Where to Stay in Zion: In the Park, Nearby Towns & Campgrounds

By Jocelyn Pion · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Zion

Where to Stay in Zion: In the Park, Nearby Towns & Campgrounds

The short answer. For a first visit, Springdale is the most convenient base. The town sits right next to the park's main entrance, and the free local shuttle gets you from the hotels to the visitor center in just a few minutes. If you want to stay deep in the canyon, Zion Lodge is the only lodging inside the park. Plan on two or three nights so you don't have to rush from trail to trail. Our guide to planning your Zion trip helps you build an itinerary around the time you have.

Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (3)

All Gateway townsLodgesCampgrounds

• Campground Watchman Campground recreation.gov · 184 sites Directions ↗
• Campground South Campground recreation.gov · 124 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lava Point Campground first come, first served · 6 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

⚠ Gateway town & Lodge data is undergoing editorial review.

Stay in the Park or Outside It?

The question comes up on every road trip through this part of Utah, and the honest answer depends on what matters most to you.

If you want to get up before the crowds, staying in the park changes the experience. Zion Canyon fills up fast, especially from March through October. Get on the trail at 6 a.m. and you may have the red sandstone cliffs to yourself. Zion Lodge or a campground inside the park gives you that head start.

If budget comes first, Springdale is hard to beat. You can walk or take the shuttle into the park without hunting for a parking spot in the canyon. To spend even less, Hurricane and St. George, about 25 and 43 miles away, have the major hotel chains at much lower rates.

If you're traveling with young kids, Springdale makes everyday logistics much easier. Restaurants, a pharmacy, and a grocery store are all within reach without a car, which you won't find inside the park.

In one sentence: choose Zion Lodge or Springdale for the experience, and Hurricane or St. George to save money.

Staying in Zion: Lodges and Park Lodging

Zion National Park has just one hotel.

Zion Lodge

Zion Lodge holds a unique spot in the heart of Zion Canyon, halfway between the main entrance and the shuttle's final stop at Temple of Sinawava. It's the only place to sleep without leaving the park, and that scarcity keeps reservations under constant pressure.

There are three types of lodging: log cabins with private porches facing the cliffs, standard rooms in the main lodge, and suites for extra comfort. On-site, you'll find a restaurant, where reservations are recommended during the busy season, a shop, and a shuttle stop just steps away.

During one of our visits in October, I saw what day visitors consistently miss. Once the shuttles stop for the evening, the canyon falls remarkably quiet. Deer come to graze a few feet from the porch. It's hard to put a price on that.

The lodge is operated by a private concessioner under contract with the NPS. Bookings are handled through Recreation.gov. Most lodging is open year-round.

Keep in mind: spring and fall dates often fill within hours of the reservation window opening, six months ahead. If you're aiming for March through May or September through October, set up your Recreation.gov account ahead of time and book as soon as reservations open.

Camping in Zion: Park Campgrounds

Zion has three official campgrounds, each with a very different setup.

Watchman Campground is the largest, with 176 sites, and the easiest to access. It's at the Springdale entrance, a two-minute walk from the visitor center. Some sites have electrical hookups, which makes them suitable for RVs. Open year-round and reservable through Recreation.gov up to six months ahead, it's the go-to choice for families and van travelers.

South Campground has about 100 tent sites, also close to the main entrance. Its season is shorter, generally from spring through fall. The setting is more rustic, with welcome shade from the cottonwoods along the Virgin River and immediate access to the shuttle stops.

Lava Point Campground is a different experience entirely. Perched at about 7,900 feet on the Kolob Plateau in the park's remote northern section, this primitive campground has just six sites and requires driving a dirt road that can be tricky depending on the season. There is no drinking water on-site, so you'll need to bring everything. It's for experienced campers looking for total solitude and a star-filled sky free of light pollution.

Our guide to Zion's campgrounds covers the technical details of each site, reservation rules, and seasonal conditions. For RV travelers, our Zion RV camping guide lists size restrictions and nearby alternatives outside the park.

Where to Stay Around Zion: Gateway Towns

Springdale

Springdale is Zion's gateway town. Its main street follows the Virgin River and leads straight to the park entrance. You don't need a car to reach the park shuttles. The free local shuttle stops at several points along the main street and runs to the visitor center at the end of the line, so you can skip the parking-lot lines in the morning.

The area has the widest range of lodging: B&Bs, small family-run hotels, and boutique hotels with pools facing the cliffs. Prices reflect demand. In the heart of spring or on an October weekend, expect to pay $150 to $300 a night for a solid hotel. The premium over Hurricane buys total convenience and the distinctive atmosphere of a town with a few hundred residents that welcomes thousands of visitors every day.

Virgin

About 9 miles west on Route 9, Virgin is a village of a few hundred people with rural guesthouses and a handful of vacation rentals. The scenery is spectacular, prices are noticeably lower than in Springdale, and the drive to the park takes about 15 minutes. It's a good choice if you're renting a car and prefer peace and quiet to Springdale's tourist density.

Hurricane

Hurricane, pronounced “Hurrikun” locally, is a town of about 20,000 people, 25 miles from the main entrance. All the major American hotel chains are represented, including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, and their equivalents. Rates generally run from $80 to $150 a night. You have to drive to the park, which takes about 40 minutes on Route 9.

It's the natural choice for tight budgets or families that need full services, including big-box stores, pharmacies, fast food, and a laundromat. The main drawback is the daily drive, which can wear on you over several days of sightseeing.

St. George

St. George is the region's largest city, with about 100,000 residents, a regional airport, and a full range of lodging, from budget motels to solid chain hotels. It's about 43 miles from Zion's entrance, or roughly an hour by car. It's not the most convenient option if you want to maximize your time in the park, but it's the most affordable choice for longer stays and the best located if your road trip continues to Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our Southwest Road Trip guide lays out the main stops for connecting these parks.

When to Book Your Zion Lodging

Zion is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, and demand for lodging is just as high.

Zion Lodge. Spring dates, from March through May, and fall dates, from September through October, often sell out within hours of the reservation window opening, six months before the date you want. Create your Recreation.gov account ahead of time, note your reservation date, and book as soon as reservations open.

Watchman Campground. The same advice applies. Six months out, the best sites, especially those with electricity, go quickly. The campground is still available without a reservation in winter, but that's a risky bet in spring or fall.

Hotels in Springdale. Booking two to three months ahead is reasonable for a spring or fall weekend. On weekdays in the off-season, from December through February, availability is much better and prices drop.

A note about summer, from June through August: visitation peaks, but temperatures in the canyon regularly climb above 100°F. Many hikers shift their outings to 5 or 6 a.m. to avoid the heat. If your dates are flexible, our Zion seasons guide breaks down the tradeoffs among weather, crowds, and rates.

Lodging Budget: What Does It Cost to Stay in Zion?

The ranges below apply to the busy season, spring and fall:

Rates vary depending on the day of the week, since weekends often cost 20% to 30% more, how far ahead you book, and the season. In the off-season, Springdale hotels can drop by 30% to 40%. The park entrance fee, $35 per vehicle, is added to these amounts unless you have an America the Beautiful pass. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page.

Our Recommendation for Every Type of Traveler

First visit, experience comes first. Book Zion Lodge or a hotel in Springdale. You'll enjoy the canyon early in the morning before the crowds, avoid driving inside the park, and come away with memories that day visitors won't have.

Traveling with young children. Make Springdale your first choice. Everything is within walking distance, and the free shuttle avoids the usual morning battles with kids. Choose Hurricane if budget is the main constraint. In either case, our Zion family guide lists kid-friendly activities and precautions specific to Zion.

Budget first. Watchman Campground offers the best value available: a site beneath the red cliffs for $20 to $30 a night. For a minimum of comfort, Hurricane or St. George has the lowest hotel rates in the area.

A full immersion in nature. Choose Zion Lodge for a quiet canyon after 6 p.m. Choose Lava Point if you're a self-sufficient camper looking for altitude, solitude, and stars, as long as you bring all your water.

A multi-park road trip from Las Vegas. St. George is the best logistical hub for connecting Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our complete Zion guide and our Southwest Road Trip guide lay out the best stops for your itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions