Zion National Park is on Utah’s southwest border; it is only a few hours away across the Nevada border to Las Vegas. While Utah has five national parks, including one of the most spectacular, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park is the state’s oldest, established in 1863 and officially opening in 1919.
Zion National Park is well-known among US National Parks for its rock formations, hiking routes, and the breathtaking Zion Canyon. Of course, you will recognize the most famous trails, such as The Narrows, from social media. Still, there are numerous outdoor thrills, including mountain biking, canyoneering, and rock climbing.
The actual issue is deciding where to stay in Zion National Park. There are numerous regions to pick from that cater to various types and needs and numerous hotels for every budget. Here’s a list of places to stay in Zion National Park.
Where To Stay In Zion National Park
Staying in the park is a straightforward answer to where to stay in Zion National Park. The 148,016-acre park has many lodging options, including a family-friendly Zion National Park lodge, a basic B&B, and a full-service luxury resort. The most significant advantage of staying inside Zion National Park is that nature surrounds you.
Of course, the disadvantage is that you are not close to facilities and may have to sacrifice city nightlife. However, you’d expect to make sacrifices to stay inside one of the most recognized National Parks in the world, so nothing should surprise you.
So, while you should expect remote lodgings and need a reliable car, immersion in nature surpasses any inconveniences. If you want to spend your entire vacation hiking, staying in the National Park is more reasonable. Stay in Zion to optimize hiking time because you will be closer to all the natural wonders and reduce your daily driving. There are two significant campgrounds in Zion. The South Campground and Watchman Campground are both close to the Springdale entrance.
Where To Stay Outside Zion National Park
Springdale
Springdale is a golden child for a town experience near Zion National Park. You can relax with stunning scenes of Mount Kinesava and The West Temple, as well as supermarkets, pubs, and restaurants right on your doorstep.
The best thing about Springdale is walking to some of Zion’s natural wonders. If you stay at Cable Mountain Lodge, you will be directly at the park’s entrance. Zion Canyon is a ravine south of Springdale that you may climb around and explore without driving deep into the National Park. The Virgin River runs through Zion Canyon, and a paddle is a terrific way to cool off, especially on hot days.
You do not need to drive even if you want to explore Zion National Park’s distant trails. Springdale Town Center is about a twenty-minute walk or three-minute drive from the Zion National Park Visitor Center. You can reserve a seat on the Springdale Shuttle to the Zion National Park and hiking trailheads.
Springdale is in a fantastic location. It is a good option if you want to avoid staying in remote lodging but want to spend most of your time in Zion National Park. While there is not much in the way of nightlife or countless attractions, Springdale is close to the Zion Park entrance, has a friendly visitor center, and provides an excellent base for an outdoor vacation.
St. George
St George has a lot going on for such a little community. Although only an hour’s drive from Zion National Park, the city has so much to offer that you must include some “St George days” in your Zion itinerary. St. George has a Mormon temple, a wildlife museum, manicured desert gardens, the St. George Narrows, cocktail bars, and a laser tag arena. The attractions may appear diverse, and to be honest, they are! However, if you want entertainment within easy walking distance of your hotel, St George is the place to stay near Zion National Park.
The St George Narrows are very well-known throughout the city. When you’re not touring Zion National Park, you can put your climbing talents to the test by negotiating the difficult gap between the two rock faces. After you’ve finished it, you may relax at the 52-acre Pioneer Park, which has BBQ facilities and city views. St George, unlike Springfield, is not on the doorstep of Zion. However, it is a beautiful choice for a diversified vacation with cultural, entertainment, and outdoor activities.
When Is The Ideal Time To Visit Zion National Park?
The finest seasons to visit Zion National Park are late spring and early fall. Mild temperatures make it simple to experience the best of Zion. April-May and September-October are often pleasant and bright, with the odd shower. This is the finest time of year to go on long hikes in Zion.