Rent a Car for Utah's Mighty Five — Start in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the classic starting line for Utah's Mighty Five — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands — and Driver Valley rents you the AWD SUV for the loop from $41/day, about 5 minutes from SLC airport with a free shuttle. For a full parks loop, add unlimited miles: the circuit runs 1,000+ miles, and every park is 3.5 to 4.5 hours of some of the best driving in America from the lot.

From $41/day — AWD SUVs, crossovers, minivans and a Tesla Model 3 across 38 cars
Unlimited miles available ($52/day) — the right call for a 1,000+ mile parks loop; standard rentals include 150 miles/day
Distances from the lot: Moab (Arches & Canyonlands) ~3.5–4 hrs · Capitol Reef ~3.5 hrs · Bryce ~4 hrs · Zion ~4.5 hrs
No credit card needed — debit, Cash App, Venmo, Chime, or PayPal
Free airport shuttle — land, ride 5 minutes, and you're on the road

The loop, roughly

Most renters run it one of two ways. Clockwise: SLC down I-15 to Zion, east to Bryce, along Scenic Byway 12 — one of the great roads in the country — to Capitol Reef, then Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, and back up US-191 and I-15. Or save Moab for first and end in Zion. Either way it's 5 to 8 days, four distinct landscapes, and a lot of two-lane highway where an AWD crossover with real ground clearance earns its keep on the gravel spurs to trailheads.

Which car for the parks?

A midsize AWD SUV — Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Crosstrek — is the sweet spot: comfortable for highway hours, capable on park backroads, easy on fuel. Bigger groups take the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey minivans; the Toyota 4Runner is there if your route includes genuinely rough roads. Spring and fall are the sweet seasons; in winter, AWD stops being optional on the high-elevation stretches near Bryce (about 8,000–9,000 feet).

Do the miles math before you book

Standard rentals include 150 miles per day and charge $0.60 per extra mile. A 7-day Mighty Five loop can top 1,200 miles — well past the 1,050 included — so the unlimited-miles option at $52/day is usually the cheaper, simpler choice for parks trips. For shorter single-park runs (a Zion weekend is about 600 miles round trip), the included miles may cover you; the booking page shows the math for your dates.

Related guides: weekly rentals, monthly rentals, renting with no credit card, and the SLC airport rental guide.

Questions, answered

How far are Utah's national parks from Salt Lake City?

From Driver Valley's lot: Moab (Arches and Canyonlands) is about 3.5–4 hours, Capitol Reef about 3.5 hours, Bryce Canyon about 4 hours, and Zion about 4.5 hours. A full Mighty Five loop is 1,000+ miles over 5–8 days.

Should I get unlimited miles for a Mighty Five trip?

Usually, yes. Standard rentals include 150 miles per day with extra miles at $0.60/mile; a full parks loop on a 7-day rental can exceed the included miles by hundreds. Unlimited miles at $52/day makes the loop a flat, predictable cost.

What car is best for a Utah national parks road trip?

An AWD midsize SUV — Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Crosstrek — balances highway comfort, fuel economy, and backroad capability. Minivans (Sienna, Odyssey) suit bigger groups; the Toyota 4Runner suits rougher routes.

Can I rent with a debit card for a road trip?

Yes. Driver Valley accepts debit cards, Cash App, Venmo, Chime, and PayPal — no credit card required. A flat $50 deposit is charged when you pay and refunded after return (waived if you add CDW).

Where do I pick up the car after landing at SLC?

Park N' Jet - Mountain Lot, 2200 W North Temple, about 5 minutes from the airport. Exit by the Starbucks, turn right to column 10A, and ride The Parking Spot shuttle to the lot — free.

Start the loop from SLC

AWD SUVs from $41/day, unlimited miles available, five minutes from the airport.

See the cars and book