Best time to travel in Zion National Park?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with 2015-2024 averages
Best time: April to May and September to November
Best avoided if possible: January to February and July (less pleasant weather or big crowds).
Temperatures and rainfall: 1991-2020 normals from the Zion National Park station, NOAA data (public domain).
High-altitude desert on the canyon floor, at 1,200 m: scorching summers around 38°C with thunderstorms and flash floods from July to September, mild springs and autumns between 20 and 28°C, and cool winters around 12°C during the day with frost at night and snow on the plateaus. The best time to visit Zion is April, May, September, October and November, with temperatures reaching 37-39°C (July). By contrast, January, February, March, June, July, August and December are generally less favourable (less pleasant weather or big crowds, depending on the destination), though a trip is still possible with a bit of planning. In high season, book early: prices and visitor numbers climb fast.
Go against the flow. To avoid the crowds without sacrificing too much on the weather, aim for March, June and December: the crowds thin out, prices drop too, and the climate stays pleasant.
Do these months appeal to you? See what's best elsewhere too: where to go in April · where to go in May · where to go in September · where to go in October · where to go in November.
At a glance
Why go to Zion National Park?
Zion is Utah's oldest national park, protected in 1909 under the Paiute name Mukuntuweap before becoming a national park in 1919, and one of the most visited in the country. Its heart is a 24 km canyon carved by the Virgin River into Navajo sandstone, ancient petrified dunes whose slanting layers can still be read in the walls. The valley floor, green and shaded by cottonwoods, contrasts with cliffs 600 to 800 metres high, white at the top and red at the base, which bear biblical names given by Mormon pioneers: Great White Throne, Court of the Patriarchs, Angels Landing.
People come to Zion first and foremost to hike, and its two signature trails are among the most famous in the United States. Angels Landing, along a ridge fitted with chains, has to be earned through a lottery. The Narrows are hiked upstream in the river itself, between walls so close that the sky shrinks to a strip. Around them, gentler walks, Emerald Pools, Canyon Overlook, Watchman, suit families. From March to November the canyon road is closed to cars and served by a free shuttle, which keeps it unusually calm for such a busy park.
Zion is also a hub of the Grand Circle of the American West. Las Vegas is a 2 hour 30 minute drive away, Bryce Canyon less than two hours via the Mount Carmel tunnel, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon about 3 hours, and Page and Antelope Canyon 2 hours. Springdale, the village at the south entrance, is entirely organised around the park, with hotels, restaurants, gear rental shops and a free shuttle to the visitor centre. In the evening, the park, certified for the quality of its night sky, shows off the Milky Way above the cliffs.
Tourist map of Zion National Park: what's where?
The map below pinpoints the 6 places covered in this guide: a handy way to picture the distances between each stop and plan your route in Zion National Park.
- Angels Landing
- Temple of Sinawava
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Springdale
- Checkerboard Mesa
- Kolob Canyons
How much does a trip to Zion National Park cost in 2026? Budget calculator
Estimate your budget for Zion National Park based on your travel style: accommodation, meals, activities and local transport included (flights excluded). Adjust the length and the number of travellers, and the totals update.
Totals for all travellers over the chosen length; the daily amount is per person. Flights extra, indicative amounts to adjust depending on the season.
Cards are accepted everywhere, including in the park and for the Springdale parking shuttle. Prices are shown before tax, so add about 7 to 8% on purchases and more on hotels. A tip of 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants and for guides. If your trip also includes Bryce Canyon or the Grand Canyon, the America the Beautiful pass for non-residents, $250, covers the surcharge for the whole vehicle and pays for itself from the second park.
Safety in Zion National Park: should you be worried?
Zion's two major risks are flash floods and falls. A storm breaking tens of kilometres away can swell the river within minutes in the Narrows and the slot canyons: check the flash flood forecast posted every morning at the visitor centre, and never enter a gorge when the risk is rated probable. On Angels Landing and the cliffside trails, stay on the path, hold the chains, and give up in strong wind, rain or ice: several hikers have fallen to their deaths there. In summer the heat exceeds 38°C in the canyon, so hike early with at least three litres of water. In the cold water of the Narrows, hypothermia is a risk even in summer, and in spring snowmelt closes the area. Do not feed the bighorn sheep and deer, and the squirrels bite. There is a clinic in Springdale, the nearest hospital is in St. George, and insurance covering medical care in the United States is essential.
Things to see and do in Zion National Park
Our first-hand favourites, and the great classics:
- Angels Landing
- The Narrows
- Emerald Pools
- Canyon Overlook Trail
- Observation Point
- Watchman Trail
- Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
- Kolob Canyons
What to book before you go to Zion National Park →
🧭 Discover the Zion National Park itinerary, day by dayMap, timings, budget and where to stay: free to access, to fit your dates. Create my tailor-made itinerary →Zion Canyon and its scenic drive
The main canyon, served from March to November by the free shuttle that runs up the scenic drive for nearly 15 km, from the visitor centre to the Temple of Sinawava, with nine stops. Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Lodge, the Grotto, Big Bend: each stop gives access to a trail or a viewpoint. The Pa'rus Trail, the only trail open to bikes and dogs, follows the river from the visitor centre. Outside shuttle season, from December to February apart from the holidays, the road opens to cars, with car parks that fill up quickly.
Angels Landing and the Grotto
From the Grotto stop, the West Rim Trail crosses the river and climbs in switchbacks to Scout Lookout, a saddle between two cliffs where the view is already wide, with no permit needed. Beyond it, the last kilometre to the summit of Angels Landing is done with the chains, on a permit allocated by lottery. Stronger hikers continue along the West Rim towards the plateau. The Kayenta Trail links the Grotto to the Emerald Pools along a hillside path, for a half-day loop.
The Narrows and the Riverside Walk
At the end of the scenic drive, the Temple of Sinawava is an amphitheatre of cliffs from which the Riverside Walk sets off, a paved 1.6 km stroll beside the water, suitable for pushchairs, past seeps with ferns and orchids. It stops where the Narrows begin, which you hike upstream in the water. Rental shops in Springdale supply high-top shoes, neoprene socks and a walking stick, and drysuits for the cold season. The park closes the area as soon as the flow or the weather becomes dangerous.
The east of the park: tunnel, Canyon Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa
The Zion-Mount Carmel road climbs through switchbacks and then a 1930 tunnel before emerging onto a plateau of white and pink sandstone domes, very different from the canyon. The Canyon Overlook trail, at the tunnel exit, gives a plunging view after an hour's walk. Further on, Checkerboard Mesa shows off its criss-cross lines, and desert bighorn sheep often cross the road. Beyond the park boundary, ranches offer accommodation, horse rides and access to the East Mesa trail towards Observation Point.
Springdale
The village at the south entrance, around 600 people, at the foot of the Watchman, entirely geared towards the park. The free Springdale shuttle links its hotels and car parks to the visitor centre, so you do not have to hunt for a space in the park. Here you will find e-bike and Narrows gear rental, canyoneering guides, galleries, breweries and restaurants with terraces facing the cliffs. Parking in the village is paid. Rockville and Virgin, further west, offer quieter and cheaper accommodation.
Kolob Canyons
The north-west section of the park, 45 minutes from Springdale via the I-15, with its own entrance. The 8 km scenic drive climbs between the Finger Canyons, bright red sandstone cliffs, to the Timber Creek overlook. The Taylor Creek trail leads to Double Arch Alcove, and a longer trail reaches Kolob Arch, one of the largest arches in the world, in a day's hike. The section receives a small fraction of the main canyon's visitors, and combines with a drive to Cedar City or Salt Lake City.
How many days, and which itinerary in Zion National Park?
Two full days are enough for Angels Landing or Scout Lookout, the Emerald Pools, the Riverside Walk and part of the Narrows. Three or four days add Canyon Overlook, Observation Point, the Watchman and Kolob Canyons. Zion is almost always combined with Bryce Canyon, less than two hours away, and other parks in Utah and Arizona.
🗺️ Day-by-day Zion National Park itinerary · 📓 Printable Zion National Park travel guide (PDF) · 🌍 Discover all of the American West
The essentials (2 days)
Day 1: first morning shuttle to the Grotto, up to Scout Lookout and Angels Landing if you have the permit, back via the Kayenta Trail and the Emerald Pools, dinner in Springdale. Day 2: shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, the Riverside Walk and then up the Narrows to Wall Street for the fittest, and in the late afternoon the Watchman Trail and sunset from the Canyon Junction bridge.
Zion in depth (4 days)
The two days of the essentials, then a day in the east: Canyon Overlook at sunrise, Checkerboard Mesa, and Observation Point via the East Mesa trail with a private shuttle from a ranch. On the fourth day, drive to Kolob Canyons via the I-15, the Taylor Creek trail to Double Arch Alcove and the Timber Creek overlook, then leave for Cedar City, Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.
Zion and Bryce Canyon (5 days)
Three nights in Springdale for Angels Landing, the Narrows and Canyon Overlook, then head east through the tunnel and Mount Carmel Junction: Bryce Canyon is less than two hours away, at 2,400 metres, with its thousands of orange hoodoos. Two nights at Bryce for sunrise at Sunrise Point and the descent of the Navajo Loop towards Queen's Garden. Bryce also applies the $100 surcharge for non-residents, so the America the Beautiful annual pass pays off on this route.
How to get to Zion National Park and get around?
From Europe, a few non-stop flights reach Las Vegas, some only in season, in about 11 hours; otherwise you fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City with one connection. Springdale is 270 km (166 miles) from Las Vegas, a 2 hour 30 minute drive along the I-15, and 495 km from Salt Lake City. The small St. George airport, an hour away, receives domestic flights from Denver, Salt Lake City and Dallas.
A hire car is essential to reach the park and Bryce Canyon, €40-80 a day in Las Vegas. Park entry costs $35 per vehicle, about €30, valid for 7 days, and since 1 January 2026 each non-resident visitor aged 16 and over pays an extra $100, about €86. The annual pass for non-residents, $250, about €215, covers these fees for all the occupants of the vehicle.
From March to November and over the end-of-year holidays, the Zion Canyon scenic drive is closed to private cars. A free shuttle runs along it from the morning, 7am in season, until late afternoon, and a second free line links the hotels of Springdale to the visitor centre. The visitor centre car park is full by early morning in season.
Cycling is a good way to explore the scenic drive: rental shops in Springdale offer e-bikes, allowed on the road and on the Pa'rus Trail, provided you let the shuttles pass. The Zion-Mount Carmel road, to the east, stays open to cars all year round, but is closed to oversized vehicles, which must go around the park.
Where to stay in Zion National Park?
Zion Lodge, the only hotel in the park, in the middle of the canyon, offers rooms and cabins at €250-400 a night, booked more than a year ahead. Its guests can drive to the lodge during shuttle season. The canyon's two campgrounds, Watchman and South, are booked on recreation.gov and go within minutes.
Springdale lines up dozens of hotels, motels and B&Bs along the main road, from €150 to €400 a night in season, served by the free shuttle. Rooms with a view of the cliffs, on the river side, cost more but are worth the extra when you wake up.
On a tighter budget, Hurricane and La Verkin, 35 minutes away, or Kanab, an hour to the east, offer motels at €80-130 a night. Kanab also serves as a base for Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
East of the park, around Mount Carmel Junction and the East Zion plateau, ranches and cabin lodges offer horse rides, a pool and peace and quiet, 30 minutes from the canyon through the tunnel. They are convenient for moving on to Bryce Canyon.
Our picks stop by stop, in three price ranges →
What to eat in Zion National Park?
Springdale has all the restaurants around the park: burgers and craft breweries, Mexican food, wood-fired pizzerias and a few more ambitious tables, from $18 to $40 a dish. Book for dinner in season, as the terraces with views of the cliffs are packed from 6pm.
Zion Lodge houses the canyon's only restaurant, the Red Rock Grill, and a self-service café, handy for lunch between two trails. Otherwise there is nothing to buy in the canyon, so bring a picnic and water from Springdale.
Springdale's grocery stores sell sandwiches, fruit and snacks for the day, at higher prices than in St. George or Hurricane, where the supermarkets are. Stock up on the way in from Las Vegas.
Utah has strict alcohol rules: beer is sold in supermarkets, while wine and spirits are sold only in state liquor stores or in restaurants with a meal. Springdale's breweries serve their craft beers by the glass. A tip of 18 to 20% remains the norm.
Which kind of traveller is it for?
Zion lends itself to a nature-focused and active trip. Whether you travel with friends, as a couple or even solo, everyone finds their own pace. For accommodation, you will mostly find lodges, classic hotels and back-to-nature camping.
Entry requirements & practical info
UK, Australian and most EU passports need an ESTA, applied for online before departure, for stays of up to 90 days; a few EU countries sit outside the Visa Waiver Program and need a full visa. Canadians need neither, only a passport. Anyone who has been to Cuba since January 2021 cannot use an ESTA and must apply for a visa.
Rules change: before you leave, check your country's official travel advice.
Once there, to stay online without paying roaming charges, an Zion National Park eSIM activates in a few minutes and works as soon as you land (plans from €3.99). Remember suitable travel insurance too.
Frequently asked questions about Zion National Park
How much does it cost to enter Zion National Park?
$35 per vehicle, about €30, valid for 7 days for all occupants, or $20 per person on foot or by bike. Since 1 January 2026, each non-resident visitor aged 16 and over pays an extra $100, about €86. The America the Beautiful annual pass for non-residents, $250, covers entry and this surcharge for its holder and the passengers in their vehicle.
How do you get a permit for Angels Landing?
On recreation.gov, by lottery. The seasonal lottery opens one to two months before each season, for example from 1 to 20 April for hikes from June to August. The day-before lottery opens every day from 12.01am to 3pm, Mountain Time, with results after 4pm. The application costs $6 for up to six people, plus $3 per person selected. Without a permit, you can climb as far as Scout Lookout.
Do you need a permit for the Narrows?
No for the bottom-up hike, wading upstream from the Temple of Sinawava to Big Spring, 8 km from the start. A permit is required for the full top-down descent from Chamberlain's Ranch, 26 km over one or two days. The park closes the Narrows when the flow exceeds 150 cubic feet per second or when there is a flash flood warning.
Can you drive through Zion Canyon?
Not during shuttle season, from March to November and over the end-of-year holidays: the scenic drive is reserved for the free shuttle, bikes and Zion Lodge guests. From December to February, outside the end-of-year holidays, the road opens to cars. The Zion-Mount Carmel road, to the east, stays open all year round.
When is the best time to visit Zion?
April-May and September-November, with 20 to 28°C during the day. Summer is scorching, over 38°C, but it is the best season for the Narrows, when the water is warmest and the flow lowest, with the risk of monsoon storms. In spring, snowmelt often closes the Narrows. Winter is quiet and cool, with occasional ice on the trails.
Can you do Zion and Bryce Canyon on the same trip?
Yes, it is the most common combination. Bryce Canyon is less than two hours from Springdale via the tunnel and Mount Carmel Junction, at 2,400 metres, with cooler temperatures. Bryce also applies the $100 surcharge for non-residents: with two parks, the annual pass for non-residents, $250, works out cheaper for a couple or a family.
Is Zion suitable for children?
Yes, with easy trails: the Riverside Walk, the Pa'rus Trail by bike, Lower Emerald Pool, and Canyon Overlook with care near the drop. The Narrows can be done for the first kilometre with children who are comfortable in water. Angels Landing is not recommended for young children or anyone prone to vertigo.
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