Zion National Park — Visitor Information

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Zion is one of the most visited — and most complex to navigate — national parks in the West. Most of Zion Canyon is closed to private vehicles for much of the year, several of its best-known hikes require a permit, and its shuttle system is central to almost every visit. Here's what to know before you plan your trip, plus where to get the official, up-to-date details.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: road closures, trail closures, flash flood risk, and wildfire activity change quickly and aren't tracked on this page — always check the official Zion Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Springdale, Utah
Entrance Fee
$35 / vehicle, 7 days
2026 Shuttle Season
Mar 7 – Nov 28, plus Dec 26 – Jan 2
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Angels Landing, Narrows top-down, Subway, canyoneering, backcountry camping
Best Time to Visit
Apr–May & Sep–Oct (mild temps, thinner crowds)

Visitor Centers

Tap a visitor center for its official NPS hours & facility info.

Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Near the south entrance, Springdale — the main hub for maps, permit questions, and ranger info. Hours vary seasonally.
Zion Human History Museum
About 1 mile into Zion Canyon (Shuttle Stop 2) — exhibits on park history, plus a ranger info desk. Seasonal hours.
Kolob Canyons Visitor Center
Separate entrance off I-15, about 40 minutes from the main canyon — covers the less-visited Kolob section of the park.

Exact hours change by season — always confirm current hours on the official NPS hours page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Every vehicle entering Zion needs a park pass — you can buy one at any entrance station.

  • Private vehicle: $35, valid 7 days (covers all passengers)
  • Motorcycle: $30, valid 7 days
  • Per person (on foot/bike, age 16+): $20, valid 7 days
  • Zion Annual Pass: $70 (Zion only)
  • America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 — covers Zion and every other federal fee site

Note: non-U.S. residents (age 16+) pay an additional $100/person fee unless entering with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass — this isn't a general surcharge, just a nonresident fee.

Free Entrance Days (2026)

Feb 16 · May 25 · Jun 14 · Jul 3–5 · Aug 25 (NPS's 110th birthday) · Sep 17 · Oct 27 · Nov 11

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Every U.S. 4th grader (and their family, in the same vehicle) can get a free annual pass covering entrance to Zion and every other federal fee site — worth grabbing before a family trip. Get it at everykidoutdoors.gov or at any entrance station.

Zion Canyon Shuttle System

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles for most of the year — the shuttle is the only way in during that window. No ticket or reservation is needed to ride.

  • 2026 season: March 7 – November 28, plus a holiday run December 26 – January 2
  • First bus: ~7:00 AM; buses run every 5–10 minutes in the canyon, 10–15 minutes through Springdale
  • Outside shuttle season: the canyon road reopens to private vehicles

Confirm current dates/hours on the official shuttle page — schedules shift year to year.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit to enter the park, ride the shuttle, or hike the Narrows from the bottom up. You do need one for:

Angels Landing

Every hiker needs a permit past Scout Lookout, awarded through two lotteries on recreation.gov: a seasonal lottery (months ahead) and a day-before lottery. No permit is needed to hike to Scout Lookout itself.

The Narrows & The Subway

Bottom-up day hikes into the Narrows need no permit. Top-down/overnight Narrows trips, and any route through the Subway, require a wilderness permit.

Backcountry & Canyoneering

Overnight backpacking, canyoneering, and overnight climbing all require a wilderness permit.

Campgrounds & RV Options

Zion has three campgrounds, plus Zion Lodge for indoor stays. Fees and site availability change year to year — use the links below for current pricing.

South Campground
Near the south entrance and Zion Canyon Visitor Center. 127 sites, first-come, first-served. No hookups or showers. Open March–October.
Watchman Campground
Near the south entrance, open year-round. 63 RV electrical sites, 16 riverside sites, 66 tent sites, 7 group sites. No showers. Reservation required via recreation.gov.
Lava Point Campground
Primitive, off Kolob Terrace Road, about an hour from Zion Canyon Visitor Center. 6 sites, no water, no fee, first-come, first-served. Open June–October only; not RV-suitable due to the access road.

In-park lodging (Zion Lodge, inside the canyon) books separately via zionlodge.com.

Good to Know

  • Cell service: most of Zion Canyon has no reliable signal — download maps and permits ahead of time.
  • Pets: allowed on paved trails and campgrounds only, must stay leashed; not allowed on most backcountry trails.
  • Flash floods: a real risk in narrow canyons — always check the flash flood forecast before hiking the Narrows.
Heading to Zion?
True North's Zion Cloth Map covers the full canyon — Overview, North, and South editions.
Shop the Zion Map →

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, shuttle dates, permit lotteries, and visitor center hours change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Zion National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Permits & Reservations · NPS – Angels Landing Permits · NPS – 2026 Shuttle Schedule · NPS – Wilderness Permits · NPS – Campgrounds · NPS – Current Conditions & Alerts