Thinking about making a trip to Zion National Park? Good choice!! You can easily tackle this park in two or three days with a little planning. Check out our tips and suggested itineraries below!
Accommodations
The entrance to Zion National Park sits just north of Springdale, Utah. If you aren’t planning to camp, we’d recommend staying in Springdale. There are tons of hotels to choose from and the convenience is unmatched. During our trip, we stayed at the Majestic View Lodge, which was just under three miles south of the visitor’s center. The room was comfortable and the location was perfect. We especially enjoyed the pool and the hot tub once our adventures were done each day. The restaurant on site was decent, albeit a little over priced.
There is also a saloon on site, which was quirky and fun. Note, however, that you can’t just stop in for a drink in Utah. State law requires that you order food with your drink.
The Majestic View Lodge sits across the street from the first stop on the Springdale shuttle line, which I’ll talk about next!
Transportation
We visited Zion National Park from August 26 through August 30. Most of this post reflects the schedules that were in effect during our trip. I tried to note changing schedules, but make sure you check the schedule while you plan your trip!
The trickiest part about Zion National Park is that you can’t drive a personal car through most of the park. Instead, you have to take a shuttle from the visitor’s center. The parking lot at the visitor’s center fills up by 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., so get there early if you want to snag a spot in the park. If you’re a late riser, or if you just don’t want to drive into the park, you can take the free shuttle in Springdale.
During the spring and summer, the Springdale Shuttle begins each day at 7:00 a.m. (as of this writing, the shuttle is on a fall/winter schedule and begins at 8:00 a.m.). The shuttle begins at the Majestic View Lodge and runs to the Zion Canyon Village. Note: If you’re not staying in town and need to park in a parking lot or on the street in Springdale, you will need to pay a parking fee. Just another reason to stay at a hotel like the Majestic View Lodge! If you take the shuttle to the park, remember that you’ll also need to take it back and plan accordingly! Check the schedule to determine when the last shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Village. As of this writing, the last shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Village at 8:00 p.m.
At the end of the Springdale shuttle line, you can walk into the Zion Canyon Village. Note: you will still need to pay to enter the park. Once in the park, you can hop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle, which will take you through the park. When we were there, the Zion Canyon Shuttle began at 6:00 a.m. (an hour earlier than the Springdale shuttle). As of this writing, the Zion Canyon Shuttle begins at 7:00 a.m. (still an hour earlier than the Springdale shuttle). If you plan to stay in the park all day, it is very important to check the time for the last shuttle of the day. As of this writing, the last shuttle leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 7:15 p.m. Don’t miss that shuttle or you’ll get stuck in the park!
Once you get the transportation issues sorted out, Zion National Park is a wonderful place to visit! The shuttle in the park came frequently and we rarely had to wait more than five minutes for the next bus. The drivers were helpful and there were usually rangers at each shuttle stop to answer your questions. Overall, I enjoyed the shuttle system, because we never had to worry about parking!
Zion can be tackled in just a few days. Check out our suggested itineraries below!
Two {Packed} Days in Zion National Park
Day 1: Emerald Pools, Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive, The Narrows, Big Bend
Hike to the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. This hike is approximately 3 miles, if you begin at The Zion Lodge and end at The Grotto. The Lower Emerald Pool was the most beautiful of the three pools. If you’re short on time, or not up for a moderately challenging hike, you can skip the middle and upper pools without missing much.
Drive Mt. Carmel Road. Once you finish your morning hike, take a drive up the Mt. Carmel Road. This is the only road you can drive through the park! It connects the south entrance to the east entrance. It is approximately 22 miles long and filled with beautiful views. The most notable part of the drive is the 1.1 mile tunnel, completed in 1930. Completely worth the trip!
Lunch! You can enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or eat at the Zion Lodge. We did the former, and enjoyed our lunch at Big Bend, an underrated stop on the Zion Shuttle.
After lunch, head to the last shuttle stop to hike The Narrows. Note: if you plan to go several miles into the Canyon, you may want to begin this hike earlier in the day. This is one of the most famous hikes in Zion National Park. And it lives up to the hype! Read our complete post about this hike here and check out the video here.
Please understand that this hike can be dangerous if the water levels are high or if it recently rained. Make sure you check the conditions before you head into the canyon. You will begin your trek with a 1 mile walk along a paved road. This portion of the hike is relatively easy and accessible to hikers of all abilities. After that, you get in the water and hike up the river! You can go as far as you like; most people turned around after about 1 mile. We went a few extra miles because the hike was just so cool.
On your way back from The Narrows, take a quick detour to Big Bend (if you didn’t have lunch there). It is one stop down the canyon from the Temple of Sinawava. When we visited Zion, we were completely alone at Big Bend. It was totally worth a quick stop!
After Big Bend, head out of the park to grab dinner and enjoy some much needed R&R!
Day 2: Angels Landing, Court of the Patriarchs
Start your second day in the park with an epic hike up Angels Landing. This hike is not for the faint of heart, nor would I recommend to someone with a fear of heights! Read our complete post about this hike here and check out the video here.
Begin this hike as early as you can. In other words, take the first shuttle. For us, that meant taking the 6:00 a.m. shuttle from the visitor’s center. If you aren’t interested in testing your climbing skills on the chains, end the hike at Scout’s Lookout, which is about 2 miles from the trailhead. Although the path is paved, it is steep and is guaranteed to make you sweat!
If you’re up for an adventure, continue the hike onto the chains. I promise, you will not be disappointed, it was the coolest thing we’ve ever done!
Take your time on this hike and enjoy the view from the top! After the hike, hop on the shuttle and head to the Court of the Patriarchs. It is only 150 feet to a beautiful viewpoint. And, with that, you can say you saw nearly all of Zion National Park in 2 days!
Three Days in Zion National Park
If you have an extra day in the park, you can take your time and really enjoy the activities listed above. You can also add in a trip to the Kolob Canyons, which is worth the trip if you have time!
Day 1: Emerald Pools, Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive, Kolob Canyons
On your first day, get your feet wet with an easy hike to the Lower Emerald Pool. If you’re feeling adventurous, tack on the middle and upper pools!
After your hike, head toward the nearly 100-year old, 1.1 mile long tunnel on the Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive.
End the day with a drive to the Kolob Canyons, which is about 45 minutes from the main entrance to the park. Once you get there, you can drive the scenic road or take one of the many hikes near the road. This part of the park was nearly empty when we were there.
Day 2: The Narrows, Big Bend
Sleep in a bit and head to The Narrows mid-morning. You don’t want to do this hike too early in the morning because the water is cold!
After the hike, check out Big Bend.
In the afternoon, grab a beer or some ice cream in Springdale!
Day 3: Angels Landing, Court of the Patriarchs
Start your day bright and early with a hike up Angels Landing.
Head to the Court of the Patriarchs to wrap up your time in Zion.
