Getting to Springdale, including the way nobody mentions
Springdale sits on one road at the mouth of Zion Canyon, and almost everyone drives to it from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. There is also a public bus that costs five dollars, which is the best kept secret in southern Utah travel.
- From Las Vegas
- About 3 hours
- From Salt Lake City
- About 4 hours
- Nearest airport
- St George, about an hour
- Public bus fare
- $5 one way
Three drives, and one of them is not what you think
Springdale has one road through it, State Route 9, and everybody arrives on it from the west. There is no back way in.
| From | Time | What the drive is like |
|---|---|---|
| St George, Utah | About 1 hour | The short one, and the reason St George is the sensible airport. Interstate 15 then State Route 9 east through Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Rockville. |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | About 3 hours | Interstate 15 north the whole way, then the same last hour. Straightforward, and it is why so many Zion trips start at a Las Vegas car rental desk. |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | About 4 hours | Interstate 15 south. Longer than people expect, and it is the drive most likely to make you arrive in the dark. |
The last hour is the good bit
Once you turn off the interstate the road follows the Virgin River up through a string of small towns, and the canyon walls close in gradually rather than all at once. Give it more time than the app says, because you will stop.
Coming from Bryce Canyon or the east, you arrive on the other side of the park and drive the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway through the tunnel to reach Springdale. That is a spectacular arrival and it comes with vehicle size limits, which are further down this page.
Which airport, and the trade you are making
There is no airport at Zion. The choice is between a cheap flight and a long drive, or a dearer flight and an hour in the car.
St George, SGU
About an hour from the park’s south entrance, and the only airport where the drive is a detail rather than a leg of the trip. Fewer routes and usually a higher fare, but if it works for you it is the obvious answer. It is also the one end of the public bus route.
Las Vegas, LAS
About three hours away. The cheapest flights and the widest choice of hire cars, which is why most international visitors come this way. Budget the drive honestly: three hours after a flight is a real evening.
Salt Lake City, SLC
About four hours. Worth it if you are building a wider Utah trip taking in the other parks, and hard to justify for Zion alone.
Whichever you pick, you almost certainly want a vehicle for the journey and almost certainly do not want it once you arrive. Springdale parking is paid and privately run, the park lot fills early in season, and the two free shuttle lines cover everything. Park it at the hotel and leave it there.
There is a public bus to Zion, for five dollars
SunTran runs a scheduled service from St George to the park, and it is not a tour.
| Detail | What it is |
|---|---|
| Route | St George to Zion National Park, 42 miles, calling at Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale |
| Fare | $5 one way |
| Monthly pass | $100 |
| Days | Monday to Saturday. No Sunday service, and no service on designated holidays. |
| Hours | Buses run from 5:40am to 10:30pm |
| Paying | Cash, card or Venmo, on the bus |
| Turning up | Be at the stop at least five minutes early, because times shift a little with traffic |
Put that next to the free park shuttles and a Zion trip without a car stops being a stunt. Fly into St George, take a five dollar bus to Springdale, and use the free town and canyon lines for everything else. The whole week costs less in transport than one day of car hire.
The catches are real and worth knowing. No Sunday service, so a Sunday arrival or departure does not work. Buses run to a fixed timetable rather than every ten minutes. And it gets you to Springdale, not to a trailhead, so you are relying on the park shuttles once you are here, which for most visitors is exactly what you want anyway.
Check the current timetable before you build a day around it
Departure times for each stop are published separately by SunTran and they change. We are giving you the shape of the service and the fare rather than a timetable that would be stale within a season.
If you are in a motorhome or towing anything
This catches more people than anything else on this page, and it is a fifteen dollar problem if you know about it and a two hour detour if you do not.
| Measurement | Limit | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 7 ft 10 in | Over this needs a $15 traffic control permit |
| Height | 11 ft 4 in | Over this needs a $15 traffic control permit |
| Length, single vehicle | 35 ft 9 in | Over this is not permitted on that road at all |
| Length, combined | 50 ft | The trailer alone must not exceed 26 ft |
| Weight | 50,000 lb | Over this is not permitted on that road at all |
| The permit | $15 | Covers two pass throughs within seven days, during escort hours only |
Which direction this matters in
The limits apply to the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the park’s east entrance, which is the road through the tunnel. Coming from Las Vegas or St George you approach from the west and never touch it. Coming from Bryce Canyon, Page or anywhere east, you do, and a vehicle that is too large has to go the long way round through Springdale. Measure before you leave rather than at the tunnel mouth.
Escort hours are limited and change by season, so confirm the day’s window with the park. A rented Class C motorhome is very often over the width or the height limit, and the rental company will not have told you.
What to do in the first hour
- At the gateBuy the vehicle pass on the way through
$35 covers your car and everyone in it for seven days. If you drive in once and then walk in for the rest of the week, that pass still covers you, and it is cheaper than paying per person at the pedestrian entrance. Non US residents should read the fee page first, because 2026 added a $100 per person surcharge.
- At the hotelPark the car and leave it
Springdale parking is paid and privately run, and the park lot at the visitor center fills early and stays full. The town shuttle runs the length of the road to the pedestrian entrance. Most visitors who enjoy Zion do not move their car again until they leave.
- First afternoonDo something short
Walk part of the Pa’rus Trail from the visitor center, or drive up to Canyon Overlook east of the tunnel. Do not start a long hike at four in the afternoon on arrival day, because the last shuttle out of the canyon moves by season and people misjudge it every week.
- That eveningSort out tomorrow
Rent Narrows gear if you want it, since several shops hand over from about 4pm the evening before at no extra cost. Enter the Angels Landing day before lottery if you want that hike. Then eat early and sleep, because the 7:00am shuttle is the whole game here.
Where you stay changes how easy that early start is, and by more than most people expect. Hotels closest to the entrance explains why, and the one day plan is written to the same clock.
Common questions about getting to Springdale
How far is Zion National Park from Las Vegas?
About three hours by road, north on Interstate 15 and then east on State Route 9 through Hurricane and Virgin. Las Vegas has the cheapest flights and the widest choice of hire cars, which is why most visitors arrive this way.
What is the closest airport to Zion National Park?
St George Regional, about an hour from the south entrance. Las Vegas is about three hours away and Salt Lake City about four, but both have far more flights and cheaper fares.
Can you get to Zion without a car?
Yes. SunTran runs a scheduled public bus from St George to Zion National Park for $5 one way, Monday to Saturday, calling at Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale. Once you are here the park's two shuttle lines are free.
How much is the bus from St George to Zion?
$5 one way, or $100 for an unlimited monthly pass. You can pay by cash, card or Venmo on the bus. There is no Sunday service and none on designated holidays.
Can I drive an RV to Zion?
To Springdale, yes. The restriction is on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway through the tunnel, where vehicles over 7 ft 10 in wide or 11 ft 4 in tall need a $15 permit, and anything over 35 ft 9 in long, 50 ft combined or 50,000 lb is not allowed on that road at all.
Do I need a car in Springdale?
To get there, almost certainly. Once you arrive, no. The town shuttle runs the length of Springdale to the park's pedestrian entrance and the canyon shuttle covers every major trailhead, both free.
How long is the drive from Salt Lake City to Zion?
About four hours, south on Interstate 15. It is longer than most people plan for and it is the drive most likely to have you arriving after dark.
You are here. Now leave the car alone
Two free shuttle lines cover the town and the canyon, and where you sleep decides how early you can use them.
Also useful: entrance fees, when to visit and the one day plan.
A public bus runs from St George to the park for $5.
Read the town guide