Insider tip on Zion National Park

Trusted advice from our verified community for authentic experiences

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    A free parking lot at the entrance of the park is available next to the Visitor Center. It fills up quickly in the morning (you really need to arrive before 9 am, even 8 am). Otherwise, you will find parking spots in Springdale, along Route 9, with rates around $15-$20 per day.

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    When arriving from Bryce Canyon or Kanab, you will have to go through a tunnel (Zion-Mount Carmel). Bicycles are not allowed. For RVs, you will need to inquire because depending on the size of the vehicle, you will need to pay, in addition to the park entrance fee, a tunnel permit. Furthermore, you cannot use the tunnel whenever you want (specific times must be respected).

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    A first shuttle ensures the connection between Springdale (where most accommodations are located) and the Visitor Center. This shuttle departs from the station at Majestic View Lodge and serves about ten strategic points. It runs approximately every 15 minutes (from 7:10 AM to 10:00 PM during high season). It is a good alternative if you spend a night in Springdale because you can leave your car in your accommodation’s parking lot and take the shuttle to the park. From March to the end of November, free shuttles serve the interior of the Canyon by making round trips between the Visitor Center and the bottom of the Canyon (Temple of Sinawava). Allow 45 minutes for the trip one way. The road serving the interior of the Canyon is therefore closed to cars from mid-March to the end of November. Shuttle hours during high season: 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM (departing from the Visitor Center).

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    The park is famous for its deep canyons and challenging hikes. These canyons were shaped by the Virgin River, which carved this long, narrow gorge of 13 kilometers. The impressive cliffs, with steep walls ranging from 610 to 910 meters in height, make this park a place rich in geological diversity, as well as in fauna and flora. Halfway between desert landscapes and rocky mountains, Zion is quite different from the other arid parks in Utah. And perhaps the greatest uniqueness is that you explore the canyons from below before climbing up to the heights to admire the viewpoint.

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    Most visitors settle for exploring the park in half a day or a day. It is doable, but the scenery is so fabulous that I recommend staying at least one and a half days (with two nights on-site) to take the time to appreciate the park in its entirety.

  • Verified Blogger

    Mylène @unreveunvoyage

    You can enter from the south, coming from Springdale, or from the east, coming from Mt. Carmel Junction. The park is open every day 24/7 and the entrance fee is $35/vehicle, $30/motorcycle, $20/person on foot or by bike. Admission is valid for 7 consecutive days. The America the Beautiful Pass (also called the Interagency Annual Pass) is accepted. The Visitor Center, at the south entrance of the Canyon, just after the park entry station, is open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM between May and September (from 8 AM to 6 PM between October and April).