Visiting Capitol Reef National Park for the first time but not sure where to stop or what to do? This 1-day guide for Capitol Reef National Park will list everything that should be seen within one day. This Capitol Reef National Park Guide features the Fruita Historic District, Petroglyph Panels, fresh fruit orchards, tasty sweet shops, and more.
Capitol Reef National Park is located in South-central Utah near Torrey and boasts rugged sandstone domes, wildlife, and other features that make this park different from most. The surrounding red rock seen throughout the park embodies a true sense of southern Utah, and the fresh fruit and desserts make this park truly special.
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Take a Scenic Drive through the Park – What to see in Capitol Reef
Utah boasts a scenery that is definitely world-class. In Capitol Reef National Park, there is sandstone as far as the eye can see.
Endless views of red cliffs, layered rocks, and sprawling desert make the scenic route a must-do.
During our Day in Capitol Reef National Park we spotted views like this along the Scenic Drive
Some of my absolute favorite views were seen by taking a drive through Capitol Reef National Park.
Learn More: For a nearby park with views just as great as Capitol Reef, check out the best things to do in Zion National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park’s Scenic Drive is located off of Highway 24 near the park’s Visitor Center. After approaching the visitor center, head south on Scenic Drive to get to the road.
The length of the Scenic Drive is 7.9 miles one way. Various unpaved roads jet off from the main route that can be driven on. However, these roads should not be used without a car with off-road tires.
Along the way, keep an eye out for the following landmarks:
- Capitol Reef Orchards: small farms located throughout various portions of the park with trails of early Mormon settlements. Here are some of the orchards located near the start of the scenic drive in order:
- Abie Clarke Orchard
- Adams Orchard
- Johnson Orchard
- Merin Smith Implement Shed
- Gifford House: More on this below!
- Grand Wash: a dramatic canyon with towering walls and hiking trails
- The Castle: a large rock formation that resembles a fortress
- Chimney Rock: a unique spire of red sandstone
- Capitol Gorge Spur: a dirt road that leads to petroglyphs and pioneer carvings.
Fruita Historic District – What to see in Capitol Reef
Nestled in the Fremont River Valley, the Fruita Historic District is known for its orchards where visitors can pick their fruit to keep. What better than to take a souvenir of fresh fruit on the way home?
An apple sits on a tree waiting to be picked in the Fruita Orchards
The Fruita District was settled in the 19th century by Mormon Pioneers. Many plaques can be seen along the drive through the district explaining the origins of the park and Mormon settlers.
Within the Fruita Historic District, look for wildlife. Many deer and squirrels love to roam around and graze on apples!
Capitol Reef National Park is the only park that offers fresh fruit that can be picked year-round! It is a very unique opportunity that makes this park stand out among others.
Visit the Fruita Orchards from mid-June to early July for cherries and apricots. For peaches and pears, they are ready to be picked from August to September. For apples, head to the orchard from September to October.
Capitol Reef National Park Guide – Finding the right apple to pick!
We visited Capitol Reef in late August and picked some delicious green apples! However, there wasn’t much other fruit that was available to be picked because it was late in the season.
Petroglyph Panels – What to see in Capitol Reef
The best way to catch a glimpse of Capitol Reef’s Ancient history is by going to see the Petroglyph Panels. The depictions among the walls offer a glimpse into the lives of the Freemont people who lived in the region over 1,000 years ago.
What to see in Capitol Reef – A close-up of the Petroglyph Panels
The Petroglyph Panels are located along Utah’s Highway 24 near the Fruita Historic District toward the east end of the park. To find them, look closely for dark, etched symbols among the red sandstone rock. There is also a marker that shows the location of these panels along the highway.
Some of the petroglyphs along the walls depict human-like forms with triangular bodies, headdresses, and arms and legs. Other symbols are animal-like with mysterious markings with unknown meanings.
These depictions belong to the Fremont Culture. This ancient civilization lived in Utah for around 1,000 years and are dated back to 300 CE.
The best time to enjoy these petroglyphs is early morning or late afternoon to avoid heavy glare on the rock. This allows for a better view of the markings.
Pro Tip: Make sure to treat the petroglyphs with care avoid touching or damaging them. Practice the Leave No Trace Principle.
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Gifford Homestead Pies – What to see in Capitol Reef
Why not take a break during your day in Capitol Reef National Park and enjoy a sweet treat?
Spotting a baby deer near the Gifford Homestead in Capitol Reef National Park
Within Capitol Reef National Park is Gifford Homestead, renowned for its freshly baked fruit pies made with fruit from the nearby orchards.
The Gifford House is located along Scenic Drive off of Highway 24 in the Fruita District. It is a house that demonstrates and interprets early Mormon settlement within the valley.
Fun Fact: Pie season at the Homestead typically starts on March 14, pi day, and ends in late November.
Make sure to visit the Homestead early as pies typically sell out by afternoon every day!
For those wanting something other than pie, the Gifford Homestead store also sells homemade ice cream, cinnamon rolls, and locally made goods!
Outside of the Homestead, there is a dedicated picnic area to eat dessert and catch glimpses of deer strolling around the park.
Go Stargazing – What to see in Capitol Reef
Stargazing in Capitol Reef National Park is an excellent activity to add to your day if you end up staying until dark!
Capitol Reef is designated as a Gold-tier International Dark Sky park, meaning it is one of the best places in the United States to see planets, constellations, and more.
For those who want to see the most of the night sky, make sure to plan your stargazing during a new moon phase. The darkest skies happens when moonlight interference is the lowest. This is typically during the start and end of every month.
In Capitol Reef National Park, the Milky Way is visible from March to November and provides spectacular night sky scenes.
For the longest nights, head to the park in the winter. This will also give you the best chance for clearer skies due to drier air.
The best places to stargaze in Capitol Reef National Park are the Fruita Area, the Waterpocket District, and the Cathedral District.
Capitol Reef National Park also occasionally holds ranger-led astronomy programs and stargazing parties for a chance to learn about the night sky with an expert guide.
Pro tip: make sure to utilize Astronomy apps like Night Sky for a detailed visual of planets, constellations, stars, and satellites to make your stargazing experience easier.
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More Information- Capitol Reef Guide
Best Time to use this Capitol Reef National Park Day Guide
Capitol Reef National Park offers a variety of attractions based on the time of year in the park. Generally Spring and Fall offer the best weather and ideal conditions for exploring the park. Here’s some more information for visiting Capitol Reef National Park for each season.
One Day in Capitol Reef – Another view along the Scenic Drive
Spring weather ranges from 60 to 80 degrees F, with nights becoming a bit more cool. During this time, look for blooming wildflowers that add a vibrant color to contrast the red sandstone rock. For hikers, spring offers pleasant temperatures for exploring trails! Crowds during the spring start to increase, but not as much as summer.
Summer in Capitol Reef National Park provides hot temperatures, sometimes exceeding 90 degrees F. Summer is also monsoon season, where heavy rains can often cover the park with short notice.
For exploration, summer provides long daylight hours, with early morning and late evenings that are good for photograph opportunities.
In the Fall, the weather in the park is more comfortable than the summer with temperatures cooling down to around 60 to 80 degrees F. The nights in the park get much cooler than the summer. Apple picking is best in the fall, and crowds start to slow down during this time.
Capitol Reef is best in Winter for minimal crowds. The white snow and red sandstone create a stunning contrast that makes the park even more beautiful to visit.
Temperatures in the winter are cold, ranging from 30 to 50 degrees. Nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing.
Keep in mind that some facilities may be closed due to snowy or icy conditions.
Getting to Capitol Reef National Park
The best way to get to Capitol Reef National Park is by car. If flying, arrive at either Salt Lake City, UT, Las Vegas, NV, or Grand Junction, CO. These bigger cities offer cheaper flight prices than flying to a regional airport closer to the park.
Day Guide to Capitol Reef – You’ll see towering sandstone rocks like these along the way to the park!
From Salt Lake City the distance is 220 miles and takes around 4 hours to arrive by car. Take Interstate 15 to UT-24 to get to Capitol Reef National Park
When arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada, the drive will take around 6 hours and is about 360 miles. Again, the route to Capitol Reef includes I-15 and UT-24.
If heading to Capitol Reef from Grand Junction, CO, the distance is around 160 miles and the drive time is around 3 hours via I-170 and UT-24.
What is The Best Entrance to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park can be accessed from two directions that are both located off of Highway 24.
The west entrance to the park can be accessed from Torrey, UT. Along the way to the visitor center is Panorama Point, Navajo Knobs, and Gooseneck Overlook.
The east entrance of the park contains quite a few viewpoints such as Behunin Cabin, Waterpocket Fold View, and Capitol Dome.
There isn’t a particular entrance to the park that I recommend, as long as you make sure to drive through both of them during your visit. During our Mighty 5 Road Trip, we entered through the east side of the park, took the Scenic Drive, the continued west on Highway 24 toward the west entrance of the park.
Navigating Capitol Reef National Park
The roads through Capitol Reef National Park are fairly straightforward. The main road is Utah Highway 24 that connects the west and east entrances of the park. Toward the middle of this road is the visitor center and the turn to visit the Scenic Drive.
Along Highway 24 are other turn-offs to see more of the park. Waterpocket Fold View Road is located toward the east entrance of Highway 24.
There are several unpaved roads located off of the Scenic Drive. Grand Wash is closer to the visitor center and houses the Cassidy Arch. At the end of the Scenic Drive are two unpaved roads. Staying to the left will lead to Capitol Gorge where you can spot the Golden Throne. Staying to the right leads to a high-clearance unpaved road that leads to the Boulder Mountain area.
Where to Stay?
Torrey is a small town found off Highway 24 on the western side of the park. It offers many hotels at different price ranges with convenient access to Capitol Reef National Park. There are a plethora of options on Airbnb for places to stay in Torrey.
How much is the Entry Fee?
The entrance fee for Capitol Reef National Park is $20 for a private vehicle, $15 for a motorcycle, or $10 per person without a vehicle.
Day Guide to Capitol Reef – Standing outside the entrance to the park!
The park is open 24 hours a day, every day. The visitor center is open daily except for major holidays. Check the NPS website for current information.
Pro tip: make sure to grab the America the Beautiful Pass if visiting other national parks in Utah. This pass can be bought for $80 and acts as a valid entry pass to any National Park for one year.
Where to Park your car?
Capitol Reef National Park is a car-friendly park. Parking is available in many areas. The visitor center offers parking spots, along with many of the pull-off areas along Highway 24 and the Scenic Drive.
Where to eat?
Luckily, Capitol Reef National Park has the Gifford Home that offers a variety of sweets to choose from and is open from mid-March to late November. There are also snack options available at the visitor center.
How to Plan a Route for a Day in Capitol Reef
Depending on whether you enter Capitol Reef National Park from the east or west side, a day trip through the park should look like this
- Enter the Park through the east or west entrance.
- Head to the visitor center visiting pull-offs along the way
- Make your way up and back on the Scenic Drive.
- Continue toward the end of the park to visit the other side of Capitol Reef.
Do I need A Reservation to enter Capitol Reef National Park?
Capitol Reef National Park does not require entrance reservations. However, there is a fee required to enter the park. It is open year-round for everyone to access.
Summary
Capitol Reef offers some seriously stunning views and is a park that also offers interactive activities for everyone to enjoy! Whether it is the layered red sandstone, playful farm animals, fresh fruit pies, or breathtaking hikes, the park is a must-visit for any national park enthusiast. This guide provides some of the best activities to make the most of a 1-day visit to Capitol Reef National Park. Make sure to save this post for an unforgettable experience in a truly unique park.