The Best Places to Stay at Zion National Park

I spent several days visiting every town outside of Zion National Park and all the main hotels inside the park and outside the park, so I could find the BEST place for you to stay when visiting Yosemite. 

My name is Matt, and I’ve been visiting Zion my entire life and it’s one of my absolute most magical places to visit. I do research like this so that you can have a great trip to the great places in the American West, like Zion. 

In this article, I’ll show you the many areas you can stay when visiting Zion, what each area is like, what kind of lodging you’ll find there, and give you the pros and cons of each.

Map Layout

Let’s start with the map layout. This is REALLY important because there are areas on all sides of the park, and if you’re adding in Bryce Canyon AND/OR the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, that can affect your plans as well. 

Zion National Park is about an hour and a half wide (driving time), but the heart of the park is Zion Canyon, which has towering canyon walls, world-class hikes, and is only accessible by shuttle or bike during the busy season. 

There are four entrances to the national park: the South Entrance (which has both a car and pedestrian entrance) and the East Entrance, both of which lead to Zion Canyon. Kolob Terrace (no toll booth) and Kolob Canyons (toll booth) are stand-alone sections of the park. 

Zion Canyon is located next to Springdale, Utah. This is where the South Entrance is, and where the shuttle system starts. 

This means that any lodging choice needs to take into account your drive time to Springdale. Even if you stay on the east side of the park, you’ll drive to the South Entrance to board the shuttle. 

You can find out more about the different entrances to Zion in our article What is the Best Entry to Zion? Zion’s Three Entrances.

Quick Lodging Overview

For simple purposes, we can break down the lodging choices to 3 areas:

1. Zion Canyon & Springdale

Zion Canyon (one lodge) and Springdale (many chain and local options) are so close, and both have easy shuttle access, so I group them together. 

2. West Side 

This is by far the more common side to stay on, and there are TONS of options (chains, local, Airbnbs, B&Bs, glamping, etc.). 

There are several towns located on Highway 9 and several other places on the west side of Springdale to choose from. 

You’ll be close to services and have limitless restaurant options, especially the farther away from Springdale you go – St. George (45 min away) is the big city in Southern Utah and one of the fastest growing in the nation.

This side is a desert landscape – expect wide open views, red rock landscape, and very hot weather in the summer. 

3. East Side

The East Side is MUCH more remote and very different. It’s located above Zion Canyon on the forested plateau. It’s more green, has plenty of ponderosa pine trees, and has far fewer services and hotel options. There are almost no chain hotels on this side. Expect locally owned motels, cabins, and B&Bs. Ranches and resorts are also popular in this area.  

One major reason to stay on this side is if you want a home base to visit Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I’ll get into this later. 

One drawback to this side is that it can take 30-60 minutes to get to the South Entrance. You’ll need to enter the East Entrance and drive through the famous Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel to get to Springdale. While beautiful, it can be tedious for some. 

It used to be quite tedious because the park regularly had to stop traffic at the tunnel to allow large RVs to drive through the narrow tunnel. In 2026, the park has banned RVs from entering the tunnel altogether. This is bad for RVers (who now have to do huge detours to get to Springdale), but good for all other travelers, who don’t have to deal with long lines at the tunnel anymore. 

While the East Side is remote and quiet, it is growing in popularity. A new visitor center is being built just outside the park, and now that the tunnel isn’t as big of an issue, I would expect more hotels to be built on that side. 

Staying in Zion Canyon or Springdale

Zion Canyon

There is one place to stay inside all of Zion National Park, and it’s located in the middle of Zion Canyon: The Zion Lodge. It has 76 hotel rooms, 6 suites, and 40 historic cabins.  It was originally built in 1924, but a fire destroyed it in 1966. It was hastily rebuilt to accommodate visitors, but in 1990 it was restored to its original look.

One benefit of staying at Zion Lodge is that you’re in the middle of the canyon, and can easily catch the shuttle to anywhere in the canyon, WITHOUT having to wait in the long line at the visitor center in Springdale. 

NOTE: Zion Lodge guests CAN drive into Zion Canyon to park at Zion Lodge, but cannot drive further than the lodge. 

Other things to know about Zion Lodge (could be good or bad based on your preferences): 

• You won’t have cell service.
• All rooms have A/C (an absolute MUST in this area)
• Rooms in the lodge have TVs and Wifi; cabin rooms do not.
• There are two restaurants at the lodge, and neither is good. You’re better off driving a few miles to Springdale.
• It’s not one of the more beautiful national park lodges (unfortunately), but it is located in the heart of the canyon with spectacular views and surroundings. 
• While it is expensive, it’s on par with what you’ll find in Springdale.
• Reservations open up 12-13 months in advance (for example, on May 1, 2025, you can book lodging for May 1-31, 2026).
• Pets are not allowed

Springdale, Utah

Springdale is a very nice little town (population 1,000) located at the mouth of Zion Canyon – the same canyon walls as what you’ll see inside Zion, but located in a wider section. 

The town is cute, well-maintained (especially in light of the millions of tourists that come through it every year), and has a mix of new and old chains, local hotels and motels, and B&Bs.

There is almost nothing to DO in Springdale, but it’s a great place to stay. 

The biggest benefit here: you can catch the Springdale shuttle to the park, avoiding parking issues and costs that those staying farther away will incur.

Several hotels are even within walking distance of the park entrance. If you’re willing to pay top dollar to stay next to the park, look at Cable Mountain Lodge (book here) or Cliffrose (book here). 

Personally, I think the parking and shuttle worries are far overblown, and I’ve never stayed in Springdale before. 

The biggest drawback: the cost. It’s significantly more expensive than everywhere else. 

I also like Best Western Plus (book here) and Red Cliffs Lodge (book here) for classic hotel experiences. 

There are several other great spots in town, and I’ve included my favorites in my Zion Travel Guide. 

DON’T MISS: The Best Dining Spots In Zion & Springdale!

Staying on the West Side

There are five main areas to stay on the west side:

• Highway 9 (Virgin/Rockville)
• La Verkin/Hurricane
• St George
• Apple Valley
• Cedar City

Highway 9

Highway 9 travels through two small towns, Rockville and Virgin, and is dotted with hotels and glamping places (glamping spots are huge around here). It doesn’t feel crowded and crazy, and it’s quite a desolate desert landscape, but it is on the main highway and there are new hotels being built regularly. 

There are some gas stations and restaurants on the highway, and it’s a short drive to Springdale or La Verkin for more options.

Fairfield Inn (book here) is a new hotel that will work for most travelers. 

Luxury resorts include Zion Wildflower Resort (book here), Autocamp (stay in an Airstream) (book here), Zion White Bison Resort (book here), Zion River Resort, and Under Canvas (book here). I personally find most of these overpriced, but they are an experience that some find worth paying for.

La Verkin & Hurricane

La Verkin and Hurricane (strangely pronounced Hurr-ih-cun)are small but modern cities that are exploding in population. They are about 30 minutes from Springdale, and I think they are the sweet spot between cost, driving time, and options. 

There are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs in these small neighboring towns. 

Three new hotels are located right at the turnoff on Highway 9: Best Western Plus (book here), La Quinta Inn (book here), and Holiday Inn (book here). I’ve stayed at the La Quinta, and recommend any of these. 

I’ve stayed at several other places here as well.

These towns have all the amenities you need: gas stations, restaurants, and big box stores.

St George

St George has about 200,000 residents and TONS of hotels, restaurants, and services. This is a common hub for outdoor enthusiasts, including bikers, golfers, hikers, off-roaders, and more. It hosts youth sports tournaments, Ironman and marathon races, and several more events throughout the year. It has a university, a downtown arts center, an outdoor amphitheater situated in a red rock canyon (Tuacahn), and a temple and visitor center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the first one built in Utah in the 1800s).

We often stay here, primarily because it’s affordable. It’s about a 45-60-minute drive to Springdale, depending on which side of St George you stay. 

You’ll find unlimited chain hotels and local options here. Vacation rentals are very popular here – there are many condominiums that are rented out throughout the season. 

We usually stay in my mother-in-law’s condo or in an affordable chain hotel. You can find options for all budgets.

We have an article on The Best Unique Hotels & Resorts in St. George, Utah, to help you find somewhere to stay as well.

For more to do in St George, all the fun things to do in St. George, or How to Spend 1 Day in St. George, Utah.

Apple Valley & Hildale

Apple Valley and Hildale are south of Zion and have exploded in lodging offerings in recent years. This is a beautiful area with affordable hotels, interesting glamping stays, and all the amenities you’ll need, but there are some important things to know. 

Some places advertise that they are a short distance from the national park. That may be true as the crow flies, but it’s about an hour of driving time because you’ll need to go around the sandstone mountains through La Verkin. 

You should also know there are a lot of polygamists who live in Hildale, UT, and Colorado City, AZ (these twin towns are on the borderline because historically it helped them flee the law). Polygamy has a long history on the border here, and there’s way more to the story than you can imagine (and what I can cover here), but once their leader was imprisoned, the once-reclusive town started embracing Zion tourism for revenue. 

One of the hotels – Zion’s Most Wanted Hotel – is the actual home/compound of the former polygamist leader (Warren Jeffs). 

I personally have found all polygamists I’ve encountered (usually dressed in pioneer attire) to be among the happiest and nicest people I’ve met (although they are often guarded), but when I see the huge and often run-down mansions in town, I find them very off-putting. 

The glamping places in the area are not in town, but tucked away at the base of the gorgeous red rock cliff walls. So it’s possible you could stay here and never encounter any polygamists or mansions. 

I don’t have any opinions about whether you should stay here or not (except I wouldn’t want to stay in that compound!) – I just wanted to provide context so you can decide. 

Cedar City

Cedar City is located about an hour north of Springdale. It’s higher in elevation than St George, and greener than most of the desert landscape on the west side. It was named Cedar City by the pioneers who thought the trees in the mountains nearby were cedar trees (they ended up being Juniper trees). 

Cedar City is home to Southern Utah University, which hosts the famous Shakespearean festival every summer. It has a decent historical park called Frontier Homestead State Park, and is close to Cedar Breaks National Monument, which is awesome but often overlooked because it is similar to Bryce Canyon. 

The big benefits of staying in Cedar City are: 

• It’s affordable
• It can be used as a home base for Zion (1 hr away) and Bryce (1.5 hrs away). 

There are several chains here, and a few local hotels that cater to Shakespeare fans, such as the Big Yellow Inn (book here) and Bard’s Inn (book here).

Check out The Best Unique Hotels & Resorts in Cedar City for more ideas of where to stay.

DON’T MISS: How To Visit Zion and Bryce Canyon: Epic 3-Day Road Trip

Staying on the East Side

There are three main areas to stay on the East Side of Zion:

• Right outside the East Entrance,
• Long Valley (encompassing a few small towns situated between Zion & Bryce), and
• Kanab.

Right Outside the East Entrance

There is almost no development right outside the entrance, and only one gas station and a small restaurant. There are a few resorts here: Zion Mountain Ranch (book here) and Zion Ponderosa Resort (book here). 

This is a beautiful and peaceful area, and it’s only about 30 minutes away from Springdale. But prepare for a lack of services.

Long Valley

Long Valley is a pretty valley that has green and forested scenery. It includes several small towns, like Mount Carmel, Orderville, and Glendale. 

The valley is located between Zion and Bryce. For example, from Orderville, it’s an hour to Bryce Canyon and an hour to Springdale (30 min to the East Entrance). 

There are almost no chain hotels here (the Best Western (book here) in Mount Carmel is the exception, and a good one). There are several local motels, hotels, B&Bs, glamping spots, resorts, and forested retreats. 

East Zion Resort is a popular option here.

I also like Arrowhead Country Cabins (book here), Mount Carmel Motel & RV Park (book here), the Escape to East Zion (book here), Historic Smith Hotel B&B (book here), Virgin River Retreat (book here), and Whispering Pines Covered Wagon Resort (book here).

There are few services here, but enough gas stations and restaurants to take care of you. 

Kanab

Kanab, Utah (pronounced kuh-naab), is larger than the towns in Long Valley, but still fairly small (5,000 residents). It’s about an hour from Springdale and 1.5 hours from Bryce. 

It’s quiet, clean, and nice. It was once known as Little Hollywood because many western movies were filmed in the area, and you’ll see signs around town dedicated to the Hollywood stars who frequented the town, including John Wayne and Frank Sinatra. 

It’s usually pretty affordable and has a good mix of chain and local hotels. New hotels are being built regularly as it is growing in popularity, thanks to its heavy tourism campaigns. Some options I like include Canyons Boutique Hotel (book here), the retro-themed Quail Park Lodge (book here), and the cute Purple Sage Inn B&B. Check out our article, The Best Unique Hotels & Resorts In Kanab, Utah, for more options.

I think Kanab is a little far away to use solely as a home base for Zion (1 hr to Springdale) & Bryce (1.5 hours), but there are a few situations when it can make sense:

First, if you’re also visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (1:40 away), then Kanab makes a good home base to visit all three national parks. You’ll do a fair amount of driving each day, but you can use one home base to visit all three. 

• Note: the North Rim is only open from mid-May to mid-October!

Second, it’s also only an hour away from Page, Arizona, which is home to Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and amazing red rock scenery. This is ABSOLUTELY worth adding to your vacation, and makes Kanab even more appealing – use it as a home base to visit 4 major locations. 

Third, Kanab has even more public land surrounding it with incredible scenery and almost no crowds. Most of these sites are located an hour away from town and require dirt roads, many of which I don’t recommend doing on your own. If getting away from the crowds is important to you, this makes Kanab even more appealing. 

Fourth, Kanab is popular for riding side-by-side UTVs on dirt trails and at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, which is also fun for kids because it has sandboarding (sledding down the sand). 

So, you could easily stay in Kanab for an entire week and enjoy INSANE desert scenery and experiences — if you know where to look. I have made several visits to the area and paid for off-roading tours, horseback rides, river rafting tours, and more to determine HOW to visit Kanab and the surrounding region. 

If you want help with this, we include Kanab in our Utah National Parks and Grand Circle Travel Guides. 

More Help

My Zion Travel Guide has more of my favorite hotels and B&Bs in it, as well as a very thorough game plan for visiting Zion. This includes spots to escape the crowds and many more amazing things to do outside the park. 

If you’re visiting more Utah national parks, I have a complete guide for visiting all five of the national parks in Utah.

If you’re also visiting the Grand Canyon, Page, or Monument Valley, we have a Grand Circle Guide to show you how to do ALL of this amazing area.