Wonding where to stay at Zion National Park? You have a lot of good options. Here's an overview of the cities near Zion and the advantages of staying in each.
I've visited Zion National Park at least forty times. My parents grew up in Cedar City and my dad took us here – usually with a van full of cousins – every year. Then I spent three years at Southern Utah University, which is just 45 minutes from the park.
Now I live in Northern Utah, but I keep returning to Zion National Park with my family because it's such a special place.
The “perfect” place to stay is the one that best fits your itinerary, budget, and family. Whether you want to focus on Zion National Park or find a central base for all the parks, monuments, and activities in the area, my goal is to help point you in the right direction.
Here are the top cities where you'll find hotels near Zion National Park, with their advantages. I recommend my favorite hotels and vacation rentals in each. Look for a map at the end of this post.
Inside the Park
Why stay here? Location, location, location. Enjoy the red cliffs of Zion Canyon around the clock. Beat the crowds early and late in the day.
Zion National Park has one lodge and two campgrounds in Zion Canyon, which is the most visited section of the park. I've stayed at one of the campgrounds, but not Zion Lodge. Yet.
Popular dates sell out at the lodge and campgrounds, so make reservations early for best availability.
Zion Lodge has hotel rooms, cabins, and suites. Visitors can enjoy an on-site restaurant, snack bar, and gift shop. Zion Lodge has a shuttle stop and is a short walk from Emerald Pools and Angels Landing trails. There is a big lawn with shade trees that we love for picnics.
Click the button below to learn more about the Zion Lodge at www.zionlodge.com.
Related: 12 Fun Things to Do in Zion National Park
Springdale
Why stay here? The town of Springdale is immediately outside the entrance to Zion Canyon. You can't get closer to the park's top attractions without staying at Zion Lodge.
This is the most popular entrance to Zion National Park, located about 30 minutes from Interstate 15. The Kolob Terrace entrance is also nearby.
Finding a parking space inside the park has become a challenge in recent years. You can bike or take the free shuttle into Zion Canyon from Springdale and save yourself some hassle.
Springdale is a tiny town filled with visitor services along its main street. Choose from a variety of hotels and restaurants. Local outfitters can help you gear up for the Zion Narrows or other adventures.
You'll find lots of familiar hotel brands in Springdale. If you like local hotels with some history, I recommend Pioneer Lodge. It's among the closest hotels to the park entrance and has both standard rooms and family-sized suites.
Click the button below to see rates and availability for Pioneer Lodge and other Springdale lodging on TripAdvisor.com. The towns of Rockville and Virgin are also close to the park entrance.
Related:
Kanab
Why stay here? See a different side of Zion National Park. Get away from the crowds. Kanab makes a good base for day trips to Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon North Rim, or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Kanab is located on the less-accessible east side, on scenic Highway 89. This small town has all the amenities you need, with few chain stores and restaurants. Phone service and WiFi are less reliable on this side of the park, but that's not always a bad thing.
It will take you longer to reach Zion Canyon via the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and tunnel, but it's a nice drive through the park. I recommend that you start your day early to beat the traffic at the one-lane tunnel.
On this side of the park, I like Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. It's not in Kanab, but even farther off the beaten path. Zion Ponderosa Ranch borders the park and offers lodging options from tent camping to cabins to large vacation homes. There are a variety of fun activities on site.
In Kanab, we have liked the historic Parry Lodge and a VRBO.com vacation rental, both in the center of town. There are several new brand-name hotels too.
Click the button below to see Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort or other Kanab area hotels on TripAdvisor.com.
Related:
St. George
Why stay here? Get all the amenities of a large city, within 45 minutes of Zion Canyon. This city has many hotels and restaurants. It's on Interstate 15 and close to Snow Canyon State Park, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, and Dixie State University.
My top two picks for hotels in St. George are Coral Springs Resort and Abbey Inn. There are many other good options as well.
Coral Springs Resort is great for families because you get all the amenities of a vacation home and a resort. Our luxurious three-bedroom unit had beds for twelve and a full kitchen. Coral Springs Resort is a little outside of St. George, but closer to Zion.
Abbey Inn is a great choice if you want a traditional hotel room. It's affordable and conveniently located. Amenities include a year-round outdoor pool and complimentary breakfast. It's at the top of the list for Best Value in St. George on TripAdvisor.
Click the button below to check prices and availability for Coral Springs Resort, Abbey Inn, and others on TripAdvisor.com.
Related:
Cedar City
Why stay here? Cedar City makes a good base for visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon, plus Cedar Breaks and Brian Head. It's on Interstate 15 and is home to the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University.
Cedar City is 3,000 feet higher than St. George, so it is usually about ten degrees cooler (Fahrenheit). For that reason, I prefer Cedar City in the summer and St. George in the winter.
We usually stay in Cedar City because we have family here. My favorite place is Abbey Inn. In addition to traditional motel rooms, this Abbey Inn has vacation homes. You get the space and comfort of a house, with the convenience and amenities of the hotel – including the indoor pool and complimentary breakfast.
We shared Abbey Inn's “Serenity Place” with my sister's family a few years ago, and it was great. This home sleeps 10.
Click the button below to see Abbey Inn and other Cedar City lodging on TripAdvisor.com.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of places to stay near Zion National Park, and the best one is the one that best fits your family's schedule, budget and needs. I've selected several options that I hope will help you find the perfect place for your family.
Have a question? Email me at [email protected]. I'll do my best to help.
Happy travels!
Lareen Fox
I enjoy your blogs but is there any way to print just the written word without the pictures? I am still a paper map person and I don’t need to have the colored pictures. I wonder where you’ll visit next?
Allison
Hi Lareen! One method for printing a post is to copy all the text and paste it into a new Word or Google document. Delete the photos and anything else you don’t need. Look for the little eraser at the top to clear formatting, or change the fonts however you like to make them look right. It should just take a minute to get a printable version. In the meantime, I’ll consider other printable options on my end. Happy travels!
Cade
The Pioneer is the filthiest motel in town. Bedbugs and stained linens. Just gross.
Allison
I’m sorry to hear that you had a bad experience at this motel. My husband and I stayed there in February 2022 and our experience was positive. It’s not the newest or nicest place in Springdale, but our room had been renovated and we didn’t notice any stained linens or bugs. We thought it was a good value for the location.