Zion National Park Itinerary For 1-3 Days

Zion National Park is one of the most visited parks in the country, and for good reason! I have been to Zion multiple times, and I still find myself with a list of things I’d like to do on my next trip. Whether you have 1, 2 or 3 days this is the perfect Zion National Park itinerary for first-time visitors.

In this article:

• 1, 2 and 3 day Zion National Park itinerary
• Downloadable map to plan your visit
• Best hikes & things to do
• Tours & tips for visiting Zion National Park

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Zion National Park Itinerary

With easy access to Zion National Park from Las Vegas, as well as it’s insane beauty, Zion is one of the most popular destinations in the US!

I will take any chance I get to pass through Zion on a southwest road trip! And after living in a campervan and traveling full-time I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore it and build the perfect Zion National Park itinerary.

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how much or how little time you have… Zion is always worth visiting.

How Many Days In Zion National Park?

Personally, I think 3 days in Zion National Park is the perfect amount of time. It give you enough time to enjoy the park without feeling rushed, but still see the highlights and hike a few of the best trails.

However, if you only have one day in Zion National Park it’s still worth a visit! I recommend focusing on stops along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive if you’re short on time so you can make the most of your trip.

This Zion National Park itinerary builds on each day. If you’re on a day trip to Zion, follow day 1. If you have more time, continue with the plans for days 2 and 3.

One Day In Zion National Park Itinerary

Morning: Hike Angels Landing

Start the day with a hike to Angels Landing. This hike is incredibly unique and one of my favorite hikes ever! It’s also the perfect introduction to Zion because you’ll be able to see the entire canyon from the summit.

This hike gets a “hard” rating primarily because of the last half mile, also known as the “chains” section. It follows the narrow ridge line out to Angels Landing summit, and has very steep drop-offs on either side.

As long as you don’t have a fear of heights, and a decent amount of agility it’s not very strenuous.

In total, the hike from the river up to Angels Landing is just over 4 miles round-trip. I’d plan for 2 hours of hiking time, and another 1 hour(ish) for water breaks and to soak in the view at the top.

It’s fairly common to see endangered California Condors from Angels Landing. They are massive, rare birds you can only see in a few places across the US. There were several flying in the canyon the day I hiked!

There’s a few other important things to know about hiking Angels Landing, too.

First, Angels Landing requires a permit to hike. The permit system is fairly competitive so I recommend you set a calendar reminder for the advanced lottery. If you’re unsuccessful, you can also try the day-before lottery (which is how I was able to get permits!)

Advanced lotteries open for 20 days once per quarter. You must apply during the open dates shown below, but whether you apply on the first or last day won’t impact your chance of getting a permit.

➜ Read more about Zion permits here.

Secondly, the last section of this hike is jolting, even if you don’t have a fear of heights. If you are not comfortable with heights then this is not the hike for you.

I saw several people having complete melt-downs in the middle of the hike – which is 3 feet wide in sections with a several hundred feet drop off on either side. It’s the absolute worst place you can panic, and it puts yourself and others at risk.

If you aren’t comfortable with heights, I recommend hiking to Scouts Lookout (the plateau just before the chains section.) The views from here are also stunning, and there’s plenty of spots to rest and wait for your group to complete the hike.

NOTE: Permits are only required to hike past Scouts Lookout.

Lunch In Springdale

After your hike, head back into Springdale for lunch. There are tons of great restaurants just past the entrance to Zion National Park.

I recommend eating at Oscar’s Cafe (try the chicken and chorizo burrito!) or Wild Thyme Cafe.

TIP: During the busy summer season, it’s easiest to walk or take the Springdale shuttle around town instead of circling for parking.

After lunch, head back in to Zion to explore Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and hike The Narrows.

Stop by Zion Outfitters on your way into the park (it’s about 50 feet from the pedestrian entrance and you can’t miss it!) to pick up e-bike rentals.

Afternoon: Bike Pa’rus Trail & Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

The only way to explore Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is by shuttle or bike (unless you’re visiting in January-February when personal vehicles are permitted.)

I think the best way to get around is by e-bike. The road follows the river through the canyon and is fairly flat, but incredibly scenic. It’s only 7 miles in one direction, with plenty of viewpoints to stop at along the ride.

TIP: Put your bike on the Zion Shuttle and take it to the last stop (traditional bicycles only – no e-bikes), riding back is all downhill.

To get from the Zion entrance to the start of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, you can bike along Pa’rus Trail. It’s a wide, paved 1.5 mile (one-way) path that drops you right onto Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive does not have a bike path, so you’ll be on the road for most of it. Don’t worry – there will be tons of other bicyclists and the only traffic is an occasional Zion Shuttle.

Along the Scenic Drive there are several great viewpoints and shorter hikes:

• Court of the Patriarchs – 0.1 miles
• Emerald Pools – 2.5 miles
• Weeping Rock – 0.3 miles
• Big Bend Viewpoint
• Riverside Walk – 2.1 miles (skip if hiking The Narrows, it’s the same trail)

About halfway through, you’ll pass Zion Lodge (the only hotel in the park) which is a great place to stop for a snack at Castle Dome Cafe or Red Rock Grill.

Evening: Sunset Hike To Canyon Overlook

In the evening, hike to Canyon Overlook. The trailhead for Canyon Overlook is along Zion-Mt Carmel Highway. There is no shuttle service here, so you’ll need to drive yourself.

Once you pass through the famous Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel, the parking lot is immediately on your right. It’s a very small parking lot (<10 spaces), so I recommend arriving an hour before sunset.

NOTE: Additional parking is available about 500 feet up the road (also marked on the map above.)

The hike to Canyon Overlook is fairly flat and easy (with the exception of a few short sections with stone steps.) It’s a mile round-trip and has less than 200 feet of elevation gain, so it’s the perfect hike for sunset in Zion.

From Canyon Overlook you can see Zion Canyon below, including the Mount Carmel switchbacks, East Temple, West Temple, Towers of the Virgins, Streaked Wall, and Beehives.

Adjustments For One Day In Zion National Park

If you only have one day in Zion National Park, there are a few adjustments you can make to this itinerary.

Can’t get a permit for Angels Landing? Consider hiking to Scouts Lookout and skipping the permit-required “chains” section. You’ll still get some great views along the route.

You could also swap Angels Landing with The Narrows hike through the Virgin River, which does not require a permit.

Want to cram as much into a single day as possible? Hike to Canyon Lookout for sunrise, instead of sunset, spend the day along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and then hike Observation Point for sunset.

Observation Point requires an 7 mile round-trip hike, but the views are worth it. From here you’ll look down into the canyon, over Angels Landing, for a stunning sunset in Zion National Park.

2 Days In Zion National Park Itinerary

Morning: Observation Point & Watchman Trail

Hike to Observation Point for sunrise in Zion National Park.

The viewpoint of the park, including Angels Landing, is incredible from Observation Point. Additionally, because this is a harder hike, there are very few crowds to contend with.

TIP: Sunrise times in Zion vary throughout the year (between 5:40 – 7:30 AM.) I recommend you be at the trailhead an hour before twilight. The best colors happen just before the official sunrise time.

There are several trails to Observation Point. Unfortunately, the trail that starts along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (accessible by Zion shuttle), is closed indefinitely due to a massive rock slide in 2019.

Instead, you’ll need to start on the East Mesa, which is accessible via North Fork Road followed by a series of dirt roads. Drive time from Springdale is just under an hour and the Zion shuttle does not service this part of the park.

The road to the trailhead is unpaved and can be challenging and deeply rutted after heavy rains, so a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is recommended.

Alternatively, you can book a private shuttle through East Zion Adventures for around $7/person.

NOTE: Private shuttles start running at 9 AM, so this option won’t get you there in time for sunrise.

After, head back towards Springdale. I recommend parking your vehicle for the day before the lots become full. Everything here is walkable or accessible via the Springdale and Zion shuttles.

Grab a quick breakfast in town. Perks is super convenient (steps from the entrance) with great coffee and quick bites. A little farther down the road is Canyon Coffee, which is a bit less busy, and has great breakfast sandwiches.

After, take an easy hike to The Watchman. The trail picks up right near the Zion Visitor Center.

In total, it’s just over 3 miles and loops the summit, giving you 360° views of lower Zion Canyon and the town of Springdale.

Afternoon: Hike The Narrows

Next up on your Zion National Park itinerary is one of the most iconic hikes in the United States – The Narrows!

Hiking The Narrows is one of the most popular things to do in Zion, so it can get quite busy during the middle of the day. The first mile tends to be the busiest, then the crowds thin substantially.

Depending on how far upstream you decide to walk, it can take up to 7 hours to hike.

To reach the narrows, you’ll walk 1.9 miles along Riverside Walk, so you’ll also be able to check that hike off your bucket list as well. The trail follows the river and is paved and flat.

Before heading to The Narrows, I recommend grabbing a picnic lunch in town. Or, you can stop at Zion Lodge for lynch at Castle Dome Cafe or Red Rock Grill on your way.

Unless you’re visiting in July or August, you’ll probably want to rent some gear from Zion Outfitters because the river can be quite cold. They’re located at the park entrance, so rent your gear here before getting on the shuttle.

I rented neoprene socks, water boots and a wooden walking stick for around $32 for the day. While it’s possible to use trekking poles, I don’t recommend it because the rocks lining the riverbed will chew them up pretty badly.

The wooden walking sticks are great for keeping you from slipping. There were a few patches of rough current that I would not have been able to cross without the support from the walking stick.

From the park entrance, the shuttle ride to The Narrows takes about 45-minutes.

TIP: Don’t want to do it alone? Book a guided tour of the Narrows.

Evening: Relax At Zion Canyon Hot Springs

After a full day, head to Zion Canyon Hot Springs for a relaxing evening. I absolutely love a hot soak after hiking all day, but most of the mineral hot springs in Utah can only be accessed by hiking (counterproductive!)

However, Zion Canyon Hot Springs is an easy 30-minute drive from Springdale — no hiking required!

They have over 50 mineral pools, hot springs, cold plunges, saunas and relaxing firepits. Plus, a nice shower room (which is great if you’re camping in Zion!)

Half of the resort is family-friendly, while the other half is a kiddo-free zone for 21+.

There are also several great restaurants nearby for dinner:

📍Stage Coach Grill – American cuisine with nostalgic vibes
📍River Rock Roasting Company – low-key coffeehouse with sandwiches and burgers
📍Main Street Cafe – vegan-friendly options

3 Days In Zion National Park Itinerary

Morning: Hike The Subway

If you’re up for one more long hike, get permits to hike The Subway on your third day in Zion National Park. It’s a fairly challenging 7.2 mile hike with steady elevation gain to dinosaur tracks and a beautiful waterfall.

Be prepared to get wet as this hike route follows the river stream. Water levels can be knee-high.

The trailhead for The Subway is located outside of Zion Canyon, along Kolob Terrace Road — about 30 minutes drive from Springdale.

TIP: It can be difficult to navigate this trail. I recommend a GPS navigator or an AllTrails+ subscription which allows you to download offline maps to your phone and includes off-route alerts to keep you from getting lost. You can save 30% on your subscription with code EVERYWHERE30.

Permits are issued quarterly by lottery. For hikes in Q1 (Jan, Feb, Mar) the lottery is open from Nov 1-25. For Q2 (Apr, May, Jun), lottery opens from Feb 1-25. Q3 (Jul, Aug, Sep) lottery is from May 1-20 and Q4 (Oct, Nov, Dec) is between Aug 1-25.

You can apply for lottery permits at recreation.gov.

Afternoon: Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive

Next, take the scenic route along Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive. Kolob Canyon is a much less visited area of Zion National Park, not accessible from Zion Canyon, so it’s a great way to avoid crowds.

The Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive entrance is off of RT-15, about 1 hour northwest of Springdale (and a little farther past The Subway trailhead.)

The drive is just 5-miles one-way, so it can be completed in under half an hour. However, there are several great easy hikes in Zion that start along the road and are a great way to spend more time exploring Kolob Canyon.

• Taylor Creek – 5.1 miles following the creek, requiring a few shallow river crossings, and ending at two historic log cabins.
• Timber Creek – 1.2 miles along the ridge line with panoramic views and wildflowers during spring and summer.

Take An Adventure Tour

There are plenty of adrenaline-pumping adventure tours in the southwest, and the ones near Zion National Park do not disappoint!

Fill the afternoon on your final day in Zion with one of these fantastic options:

Give Canyoneering a try! The slot canyons and red rock cliffs surround Zion are the perfect backdrop for repelling.

Zion is also home to the Elk Heart Cliffs Via Ferrata. Via Ferratas can be found all over the world, but they’re less common in the US so this is definitely a unique experience!

You’ll be harnessed to a cable system for safety while you climb a series of steel rungs along the cliff walls. Even better, this is a beginner friendly activity in Zion (so long as you don’t have a fear of heights!)

Experience Zion National Park from the sky in a helicopter tour. This is an especially great option if you’re on a shorter trip and want to see the highlights in less time.

This Zion river float is at the top of my wishlist for my next trip to Zion. I’ve always wanted to do one of these, but the logistics of a one-way float while traveling solo gets tricky.

This tour has transportation covered, so aside from showing up and floating you don’t have to worry about anything else.

Where To Stay While Visiting Zion National Park

Zion has several nearby towns, so it’s a much more affordable National Park to visit than others (like Yosemite or Glacier… which are super pricy.)

To actually stay inside the park, the only option is Zion Lodge. It’s a gorgeous historic lodge, with on-site restaurants, traditional-style rooms and cabins for rent. Plus, you cannot beat the convenience.

If access to the park, restaurants and shops are your top priority, Springdale is the best place to stay.

It’s literally steps from the main entrance to Zion, provides shuttle access into the park (so you don’t have to deal with parking), and offers a wide range of dining and shopping options all within walking distance.

Hurricane is about 20-minutes farther, but offers more budget-friendly hotels.

On my last trip to Zion National Park, I booked very last minute (oops!). Closer options were all sold out, but I was happy to find a this cute, pet-friendly cabin rental in Apple Valley (30-minutes from Zion.)

Camping & Glamping In Zion National Park

Camping is also an affordable option while visiting Zion National Park! However, I’d avoid this during July, August and September because of the heat and lack of shade in most of the campgrounds.

Inside Zion, there are three campgrounds; Watchman, South Campground and Lava Point.

Watchman Campground is located next to the Zion Visitor Center, and is the most convenient place to camp in Zion National Park.

Reservations can be made through recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. Sites start at $35/night.

South Campground is closed indefinitely for ongoing construction and Lava Point Campground is located about an hour from the main entrance, along Kolob Terrace Road.

Glamping options near Zion National Park are also available.

⛺ Zion Canyon Campground, in Springdale, is a privately owned campground with rustic, air conditioned cabins for rent.

⛺ Under Canvas Zion is another great option. They offer luxury canvas tents (with real beds!) with plenty of on-site amenities, like a s’mores campfire and restaurant.

⛺ Zion Wildflower offers a similar luxury tent experience. They’re more affordable, but about 20-minutes from Springdale.

⛺ AutoCamp Zion is another fun and unique way to camp near Zion National Park… in your own Airstream RV! The resort also features a pool, cafe and convenience store.

Where To Eat In Zion National Park

There are two restaurants in Zion National Park, located near Zion Lodge:

📍Castle Dome Cafe – casual burgers and sandwiches with take-away options
📍Red Rock Grill – southwestern favorites with fresh, local ingredients

Just outside the main entrance to Zion, there are tons of restaurants and cafe’s. These are a few of my favorites:

📍Camp Outpost – chicken, burgers & salads (great to-go options)
📍Oscar’s Cafe – Mexican food (try the chicken and chorizo burrito!)
📍Wild Thyme Cafe – burgers & salads
📍Thai Sapa – Thai, Vietnamese & Japanese dishes

Getting To Zion National Park

Unless you’re a Utah local, you’ll likely be flying to Zion National Park. The two closest airports to Zion are Las Vegas (LAS) airport and Salt Lake City (SLC) airport.

Drive Time to Zion National Park
Las Vegas to Zion: 2 hours, 20 minutes
SLC to Zion: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Typically, flights and rental cars are significantly cheaper from Las Vegas, but if you’re planning a Utah National Parks road trip to the Mighty 5 then Salt Lake City is an equally convenient starting point.

I recommend using DiscoverCars for rental vehicles. They have a generous cancelation policy (free up to 48 hours before pick-up), really competitive rates, and an easy search feature (because you’ll want 4×4 if you’re planning to access some of the more remote trailheads.)

Utah is also one of my favorite places for van life. There’s a ton of free dispersed camping (boondocking), as well as plenty of affordable campgrounds.

While you’ll spend more on a camper rental than a vehicle, you’ll save on the cost of hotels (and you can save on restaurants if you cook your own van meals, too!) Outdoorsy is my favorite platform for campervan rentals.

Guided Day Trips From Las Vegas To Zion

Don’t want to rent a car? No problem – there are several options for guided day trips from Las Vegas to Zion National Park.

• Full Day Trip From Las Vegas to Zion National Park
• Las Vegas To Zion National Park PLUS Bryce Canyon

Zion National Park Entrance Fee & Reservations

Zion National Park does not require reservations for timed-entry or to access the Zion shuttle.

The entry fee for Zion National Park is $35 per vehicle (good for 7 days). It’s also possible to access Zion on foot (important if you’re arriving on the Springdale shuttle, or parking is already full inside the park). The cost per walk-in is $20/person, for 7 days.

If you have an annual America The Beautiful National Park Pass, it covers entry for one vehicle or 4 walk-ins.

I absolutely love this pass and have had it for many years! It’s $80 annually, which gives you access to all the National Parks (+2000 other national recreation areas) for free.

If you’re a group of 4, this pass pays for itself on your trip to Zion.

Tips For Visiting Zion National Park

There is limited cell reception in Zion. I recommend downloading your maps ahead of your visit so you can use them offline, including Google Maps and AllTrails hiking maps.

AllTrails offline maps require a subscription (annually it’s $35, but you can get 30% off the annual fee here). I use this app religiously and definitely think the annual subscription is worth it!

Once maps are downloaded, you won’t need cellular to access the data. Even without cell service, your GPS will still work for route finding.

The most popular (and affordable) places to stay book fast. I recommend setting a calendar reminder for 1-year in advance (for hotels) and 6-months in advance (for campgrounds) so you can get the best deals.

Ditch the car and stay in Springdale or Zion National Park. You can get around on the Zion and Springdale shuttles instead of battling for parking.

Zion National Park Itinerary FAQs

More Resources For Visiting Zion National Park

• Best Things to Do in Zion National Park Besides Hiking
• Zion Permit Requirements: Angels Landing, The Subway, Backpacking + More
• Bryce vs Zion: Which Is Better & Why?

Plus more ways to extend your Utah road trip:

• Kanab Utah To Bryce Canyon And Zion National Park Road Trip
• Mighty Five Utah National Parks Road Trip
• Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon To Zion National Park