Review of Zion National Park: Our travel notes and tips

Zion National Park 


Zion National Park is Utah’s first national park.  It encompasses 229 square miles and is located in southwest corner of the state of Utah, in the town of Springdale.  

Zion National Park is 163 miles from Las Vegas, NV and it should take about 2 hours and 45 minutes by car.  Zion is world renowned for massive sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and for hiking trails.  

My wife and I drove on an early Friday morning during our stay in Las Vegas, to Zion National Park.  Let me start by saying the drive to Utah is incredible.  After about 30 minutes of driving outside of Las Vegas city limits, the roads really open up.  The speed limit will reach up to 75 miles per hour.

Our rental car for the trip, a Mustang convertible, was more than up to task for our drive there.  When the roads got curvy, Mustang was ready for action.  It was planted to the road and it had more than enough juice to get to passing speeds on the wide open roads.  I will always remember the beautiful vistas on that road trip.  The distant mountains, the cacti, blue skies, and the sound of the engine will forever be etched in my brain!

Our rental car, the Mustang convertible!

In Utah!

When we read up on Zion National Park, we were advised to take the shuttle bus from the town of Springdale into the visitor center, due to heavy traffic.  We heeded the advice and decided to park along the Main Street (Utah Route 9), then wait for the shuttle service.  

We waited no more than 5 minutes when the shuttle arrived.  We got on, enjoying the ride into Zion National Park visitor center.  Utah Route 9 has everything you will need.  Hotels, motels, restaurants, hiking / biking / kayaking outfitters, and retail stores.  The shuttle makes multiple stops along the road.  Look for shuttle service signage at various street locations.  You can’t miss it.

Once the shuttle disembarked all the passengers at the visitor center, we walked a short distance to purchase tickets for entrance into Zion.  Since we were walking in, we paid $20 per person to enter.  If you were to take a vehicle, that fee would be $35.  ***Word of caution:  If traveling during peak season (summer months), you most likely will need to use the shuttle due to heavy traffic...

Tip:  If you’re planning to visit other national parks within the same year, then look into buying the ‘America the Beautiful’ pass for $80.  This pass will grant up to 4 passengers in the same vehicle access to more than 2000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks.  

The visitor center has many useful features including park ranger station, restrooms, and exhibits.  You can also take the free Zion shuttle that takes you to various points of interest within the park.  This is a good way to experience Zion if you only have limited time at the park.

Zion National Park Visitor Center 

Can’t miss points of interest at Zion National Park:

  • Angels’ Landing:  One of the most beautiful views await at the top of Angel’s Landing.  It is a strenuous hike and is recommended for those who are not afraid of heights.  Hike is 5.4 miles round trip and should take about 2-4 hours depending on hiker traffic and hiker conditioning.
  • The Narrows:  Hike through world renowned rock formations that tower over 1000 feet into the air.  Round trip is 5 to 10 miles depending on how far you go into the canyon.  *There are flash flood dangers.  Check with park ranger before setting out.
  • Zion Canyon Overlook Trail:  A short 1 mile hike to an overlook above the Great Arch.
After a hike, don’t miss lunch and locally brewed beers at the Red Rock Grill at the Zion National Park Lodge.  Sit outside the deck for a phenomenal views of the towering cliffs on either side!  I call that view heavenly!

Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge

On our way back from Zion National Park, we stopped over at our favorite restaurant, Roy’s Restaurants back in Las Vegas.  Roy’s Restaurants is the creation of famous Pacific Rim cuisine chef, Roy Yamaguchi.  When we lived in Oahu, Hawaii, we loved going to the original location in Hawaii Kai, on special occasions.  

We arrived at Roy’s and we requested to be seated at the bar area for the Happy Hour.  We ordered drinks (Kona Brewing Company beer for me and a cocktail for Mrs. Wandering Money Pig), then ordered from happy hour bar menu.  

We savored all of our favorites including lobster fried rice, potstickers, and specialty rolls!  Yum...We were in heaven!!!

Happy Hour at Roy’s Restaurants 

Completely and utterly satisfied, we headed back to our hotel in Las Vegas.  It was a perfect ending to experiencing the most beautiful national park we’ve ever seen...

We have plans to go back in the future.  We’re not sure when that’ll be exactly, but we know for certain, that we will revisit that heavenly place...

We hope you’ve enjoyed our travel notes.  Thank you all for reading!


Jake

Wandering Money Pig 


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Please check out our YouTube channel ‘Wandering Money Pig’ showcasing our travels and our Pomeranian dog! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kl9f4W9sfNG5h1l-x6nHw


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