Zion National Park spans over 146,000 acres of pure magnificence. You’ve obtained the teetering climb up Angel’s Landing, the Narrows and its novelty hike by way of the river, and so many viewpoints that you simply’ll battle to resolve which to go to first. The hikes simply astound you in Zion National Park. But with a lot to do, it’s no marvel we at all times get questions on the place to keep in Zion National Park and what the most effective Zion National Park lodging is. After numerous visits to this park (Which is considered one of our favorites within the USA), we put collectively this deep dive into the world to make it easier to resolve.
Best Places to Stay in Zion National Park
You have a number of totally different choices for locating locations to keep in Zion National Park. There are restricted selections when you’d like to keep contained in the park itself (suppose one resort and many campgrounds), or you may keep in one of many close by cities, only a brief drive or stroll to the park entrances. These cities have way more selection when it comes to lodges, and also you’ll simply want to drive into the park every morning to take pleasure in its well-liked trails. Zion National Park lodging is fairly different.
In this information, we’ll weigh all the things up for you to select the most effective Zion National Park lodging in your journey. Whether you need a scorching tub, health heart, or non-public deck overlooking superb views, we’ve obtained you coated. Here’s the place to keep in Zion National Park.
1. Zion National Park Lodging (Inside The Park)
So, let’s begin with the obvious choice first. For many, staying within the park itself is smart when you’re visiting Zion National Park. Waking up overlooking red-tinged sandstone views simply sounds magical, doesn’t it?
Staying contained in the park is feasible, however you have to be organized or very versatile. There’s just one resort choice with the park – Zion Lodge. We’ll focus on this resort extra in a second. Still, you have to perceive that if you would like a resort expertise inside Zion National Park, test availability and ebook prematurely. Obviously, with only one resort choice, rooms go quick, particularly in peak months like summer season.
Otherwise, there are numerous campgrounds to select from, so pack your tent or begin up your campervan: South, Watchman, and Lava Point Campground are all nice choices. And tenting inside Zion National Park is nice enjoyable.
Luxury: Zion National Park Lodge
Zion National Park Lodge is the one resort truly set inside Zion National Park. The historic lodge dates again to 1924 and provides rustic cabins with a ridiculously handy location. While it may not be essentially the most extravagant luxurious lodging selection, it undoubtedly qualifies as essentially the most luxurious place to keep in Zion National Park, provided that it’s the one place you may bag an precise resort room. There’s additionally a quiet, imposing magnificence to the property, with a darkish picket exterior lit up in opposition to its sandstone cliff backdrop.
Zion National Park Lodge is open year-round and has incredible views. It’s simply the most effective lodges within the area, and its wonderful location units it aside. There’s an on-site restaurant, free parking, and comforts like free Wi-Fi and TVs in every cabin, room, or suite. If you need consolation inside Zion National Park, you’ll have to test availability at Zion National Park Lodge, which offers easy accessibility to the park’s points of interest.
Mid Range: Under Canvas Zion
Okay, we’ll be utterly sincere: Under Canvas, Zion technically straddles the Zion National Park border on its north-western Kolob Terrace area. However, because the solely different choices contained in the park are campgrounds, we determined to spotlight one of many few potential glamping websites. You’ll be proper on the Zion border and get a extra distant expertise with the consolation of deluxe glamping tents.
Guests can take pleasure in a fireplace pit, horseback using excursions, scorching air ballooning, and on-site yoga classes. The tents characteristic large beds; some have stargazer parts, with clear sections to admire the evening sky. Under Canvas Zion may be a quite cheeky addition to the ‘inside Zion’ part, however the promise of attractive glamping websites on the nationwide park border must be a robust sufficient promoting level for you. Definitely test availability for its glamping tents.
Budget Hotel: South Campground
South Campground is the place to keep in Zion National Park in case you are a hardy camper and glad to ‘rough it’ to stick to a price range. It is additional into the park than its neighbor, Watchman Campground. The campground is primary however has water entry, showers, a laundry room, and bogs. There’s even a playground for households.
You can carry a tent or an RV. It is a simple stroll into Springdale for city facilities or a stroll to the shuttle for Zion’s foremost trails and points of interest. You are actually minutes away from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and Pa’rus Trail. You may stroll to the Zion Human History Museum in as little as 20 minutes. Considering you’re tenting inside Zion National Park, you continue to have easy accessibility to extra formal points of interest and city facilities. It’s a pleasant stability that makes South Campground price contemplating when you’re touring to Zion on a price range.
Pros Of Staying inside Zion National Park
It is a superb location to entry all the paths, which provides you a head begin if you would like to entry trails early within the morning to beat the crowds.
You don’t have as a lot driving time as you should utilize the free shuttles and stroll across the park. Many points of interest are simply minutes away from the lodging in Zion National Park.
You get attractive views galore and expertise Zion when most individuals go residence.
Cons Of Staying inside Zion National Park
You do miss out on facilities like eating places, with restricted selections for eating contained in the park. If you need a restaurant meal, you’ll have to head to Springdale, simply exterior the south Zion National Park Entrance or keep at Zion Lodge so you may dine on the on web site restaurant.
There is little range when it comes to resort choices and pricing. If you take a look at lodges exterior Zion National Park, you’ll discover higher worth for cash.
You’ll solely see Zion quite than get to discover different areas as effectively.
2. Springdale
Springdale is the trusty second-in-command for staying close to Zion National Park; most guests select this as their base. If you missed the boat and located Zion National Park Lodge to be booked out or simply fancy extra resort choices, Springdale is your finest shout. The city is actually steps away from the south entrance of Zion National Park, which means you could possibly nonetheless stroll to any of its foremost points of interest when you actually wished to – simply with the added bonus of extra resort selections and higher facilities. Springdale is a good location if you would like proximity to Zion’s points of interest however a extra city expertise than you get from in-park lodging. It is the place you may keep in Zion National Park for utter comfort.
Zion’s south entrance is served by a compulsory Zion Canyon Shuttle for a lot of the 12 months. This shuttle runs by way of Springdale itself, which means you don’t even want to spend further driving time. When staying in Springdale, you’ll be a brief stroll out of your nearest pick-up level.
Aside from being actually handy, Springdale can also be a stunning city. The small handful of homes, eating places, and lodges sit in opposition to a backdrop of sandstone cliffs, and the Virgin River snakes by way of the city. Thanks to the surroundings, it seems like you’re already within the park, and also you received’t miss out on any of that ‘wow factor’.
Luxury: Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection
Cliffrose Springdale is a ravishing 4-star resort on the riverfront in central Springdale. Upscale and immensely subtle, we enormously admire how Cliffrose Springdale balances fashionable and conventional design. Its beautiful structure makes use of wooden and sandstone to seamlessly mix into the setting whereas showcasing massive, fashionable home windows for plentiful pure lighting. Inside, every room provides a personal deck or balcony with plush bedding and modern decor.
However, the actual motive we added this luxurious resort to this information is its scorching tub, hearth pits, and seasonal out of doors pool. It has an actual out of doors ambiance the place company can chill out with totally different actions after a busy day in Zion National Park. Imagine soaking in a scorching tub at your lodging after a protracted day in Zion.
Furthermore, Cliffrose Springdale is a chosen cease on the Springdale shuttle to the park, so reaching the primary Zion trails is straightforward.
Mid Range: Red Rock Inn Cottages
Red Rock Inn Cottages has comfy rooms and an unpretentious vibe. Guests get homely rooms with flat-screen TVs, minifridges, and coffee-making machines. Each room has views of Zion Canyon or the property’s serene backyard areas. And when you do need to improve your expertise, you may splurge on a particular room with a personal scorching tub. Red Rock Inn Cottages are the proper Zion National Park lodging for anybody wanting a cushty keep.
Guests get a complimentary breakfast and parking. In abstract, Red Rock Inn Cottages is only a stunning property to use as a base, placing plenty of effort into its inside design and making it visually interesting. This lodging is the place you may keep in Zion National Park to relax in a scorching tub and embrace homely comforts. Check availability prematurely as it is a well-liked lodging selection and is open year-round.
Budget: Zion Canyon Cabins
Zion Canyon Cabins are lovable log cabins located centrally in Springdale. These cabins are perfect for nature lovers or those that like a extra rustic aesthetic. Even higher, they’re a number of the most budget-friendly lodging in Springdale—which, bear in mind, tends to hike lodging costs up given its unimaginable location and entry to Zion National Park.
Zion Canyon Cabins have a seasonal out of doors pool and communal hearth pits. The communal hearth pits are nice for assembly new folks, and there’s an outside grill and BBQ space for cooking. It might sound slightly dear, nevertheless it’s price reiterating that Springdale lodging costs are larger than in different areas. There’s only a premium price ticket due to its handy location. Still, comparably, Zion Canyon Cabins are the best choice for snagging essentially the most aggressive worth.
Pros Of Staying in Springdale
You can simply catch the shuttle, drive, or stroll into Zion National Park. Springdale is basically handy, and it’s situated subsequent to Zion’s south entrance.
Springdale has many facilities, together with many resort choices and eating places, so you may price range higher with extra selections.
Springdale is well known for its magnificence and is a genuinely fairly little city and place to keep. You’ll take pleasure in a backdrop of sandstone cliffs and the close by Virgin River; you don’t miss out on pure magnificence by staying in Springdale.
Cons Of Staying in Springdale
Springdale is the best choice amongst these wanting to keep exterior Zion National Park, so it will get busy. Remember to test availability and ebook prematurely. Also, be ready for crowds in peak seasons.
Springdale wants extra points of interest (if we’re being choosy). It is gorgeous, however in any other case, it’s a launchpad to see Zion National Park quite than a vacationer vacation spot in its personal proper.
Prices will be barely hiked up for vacationers as a result of Springdale is such a ‘through-town’.
3. Mt Carmel Junction
Cast your eyes to the opposite facet of Zion National Park; Mt. Carmel Junction is a brief 15-minute drive from the jap Zion National Park Entrance. Unlike staying in Springdale, you’ll want to drive your manner into the park. It isn’t shut sufficient to be inside strolling distance, however you’ll be driving to Zion National Park on the Mt. Carmel Highway Scenic Drive. The ‘commute’ into the nationwide park is without doubt one of the most scenic drives within the area, and it’s nonetheless fairly easy accessibility.
Mt. Carmel Junction is tiny and a extremely candy place to keep. If you need someplace barely much less well-liked (learn: busy) than Springdale, that is the place to keep in Zion National Park. It has a number of eating places, present retailers, and an all-necessary gasoline station. Accommodation is restricted, however you might have many lodges and RV parks to select from. If you need to really feel slightly within the sticks, Mt. Carmel Junction is right. It has first rate facilities however is way much less touristy.
Mt. Carmel Junction can also be a fantastic place to discover locations aside from Zion National Park. You’re only a brief drive from the Belly of the Dragon Trail, which begins by strolling by way of an unlimited tunnel and Elkhart Cliffs Slot Canyon. You are only a 20-minute drive from Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, too. It’s a fantastic location to get extra out of your journey and detour from the usual vacationer path. The close by mountaineering trails are a lot quieter than the key trails in Zion, so it’s a pleasant stability in your itinerary.
Luxury: Zion Mountain Ranch
Zion Mountain Ranch is essentially the most luxurious lodging choice in Mt. Carmel Junction. The historic ranch has a combination of picket cottages and splendid suites—all adorned in luxurious, conventional outdated Western fashion. And even higher, there’s a herd of bison on an on-site reserve, which is superb for animal lovers and people wanting to spot wildlife when visiting Zion.
There’s parking and an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and night meals. Zion Mountain Ranch is secluded and a fantastic place to embrace the extra rural, genuine environment of Mt. Carmel Junction. Definitely test availability for its beautiful suites.
Mid Range: Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge
Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge is a bit more fashionable, providing incredible mid-range lodging in central Mt. Carmel Junction. Guests get entry to queen and king rooms, with the choice to improve to suites. The room decor is mild and boutique-style, offering a peaceable area to retreat to after all of your sightseeing and mountaineering in Zion National Park. There are complimentary toiletries in every, in addition to in-room leisure.
You can discover a big out of doors pool on-site, 24-hour reception, and laundry amenities. The latter is a pleasant contact, contemplating you’ll get so mucky in Zion National Park. Of course, there’s free WiFi and parking, and general, it’s a moderately priced and cozy expertise in Mt. Carmel Junction.
Budget: Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park
Located simply north of Mt. Carmel Junction’s heart is Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park, the area’s finest budget-friendly lodging. Mt. Carmel Motel & RV Park is undoubtedly essentially the most competitively priced place to keep within the space, with primary however comfy rooms and a useful location to head into Zion National Park. The motel is modest and down-to-earth however in a tasteful manner.
The motel has solely six rooms, so you’re assured a extra lowkey environment. Each room has a mini fridge, microwave, and occasional machines. Of course, that is nice for holding your consuming payments low, and you’ll improve to a cabin choice that options its personal non-public kitchen for a self-catered keep, too. If you need a price range keep within the Mt. Carmel space, this motel is for you.
Pros Of Staying in Mt. Carmel Junction
Mt. Carmel Junction provides a extra genuine and fewer touristy expertise. It is extra relaxed than different locations like Springdale.
You have a great deal of totally different locations to sightsee close by, together with slot canyons and trails that take you thru tunnels. All of those trails are a lot quieter than these in Zion National Park, supplying you with extra stability in your itinerary.
The driving route to Zion National Park takes you on a scenic freeway and solely takes quarter-hour.
Cons Of Staying in Mt. Carmel Junction
You aren’t inside strolling distance of the park, so that you have to be glad driving.
There are restricted facilities in Mt. Carmel Junction, so it isn’t suited to anybody wanting many bars and eating places.
Similarly, you’re restricted when it comes to resort choices. You ought to ebook lodging prematurely to keep away from it promoting out.
4. Hurricane
Hurricane is the furthest choice when researching the place to keep in Zion National Park, roughly half-hour from Zion’s south entrance. So, why trouble with the drive? Well, Hurricane is the closest metropolis to the nationwide park, which means tons of facilities in your go to and many leisure. If you’re extra of a metropolis lover, Hurricane is essentially the most entertaining place to keep close to Zion National Park.
Hurricane has the Hurricane Valley Heritage Park Museum and Pioneer Corner Museum for vacationers. You may go to Quail Creek State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. It’s a fantastic base to discover many various points of interest round Utah. It additionally has extra residential points of interest, like a cinema, golf programs, splash pad, espresso retailers, and lots of parks. It’s the place to keep in Zion National Park if you would like a busier metropolis expertise whereas away from Zion’s mountaineering trails. You have all the things you want in your doorstep.
Hurricane is our high advice for anybody who needs infinite leisure selections and lots of resort choices. If you ebook a keep in Hurricane, you’ll have a way more packed itinerary.
Luxury: The Dwellings
The Dwellings is boutique lodging simply north of Hurricane’s heart. It’s out of the hustle and bustle and provides tastefully adorned deluxe studios, full with non-public terraces. If you need a luxurious base in Hurricane, The Dwellings is a wonderful selection. Each studio incorporates a kitchenette and scorching drinking-making amenities. Guests have a self-contained dwelling area, with bedrooms and adjoining seating areas, plus ample entry to out of doors area.
Spending lengthy days in Zion, it’s good to know you might have someplace peaceable to retreat to and rejuvenate. For further peace of thoughts, there’s parking on-site and household rooms for many who’d like them. The resort was solely in-built 2020, so the decor is fashionable and tasteful too.
Mid Range: Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane
Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane is situated within the coronary heart of Hurricane and is the place to keep if you would like a mid-range property within the coronary heart of town’s motion. As a sequence resort, this property is extra like a standard resort expertise, with a grand foyer and visitor room format. The 3-star resort has a 24-hour reception desk and a spacious automotive park. It is a good base in Hurricane and ticks all the required bins for a really cheap worth.
Each room has an ensuite with complimentary toiletries, and also you get a fridge that turns out to be useful for storing grocery-bought meals and saving cash on consuming out. Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane has an onsite out of doors swimming pool, health heart, and enterprise heart. Overall, it’s a welcoming and dependable base when staying in Hurricane.
Budget: Hurricane Hideaway Lodging
Hurricane Hideaway Lodging has resort rooms which are about as central as you may get in Hurricane. You’ll have doorstep entry to town’s leisure and facilities like eating places, good for getting essentially the most out of your expertise. It is only some minutes on foot from the Hurricane Valley Heritage Park Museum and a tasty Peruvian restaurant, Peruvian Flavors. You are a block away from Hurricane’s shop-lined Route 9. For a budget-friendly price, nice location, and cozy rooms, you may’t high this resort.
Each room comes with espresso machines, minifridges, and microwaves. Anyone obsessed with price range journey is aware of the magic of this magic mixture. You’ll have the option to squirrel away leftover meals safely and profit from grocery buying. You additionally get a personal toilet, WiFi, TV, and entry to communal out of doors seating. It is a good deal if you would like to expertise Zion National Park on a budget.
Pros Of Staying in Hurricane
You get a metropolis environment with many extra actions and leisure. This is right for staying entertained within the evenings whenever you seemingly aren’t spending time in Zion National Park anyway.
Hurricane has many extra resort choices, so you will discover higher offers and charges.
There’s quite a bit to discover close by, together with museums within the metropolis heart and state parks round its outskirts.
You are solely a 30-minute drive from the nationwide park, which remains to be very handy.
Cons Of Staying in Hurricane
You aren’t inside strolling distance of the nationwide park, and the drive isn’t attractive, like Mt. Carmel Junction’s scenic freeway. You’ll want to be glad driving not less than an hour return every day.
Hurricane is a metropolis quite than a scenic city, so you’re going to get a unique surroundings and views than you’d staying in Springdale.
Hurricane is busy. Get prepared for crowds.
FAQ’s About The Best Areas to Stay in Zion
You now know precisely the place to keep in Zion National Park. Are you selecting to keep close to the quiet jap entrance? Or stunning Springdale or the citified Hurricane? Choosing a location is as essential as deciding in your lodging. Though, after all, weighing up between a scorching tub or pool is fairly thrilling.
Before you go, although, let’s take a look at a number of the mostly requested FAQs. Here’s some quickfire info that might make it easier to slim down your selections.
Where do folks keep when visiting Zion National Park?
Most folks keep in Springdale, because it’s the closest city exterior the nationwide park and has essentially the most resort and facilities choices.
Is it higher to keep inside or exterior Zion National Park?
It is dependent upon what you take pleasure in doing. Overall, we’d suggest staying simply exterior of Zion National Park. You received’t discover a lot of a distinction when you keep in Springdale.
Is it higher to keep in Zion or Bryce Canyon?
Both provide related lodging selections, with one central resort in every park and a cluster of lodges close to the park entrances. However, Bryce Canyon is mostly slightly quieter, as Zion National Park is the most well-liked of the 2.
How many days do you want in Zion National Park?
You want not less than three days in Zion National Park. We recommend greater than three days if you would like to hike a number of vital trails (suppose the Narrows and Angels Landing). You’ll want some downtime in between, and also you don’t need to tire your self out on main trails solely to miss the shorter routes and experiences.
Where not to keep in Zion National Park
When staying in and round Zion National Park, we suggest staying inside a 30-minute drive. You need to maximize your time within the park, and by staying additional away, you’ll lose a substantial chunk of your day to driving. This is worse in your vitality ranges and itinerary and means different individuals are extra seemingly to beat you to these valuable few automotive parking spots. Make your life simpler by staying shut to the park and its entrances. Similarly, whereas trip leases and Airbnbs are nice, having a extra formal lodging web site is nice for added luxuries on the finish of a protracted day.
These are a number of of the locations close to Zion National Park that we’d recommend avoiding:
1. Hildale
Hildale is a city bordered by Colorado City on the Arizona border. It has some fairly attractive glamping websites and a historical past intently interlinked with Warren Jeff’s cult—which is attention-grabbing for anybody enthusiastic about darker US historical past.
However, extra appropriate choices exist for these trying to keep close to Zion. We suggest avoiding this spot because it takes over an hour to attain the nationwide park by automotive. Travel time will take up a substantial portion of your day and tire you out earlier than you even arrive.
If you’re on the lookout for glamping, try Under Canvas Zion as a substitute. It’s situated within the Kolob Terrace area, only a 35-minute drive from the park.
2. St. George
St. George is the primary port of name whenever you enter Utah from Nevada, and when you’re driving from Las Vegas, you’ll cross straight by way of this southwestern metropolis. It’s a cool place, with petroglyphs, dinosaur stays, and doorstep entry to Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. An wonderful place to cease on a highway journey? Absolutely. But we wouldn’t suggest staying right here if you would like to go to Zion National Park.
St. George is just a bit bit too removed from the park entrance, taking round an hour a method by automotive. You’ll in all probability drive by way of Hurricane, too, which implies you typically catch metropolis site visitors at peak hours.
Instead, keep in Hurricane itself for half your day by day journey time after which take a day journey to St. George to see all it has to provide on non-Zion day.
3. Kanab
Kanab is tough to rule out as a result of it’s a quirky border city. However, it’s a bit too far to justify selecting it for lodging when visiting Zion National Park. It takes roughly an hour to attain the park from Kanab.
We will say, although, to keep in Mt. Carmel Junction after which make a day journey to Kanab. Kanab has Little Hollywood Land and dozens of close by trails, together with Moqui Cave Natural History Museum and a few slot canyons.
Why we love Zion National Park
To be sincere, who doesn’t love Zion National Park? The park is overflowing with character and attractiveness. You can admire the sandstone canyon walks and slim ridges or stroll by way of rivers. It’s the form of nationwide park that challenges preconceptions. It’s no marvel it’s thought of one of many finest nationwide parks within the USA.
Zion National Park is a simple ardour level for us as we love our mountaineering trails and US nationwide parks. There’s a lot to see. Check out a number of the points of interest round Zion National Park, too; don’t simply pigeonhole your self into strolling the key trails. Visit the lesser-visited slot canyons and state parks dotted round its edge.
Its surrounding space is simply a part of Zion National Park’s magnificence and attract; deciding the place to keep in Zion National Park is a good determination. Whether you choose a spot close to a Zion National Park entrance, keep contained in the park itself, or choose a extra distant base—just like the thrilling metropolis of Hurricane—we hope you might have an exquisite time.