Kanab to Hanksville Road Trip: Utah's Scenic Highway 89 & 12

The 140-mile drive from Kanab, UT to Hanksville, UT via US-89 and UT-12 is a masterclass in geological time travel. This route skirts the western edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a landscape so layered it is named after a staircase. The highway between Kanab and Hanksville was originally a Native American trade route and later a Mormon pioneer trail. Today, it is a paved artery through some of the most remote and colorful terrain in North America.

Driving time from Kanab to Hanksville is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours without stops, but the journey easily expands to a full day. The key question: is it worth driving Kanab, UT to Hanksville, UT? Absolutely – the route is a destination in itself, with slots, arches, and painted deserts that rival national parks. For help discovering hidden gems, see our guide on how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

The drive traverses three distinct ecoregions: the Paunsaugunt Plateau (Bryce Canyon), the Escalante Desert, and the San Rafael Swell near Hanksville. Each offers unique colors and rock formations. Bryce Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate, features hoodoos of orange and pink limestone. Further east, the Grand Staircase-Escalante NM is a designated national monument, not a UNESCO site, but equally stunning. Local commerce is minimal: Tropic has a small grocery store and a diner; Escalante offers cafes and art galleries; Hanksville has a motel-cafe-gas station combo. Best stops Kanab, UT to Hanksville, UT include the Mossy Cave Trail near Tropic, the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, and the Mars-like terrain of Factory Butte.

US-89 from Kanab to Mt. Carmel Junction is a well-maintained two-lane highway with gentle curves. The turn onto UT-12 at Mt. Carmel Junction is marked; this scenic byway is narrow in sections, especially near Bryce Canyon and the Hogback ridge. Cell service is spotty from Cannonville to Escalante and again east of Escalante, so download maps offline. Fuel stations are sparse: fill up in Kanab, then next reliable gas is in Tropic or Escalante. Hanksville has a single gas station. Elevation ranges from 4,900 ft in Kanab to 8,000 ft at Bryce and down to 4,300 ft in Hanksville.

• Road surface: US-89 is smooth, UT-12 is newly paved but with sharp turns and steep grades.
• Weather: Summer highs above 90°F; winter snow possible at Bryce. Spring and fall are ideal.
• Services: Restrooms available at Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, Escalante Interagency Office, and Anasazi State Park Museum.

Road quality is generally excellent, but wildlife (deer, cattle) can appear suddenly, especially at dawn and dusk. Use caution on UT-12's Hogback between Escalante and Boulder – a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs. For families: short hikes like the Rim Trail at Bryce Canyon and the Petrified Forest trail in Escalante are kid-friendly. Pet-friendly framework: dogs are allowed on leash in national forest lands and along UT-12, but not inside Bryce Canyon National Park. Manage fatigue by stopping every hour: rest zones include the Mossy Cave pullout, the Escalante Interagency Office (free restrooms), and the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry (closed Sundays). Hidden off-route spots: the Upper Valley Store near Cannonville (homemade pies), the Singing Canyon near Boulder (acoustic echo), and the unpaved road to the Bentonite Hills (4WD recommended).