The parks of Utah are more beautiful than you can imagine. I’m talking ‘life on another planet’ beautiful. And Zion is a “must-see” among those parks. I’ve created the ultimate guide to Zion National Park, including where to stay, eat, hike and more!
The enormous red-orange sandstone cliffs will blow you away. The canyon views give an overwhelming sense of peace and calmness, which might be just what you need after a long road trip with a baby and toddler. Never said it was easy. But more than worth it…
My biggest tip: if you go anytime Spring to Fall, but especially summer – start your hiking EARLY in the day. Get out there before it’s crowded and hot. Especially if you are doing a longer or more strenuous hike. It can feel much hotter than the forecasted temp when you are out there in the mountains and blistering sun.
Here is a link to Zion’s Information Guide, with a map, shuttle hours, trail info, and more. So helpful.
Table of Contents
- When to Go
- Getting There
- Side / Day Trips from Zion
- Getting Around
- Where to Stay
- Where to Eat
- What to Bring
- Kid-Friendly Hikes
- Aaaand NOT So Kid-Friendly Hikes
- Fees
When to Go
NOW!
Orrrr…Spring to Fall. Just know that summer gets pretty hot. And it always feels hotter in that mountain sun. Get out there really early to avoid over-heating and the crowds.
Getting There
We live in Northern California, so the route we take is:
Drive 8 hours to Vegas. Get some yummy food, rest up for the night, then drive 2.5 hours to Zion the next day.
There is a super Walmart about 35 minutes from Springdale where you should stock up on ice, drinks and food. We did that on our way back to Vegas. There is a market in the town of Springdale, but it’s overpriced and pretty limited.
You do NOT need reservations to enter Zion, you just pay the fee. You DO need advanced reservations to do the famed Angel’s Landing hike. If you don’t get in the lottery the first time around, you can try when you get there. More information on the Zion NPS site.
Side / Day Trips from Zion
When you travel to Zion, you have to take a day trip to Bryce Canyon (1hr 20 min drive from Zion).
Another side trip that can’t be missed from Zion is Antelope Canyon. It’s like another world down there. You need to make advanced reservations with a tour guide.
Kanab, UT is a decent central location to stay and do day trips to Bryce and Antelope.
Kanab also has some great lodging options for families. And you can’t go wrong with the food!
Getting Around
Zion’s free shuttle system makes it so easy to get around.
Our then 1.5 year old was obsessed with the shuttle “bus”. “Bus! Busssss!!!!”
The shuttle drops you at or near the trailhead that you want to take. The trails with corresponding shuttle stops are marked on the map and inside the shuttle itself. However, last I checked, the shuttle tickets are first come, first serve. So set your alarm, get those kiddos into gear, and head out as early as you can.
More info on the shuttle system and map can be found on their website.
But if that sounds completely unrealistic, which it does to me, then consider the Watchman Trail and Canyon Overlook Trails. These are my favorites, and you don’t need the shuttle for either.
Parking inside the park is free, but limited. You can park in and around the park early, and then catch the Zion shuttle to different trailheads. Parking fills up quickly though. There is pay-for parking around town that fills up quickly too.
When we were there in April, it filled up inside the park by 9am I’d say. We did find some free open spots left around 8:30am near the Watchman Campgrounds (pay to enter the park from your car, and turn right).
Cute little Springdale conveniently has a free shuttle with stops throughout the town. It drops you directly at the park entrance. Wherever you stay, you can walk to the nearest stop and catch that shuttle so you don’t have to worry about parking.
The road within the park and the Pa’rus trail also allow bikes. The shuttles will take up to 3 bikes at a time. We biked the first time we were there – it was a fun easy way to see a lot. The bike rental did not have bike seats, only trailers. There is a rental place adjacent to the visitor’s center (which is also next to Watchman Villas, where we stayed).
Where to Stay
The park is so easy to get in and out of. But if you’d rather stay in the park, they have the Zion Lodge and campsites.
We stayed at Watchman Villas in Springdale, about 1.4 miles from the park entrance. The villas are like family friendly condos. They have pack-n-play cribs available. We had our 6-month old sleep in a crib in the living room and the 3 year old on the floor of our room using extra blankets and pillows from the living area.
Our first trip we stayed in the 2nd floor unit – The Juniper. It had a beautiful view from the balcony (just be careful if you have little monkeys that like to climb, what kid doesn’t?!).
We liked the Villa so much that we stayed there on our 2nd trip to Zion. But the Juniper was booked, so we stayed in The Willow, on the first floor. Views weren’t as great. Not having to lug our stuff up and down stairs was a bonus. And our 3 year old loved playing outside on the backyard grass and patio. Nice having a safe secluded place for the little ones to enjoy so you can sit back and enjoy an ice-cold refreshment. You deserve it after all that hiking!!
This place felt like luxury after coming from a 3-star hotel in Kanab on our first trip. The second time around didn’t feel as chic, but still clean, comfortable, and plenty of space to run around, both in and outside
Check out their great rates and awesome reviews on Expedia or book with me (your Zion expert and certified travel advisor).
Management provides the necessities – grind it yourself coffee, basic cooking supplies, toiletries, etc. Washer and dryer downstairs came in handy. Your clothes run out quickly on those hot hikes. The villas are great for family travel with space to run around.
And conveniently centrally located by a shuttle stop, 3-minute walk to the market, or to pick up to-go orders from nearby restaurants.
Where to Eat
On that note, the food in Springdale really wasn’t worth writing about, let’s just say that. Not bad. But not great. We cooked from the villa a few days because we couldn’t find anything we loved except:
The Zion Brewpub! It’s right at the park entrance. So it’s perfect for grabbing an ice-cold beer and big juicy burger after a late morning hike.
I would have eaten there every day if their food-serving hours were better. When we visited in April, they didn’t open to serve families with kids (wait what?!) until 2pm. They served beer outside from 11am on, but no kids allowed there. Oh Utah. So be sure to call ahead to see when they start serving food if you have kids with you. We planned better the next day by doing a later hike, finishing it around 1:30, and then practically eating our arm off while waiting for those doors to open at 2.
What to Bring
- hiking carrier, like our Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier and Backpack
- backpack, like our indestructible diaper bag backpack from BagNation (lifetime warranty!)
- women’s hiking boots (we got my husband’s pair at Costco, and my son’s Denali’s on sale for a great deal at Big 5)
- sunscreen
- hats / beanies / sunglasses
- insulated water containers with more water than you think you need
- Gatorade or another sports drink for you and the kiddos – water wasn’t enough when we hiked in the heat
- chapstick
- layers – it can sometimes start a bit cool and windy, but heats up fast
- longer socks for hiking
- mist spray fan if you think you need it – instead we just sprinkle water on our little ones and each other as needed
Check out my Amazon Storefront for more hiking faves.
Kid-Friendly Hikes
There are plenty of kid-friendly hikes in Zion. The information guide rates the hikes by difficulty, but it can be a bit vague and misleading. For more info on my favorite trails, read my Best Kid-Friendly Hikes in Zion.
These hikes are easy-peasy:
- Pa’rus Trail (the only dog / bike / wheelchair and stroller-friendly trail, also nicely paved so not too bumpy)
- Grotto Trail
- Lower Emerald Pool
- Riverside Walk (paved, first part is wheelchair/stroller accessible however may need some assistance)
These are moderate difficulty (my favorites noted with the *):
- Canyon Overlook*
- Watchman Trail*
- Middle Emerald Pool
- Upper Emerald Pool
Aaaand NOT So Kid-Friendly Hikes
The Narrows and Angel’s Landing – two famous hikes that draw thousands of thrill-seekers a year.
The Narrows are slot canyons that are susceptible to flash floods. These can be pretty serious, with walls of water up to 12 feet or higher. Not a place even my crazy self is venturing with a baby or toddler. We did walk right up to the water for a quickie photo-op, and then turned RIGHT back around.
The park does issue warnings and even closes the Narrows during certain seasons or when it is not deemed safe. But sometimes the weather is unpredictable, so it’s up to the hiker to check conditions in surrounding areas.
Umm, that’s on our bucket list for when the kids are much older.
Angel’s Landing is the 2nd most challenging adventure at Zion. And my favorite hike there, for that reason.
***Post update: You now need a permit to access Angel’s Landing!***
We attempted it on our first trip to Zion when Jameson was a bit over a year. But when he started getting too hot we had to turn around. So on our second trip, we were determined! We headed out much earlier.
This time, we conquered it! But we did NOT do the very top where the cables are – too sketchy, especially when crowded. It’s the other crazy people I don’t trust. And of course I would NEVER do that portion with little ones.
I only carried Jameson the last 50 feet, more so because it was getting more crowded and I wanted to be done. Other than that, our 3 year old climbed all of Angel’s Landing (right up until the cables, of course). Those close to giving up loved his motivation. They kept on climbin’ when they saw our little guy persevering. Everyone was “in it” together and supporting each other. Such a cool adventure to be a part of.
My tank of a husband also did it with our then 6-month old on his back in the hiking carrier. Yea Da-da! What an accomplishment!
This is definitely NOT a hike that I would deem safe for young children. I think the youngest kid we saw was probably about 9 years old. But my little guy listens very well, is used to walking 2-3 miles daily at home, and I held his hand at every steep drop-off. It takes a lot of physical and mental energy to do that safely.
| Duration | Difficulty | Elevation Gain | Pets Allowed |
| 4 hours (5.4 miles) | Strenuous | 1488 feet!!! | No |
If you have time, keep driving East away from Zion park, toward Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon (or Kanab if you choose to stay there). This drive is beautiful. Even prettier than Zion itself! Ya, believe it. And Bryce Canyon can NOT be missed. My guide to Bryce coming soon!
We first discovered this side of Zion on a rainy day during our first trip here, and so glad we ventured out into the wetness! It reminded me of the Cars ride at Disneyland (not quite as cute, but definitely mesmerizing, and the real deal).
Fees
Both the park and town shuttles are free. You no longer have to reserve tickets in advance as we had to during the COVID pandemic.
When I wrote this post, it cost $35 per car to enter Zion versus $20 per person without a vehicle. That pass is good for 7 days. Veterans and kids 15 and under are free.
Here is the link for fee info at the park.
Well, you’re all set. Now hurry and book some lodging, because the lodging fills fast, especially post-pandemic. Bring your selfie stick and capture some unforgettable views. There’s nothing like exploring the outdoors with the fam. Maybe don’t try to conquer four hot, strenuous hikes in four days! We got our hikin’ fill in, that’s for sure.
