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A sweeping panorama of red sandstone mesas and layered canyon walls bathed in warm golden-hour light, likely Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, with dramatic shadows and glowing orange cliffs set against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Utah · National Park · Gateway towns

Where to Base for Capitol Reef

Your basecamp options — Torrey for full service, Escalante for a quieter Byway 12 night.

A sweeping panorama of red sandstone mesas and layered canyon · Where to Base for Capitol Reef National Park

Where to Base

Where to base near Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef has no in-park lodge, so the town you pick is your base for the whole trip. Torrey, eleven miles west on UT-24, is the full-service basecamp — lodging, dining, and the outfitters who run the Cathedral Valley tours; Escalante, over Boulder Mountain on Scenic Byway 12, is the quieter alternate that pairs the park with the Grand Staircase. Open a town for its lodging, things to do, and the lay of the place.

  • Full-service basecamp town

    Torrey

    Distance to entrance
    8.6 mi drive
    Property mix
    Small inn / motel mix
    Town → park shuttle
    No — drive in
    Explore Torrey

  • Scenic Byway 12 alternate

    Escalante

    Distance to entrance
    40.4 mi drive
    Property mix
    Small inn / motel mix
    Town → park shuttle
    No — drive in
    Explore Escalante

Save on Entry

One pass covers Capitol Reef — and every other US national park.

The America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself in two or three park visits. Free entry, free passenger fees, and no more fumbling for a credit card at the kiosk.

America the Beautiful National Park Pass — the 2026 annual pass card Buy your pass → Learn more about the pass

Ships from US Park Pass. Free shipping in the continental US.

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