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Which entrance is best for Zion National Park?

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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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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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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Can I drive my private vehicle into Zion Canyon? A. From March through late November, access to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is by shuttle bus only. Private vehicles are allowed to access the Scenic Drive only when the Shuttle System is not in operation.

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The Direct Route is safe - that said, you'll face sharp turns in the form of switchbacks. Switchbacks are roads with sharp ascents and descents cutting back one on another, so it's good to be prepared for this before you set off on your trip. If you're scared of heights, there's no need to be concerned.

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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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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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Both of these Parks offer great outdoor activities for all ages. For canyoneering and rappelling, Zion beats Bryce. You'll find world-class hiking in either Park, but in Zion you can find yourself hiking through streams or on sandstone ledges, like Angels Landing – one of the scariest hikes in the world!

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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.

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Entrances to Zion 1. The main entrance to Zion Canyon, the most popular place in the park, is through Springdale, Utah. 2. The second most popular entrance is on the east side, on Zion-Mt Carmel Road.

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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. Drive to the tunnel during the tunnel hours of operation (posted seasonally). Tunnel traffic control will be provided by friendly NPS rangers.

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Trams depart from the bus stop in front of Zion Lodge and travel north to the Temple of Sinawava with a scheduled stop at the Great White Throne. These 60-75 minute rides offer local knowledge, incredible open-air visibility and personal headsets.

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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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In many national parks, staying inside the park is important. At Zion, staying outside the park might actually be a little better. Don't worry too much. This is one of those happy situations where both choices are very good.

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Should I Spend More Time in Zion or Bryce Canyon? Chances are, if you're heading to Bryce Canyon, you're probably also wanting to visit Zion National Park at the same time. These parks are only two hours apart, making it easy to see both! Zion definitely needs more time than Bryce Canyon.

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Crowds and wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park Crowds are common at most scenic overlooks and a number of trails, especially in summer, but the atmosphere is quieter than at Zion.

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Is Zion or Arches better for a whole day? This one is tougher but it may depend on if you want to just do a couple of longer hikes or do a lot of short hikes. If you want a couple of long hikes, Zion. If you want a lot of shorter hikes with a couple slightly longer, then Arches.

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No reservations are required to enter the park. Reservations for lodging within the park are highly recommended. Of the park's two campgrounds only Sunset Campground accepts reservations. All 100 sites are reservable on a 6-month rolling basis.

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The best way to get to Bryce Canyon from Zion is by taking Route 9 out of Zion to Route 89 north to Route 12 into Bryce Canyon.

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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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Parts of the drive are spectacularly beautiful and other parts not so much. To break up the short drive, we set out to find interesting things to see and do between Las Vegas and Zion. Here is our list of what to see and do in the area.

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