How to Plan a Trip to Zion National Park

Zion National Park is without a doubt one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. The stunning rock faces and epic scenery draw crowds from all over the world. Despite the crowds, Zion is a must-see location on any Utah trip. In this post, I’ll cover all the information you need to have the most epic time in Zion National Park!

Park Map

When to Go

Spring

Spring is great for avoiding peak crowds. Temperatures during this time will fluctuate between highs of 80 to 90 F during the day to 50 F at night. In my opinion, this is the best time for camping.

Summer

Summer is perfect for any hiking that involves getting wet, but you will be competing with crowds and battling the heat. If you choose summer, make sure to book well in advance, always bring extra water, and plan activities that will keep you cool.

Fall

What’s not to love about a national park in the fall? Zion National Park is a fabulous place for capturing fall colors. The daytime temperatures will be moderate during this time as well making hiking more enjoyable.

Winter

Winter in Zion National Park is much colder than the rest of the year, but optimal if you like the quiet. The red rocks covered in snow are a stunning sight. Definitely pack warm clothes and microspikes if you plan on doing any difficult hikes.

If you have flexibility, aim for Spring or Fall. If you can handle the cold, definitely shoot for winter as you won’t have to make use of the shuttle. The park will still be beautiful in the summer, but the crowds can be overwhelming. Additionally, we were dealing with 92+ midday heat in the 2nd week of April so I can only imagine how unbearable the sun is during peak summer months.

Getting There

Zion National Park sits approximately an hour northeast of St. George, UT. There are 2 main entrances, one on the west and one on the east side.

In order to get from one end to the other you will need to go through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. Before arriving, make sure you research whether there is any construction taking place on the tunnel.

We were there in April 2021 and there was construction taking place later in the day/night. This will add 30-40 minutes to your drive and certain size vehicles will not be permitted to drive through (we saw many large RVs being told to turn around).

The most common option for entering Zion National Park is near the visitor center on the western side. If you want to park in the visitor center lot, make sure to avoid peak hours (10 am to 3 pm).

The entrance station may tell you that the lot is full, but if you’re willing to wait around there are typically people leaving at a steady rate. With that in mind, if you are on a time crunch I would suggest parking outside the park and walking in.

Where to Stay

Although you may be tempted to put your home base in St. George, I recommend shelling out the extra cash to stay in Springdale. Staying in St. George will add at least an hour to your drive plus the headache of dealing with traffic. Additionally, being in Springdale gives you the flexibility to enter and leave the park whenever.

There are different options on where to stay depending on what suits your fancy. During our 3 days at the park, we opted for a mix of paid campgrounds and dispersed camping. All of our accommodations were booked last minute, but that being said I would book in advance if you are able to.

The places we stayed were:

1. Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort – approximately $50 a night. We had access to wifi and 6 min showers. The showers are run on tokens as conserving water in this area is super important. Even though the campground was more expensive than we typically pay, we were happy with the location and convenience.
2. Hurricane Dispersed Camping – about 30 minutes outside the park and FREE. If you aren’t familiar with dispersing, you can refer to this article here to get a better understanding. Please leave no trace if you chose to disperse. Also, make sure to enter AND exit on 59 from Hurricane. We made the mistake of completing the road going East and I’m positive it shaved many years off my life.
3. Zion Ponderosa Resort – great location on the east side of Zion National Park and about $30 a night (weekday). The “resort” has all types of amenities and activities. If you are traveling with kids, this is the place for you. Additionally, if you plan on hiking Observation Point the location of this campground cannot be beaten.

Other accommodation options include:

• South Campground (park campground – book well in advance)
• Watchman Campground (park campground – book well in advance)
• Zion Park Motel
• Cable Mountain Lodge
• Zion National Park Lodge (in the park with amazing accessibility but pricey)
• Zion Campfire Lodge

Park Transportation

Shuttle Services

The Zion National Park Shuttle operates between March and November. During this time, cars are not allowed to enter the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. In order to enter the canyon, you need to pick up the Zion Shuttle at the visitor center.

The shuttle is free and does not require an advance ticket based on the new guidance here. Plan to spend about 20-30 minutes waiting for a shuttle depending on how busy the park is. The shuttle times vary depending on the time of year so make sure to reference the national park service site (linked above) for the most up-to-date information.

The town of Springdale also operates a shuttle that runs through the town all the way up to the park entrance. If you’d prefer to leave your car at your hotel or campground, this is a great option. The shuttle times for the town shuttle are slightly more limited so keep that in mind as you are planning your trip.

Alternatives

The shuttle is not the best route if you are keen to get into Zion National Park before the crowds or to capture some beautiful golden hour photography. In this case, I would recommend bringing bikes, renting bikes, or visiting in the off-season (November – March). Accessing the best views and hikes during golden hour is difficult in Zion during peak season, but not impossible if you are a little crafty.

Top Zion National Park Hikes

Zion National Park has some of the most beautiful hiking in the United States. The vast amount of scenery and landscape covered within the park makes any hike well worth it. Below are just a few of the major trails that can be enjoyed by all types of hikers.

Angels Landing

One of the most iconic hikes in the world, Angels Landing is a site to behold. Starting at the Grotto Trailhead, the trail is 4.4 miles round trip with severe elevation gain (I’m talking switchbacks for days). The climb is brutal and the last section from Scout Lookout is along a steep ridge using cables. This hike is not for the faint of heart.

Due to its popularity, Angels Landing now requires a permit to hike. The system was put in place to maintain hiker safety as the number of hikers that chose to hike this trail has increased drastically. Please reference the official National Park Service site for the most up-to-date information for obtaining a permit.

Narrows

Best attempted during summer or fall, the narrows is another amazing hike in Zion National Park. Be advised, water levels may make this hike inaccessible or treacherous. Please refer to here for information on when to go and what to know before taking on this hike. The full length is 16 miles but is commonly done in shorter sections.

The Subway

This hike requires a permit and is approximately 9 miles to complete. Photographers love this location for its unique composition.

Observation Point

Currently only accessible via the eastern side of the park. You start outside the park and enter it on foot via the trail. This route is 6.7 miles. Honestly, my favorite hike from our time in Zion National Park. The road is 4×4 only so traverse at your own risk.

Zion Canyon Overlook

1-mile roundtrip with incredible views. Great for the entire family and doable in a short amount of time. Additionally, this hike does not require using the shuttle since it’s on the eastern side of the Mount Carmel tunnel.

Easy Zion Adventures

Sometimes you just don’t have time for 9 miles of hiking. You might be on a time crunch or have 3 kids in tow. I get it. Below is a list of things that are stunning and easy to do in Zion National Park.

• Visitor Center + Par’us Trail – the Par’us is a short 3.4 miles, paved, and starts/ends right near the visitor center. The trail is easily accessible and you can even bike on it!
• Zion Canyon Overlook – If you’re doing a Utah road trip and starting in Zion National Park, this is a great trail to end your adventures with. Since it’s the eastern side of the park, it’s an easy hike before you hit the road to Bryce!
• Biking – There are tons of areas to bike to near and around Zion National Park. Hit up Par’us, cruise down Zion Canyon, or take a spin in town.
• Shopping + Ice Cream – What better way to spend the afternoon than taking in the beautiful art galleries in Springdale and gobbling up some Hoodoos Ice Cream.

What to Pack

Clothing

Packing the right clothing for a trip can be a make or break. I know I’m not the only one who has forgotten my sunglasses or a long sleeve shirt and majorly regretted it later.

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of items you should make sure to consider while packing. Certain items might not be applicable, but you’d rather chose not to bring them than to overall forget something!

Hiking Shorts

Hiking shorts are essential for a hot day but finding good ones that don’t cause chafing can be hard. My favorite type to wear is biker shorts since they cover all the way to my knees and don’t cause a lot of unnecessary rubbing. A great men’s option for shorts is here.

Active Shirts

The right active shirts are key while on a national park trip! I always chose shirts that are sweat-wicking and don’t hold an odor like merino wool. There are a ton of great brands but I recommend checking out Smartwool, Icebreaker, and Ibex Wool for shirts that will last you a while.

Hiking Pants

Just as important as hiking shorts are hiking pants. My go to hiking pants are CoalaTree Trailhead pants. I genuinely don’t use any other pants, but REI has a great selection.

Fleece

I always pack a fleece for every camping and hiking trip I go on because they’re so essential for layering! My favorites are from patagonia and I get all of mine at their secondhand website worn wear.

Jacket

A jacket is a must on a trip to Zion National Park because the temperatures fluctuate so heavily during the day. Again, I get all my packable puffer jackets from worn wear, but any lightweight jacket that packs down easily will do!

Sun Hat

Arguably one of the most important articles of clothing I pack. Protecting our skin is so imperative to preventing long term sun damage. I use my running hat for this, but any sweat wicking baseball hat or bucket hat will do.

Sports Bras

Okay ladies. We all know supporting the goods is a must during a day full of activities. Make sure to pack a couple of your go to sports bras for a good time in Zion.

Active Undies

Another one of the essentials that shouldn’t be forgotten during the packing process. My favorites are these. I’ve tried many and they are the best ones for the price that I can find.

Hiking Socks

Bringing the right socks for a hiking trip is crucial. I live and die by darn tough socks and injini socks.

Hiking Boots

Don’t opt for just tennis shoes. Make sure you pack hiking boots for your trip to Zion National Park. Hiking boots are super specific to the individual so swing by an REI to get fit if you don’t have any!

Lounge Attire

Packing some type of pajamas our loungewear makes life so much better when you’re traveling.

Sandals

Sandals – Chaco Z/Cloud 2 Sandals (women’s) Chaco Mega Z Cloud Sandal (men’s)

Thermals

If you are camping, I highly recommend packing thermals (200 or higher) to wear at night.

Accessories

Sunscreen

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what time of year you are traveling to Zion National Park. Sunscreen is always a must. I always bring along a 50 spf for face and put another bottle on the list of items to pick up when we land. If you’re driving, this is an easy one to pack ahead of time and save some money. Just make sure to pack enough for everyone on the trip!

Headlamp

Make sure to pack a headlamp if you are planning on doing any golden hour hiking or if you are camping. I always find it handy to have a fully charged headlamp in my daypack even if I’m planning on being back before sunset as a just in case safety net. My current headlamp is the Biolite 330 but any headlamp you have handy will do the trick.

Hiking Day Pack

Bringing a hiking day pack to hold your layers, snacks, sunscreen, etc. is a necessity. I use the Osprey Stratos 24 Pack. This is a men’s version, but I can easily carry it since I switch back and forth with my husband when we hike together. If you’re going solo, here is the women’s version.

Reusable Water Bottle

Having a resuable water bottle is a game changer on any trip, but especially a hiking trip. Not only does it save you a ton of money, but it’s also much better for the environment. I like using a nalgene because it’s lightweight, but I will also pack my hydroflask for every trip so I can bring a lot of water.

If you’re going on a longer hike in Zion National Park, you may want to consider some form of water treatment if the trail has access to a river. My favorite is the Katadyn because it’s easy and functions as an additional water bottle after you’ve filled up your others.

Sunglasses

I’ve forgotten my sunglasses once and I’ll never do it again (hopefully). Protecting your eyes is so important especially during those bright sunny days in Zion.

Other Items You Shouldn’t Forget

Here are some other items you’ll want to make sure hit the suitcase before you leave home!

• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Kindle/books
• Medication
• Camera
• Eye Cover
• Ear Plugs
• Chargers for your electronics
• Electric Hand Warmer (winter)
• Hat and gloves (winter)
• Swimsuit (summer)

Wrap-Up: How to Plan a Trip to Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a must-see! Regardless of how much time you have, there is a range of activities for everyone. Before you go, make sure to do the following:

1. Book any campgrounds or hotels
2. Plan any hiking and how you’ll get there
3. Secure permits (if applicable)
4. Create a packing list so you don’t forget anything

Most importantly, enjoy some of the best views that Utah has to offer. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

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