Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Zion

Are you planning a trip to Zion National Park for the first time but totally overwhelmed with planning? This detailed Zion National Park itinerary will cover all the details you need to know.

In this guide, I go over all of the basics about visiting Zion National Park, like how to get to Zion, where to stay in Zion, and more. Plus, I provide a 3 Day Zion National Park itinerary so you know exactly how to spend your time in this epic National Park!!

If you’re planning a trip to Zion and trying to decide how long to go for, let me explain why I chose 3 days!! In my opinion, 3 days in Zion is the perfect amount of time that allows you to see all the major parts of the park without feeling rushed.

If you’re wanting to tackle Angels Landing and the Narrows, you need at least 2 days! But there is much more to Zion than just these two hikes, which is why I recommend a third day to see the rest of the park (and give you a day in between these two insane hikes!).

The Perfect 3 Day Zion National Park Itinerary for First Timers

How to Get to Zion

You have a few different options in terms of getting to Zion National Park! 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!

If you’re flying in, 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 National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and so many others!

In fact, there is a very popular route called the Grand Circle that takes you on an epic Utah road trip through the most famous Utah National Parks.

Make sure to check out my One Week National Parks Road Trip itinerary for more detail on the trip we took to Zion, Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Antelope Canyon in an Escape Campervan!

Where to Stay Near Zion National Park

Staying Inside the Park

It’s important to note 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 inside the park, 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 inside the park, there are only 2 campgrounds, South and Watchman. Both require reservations ahead of time for the busy months and also book up fast!

They are both in wonderful locations and are super convenient since you do not have to worry about parking every morning! I highly recommend trying to stay inside the park if you can for this reason.

P.S. Planning a trip to Zion National Park? Don’t miss my post on 10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Zion!

Staying in Springdale

If you’re unable to secure a place to stay within the park for your 3 days in Zion – don’t worry! Most people that visit Zion stay outside the park in the town of Springdale, UT.

Springdale is right outside of the park’s entrance 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 that you don’t have to drive too far every morning.

Or, if you don’t mind being a little bit further away, you can look into some of the “glamping” options near Zion, like Zion Wildflower Resort!!

Zion National Park Packing List

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 even more enjoyable.

Besides the list below, make sure to also pack enough snacks and water for every single day! On most of the trails in Zion, there’s no food or drinking water available once you start the hike, so it’s essential to prepare for the worst!! Aside from that, here are some must have items to get for 3 days in Zion!

• 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 long hikes!) 
• 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!)
• Good Hiking Boots (These are essential for hiking, as you need shoes that have good grip and support you! I got these boots before our trip and they were perfect!)

Parking and the Zion Shuttle

Parking Options

If you weren’t able to secure a campsite or hotel inside the park, parking is another major factor to consider when planning your trip to Zion. Parking at the Visitor Center is FREE but extremely limited and fills up FAST.

For those driving into the park, I recommend trying to arrive right when the park opens, if not before. Expect the parking lot to fill up before 8am every day. If you can’t secure a spot inside the park, you’ll need to park in the town of Springdale, which will likely not be free!

If you’re staying close to the park entrance in Springdale, you can avoid the parking madness by walking every morning! There is a foot bridge to enter the park from the town, right next to Zion Outfitters and Zion Brewery. Another option is to take the Springdale shuttle, which stops at various stops in Springdale and ends at the Visitor Center. You can read more about that shuttle here.

Zion Shuttle

On the days you hike the Narrows or Angels Landing during this Zion National Park itinerary, you’ll need to make your way to the Zion Visitor Center each morning to catch the Zion shuttle. For the majority of the year, the main road that runs through Zion (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive) is closed to recreational vehicles and only the shuttle can operate on it.

The shuttle runs from the Visitor Center all the way through the park and stops at all of the major trailheads along the way – take a look at the route below for more information! Make sure to check before your trip, but the first shuttle typically leaves the Visitor Center around 7am, and I highly recommend trying to be on the first shuttle every morning!

Day 1: Angels Landing & the Canyon Overlook Trail

Part 1: Hike Angels Landing

Your first day of this Zion National Park itinerary will be spent tackling one of the most famous hikes in any US National Park – Angels Landing!! For hiking Angels Landing, plan to be on the first bus leaving the Zion Visitor Center. You’ll ride the shuttle to Stop #6: the Grotto shuttle stop to begin your hike!

Note: As of April 2022, Zion NPS is requiring permits for the chains section of the Angels Landing hike. This requirement is to make the hike safer and more enjoyable for everyone! Speaking from experience, I think this was definitely needed. The Angels Landing hike is SO much more enjoyable with less people!

The Angels Landing trail is 5 miles round trip and can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to complete. The beginning of the hike does NOT start out easy, like some hikes do. Don’t let this discourage you! After passing through Refrigerator Canyon and completing Walters Wiggles, you’ll arrive at Scout Lookout.

You can use the bathrooms and have a snack at Scout Lookout before continuing on to the chains portion of Angels Landing! Others will continue to theWest Rim Trail instead.

The entirety of the chains section is a half mile, which can take between 30 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on your pace and the amount of people on the trail! Once you reach the summit, the beauty of Zion and the Virgin River sprawls underneath you, and all the struggles of the last 2 hours are completely worth it. There are plenty of flat areas at the summit to sit, relax, and enjoy the view.

Make sure to check out my full beginner’s guide to hiking Angels Landing for a full breakdown of this hike and what to expect!

Part 2: Hike Canyon Overlook Trail

If you start Angels Landing first thing in the morning, you’ll probably finish around lunchtime, and your legs will feel like jello! I recommend grabbing lunch at one of the many places in Springdale and relax/recharge for a few hours. Give yourself time to recuperate, as you’ll be tackling another (much easier) hike in the afternoon. 

Once you’ve recharged, take a drive through the Mt. Carmel Highway in Zion and head to the Canyon Overlook Trail.. The views along this road are absolutely gorgeous.. take your time to take them in!

Right after you pass through the long tunnel, find parking on the road or in the small parking lot to the right and walk to the trailhead. I promise this hike is doable after hiking Angels Landing.

It’s only about a mile roundtrip, and relatively easy, but the views are absolutely gorgeous. It’s a great place to watch the sunset! 

Day 2: Ride Bikes & Explore the East Side

Part 1: Renting Bikes in Zion

On your second day in Zion, I recommend taking a break from hiking for the morning and seeing Zion from a different angle: on bikes!! There are tons of different places to rent bikes around Zion. I recommend renting from Zion Outfitters due to the extremely convenient location right next to the Visitor Center!

There are a few different bike path options depending on your preference and preferred fitness level. Below is a snippet from Zion Outfitter’s Website which goes over a couple different paths you can take.

After your morning on bikes, return your bikes to Zion Outfitters and pick up your gear for the Narrows tomorrow! What time of year you are visiting will dictate what gear you rent. At a minimum, I highly recommend the shoes, socks, and the walking stick.. You might think.. why do I need a walking stick?! But trust me, it saved me quite a few times from face planting into the water.

Drop your gear off at the car before grabbing a quick lunch and beer at Zion Canyon Brew Pub. After lunch, it’s time to explore the East side of the park!

Part 2: Exploring the East Side of the Park

The most famous parts of Zion are on the west side along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. But there’s a whole other area of the park that you can actually drive to that most people don’t bother visiting. On the East side of the park, you’ll drive through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel and beyond.

Along this drive, there are tons of awesome places to stop and take photos. Keep driving East and you’ll find some other awesome hikes, like the Checkerboard Mesa or Secret Pools. Spend your afternoon away from the crowds and enjoying this lesser known side of the park!

If you’re looking for more to do on Day 2, you can also check out the Lower Emerald Pools Trail!

Day 3: Hike the Narrows

The last day of this Zion National Park itinerary will be spent tackling one of the most popular hikes in the park: The Narrows. There are several different variations of this hike, but the most popular is hiking “from the bottom and back”, which does not require a permit.

This trail, if done all the way through, is 9.4 miles round trip. However, you do not have to hike the full 9.4 miles. You can turn around at any time in the river and make your way back to the entrance! If you do hike the entire trail, it will take you about 8 hours.

Like Angels Landing, hiking the Narrows will be SO much more enjoyable if you start early. The earlier you start, the less people there will be, and you get to take in the views all to yourself! If you are a photographer, consider starting later in the day to capture the beautiful sun beams on the canyon walls. However, just know you won’t have the trail to yourself!

You can read my full Beginner’s Guide to Hiking the Narrows here! Below is a short summary of what you can expect!

1. Take the Zion shuttle to the last stop – Temple of Sinawava
2. After getting off the shuttle, you will have a one mile hike along the river path before you get in the water. This is called the Riverside Walk!
3. After a mile, the path will lead you down stairs and into ankle deep water
4. From here, the trail will vary between dirt banks and the river! Be prepared to venture into thigh-deep water, depending on the time of year
5. This hike is an out and back hike, which means however far you go in, you will have to hike the same distance out
6. There are no bathrooms or water fountains on this trail. Make sure to pack enough food and water for your entire day, and be ready to be creative when you have to pee!