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Planning on going to Zion National Park and want to avoid the crowds and find parking? Well, I’ve been there many times, so I can give you all the details.
Someone asked me what to expect before going, and that’s how I got the idea for this post. She had seen images on social media with people overrunning the park and feared the worst.
But have no fear, because I’ll share what to know when visiting, good times to go, when the park is busy, and tips.
Come to Zion Early or Late
Zion is open year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to the National Park Service, it gets busy after 10 a.m.
This is the case with many national parks I’ve visited. So you can avoid big crowds by going early.
The early bird catches the worm!
If you head to the park early, you can spend more time sightseeing, picnicking, and hiking with fewer people around.
Maybe you don’t want to get up early. I’ve gone after the entrance booths close at 5 p.m., and the park was not crowded at all.
Plus, the sun sets later in the summer, so there’s more time to enjoy.
However, check the bus schedule if you ride the bus on the scenic drive. The park may be open all day, but the buses do not run all day.
You don’t want to start a hike in the evening and miss the last bus back. The rangers will not give you a ride back!
You could end up walking several miles in the dark. Yikes!
Summer Is a Busy Time
Summer is a busy time of year with big crowds at the park. Kids don’t have school, so expect a lot of families during this time.
Many international travelers may be on holiday and like to venture out. Summer also brings nice weather for outdoor activities.
Once in summer, I took a road trip through the Mojave Desert to Utah. A major heatwave had hit part of the US.
At the RV where I stayed, the temperature hit 100°. But after entering Zion, it dropped to 75°. What a dramatic difference!
This kind of pleasant weather was perfect for exploring and hiking. So, of course, many people will be out.
I’ve visited in the early spring, and it wasn’t crowded. I saw beautiful snow-capped mountains, but it was a bit chilly.
Weekends Are Busy
Expect smaller crowds during the week. But on Saturday and Sunday, those weekend warriors come out to play.
So if you can be flexible with your schedule, I’d aim to visit during the week. Once, I came on a weekday afternoon in the fall, and the park was empty.
It was a much nicer experience with few people in the park. There was plenty of space to pull over, take pictures, and explore.
I could look at anything without people crowding around.
But when returning on the weekend, I waited in long lines everywhere in the park. Entering at 2:30 p.m., there was a lot of traffic.
Unlike the evening before, the long lines at the entrance went down the street.
Holidays Are Busy
I’ve traveled a lot during the holidays. Of course, other people go to Zion during those times too!
It’s one of the busiest times of the year! No matter where you go, holiday travel is always busy.
Many people have time off and take advantage of the long weekends.
And the prices of hotels and campgrounds might even be higher. So make sure you book ahead.
Hiking with the Crowds
Many people come to Zion to hike the many trails. If you want to hike during busy times, the National Park Service recommends arriving 90 minutes before your hike.
Yes, allow plenty of time for waiting. Big crowds led to long lines. You’ll have to wait at the entrance and for the buses.
I took the shuttle through Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The wait wasn’t too long, but many people crammed onto the bus.
I rode until the last stop on the route, The Temple of Sinawava. Then I hiked the Riverside Walk to The Narrows.
I wrote a blog post describing my experience hiking with many people on the trail. Although it was beautiful, some areas got way too crowded for me.
Parking at Zion National Park
If you travel in a big rig, you might wonder where you’ll park. Even if you travel in a car, you still might worry. Here’s the situation.
Parking in Springdale
Before reaching the south entrance of the park, you’ll pass the city of Springdale. There are many restaurants and shops in the area.
There’s also lots of street parking. However, when it’s busy at the park, the spots fill up miles down the road.
Signs will warn people that the parking lots inside Zion are full. You might find parking areas for bus commuters, but they fill up fast.
They have a free shuttle bus that goes from Springdale to the park. Look for the Springdale Line or the Zion Canyon Line.
I also saw many people walking and biking to the park down this street.
From experience, I know that traveling in a long van limits parking options. You might have to squeeze in somewhere.
So if you have a big rig, it might be easier to find parking on the streets if you go very early or wait until the evening.
After 5 p.m., there’s usually more street parking. Many people leave the park by this time.
Zion Canyon Visitor Center Parking
The visitor center has a large parking area. They also have an oversized lot for vans, RVs, and big trucks.
I couldn’t believe the regular cars that were parked in oversized parking spaces. I guess no one monitors this area.
So, heads-up if you have an RV, big truck, or van! Hopefully, that won’t be the case when you go.
You might find a spot by driving around a few times. I saw many people coming and going. So, someone is bound to leave eventually.
Parking Along Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
There are many places to park along Zion-Mount Carmel Highway if you choose to drive your own car. They have pullouts where you can enjoy the views and take pictures.
Some people park alongside the road around curves, so be careful when driving through. I’ve seen people park haphazardly.
In the evening, it’s much easier to find parking roadside and at viewpoints.
Travel Notes
Taking the bus back to the visitor parking lot after 5 p.m., there were more empty spots. Plus, there was a lot of street parking available.
Few people were coming in, and there was no staff at the booths. You can still enter the park, but display your pass on your vehicle.
It’s a good idea to talk to staff at the visitor center, and they’ll tell you which points of interest tend to be the busiest during the day.
Overall
Zion National Park is a beautiful place to visit and even nicer without the crowds. If you don’t mind them, anytime is good.
But timing a visit right might give you a better experience. I prefer to go without too many people around, so avoiding the park at peak times works best for me.
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