Choosing where to stay in Springdale
Star ratings and pool photographs are not the decision. How far you are from the park entrance, and whether you can get there without a car, is.
- Properties in town
- Around 28
- Book ahead
- 4 to 9 months in peak
- Car free possible
- Yes, from anywhere in town
- Cheapest month
- Deep winter
Ask one question before any other
How do I get to the park entrance from here in the morning? That is the decision. Everything else on a hotel listing is secondary to it.
Springdale is one road about a mile and a half long, with the park gate at the north end. Every property in town is on that road, and the town shuttle runs its length and connects to the pedestrian entrance. So in the sense that matters, everywhere in Springdale works: you can leave the car parked for the whole trip from any of them.
What varies is the margin. The canyon shuttle starts at 7:00am and the town shuttle at 8:00am. If you want to be on that first canyon shuttle, and in peak season you do, you are walking to the gate. From the north end of town that is a pleasant few minutes. From the south end it is a real walk in the dark.
So the useful question to ask a hotel
Not “how far are you from Zion”, because they will all say very close and they will all be right. Ask how long it takes to walk to the pedestrian entrance, and which town shuttle stop they are nearest. Both answers are specific and both are easy for them to give.
Four kinds of place, and who each suits
Springdale has roughly twenty eight places to stay in a town of about six hundred people. They fall into four groups, and the group matters more than the individual property.
Branded hotels
Hampton Inn & Suites, Hyatt Place, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites, Cliffrose (Curio Collection by Hilton), Hotel De Novo (Tapestry Collection by Hilton), Red Cliffs Lodge Zion (Tribute Portfolio).
Suits: families, points collectors, anyone who wants a known quantity, breakfast included and a pool for the afternoon.
Independent lodges and inns
Desert Pearl Inn, Cable Mountain Lodge, Driftwood Lodge, Flanigan’s Resort and Spa, Bumbleberry Inn, Zion Park Motel, Harvest House Inn, Red Rock Inn, Novel House Inn at Zion.
Suits: most people, honestly. This is where Springdale’s character lives and several of these are better placed than the chains.
Bed and breakfasts
Under The Eaves, Canyon Vista Lodge, Zion Canyon Bed and Breakfast, Petty Ranch Inn.
Suits: couples, quieter trips, anyone who wants local knowledge over the counter at breakfast. Usually small, so they book out early.
Cabins, villas and camping
Zion Canyon Cabins, The Bungalows At Zion, Canyon Casitas At Zion, Watchman Villas, Flanigan’s Villas, Zion Sage Suites, Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort.
Suits: groups, longer stays, families who want a kitchen, and anyone travelling with a lot of gear. For campgrounds inside the park, with current rates and booking windows, see camping near Zion.
What this page deliberately does not tell you
We have not put rates, star ratings, amenity lists or a position on the road against any of these, because we have not verified them and a stale price or a wrong walking distance is worse than no number at all. Property names are from public listings and are believed current. Check rates and specifics with the property.
The column this page is missing, and will get, is which end of the road each one sits on and which town shuttle stop serves it. That is the genuinely useful comparison and it needs someone standing on the street to build it honestly.
What you are actually paying for
Springdale is expensive compared to towns half an hour away. It is worth understanding what the premium buys before deciding whether you want it.
Stay in Springdale
Your morningsPark once and never move the car. Walk or take the town shuttle to the gate. Be on an early canyon shuttle while other people are still driving in and looking for a space.
You also get to walk to dinner, which after a long day matters more than it sounds.
Stay 30 minutes out
Real savingsHurricane and La Verkin are noticeably cheaper with more choice and more chain options. St George is about an hour and has an airport and full services.
The daily cost is the drive and the parking problem, both of which land squarely on your morning. See where to stay near Zion for the full comparison of bases.
There is no universally right answer. For a two night trip built around early starts, Springdale usually wins on the maths even at the higher rate. For a week in the region with Zion as one of several stops, it often does not.
When to book
| Season | Book ahead | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| April, May | 6 to 9 months | Peak. Highest rates and the tightest availability of the year. |
| September, October | 6 to 9 months | The other peak. October is the single hardest month to book late. |
| June to August | 3 to 5 months | Busy but hot. Slightly easier than the shoulder peaks. |
| November, March | 1 to 3 months | Quieter, cooler, good value, and the shuttle still runs most of it. |
| December to February | Weeks | Cheapest by a wide margin. Some closures and reduced hours in town. |
Lodging is the earliest deadline on a Zion trip, earlier than permits and much earlier than tours. If Angels Landing matters to you, work backwards from the lottery dates before booking a room, because the permit calendar does not care when you booked your flights.
Common questions about Springdale hotels
Where should I stay in Springdale?
Anywhere on the main road works, because the town shuttle connects the length of it to the park entrance. The north end nearest the gate is best if you want to walk in before the town shuttle starts at 8:00am, which matters if you are chasing the first canyon shuttle at 7:00am.
How far ahead should I book a Springdale hotel?
Six to nine months for April, May, September and October. Three to five months in midsummer. Weeks is usually enough from December to February.
Is Springdale worth the extra money?
For a short trip built around early starts, usually yes, because you can leave the car parked and skip the daily parking problem. For a longer regional trip with Zion as one stop, staying in Hurricane or St George often makes more sense.
Can I stay in Springdale without a car?
Once you arrive, yes, easily. The town shuttle runs the length of the road and connects to the park entrance, and the canyon shuttle covers every major trailhead. Getting to Springdale in the first place is the part that needs planning.
How many hotels are there in Springdale?
Around 28 places to stay, in a town of roughly 600 residents. They range from branded chain hotels to small bed and breakfasts, cabins and one campground.
Is there lodging inside the park?
Yes, Zion Lodge sits in the canyon on the shuttle line. It is the only in park option and books further ahead than anything in Springdale.
What is the cheapest time to stay in Springdale?
December through February by a clear margin. It is cold and some places in town reduce hours or close, but the canyon is quiet and beautiful and rooms are a fraction of the peak rate.
Book the base, then build the days
Lodging is the earliest deadline on a Zion trip. Get it settled and the rest becomes easy.
Also useful: the Springdale town guide, how the shuttle works, and guided trips.
Springdale books out months ahead in spring and autumn.
Compare the bases