Is it hard to get into Zion National Park?

Starting mid-morning, lines to board the Zion Shuttle can be very long. We are talking an hour wait or longer. To have the best experience, plan on being on one of the first two shuttles of the day. During peak season and holiday weekends, plan to get in line at least 30 minutes before the first shuttle.



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You do not need a permit or reservation to visit most areas in Zion Canyon. You do not need a permit or reservation to ride a park shuttle. You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park. You do need to pay the park fee.

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Depending on where and when you board one of Zion's free shuttle buses you may have to wait 30 minutes or more for an available spot. Shuttles run every few minutes but they fill to standing room only for most of the day. Expect a wait at the Visitor Center in the morning with peak wait times from 8:00AM to noon.

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You do not need a permit or reservation to visit most areas in Zion Canyon. You do not need a permit or reservation to ride a park shuttle. You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park.

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No, you do NOT need reservations to get into Zion National Park. But there are other things you might need permits or reservations for, such as popular hikes, campgrounds, lodging, restaurants, and driving an RV through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

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To avoid the crowds make sure to get out first thing in the morning. Never, never, never try to get on the shuttles anytime after 8:00 am if you want to avoid crowds and lines to get on the shuttles. The early start time is so worth it you guys!

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Zion National Park has three entrances, the South Entrance, East Entrance, and Kolob Canyons Entrance. As far as which one is best, really depends on where you want to go in Zion, but by far the most popular entrance is the South Entrance.

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With about 230 square miles to explore, driving is the best way to experience a Zion National Park tour. However, like any national park, you'll have to buy an entrance pass to get in. At Zion, the fee for a single vehicle is $35.

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It's only logical that that Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday will be busier than other days. Especially during peak travel seasons of spring and summer. To help avoid crowds in Zion National Park visit mid-week. You're more likely to find convenient parking spaces and encounter less people on the hiking trails.

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Best Time to Visit Zion National Park for Smaller Crowds If you have the flexibility, making the trip during the park's off-peak months of October through March means less crowded hiking trails and fewer view-blocking selfie sticks. If you're looking for a really quiet escape, January is the best time to visit.

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For the average national park explorer, late spring or early fall is the best time to visit Zion. From April to May and September to October, the weather is good, crowds are fewer, and hiking conditions are optimal.

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Zion Parking Lots & Zion Parking Fees A $15 fee per vehicle in addition to the entrance fee is required in this case. Youth under 15 are free. Zion parking lots do exist inside Zion National Park but have very limited spaces and are not available from March to November.

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Zion Hikes From the Visitor Center While the Watchman Trail has you winding through the canyons to the final panoramic viewpoint of lower Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale. Since these trails are not along the Scenic Drive, you don't need to take the Zion shuttle to hike the Pa'rus Trail or Watchman Trail.

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The entire hike is 16 miles long. From the top-down, the hike begins at Chamberlain's Ranch and the Narrows ends 15 miles later at the top end of the Riverside Walk. One more mile of walking on the Riverside Walk gets you to the finish line of the hike, the Temple of Sinawava.

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If you are planning to hike the Narrows from the bottom up—starting at Temple of Sinewava, you do not need to obtain a permit. However, if you are hiking from the top down, either as a day hike or an overnight trip, you will need a permit. For reservations, click here.

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