Are you planning a visit to Zion National Park? We spent 24 hours visiting the park and in this post I am sharing my 1 day Zion National Park itinerary to help you plan your trip.
We knew we wanted to include a day at Zion National Park in our Las Vegas getaway as soon as we started planning it. Although we are not big hikers, we appreciate the National Parks and couldn’t wait to visit.
What I love about Zion National park is guests can enjoy it whether you are looking for strenuous hikes or a short hike that is at a beginners level.
It is one of the best places to visit in the United States and I highly recommend it for everyone. You don’t need to do any of the hikes if you would rather drive on the main road and take in some of the best views I have ever seen.
One Day Zion National Park Itinerary
Our 1 day at Zion National Park Itinerary was busy but we knew we had to use our time to experience everything we wanted to see and do.
Below is a quick overview of our Zion National Park itinerary:
- Arrive at Las Vegas airport (9:00am)
- Rent car and drive to Zion National Park (160 miles)
- Arrive at Zion National Park, Check In to Best Western Plus
- Take Shuttle bus to shuttle stop 5. Do Lower Emerald Pools hike and the Grotto Hike.
- Take Shuttle from stop 6 back to the Visitors Center. (Parking or walk back to hotel.)
- Dinner at Jack’s Sports Grille.
- Early start at 6:00am
- Breakfast at Best Western/Check-Out
- Drive to Zion National Park up through Zion Canyon Scenic Drive up to shuttle stop 9.
- Hike the Riverside Walk.
- Exit the park and start drive back to Las Vegas.
Where We Stayed in Zion National Park
There are a lot of hotels within walking distance of Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. We stayed at the Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites.
Prices will vary depending on the time of your visit. Summer months and weekends will be much higher than winter months.
Book early if you can. I checked nightly rates for April 2026 and prices were well over $350.00 a night with limited availability.
1 Day in Zion National Park: Trip Recap
I had seen so many pictures and I couldn’t wait to spend time at Zion National Park. We had one day at Zion National Park and I knew we had to maximize our time.
Luckily we were able to fit in 3 different hikes and enjoy the gorgeous setting of Zion National Park.
Zion National Park is located in Springdale, Utah. It is in Southern Utah. We flew into Las Vegas for our Zion to Las Vegas Road trip and drove a little under 3 hours to Zion.
The Las Vegas airport is actually the closest airport to Zion National Park. Salt Lake City is next at 311 miles.
We visited Zion National Park during winter and the temperature was mid-50s during the day and dropped to 30s at night. You may even see snow if you visit during the cold months. The sun is out most days so it feels warmer than it actually is but plan on wearing layers, hats, gloves, and jackets.
I have to be honest- we are not outdoorsy. We don’t have hiking gear and are novices at being in the great outdoors. Knowing our experience and interest, I planned this visit around the easy hiking trails.
Every family will have a different expectation for what is easy. The hikes we decided to do were paved and wheelchair friendly so we knew they would be okay for us. We probably could have done a few moderate hikes as well if we had more time.
I don’t think anyone should be discouraged from visiting the parks if you think you are not experienced enough or don’t have the right equipment. There are things to see for any visitor.
If you are looking for easy Zion National Park Hikes I suggest the Riverside Walk. This was my favorite hike and offered an easy hike with unbelievable views.
Most of the moderate hikes have drop-offs. There are not always railings either so use your own judgement when traveling with small children.
I found that you do not have to do the tougher hikes to thoroughly enjoy the park. Do what is best for you and your traveling group. No matter which hike you choose you will not be disappointed.
There are 12 hiking trails at Zion National Park. They are:
- Pa’rus Trail (easy, 3.5 miles round trip)
- The Grotto Trail (easy, 1 mile round trip)
- Lower Emerald Pool (easy, 1.2 mile round trip)
- Riverside Walk (easy, 2.2 mile round trip)
- Canyon Overlook (moderate, 1 mile round trip)
- Watchman Trail (moderate, 3.3 mile round trip)
- Sand Bench Trail (moderate, 7.6 mile round trip)
- Kayenta Trail (moderate, 2 mile round trip)
- Middle Emerald Pool (moderate, 2.2 mile round trip)
- Upper Emerald Pool (moderate, 1 mile round trip)
- Angels Landing via West Rim Trail (strenuous, 5.4 mile round trip with 1500 ft elevation change)
- The Narrows (strenuous, 9.4 mile out and back)
Angels Landing is a serious hike that has a big elevation change as well as long drop-offs. Be sure to prepare yourself before planning to do this hike. Guests need a reservation to hike this. Learn more here.
We arrived at Zion National Park around 2:00pm. We drove around for 15-20 minutes and the parking lot was full so we decided the best option would be to check into our hotel and walk.
The Best Western Plus is a 1 mile walk to the park entrance. Then we took the Zion shuttle. We had to run to make the last shuttle at 3:30pm. If we would have missed it we would have been out of luck for our planned hikes for the day.
Shuttle times are limited during the winter months. During the weekdays there is no shuttle service and guests can drive into the park. This depends on the season of your visit. Always check the shuttle schedule.
For our first hikes we did the Emerald Pool Hikes and a few other small hikes. This was located at the Zion Lodge stop along the shuttle. Stop #5. We spent a couple hours exploring this area and walking around.
Then we took the shuttle back to the Zion Canyon Visitors Center and walked back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.
Most of the dining options are in Springdale and you will most likely have to drive to them.
We ate dinner at Jack’s Sports Grille. This was perfect for our family. It had American food options and was reasonably priced. A few more options are Zion Pizza & Noodle Co., Zion Canyon Brew Pub, and Casa de Amigos Springdale.
After dinner we went back to the hotel. We sat by the fire and went in the hot tub. The stars in Zion National Park is unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Our next day start was early. We grabbed breakfast and coffee at the hotel, checked out, and arrived at the park entrance around 7:15am.
Arriving early allowed us to drive to the Riverside Walk we had planned to do. This is located at the Temple of Sinawava at shuttle stop #9. The drive is stunning and we saw wildlife along the way.
The Riverside Walk is really kid friendly and wheelchair accessible. This makes it a popular one among all guests visiting the park. I am so happy we arrived early because there were only a few other people on the trail and this allowed us to go at our own pace.
There are also restrooms at this stop if needed. We spent a few hours there and then made our way back to the exit to start our drive to Las Vegas.
As we were leaving the park around 9:00am we noticed all the parking lots were full and they were no longer allowing cars to drive up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. It gets busy very quickly.
If you want to spend more time at the park consider including another trail into your itinerary. I did a bit more research after we returned home and I would love to do a sunset tour of the park now that my kids are older.
Things to Know For a Zion National Park Trip
These are the tips and advice I gathered from my experience visiting and planning a trip to Zion National Park.
Can you drive around Zion National Park?
You can drive around Zion National Park but it depends on the day you visit. When we arrived late afternoon there was no accessibility and no parking spaces. We had to park back at our hotel and walk.
If you are entering from the east entrance you will drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel which is a stunning reveal of the canyon.
For most of the years the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is only open by shuttle. Most people get around by shuttle. Because we visited in February and the shuttle was only on the weekends we were able to drive around the park.
When is peak season for visiting Zion National Park?
Zion National Park is one of the most popular national parks and during peak season expect very large crowds. If you are visiting in late spring and summer Zion will be busy.
Often the on-site parking spaces are full and you will have to park in town, and rely on the shuttle. Be sure to check to shuttle schedule for the day you are visiting when you plan your trip.
Zion National Park Entrance Fees
It cost $20.00 per person to enter Zion National Park if you are walking through the entrance. Children 15 and under are free. If you are driving in it cost $35.00 for a car, passengers included. This is valid for 7 days.
If you are visiting with a 4th grader you can get the free parks pass the is good for one year of National Parks visits for the 4th grader and family. Learn more here.
Understand the Zion National Park Shuttle Service
I had to read and reread the shuttle service and keep checking the website up until the day we left to make sure I was up to date on times the shuttle was running.
The basics are there are two shuttle services. One within Zion National Park and one that runs through the town of Springdale.
The Zion National Park Shuttle runs for specific times and dates through the park. This shuttle has specific times and you do not want to miss the bus. If you miss the bus you are expected to walk back to your destination.
The Springdale Shuttle runs through numerous stops in Springdale and drops guests off at the entrance of Zion National Park. There is a stop outside the Best Western we stayed at, but the Springdale Shuttle does not typically run in the winter months.
I can’t stress this enough: check the shuttle times and use it to plan your day at Zion. Especially with kids! You don’t want to get stuck and have to add hours and miles to your day if you can avoid it.
Final Thoughts
I was surprised at how much we could get done in 1 day at Zion National Park. If you plan to do a few more hikes or a couple of the longer ones you may want to plan an extra day but I felt like we successfully got a lot done with our Zion National Park one day itinerary.
It was one of my favorite trip itineraries and looking back on the photos brings back great memories. Honestly it is one of those places that you have to experience because the photos and videos do not come close to what it feels like seeing it in person.
Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced. I am so happy we carved out an overnight to enjoy it. Have questions about your visit? Leave a comment and let me know. I love hearing from!
Want more ideas for trip itineraries? Check out this post: Family Trip Ideas: 10 Vacation Itineraries to Start Planning Today
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.