What is the closest town to Zion National Park entrance?
Springdale. If you're looking for the closest town to Zion National Park, Springdale wins, hands down. The small town is just outside the park boundaries at the south entrance gate and is full of hotels, restaurants and outdoor recreation vendors.
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However, if it is your first visit to Zion National Park, we would suggest visiting from the southern entrance. This will give you direct access to the main visitor's center, shuttles, and Zion Canyon which features Zion's most popular hikes, such as Angel's Landing and the Narrows.
Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park are approximately 80 miles apart and one can be reached from the other in under 2 hours by car, about 1 hour and 40 minutes without traffic. The fastest route between the two parks starts on Route 12, takes you south on Interstate 89 and then west on Route 9.
If you enter Zion, even if it is to pass through the park, you will need to buy a recreational use pass (park pass). Passes are non-transferable. Zion only sells park passes in person, and you can get a pass at any entrance station.
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.
The important thing to know is that you can't drive private vehicles into Zion National Park during “shuttle season” which is March 11 through November 26 (in 2023). On these dates, you must ride the free Zion Canyon Line Shuttle from the Visitor Center.
Ideally, you need two to three days to really explore Zion National Park. This will give you enough time to hike one of the longer trails such as Angels Landing or the Narrows and enjoy all the major viewpoints.
The best way to see Zion is to spend a week in the park, starting with the visitor center displays and programs, then taking a Zion Canyon Scenic Drive trip on the shuttle bus, and gradually working from short hikes and walks to full-day and overnight treks into the backcountry.
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.
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!
Absolutely! While Angels Landing is a popular and iconic hike at Zion National Park, there are still plenty of other amazing sights to see in the park. We rarely hike Angels Landing when we visit, and yet we visit every year.
Zion National Park is OpenThe park is 24 hours a day 7 days a week year round. When the Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only accessible by shuttle.
Visitors can drive into Zion National Park, but parking is limited and fills up quickly. And from March to November, Zion's Scenic Drive is only accessible via shuttle. If you visit the park during off season, when the shuttle isn't running, you may enter in your private vehicle.
That depends on the type of experience you are looking for. If you're interested in exploring the unique hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park is the better option, as it offers a variety of trails and viewpoints. On the other hand, Zion National Park has more adventurous hikes and back-country opportunities.
A Utah roadtrip routeIf you're only doing these two parks then it doesn't matter which you do first. If you're going over to the other Utah national parks (on the east side of the state), then it makes sense to do Zion first, then Bryce and head on east.
Yes, it is possible to see both Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day, but it will be one VERY FULL day. A lot depends on where you start and end your trip, of course.