reach the end of the road (4.5 km)
- Continue on SR-24 east for 71.3 miles, taking a little left to keep on the road (114.7 km)
- The Capitol Reef Visitor Center will be on the right as you enter the park.
Utah State Route 12 is a paved highway that runs across the state of Utah. This 123-mile-long (198-kilometer-long) roadway links US-89, just south of Panguitch, with Torrey, Arizona (intersection with Utah State Route 24). It travels through Dixie National Forest, passes through Bryce Canyon National Park, then passes through a large portion of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before arriving at the town of Torrey. The trip from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef on SR-12 takes around three hours. The road SR-12 climbs to a top elevation of 9600 feet on Boulder Mountain, and driving it in the winter may be dangerous. Before you go, check the road conditions and road cameras operated by the Utah Department of Transportation.
Travelers using GPS or mobile phones may be directed to use the South Draw Road from Lower Bowns Campground and Reservoir, which is a short distance away. There are no maintenance crews on this unmaintained, high-clearance 4WD route, therefore it is not ideal for passenger cars, recreational vehicles, or novice drivers. The use of South Draw Road is not advised.
Vehicles that run on alternative fuels
Do you intend to drive to the park with a vehicle that runs on alternative fuels? Your efforts contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as a reduction in petroleum use. Using the Alternative Fueling Station Locator from the Department of Energy, you can plan your journey.
How to reach Capitol Reef National Park?
Driving to Capitol Reef National Park and Preserve
Capitol Reef National Park is situated in a rural location of south-central Utah, yet it is a popular tourist destination. It is the “middle” of the five national parks in Utah, the others being Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. It is the most visited of the five. The village of Torrey is located just across the street from the most frequented section of the park.
Flying to Capitol Reef National Park and Preserve
Capitol Reef is located in the heart of southern Utah, which is another way of saying that it is an extremely isolated destination. There are no airports in the immediate vicinity. Below you will find a list of airports arranged by distance from your current location. For each airport, we’ve included valuable links to further information on the airport, as well as airline and rental car booking options. For your convenience, the destination airport has already been chosen for you on these links. Simply specify your starting point and endpoint dates for pricing searches.
Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)
- It is located near Grand Junction, Colorado, and is 207 miles away from Capitol Reef National Park and Preserve.
- Expedia offers a large selection of flights to Grand Junction.
- Expedia offers a great selection of Grand Junction car rentals.
Utah’s Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- It is 218 miles away from Capitol Reef National Park and is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Expedia offers a large selection of flights to Salt Lake City.
- Expedia offers a large selection of Salt Lake City car rentals.