Zion National Park is one of the most incredible Utah parks. The main part of the park is Zion Canyon, and unlike most canyons, it is the canyon floor, rather than the rim, that is the main place to visit. The surrounding area is riddled with narrow slot canyons, which make for unique hikes and epic experiences canyoneering for the more adventurous.
When you visit Zion National Park, you can spend the time on the flat canyon floor surrounding by incredible red rock views, or embark on some of the most unique hikes in the country. There is a reason that Zion is the best national parks in the United States.
However, planning a trip to Zion National Park can be tricky. The park is incredibly popular and can get crowded.
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Zion National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Utah
⭐ Main attractions: Canyon, slot canyons, views, hikes
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Itineraries for Zion National Park
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These are not your average blogger itineraries, which tend to be short summaries of things that they did on their one visit there. These itineraries are all about YOU and helping you have the best time.
They will take away the overwhelm that often accompanies planning a trip to Zion National Park. They’re a combination detailed hour-by-hour itinerary (with options for different activity levels), guidebook, hiking guide, driving directions, travel tips, and more. You’ll need nothing else to plan your trip – it’s all done for you (but you still have choices).
One-day, two-day or three-day detailed itineraries for Zion National Park available for purchase.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT WITH ZION NATIONAL PARK ITINERARIES
Zion National Park Travel Guide
How to Plan a Trip to Zion National Park
Planning trip to Zion National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Zion National Park visitors guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and get answers to your questions.
Make your planning easier with this step-by-step guide to all you need to think about and do when planning a trip to Zion.
Read More: HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO ZION
7 things you should AVOID doing when planning a trip to Zion National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN ZION NATIONAL PARK
There is a reservation system for the iconic Angels Landing hike. This guide breaks it all down for you.
Read More: HOW TO GET ANGELS LANDING PERMITS
Travel Tips for Zion National Park
My top three tips for a Zion National Park visit are:
‼️ Have a plan. Avoid the crowds as much as possible and see all the highlights. Get one of my detailed itineraries – they tell you when and where to go to have the least chance of getting caught in crowds and the best chance of being in the right place at the right time to enjoy the trails and take the best photos. Get the 1-, 2-, and 3- day itineraries here.
‼️ Get an early start each day. This is the best way to beat the crowds and have the best light for photos.
‼️ Don’t just do the famous hikes. There are dozens of incredible trails in Zion that are less crowded but no less spectacular than their famous counterparts.
Here are more of my top tips for Zion.
Read More: 12 TIPS FOR VISITING ZION NATIONAL PARK
Entrance Fee for Zion National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website .
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Zion this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here.
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Zion National Park Entrances
Zion National Park has four main sections.
🎫 East Mesa: The East Entrance Station is here. This is where you’ll enter the park if you come from Kanab, Grand Canyon’s North Rim, or Bryce Canyon. You’ll go through the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel soon after entering. There are several hiking trails into the park in this area of the park, too.
🎫 Zion Canyon: Zion’s main entrance is here, the South Entrance Station. The main gateway town of Springdale is also here. This is where you’ll enter the park if you come from Las Vegas.
🎫 Kolob Terrace: Enter along Kolob Terrace Road near Virgin (open seasonally only). There is no formal entrance gate here. The road continues all the way to Kolob Reservoir and beyond.
🎫 Kolob Canyons: This is a more remote section of the national park that is accessed separately and has its own entrance station.
Zion National Park Visitor Centers
There are three Visitor Centers in Zion National Park.
ℹ️ The main Zion Canyon Visitor Center is just inside the South Entrance.
ℹ️ The Zion Human History Museum also has a smaller Visitor Center.
ℹ️ There is also the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center.
For opening hours, which vary seasonally, visit the NPS website.
Best Tours of Zion National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Zion National Park
Things to Do in Zion National Park
There is no shortage of things to do in Zion National Park, no matter when you go.
Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or prefer to enjoy scenery on a scenic drive, there are plenty of activities in and around Zion to enjoy.
Read More: 17 THINGS TO DO IN ZION
Zion is famous its breathtaking scenery. Don’t miss out on any of the amazing views with this detailed list and description of the best photo spots in the park.
Read More: BEST PHOTO SPOTS IN ZION
One of the most fun – and most adventurous – activities in and near Zion is canyoneering. Rappelling down a series of narrow slot canyons is something you’ll never forget. Get full details and description in this comprehensive guide.
Read More: CANYONEERING IN ZION
Hikes in Zion National Park
Zion National Park has two of the most famous hikes in the US – Angels Landing and The Narrows. But there are dozens of other amazing trails as well.
This Zion hiking guide describes the top hikes. It includes trail details so you can choose the best hikes for you.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN ZION
The Narrows is an iconic hike in the Virgin River through a narrow slot canyon a few feet wide and hundreds of feet high. Get full trail details and descriptions in this detailed guide.
Read More: THE NARROWS TRAIL GUIDE
There is a reservation system for the iconic Angels Landing hike. This guide breaks it all down for you.
Read More: HOW TO GET ANGELS LANDING PERMITS
Places To Stay Inside Zion National Park
🛏️ There is one lodge inside the park. Check availability for Zion Lodge.
⛺ There are three campgrounds. South Campground and Watchman Campground are both just inside the South Entrance in the main Zion Canyon section. Lava Point Campground is in the Kolob Terrace section of the park. There are no campgrounds in the Kolob Canyons part of the park.
Where to Stay Near Zion National Park
The main gateway town for Zion National Park is Springdale, which is just outside the main South Entrance.
If you’d prefer to stay in a house, cabin or apartment in and around Springdale, my guide to the best vacation rentals in Springdale has some top suggestions.
Read More: BEST RENTALS NEAR ZION
➡️ Find a hotel in Springdale on Expedia.
➡️ Find more vacation rentals in or near Springdale on VRBO.
The other option is to stay outside the East Entrance of the park. I There are several small towns/villages that have accommodations. One of the main options is Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, but there are plenty of other options. Towns include Mt Carmel Junction, Orderville, Glendale, Hatch and Kanab.
➡️ Find a hotel near Zion’s East Entrance on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental near Zion’s East Entrance on VRBO.
How to Get To Zion National Park
When you plan a trip to Zion National Park, you need to know the best way to get there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO ZION NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Best Airports for Zion National Park
When you’re planning your trip to Zion National Park, one of the things you’ll need to know is the closest airport for Zion National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO ZION
There are several airports you can fly into/ out of for Zion. The largest is Las Vegas, but others like St. George Regional Airport are closer.
Read More: ALL THE AIRPORTS NEAR ZION
✈️ Use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals to help you decide and book.
How to Get Around Zion National Park
There is a free shuttle in the main Zion Canyon section of the park that runs for most of the year. When it’s running, you have to take it – you aren’t allowed to drive your own vehicle. The shuttle typically operates:
- Daily from March through November.
- For the holiday season near the end of December.
When it runs, there is also a separate shuttle that runs in Springdale. They connect at the Zion Visitor Center.
You can (and have to) drive your own vehicle between the East Entrance and the South Entrance. This road goes through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and then down several wide switchbacks where there are pullouts so you can enjoy the jaw-dropping views.
You can drive through the tunnel any time if you have a regular vehicle. However, if you have an oversized vehicle like an RV or trailer, you can only go through between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. when rangers regularly convert two-way tunnel traffic to one-way. You need to pay for an oversized vehicle tunnel permit. Check the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel page for more information.
To access the main part of Zion Canyon, you need to take a (free) shuttle most of the year. But it’s possible to visit Zion without dealing with the crowded shuttle. Learn how here.
Read More: HOW TO VISIT ZION WITHOUT THE SHUTTLE
There is no shuttle in the other parts of the park.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
When to Visit Zion National Park
In general, the best times to go to Zion National Park are May and September. You’ll avoid the summer crowds and heat, but everything will be open. However, these aren’t the only good times to go.
Read the quick summary of the best times to visit Zion National Park so you can make the right decision.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT ZION
This Zion National Park trip planner has detailed information on every season, so you can make the most informed decision for your own trip.
How Long to Spend in Zion National Park
How many days you should go to Zion for depends on your interests, how much you like to hike (and how fit you are), your budget, and how much time you have available. I recommend at least three days for the main section of the park, and longer if you want to visit Kolob Canyons as well.
If you have less or more time, and/ or want to see what you can realistically expect to see and do in that time, this Zion guide has a more detailed breakdown for you.
Read More: HOW MANY DAYS FOR ZION
Travel Insurance for Zion National Park
In addition to using this Zion National Park visitor guide for trip planning, you should also think about travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.