Five million people flock to Zion National Park every year for its beautiful scenery and bucket-list-worthy hikes.
After spending a couple of days exploring the park, visitors may wonder, what else is there to do near Zion National Park?
The answer is… a ton! Southern Utah is FULL of fun adventures, hikes, off-roading, little towns, and hidden gems!
Keep reading to see our FAVORITE spots near Zion National Park!
Established in 1859 this historic Mormon settlement is located along the Virgin River near Springdale, Utah, and the southern entrance to Zion National Park.
The settlers here grew cotton, alfalfa, and wheat. The Virgin River flooded making the soil rich, but also making life hard for these settlers. Flooding combined with harsh winters and attacks by native peoples had most of the Grafton settlers leaving for the more accessible nearby town of Rockville by 1907.
Here you can view the old cabins, homesteads, church building, and cemetery. The buildings are open for visitors to walk through and informational signs are present to read about the history of the town. Find out more about Grafton in our article Grafton Ghost Town Near Zion National Park.
Southern Utah is known for its plentiful off-roading trails. Locals take their Jeeps or ATVs on these trails and visitors can rent their own or purchase tours to access these off-road areas.
Some of the most popular spots to take your Jeep or ATV near Zion National Park are:
Fort Zion is one of those silly tourist traps that you just have to stop at. It has a trading post, a petting zoo, a cute old west town for kids to play in, and ice cream!
This is the perfect stop after hiking all day to reward yourself with a cool treat!
You can pay a couple of dollars to go feed the animals in the petting zoo, and our kids absolutely LOVED it! They enjoyed having the animals chomp the carrots they fed them and they let the animals steal them right out of their hands!
Guide includes the Springville Shuttle, Zion Canyon Shuttle, What to Do at Each Stop, Handy Tips + Maps
Between Orderville and Kanab, Utah, near East Zion is a unique man-made tunnel located under the highway.
GPS will take you right to the parking area for the Belly of the Dragon and from there, you follow the short pathway into the tunnel.
There is some climbing involved to get down into it, but nothing most people wouldn’t be able to do. Young kids may need some help.
Inside the tunnel the rocks are uneven and slippery in places, so be sure to watch your step and bring a flashlight! It gets dark in the middle of the tunnel!
You can choose to continue on this trail for 1.8 miles(out and back) to reach a slot canyon as well.
Those who have driven down Highway 89 towards Kanab have seen the “Ho-Made Pies” sign! This unique restaurant is a staple along the 89 here at the Mt. Carmel Junction.
This restaurant is also near Belly of the Dragon.
Thunderbird Restaurant serves up more than just “ho-made pies”, they also have country fried steak, fish ‘n chips, salads, great breakfasts, sandwiches, and other classic comfort foods.
Do you enjoy biking? If so, the Gooseberry Mesa trail is for you!
Located near Hurricane, Utah is a 13-mile loop trail that brings you incredible desert vistas. The trail can be intermediate to difficult depending on which path you choose.
Be sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen as this biking path is in full sun and hot, especially midday.
Gooseberry Mesa is an incredible sight and even more so when you are able to bike up and around it and enjoy the views from the top!
If you’re not up for biking but still want to visit this cool area, Zion Jeep Tours will also take you on a jeep ride to Gooseberry Mesa.
Kanab is one of our family’s favorite destinations in southern Utah. With endless outdoor adventures, great restaurants, and small-town charm, it should be on the top of everyone’s Utah bucket list!
Kanab is located 30 minutes outside of East Zion and is well worth a visit.
You can see our guide on Kanab to learn more about the must-dos when visiting.
St. George is the largest and most popular city near Zion National Park. It has a population of 100,000 and boasts tons of hotels, restaurants, and activities.
St. George also has so many outdoor adventures of its own! Here are some top sights you may be interested in.
These are just a few of our favorites but there is so much more available to do in St. George. It is a great place to consider spending a couple of days after your Zion trip. Check out our St. George trip planner page for more ideas.
Cedar City is another decent-sized city near Zion National Park. It is just about an hour north of the park near the Kolob Canyon entrance.
Cedar City has a wealth of fun activities, great restaurants, hotels, and a charming downtown.
We wrote about all of our favorite things to do in Cedar City including places to eat, ghost towns, state parks, fun downtown stops, and more!
We also love Cedar City’s Shakespeare Festival, which takes place from June 20th to October 8th. If you are planning to visit Zion during this time, consider stopping in Cedar City to catch a couple of shows!
Zion National Park can be crowded with visitors, especially during peak season! Planning and navigating a trip can be frustrating because of its popularity. The crowds and shuttle system can be confusing to navigate.
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.
But that’s not all! Our itinerary includes a free audio guide to listen to while driving with over 2-hours of stories about the park!
ZION TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Zion National Park, check out our Zion Homepage
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Zion has to offer including Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, The Narrows, and Kolob Canyons
WHERE TO EAT: Check out the best places to eat in and near Zion National Park.
GREAT CITIES TO STAY OR CHECK OUT: Learn where to stay or camp when visiting Zion and explore some amazing cities nearby including St. George, Kanab, and Cedar City
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out if you need a reservation and how to use the shuttle system as well as if you can drive in Zion, which entrance to use, and how to avoid crowds
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Zion National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Zion YouTube Playlist
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