Zion National Park is one of the most spectacular national parks in the US. It’s also one of the busiest, so a trip there requires some planning.
One of the trickiest things about planning a trip to the national park is finding an airport near Zion National Park. There are no obvious major airports right next door. In addition, the park has three entrances. The Northwest (Kolob Canyons) Entrance is located east of Interstate 15. The main Zion Canyon section is accessed through the East Entrance from Zion-Mount Carmel Highway or the main South Entrance on Utah State Route 9, right next to Springdale, Utah.
This guide is here to help make this important decision easier. It will help you discover the closest and best airports for Zion National Park.
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We’ll look not only at the airport closest to Zion National Park but also at other airports near Zion National Park so you can choose the best airport for Zion National Park for your trip.
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Airports Near Zion National Park
Planning Your Zion Trip
Before we go into all the details of all the airports around Zion National Park, here’s a quick step-by-step planner:
- First up, you’ll need to decide when to go. Read my Guide to the Best Time to Visit Zion National Park, which has a detailed season-by-season breakdown, to help you decide.
- You’ll also need to decide how long to go for. Read my guide How Many Days You Need in Zion National Park for help.
- After that, you’ll need to decide where to stay. The most popular access to the Zion Canyon is the South Entrance. You can find several lodges and campsites in this area. If you’re camping, my Tent Camping Checklist will help you with the things you need to pack. You can also check the list of lodges and rentals near Zion National Park.
- The next thing you need to do is find the best way to get to Zion National Park. If you’re opting for long drive, you’ll need to rent a car and map out your route. If you’re taking a road trip, you’ll need to rent a car and plan out your route. Book a car through Discover Cars – you enter your destination and they scan all of the available cars in all the agencies to find the best price for the type of car you want. You can also read my Guide to Finding the Cheapest Rental Car for handy tips. Check my Road Trip Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for your trip.
- If you’re going to fly, read on to find an airport near Zion National Park, Utah. That’s what this guide is to help you do!
- Then you’ll need to book a flight. I recommend using Skyscanner to search through all available flights to Zion National Park to find the cheapest.
- Finally, you will need to decide your itinerary. If you’re a planner, then I can make this easy for you. Pick up one of my very detailed, hour-by-hour, day-by-day itineraries for Zion National Park (you can get them for 1, 2, or 3 days). For other information about Acadia National Park, check out my Zion Guides.
How to Decide the Best Zion National Park Airport
The nearest airport to Zion National Park may not be the best airport to get to Zion National Park. The best choice for you will depend on the specifics of your trip. Some things to consider are:
- Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Are you also visiting Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, or the Utah ‘Big Five’? Some airports are more convenient to those other parks or provide easy access to them.
- When are you going? Some airports have more limited offerings in winter.
- Where are you staying when visiting Zion and which area(s) of the park are you visiting? Choosing an airport near your lodging or campground may make the most sense.
- How much time do you have? Your travel time from the airport will be more important if you have less time available for your trip.
- What’s your budget? Flight and/ or car rental prices can vary quite a bit between airports.
- Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? Most of these airports have limited airlines flying into them.
- Where are you flying from? The larger airports have more connecting flights, which can affect your decision depending on where you are flying from.
- What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Is there a specific car rental agency you want to use? The selection of rental cars available can vary a lot between airports.
What are the best airports for flying to Zion National Park?
The best airports for flying into Zion National Park are:
- St. George Regional Airport, Utah
- Cedar City Regional Airport, Utah
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Nevada
- Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona
What airport to fly into for Zion National Park?
There are several airports near Zion National Park. A better question than “What airport is near Zion National Park?” might be “What is the best airport for my particular vacation?” Your budget, your plans and itinerary, your car rental preferences, etc. will all influence your decision. Let’s a take a more detailed look.
St. George Regional Airport (SGU)
What airport is closest to Zion National Park? St. George Regional Airport is the nearest airport. Zion National Park has two main sections. Springdale lies just outside the park’s South Entrance and is the most common place to stay for the park’s main Zion Canyon section. There’s no airport available in this area – the closest airport to Springdale is St George Airport.
Flying here requires you to have extra planning since this airport has limited commercial flights. Taking connecting flights from Salt Lake City is a frequent option here. You also need to consider if you’re planning to use the same airport when you leave Zion National Park.
Location: Located in Washington County on top of a mesa in the city of St. George.
Distance to Zion National Park: 46 miles
Travel time to Zion National Park: It’s around 45 minutes to an hour’s drive to the park.
What airlines fly out of St. George Regional Airport?
- Delta: Salt Lake City
- American Airlines: Phoenix, Dallas
- United: Denver, Los Angeles
Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
Onsite: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from St. George Airport to Zion National Park:
- Local taxi services like Uber and Lyft are available at the airport to the shuttle station.
- The George Shuttle offers s frequent shuttle bus service to Springdale. From Springdale, there is a free shuttle into the national park.
Pros:
- It’s the closest airport Zion National Park has
- Paid parking with daily fee. Arrangements can be made if you plan to park for 30 days or longer.
Cons:
- Limited range of flights
- No non-stop flights from most destinations
- Flights tend to be more expensive
- No budget airlines fly here
This is the best airport for Zion National Park …
- If you have limited time for travel.
- If you don’t want to hire a rental car.
Cedar City Regional Airport
Cedar City Regional Airport is a small airport about an hour from Zion National Park. It matches St. George Regional Airport with the amount of travel time to get there. It’s also the closest airport to Bryce and Zion. While St. George is slightly closer to Springdale, Cedar City Regional Airport lies closest to Zion’s Kolob Canyons area and to Bryce Canyon. It’s also a good choice if you want an alternative to quickly access the park.
The airport is small, so it doesn’t have many flight options. Flight services are provided exclusively by Delta Airlines. And you can only access flights with connections to and from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Location: Cedar City Regional Airport lies two miles northwest of Cedar City, in Iron County, Utah.
Distance to Zion National Park: 59 miles to Springdale. 25.2 miles to Kolob Canyons
Travel time to Zion National Park: 1 hour to Springdale. 30 minutes to Kolob Canyons entrance
What airlines fly out of Cedar City Regional Airport?
- Delta (operated by Sky West): Salt Lake City
Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
Onsite: Enterprise, Avis/ Budget Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Cedar City Regional Airport to Zion National Park:
Airport shuttles, taxi services, regular scheduled buses and Dial-A-Ride paratransit vans are available into Cedar City. However, there is no direct public transportation from Cedar City to Zion National Park. You’d either need to go via St. George (you might as well just fly into SGU in that case) or rent a car.
Pros:
- Very close to Kolob Canyons
- Free long-term parking
Cons:
- Flight service is limited
- Connecting flights are only accessible to and from Salt Lake City International Airport
- Budget flights are not available here
- Flights tend to be expensive
This is the best airport for Zion National Park …
If you are going to stay in the Kolob Canyons section of the park
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
(formerly called McCarran International Airport)
If you are looking for more flight options on your trip, the closest international airport to Zion National Park is Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport. This is also a good choice to get to the park if you’re coming from the Vegas area or want to include a stop in Las Vegas before or after Zion.
This is the most convenient option to fly into Zion as long as you don’t mind a short road trip. A bonus: the drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park goes right past the Valley of Fire State Park, which is definitely worth a visit on the way.
Harry Reid Airport is also a lot more convenient to fly to other states and anywhere in the world than the closer regional airports because there are so many more flights available, including many cheaper flights.
Location: Las Vegas Harry Reid is located in Paradise, Nevada just outside Las Vegas.
Distance from Las Vegas Harry Reid/ McCarran International Airport to Zion National Park: 170 miles
Travel time from Las Vegas airport to Zion National Park: 2 hours 45 minutes
What airlines fly out of Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport?
Multiple airlines fly from this airport with connecting flights from domestic and international cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Seoul, and Syracuse.
Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
- Offsite (at the nearby Rent-A-Car Center): Ace, Advantage, Avis, Budget, Economy, Enterprise, Europcar, EZ, Fox, Green Motion, Hertz, Sixt, Payless, Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, National, Nu
- Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Las Vegas Harry Reid/ McCarran Airport to Zion National Park:
Transport from Harry Reid/ McCarran Airport to Zion National Park includes shuttle buses, public buses, and rental cars.
Pros:
- Budget airlines fly here
- Las Vegas is a fun place to stop over
- Flights tend to be cheaper
- Plenty of car rental options
- Plenty of things to see and do on the way to Zion e.g., Valley of Fire State Park
Cons:
- Long travel time
This is the best airport for Zion National Park …
If you have other places to visit on your trip aside from the park like visiting Las Vegas.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City International Airport is another major airport with easy access to Zion National Park. Although it’s further than the smaller regional airports, it has multiple options for foreign and domestic flights. Flying on budget airlines is available here, too.
This can also be a great choice if you plan to visit the other national parks in Utah like Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Arches National Parks. If you’re also stopping by to visit Salt Lake City, this is the best route to take.
From the airport, the drive to Zion National Park takes around four and a half hours. The route may be a bit less exciting compared to the route to Vegas, but it does offer scenic views on the way.
Location: Salt Lake City International Airport is located four miles west of Downtown Salt Lake City
Distance from Salt Lake City Airport to Zion National Park: 311 miles
Travel time to Zion National Park: 4 hours 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of Salt Lake City International Airport?
- Aeromexico: Mexico City
- Air Canada: Montreal, Toronto
- Alaska Airlines: Seattle/Tacoma, Portland (OR), San Diego
- American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago-O`Hare
- Delta Airlines: multiple cities around the US
- Eurowings Discover: Frankfurt
- Frontier Airlines: Denver
- JetBlue Airways: Boston, New York- JFK
- Spirit Airlines: Orlando
- Southwest Airlines: Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago-Midway, Phoenix, San Jose (CA), Orange County, Dallas-Love Field
- United Airlines: Denver, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston-Bush
Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
- Onsite (Gateway Center): Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty
- Offsite: ACE Rent-A-Car, Affordable, Fox Rent-A-Car, Go Rentals, NU Car Rentals, Rugged Rental
Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Salt Lake City Airport to Zion National Park:
The easiest way is to hire a rental car and drive
Pros:
- A good starting point to Utah’s Big Five national parks
- Budget airlines fly here
- Plenty of car rental options
Cons:
- Further away
- Gas can be more expensive
This is the best airport for Zion National Park …
- If you’re also traveling to see Salt Lake City
- If you’re visiting all of Utah’s Big Five national parks
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport isn’t that close to Zion National Park, but if you’re including a trip to Sedona and Grand Canyon, this route will work well for you.
You could either do a long loop road trip or fly into Phoenix, drive one way and drop off your rental car at another (closer) airport – or vice versa. As you’re heading northwest, you can pass through Sedona and Grand Canyon’s South Rim. You can also check some things to do in Page and Kanab areas on your way to Zion.
This airport also offers a range of cheap flights so you have plenty of options for budget airlines, both domestic and international.
Location: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 3 miles east of Downtown Phoenix
Distance to Zion National Park: 395 miles
Travel time to Zion National Park: 6 hours 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
The airport offers several flight options with connecting flights to domestic and international cities.
Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
Offsite (at the nearby Airport Rental Car Center): Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, NÜ Car Rentals, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty
Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Phoenix International Airport to Zion National Park:
You can choose pre-arranged car services, intercity shuttles or pick up a rental car.
Pros:
- Good for a southwest road trip (especially one-way)
- Plenty of options for cheap and budget flights
- Non-stop flights are available at the airport
Cons:
- It involves a longer drive to Zion compared to other airports
This is the best airport for Zion National Park …
If you include Zion as part of a longer southwest travel itinerary
FAQs
What’s the best airport for Zion National Park?
The nearest airport to get you to Zion National Park is St. George Regional Airport next to Cedar City Regional Airport. You can easily drive from the airport with the least travel time.
What airport do you fly into to go to Zion National Park?
Flying into St. George Regional Airport offers you the most convenient and fastest way to get to Zion National Park, but Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport gives you more flight and rental car options.
Where is the best place to fly into for Zion National Park?
The best place to fly into for your Zion trip is St. George Regional Airport especially if you have very limited time to travel. For more options on domestic and international flights and car rentals, you can fly to major airports like Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport or Salt Lake City International Airport.
Map of Airports Near Zion National Park
Travel Insurance for Zion National Park
A final thought. In addition to choosing the best airport Zion National Park, Utah, consider getting travel insurance too. Make sure it includes trip cancellation, in case you need to cancel your flight before your travel, so that you can get a refund.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can swap this link for either compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Zion! I hope this guide has helped you decide what airport for Zion National Park to use.
Subscribe to regular updates with tips for planning, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this
Airports Near Zion National Park
Which airport by Zion National Park did you choose? I’d love to know. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
Now you’ve decided which airport close to Zion National Park to fly into, Pin It to your Zion National Park board for easy reference!
Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
Are you starting to plan a trip to Zion National Park? Read my Guide to Zion National Park and Get an Itinerary for Zion National Park
Are you looking for a place to stay near Zion National Park? Find a vacation rental near Zion National Park
Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
Do you want to read a book about Zion National Park? Check out my Recommended Reading List for Zion National Park
About the Author
James Ian has traveled to 82 countries and all 7 continents. He has visited all of the main national parks in the United States, as well as many national monuments and state parks.
He has rafted through the Grand Canyon; rappelled down slot canyons near Zion and Arches; hiked among the hoodoos in Bryce and the enormous trees in Sequoia; admired the waterfalls in Yosemite and the colored hot springs in Yellowstone; seen moose in Grand Tetons and seals in the Channel Islands, and much more.
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