10 things You Need To Know Before Visiting Zion National Park
Are you planning a trip to Zion National Park for the first time? Maybe you’re doing a day trip to Zion from Las Vegas or planning an epic road trip across the American Southwest! No matter the way you visit, Zion National Park is absolutely worth the trip.
However, there are some important things to know before visiting Zion that will make or break your trip!
In this guide, I’ll cover my top 10 things to know before visiting Zion National Park! After reading this list, you should feel much more prepared for your trip!
So keep reading if you’re planning a trip to Zion National Park for the first time and are trying to learn as much as possible before visiting!
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Visiting Zion National Park for the First time: 10 Things to Know
Getting to Zion
Before we get into the list, let’s touch on how to get to Zion National Park! You have a few different options.
The closest airport is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (formerly McCarran Airport), which is 170 miles from the park and should take between 2.5 – 3 hours to get there.
Next closest is Salt Lake City International Airport, which is just over 300 miles from the park and should take you about 4.5 hours! So if you’re flying, I recommend flying into Las Vegas for the quickest drive.
It’s important to note, however, that Zion and Las Vegas are on two different time zones, with Las Vegas on Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Zion on Mountain Standard Time (MST), so you will lose an hour driving to Zion from Las Vegas! Make sure you factor this into your travel plans.
If you’re renting a car and driving, Zion is the perfect starting point for an epic road trip across the American Southwest! In addition to visiting Zion National Park, you can tackle Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and so many more national parks!
Bonus points if you tackle the itinerary in an Escape Campervan like we did!
What to Pack for Zion National Park
Before I visit a new place, I do a ton of research on what to pack because I hate to feel unprepared! So I’ve put together a list of items that will make your trip to Zion National Park even more enjoyable.
First, make sure you pack enough snacks and water for each day. Once you’re in the park, there are food and drink options, but not on the trails themselves. I always make sure to carry water and snacks to prepare for the worst!
Aside from food and water, I also highly recommend packing the following:
- Sunscreen (Not just if you are visiting in the summer! The sun is strong in the desert. My favorite sunscreen is Supergoop – it goes on silky smooth, and you will forget you are even wearing it!)
- A Hat (Along with the above, a hat is the best protection for your face against the sun. You’ll be happy you have it! I got this cute bucket hat for our trip, but a baseball cap will work too!)
- Portable Charger (If you’re planning to spend entire days away from your campsite or hotel, I recommend a portable phone charger just in case your phone dies!)
- A Day Pack with Water Bladder (I bought this pack before our trip and it was easily the most important purchase. Having a water bladder is the BEST for hiking, especially hikes like the Narrows and Angel’s Landing!)
10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park!
#1. You Need a Recreational Pass to Enter!
Unfortunately, Zion National Park isn’t free! But don’t worry, it’s very affordable. There are different types of passes available. For Zion specifically, they offer a few different weekly passes, one for private vehicles ($35), one for motorcycles ($30), and one for individuals not driving into the park ($20).
Note: If you plan to visit Zion more than once in the same year, you can get an annual pass for $70. But what I recommend is to buy an America the Beautiful Pass! For $80, you get access to an extensive amount of national parks throughout the country for a whole year. You can buy this pass online in advance of your trip or at the Zion entrance.
P.S. Planning a trip to Zion National Park? Don’t forget to check out my 3 Day Zion National Park Itinerary!
#2. Accommodation inside the Park is Limited, so Most People Stay in the Town of Springdale
It’s important to know when planning a trip to Zion National Park that the options for staying inside the park are extremely limited and require planning way in advance. If you want to stay in a hotel/lodge, there is only one option – Zion Lodge! It is pricey and books up 6+ months in advance, so you have to plan ahead!
If you’re looking to camp, there are only 2 campgrounds inside the park, South and Watchman. Both of these require reservations ahead of time and are closed during the winter (dates vary each year).
Typically, Watchman Campground reservations open 6 months in advance, and South Campground reservations open 14 days in advance. If you’re interested in camping, be prepared to book as soon as the campsites open!
While staying inside the park has its advantages (like not having to fight for parking), most people visiting Zion National Park stay in the town of Springdale, UT. Springdale is right outside of the park’s entrance (as shown on the map below) and has campgrounds, budget hotels, and upscale lodges – something for everyone!
Just expect to pay a premium the closer you are to the park’s entrance. I’d recommend trying to stay within a few miles so you don’t have to drive too far every morning.
If you don’t mind being a little bit further away, you should definitely check out some of the “glamping” options for Zion as well.
#3. There is a Free Shuttle that Takes You From the Visitor Center to the Trailheads
Zion is unlike other national parks where you can drive straight to the trailhead, park, and start your hike. From March through November (exact dates vary), the main road in Zion, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, is closed to all recreational vehicles.
If you’re driving into the park during this time of year and want to visit most of the popular hikes, you will need to park in the Visitor Center parking lot and hop on the free shuttle bus. The shuttle bus will take you the major trailheads like Angel’s Landing, the Narrows, Emerald Pools, and more!
Below is a map of the shuttle stops throughout the park:
#4. Free parking is Limited and Fills Up Fast
As mentioned above, typically from March through November you will not be able to drive along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, so if you want to bring your vehicle into the park, you have to park at the Zion Visitor Center. Parking here is free, but it fills up extremely fast.
When we visited during the middle of October, the parking lot seemed to fill up completely by 8am. So if you’re looking to drive into the park, you need to start early to ensure you get a parking spot.
If you are unable to get a spot inside the park, you can find paid parking in the town of Springdale and take the Springdale shuttle to the entrance of the park (see map above!). From there, you will enter the park across the foot bridge and then get on the same Zion shuttle as described above!
#5. Summers are hot and busy
Zion National Park is CROWDED in the summer. Families, couples, and groups flock to the park during summer vacation and time off from school and work. Hotel rates are higher. Restaurants are busier. And it is hot!! Like, really hot.
Below are the typical temperatures in Zion in the summer! If you’re planning on visiting Zion National Park in the summertime, be prepared for extreme crowds and soaring temperatures. The best way to avoid the crowds in the summer is to start every day early, which leads to Tip #6!
#6. You will enjoy yourself 100x more by starting early
No matter what time of year you are visiting Zion National Park, your experience will be SO much better if you start your days early. I highly recommend trying to be on one of the first shuttle buses leaving the Visitor Center every morning.
For us, this meant 7am, but it varies based on time of year! One of the days we visited, we got a late start, and the difference was extremely noticeable. No parking spots, long lines, and more.
And if you are planning on hiking the Narrows or Angels Landing, you definitely want to start as early as possible. And speaking of Angel’s Landing..
#7. Angels Landing Permit
As of April 1, 2022, Zion National Park is requiring a permit in order to hike the chains portion of Angels Landing. The purpose of this is to limit the amount of people per day and to make the hike more enjoyable for everyone.
Speaking from experience, I think this is a great thing. This hike is SO much more enjoyable with less people. And the reason for this is, the chains section of this hike is not split into two sections – the way you hike up is the same path you take down.
So, if you get to the chains section after a ton of people have started it, you’ll be sharing the chains with everyone coming back down. This makes things significantly less exciting, as you’ll be waiting a lot, and more importantly, it becomes more dangerous. When people start rushing, mistakes are made and that’s how people get hurt. You can read more about the permit process here.
Don’t forget to check out my beginner’s guide to hiking Angels Landing!
#8. The Narrows Might be Closed When You Visit
The Narrows is probably one of the most popular hikes in Zion! And if the main goal of your trip is to complete this hike, you should avoid visiting Zion National Park between March and May.
Water levels during this timeframe are typically too high to safely hike through the Virgin River. During the summer, the flow of the river is normally ideal for hiking, but flash floods can be common during this time as well.
Always make sure to talk to a park ranger before hiking the Narrows to make sure it is safe!
If you are planning your trip around hiking the Narrows, I would plan to visit Zion in late summer/early fall! When we visited in October, it was a little cold (both the air and water!) but we rented waterproof pants which helped a ton. Overall, it seemed like a great time to hike the Narrows!
#9. Don’t Forget About the East Side of the Park!
The most popular hikes in Zion like Angels Landing and the Narrows can be found along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, but there is a whole other side to the park to the East. Plus, you can drive through this part of the park!
Once you enter the park from the Springdale Entrance, you can follow the signs for Mt. Carmel Tunnel, which will take you to the less popular east side of the park. Here, you will find the Canyon Overlook Trail (an easy but gorgeous hike!), Many Pools, Checkerboard Mesa, and more!
Along the Mt. Carmel Highway leading up to the tunnel, there are tons of scenic pull offs that make extraordinary backdrops for photos. This part of the park is so picturesque, and you can do it at your own pace in your own vehicle! Don’t miss it!
#10. Leave No Trace!
If this is your first time visiting Zion National Park (or any National Park!), you may have never heard of “Leave No Trace”!
Leave No Trace is a program that encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and ensure it is protected for generations to come! A large part of Leave No Trace is disposing of waste properly (pack in, pack out).
For example, if you bring a lunch on a hike with you, you should pack all trash and dispose of it properly once you are able to. This doesn’t just mean plastic and trash, but food remains like apple cores, banana peels, etc. Other important Leave No Trace principles include leaving what you find (like rocks, plants, etc.), respecting wildlife, and being considerate of others when you’re enjoying the outdoors!
It’s very important to understand and follow all of these principles when visiting a National Park like Zion!
Final Thoughts
Well that concludes my list for 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park!! I absolutely fell in love with Zion when we visited last October.
Because I had never been to a National Park before, I was so overwhelmed while planning our days in Zion and the rest of our trip! So I hope this list helps you feel more prepared for your trip and you can completely enjoy it!
Don’t forget to check out my US National Parks Road Trip Itinerary and my one day in the Grand Canyon itinerary if you are planning a trip to the American Southwest! There is so much to see and do in this gorgeous part of the USA!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
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