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Where do I start the Zion Scenic Drive?

From the west, you get on the byway at the intersection of Hwy 9 and Interstate 15, about 9 miles east of St. George. On the east, the Byway ends at Hwy 89, at Mt Carmel Junction. Hwy 9 is the major road providing access to Zion National Park.



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Route 9 is a beautiful scenic byway. It is a great alternative to taking the highway (rt 15) and takes you through Mt Zion Park. Note that your map app may call it a toll road because you are required to pay for admission to the park.

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How long is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive? Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is approximately 7 miles long. The up-canyon shuttle routes takes about 45 minutes to reach the last stop, Temple of Sinawava. The entire round-trip ride takes about an hour and a half.

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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.

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A Utah roadtrip route If 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.

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Top ways to experience Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and nearby attractions. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 100% of travelers recommend this experience.

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Route 12 is one of the most scenic roads in Utah, and all of the US for that matter, so this is a drive to enjoy. I definitely recommend doing this hike during the day so you can soak up all of the views along the way.

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Shuttles take about 45 minutes to drive between the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Temple of Sinawava. This means a round trip takes about an hour and a half.

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Paying for a Park Pass If you enter Zion, even if it is to pass through the park, you will need to buy a recreational use pass (park pass).

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While I've done a couple longer hikes, I've also enjoyed all these non-hiking things, too!
  1. Go for a short walk. ...
  2. Rent a bike and ride Zion Canyon. ...
  3. Drive the Mount Carmel Highway. ...
  4. Drive the scenic drive at Kolob Canyons. ...
  5. See Zion from a helicopter.


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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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The Zion Canyon Shuttle connects the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to stops on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Shuttles leave every few minutes and go either north or south. You can exit the shuttle at any open stop.

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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.

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Zion to Bryce Canyon 1 Day Itinerary & Map. 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.

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Bryce Canyon NP Scenic drive runs 18 miles along Highway 63 from Highway 12 until it ends at the south end of Highway 63 in Bryce Canyon National Park. Many of the park's highlights can be seen by the numerous overlooks.

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Top cities between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. The top cities between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are Kanab and Cedar City. Kanab is the most popular city on the route. It's 1 hour from Zion National Park and 2 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park.

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Pay $15, in addition to the park entrance fee, for the tunnel permit at the entrance station before proceeding to the tunnel.

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If you're looking for breathtaking views on a casual drive, give Utah's Byway 12, Byway 143, or Scenic Highway 89 a try! Bryce Canyon Country also has a long list of scenic byways and backways that lead to unique backcountry locations just waiting to be explored.

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Zion is open 24/7, though car traffic may be limited at different times of the day or year as mentioned above. You can drive into certain parts of the park at any point during the night for stargazing.

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