When to Travel to Zion National Park

Most popular: April – October

🌱 Spring: March and April, Snow begins to melt, flowers start to bloom, daytime temps begin to warm, nights are still cold

☀️ Summer: May to September, busy with tourist, temperatures over 100˚F

🌧 July – Sept: Flash flood season (Monsoon season)

🍂 Fall: October and November, 70-80°F fall colors, pleasent weather and less crowds

❄️ Winter: December to February, cold, wet with snow. temperatures from highs of 50-60˚F and lows below freezing. 

Most people book a trip from November to April to dodge the heat and the crowds, but I went in the end of May and every flower was in bloom! It was stunning. The temperature was about 100 degrees, desert heat with no humidity, so you need to do exposed hikes in the early morning but on the plus side, the Narrows hike was very refreshing! Summer is busy and hot with tourist and kids out of school.

Traveling throughout Zion National Park

From April to October, the park implements a mandatory shuttle system to reduce traffic congestion and make the park as accessible as possible for a higher volume of visitors during its busiest season. The shuttle is free, runs frequently and offers a nice place to rest your tootsies between hikes. As you’re plotting out your day, keep in mind the shuttle takes about 80 minutes to make its full loop, and double-check with the rangers what time the last run is. Also, the shuttle goes right into the town of Springdale so you can walk out of your hotel and take the shuttle into the park. Shuttle System Details

Permits and Fees

• Entrance fee good for 7 days Private Vehicle: $35 Motorcycle: $30 Per Person with no vehicle: $20
• BEST DEAL! Interagency Annual Pass: $80 Buy here
• Zion Express Membership  Allows members who have obtained a reservation to convert it to a permit online, three days before their trip. Recommended if you visit the park frequently. Details here
• The Subway and Mystery Canon Permit $5 non-refundable lottery application fee. Details here.
  • Permit Fee $15.00 – 1-2 people $20.00 – 3-7 people $25.00 – 8-12 people
• Canyoneering Permits All technical slot canyons in Zion National Park require a permit. This includes the Narrows one-day top down hike. $5 non-refundable lottery application fee. Details here.
  • Permit Fee $15.00 – 1-2 people $20.00 – 3-7 people $25.00 – 8-12 people

Lodging & Food in and Around Zion

Zion has three campgrounds. South and Watchman Campgrounds are in Zion Canyon. The Lava Point Campground is about a 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road. There are no campgrounds in Kolob Canyons. All campgrounds are often full by noon on weekdays and in the morning on weekends. From mid-March through November the campgrounds are full almost every night. 

Reservations at Watchman Campground are recommended if you would like to guarantee a camping spot. If you are unable to make a reservation, the earlier in the day you arrive, the better your chance of getting a campsite. I knew I was going to be arriving late on Friday so I made reservations at Flanigan’s Inn, in Springdale, and woke up early to go to Watchman Campground to get a first come first serve site before my hike. I would highly suggest Flanigan’s Inn. The rooms were great and they had an amazing pool with a beautiful view that was perfect for after-hike dips! Plus the shuttle stop was right across the street as well. 

The town of Springdale is a quaint little desert town with other lodging options, shopping, and restaurants. I ate at Oscars’s Mexican, it was packed with locals and tourists and I would highly recommend it. I also ate at the Zion National Park Lodge, which was touristy but had great views.  In the park, I stayed in Watchman Campground two different times and truly lucked out with my both spots! The views were spectacular. The first time I was in B-Loop, overlooking a large field, the Virgin River and an unobstructed view of the orange desert cliffs in the distance. The first night I woke up to two-12 point mule deer grazing outside my tent and the second night I woke up to powerful winds, needless to say, the camping was pretty eventful! The second time I was a little close to the main road where people walked to and from the visitor’s center, in A loop, but the views were great.