One Day in Zion National Park: Ultimate Zion National Park Itinerary
Only have one day to explore Zion National Park in southern Utah? No problem! Follow this guide to make the most of your time in Zion Canyon and experience ALL it has to offer.
If I had to describe Zion in one word, it would be other-worldly. Entering Zion National Park truly feels like you’re entering another world, one untouched by civilization and crafted by the gods. It emits this “larger than life” energy because you start your journey at the bottom of the canyon, with the massive canyon walls towering overhead on all sides.
When I visited Zion, unbeknownst to me I was humming the Jurassic Park theme song as we made our way up the road. TRUST ME – it’s only fitting. Zion is the closest thing we have on Earth to a real-life Jurassic Park. The sheer magnitude of it all is awe-inspiring, and you can’t help but get a primal feeling from the nature around you as you stare up at giants.
Zion is so many thing, stunning and surreal just to name a few. Lucky for us, this national park is surprisingly pretty easy to visit in one day.
Keep reading for the perfect itinerary & my best tips for spending one day in Zion National Park!
Zion National Park is massive. It covers 229 square miles, but I promise that seeing the best of Zion National Park in one day is completely doable. The most visited sections of Zion are all along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, a 6.3 mile road heading into the canyon that’s only accessible by shuttle bus most of the year.
While you won’t be able to do everything with just one day in Zion National Park, you should have time for a couple of trails, a sightseeing shuttle ride, and a picnic lunch under the shadow of the mighty cliffs.
Getting to Zion National Park
If you’re traveling from afar, the two most popular airports for getting to Zion National Park are Las Vegas (LAS) and St. George (SGU). St. George is the closest and about an hour drive from the park. It’s a small regional airport, but flight options grow as the popularity of southern Utah increases.
If St. George is out of the question, then Viva Las Vegas! It’s a bit longer drive (2 hours and 40 minutes), but you’ll have lots of options for cheap flights.
Don’t forget, you will definitely need a rental car to get to Zion National Park. Hopefully you’re visiting Zion as part of a big Southern Utah road trip, so you should already have one. Some people start with Zion, but I visited it towards the end of my trip after visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
The Best Time To Visit Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a popular place, welcoming 4.3 million visitors per year, making it the most visited national park in Utah.
A large majority of those visitors arrive in summertime, so the park is buzzing with people from May to September. If you can, I suggest planning your trip to Zion in the spring or fall. The park will be much more peaceful, you’ll spend less time waiting in line for the shuttle, and you won’t have to hike in the sweltering heat.
The busy summer season in Zion runs from May through September, and the hottest days can be over 100 degrees. All park programs, services, shuttle routes and campgrounds will be open, but crowds will be high and parking lots full by mid-morning.
Spring and fall are a bit calmer (aside from spring break), with daytime highs in the 60s and 70s and lows in the 30s and 40s in Zion. Some services and amenities operate under more limited hours in these seasons, so be sure to check and plan ahead. Spring snowmelt also means that the famous Narrows hike could be off-limits.
I visited in October, and it was beautiful! I would recommend this time of year to anyone.
In winter, the park and Zion Canyon Visitor Center remain open but services are severely limited and some trails are closed. Snow often accumulates at higher elevations but melts quickly at the floor. There will be far fewer crowds and private vehicle access to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive when the shuttle isn’t running.
Getting Around Zion National Park
During the majority of the year, private cars cannot drive throughout Zion Canyon. Instead, the park offers a free shuttle with many stops throughout the park at the most popular trailheads.
There is also a second shuttle line called the Springdale line. This line runs along Zion Park Boulevard, where you’ll find most of the restaurants and hotels in Springdale, and it ends at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
If you have a rental car, you can park at the Visitor Center and board the Zion Shuttle from there. Traffic is typically heavy and parking is busy in Zion, even outside the prime summer season. Spots are often full by 8 or 9 a.m.
If you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels in the neighboring town of Springdale, take the free Springdale shuttle to the Visitors Center, and then transfer to the Zion shuttle to enter the park. Springdale also has paid lots.
During the summertime when the park is crowded, there are long waits at each shuttle stop, especially at the Visitors Center, which is stop #1. The first shuttle departs the Visitor Center at 9 am, so I recommend arriving as early as possible in the day.
Itinerary for One Day in Zion National Park
Only have one day to explore Zion National Park? No problem! Follow my Zion itinerary to make the most of your one day in Zion National Park.
Canyon Overlook Trail
Canyon Overlook Trail is outside the main area of the park, but I think it’s a must for anyone visiting Zion.
The parking is pretty limited near the trailhead, so you might want to make this your first stop of the day. I came here for sunset, and it was pretty packed. We eventually found a parking spot, but then had to walk about 10-15 minutes to the beginning of the trail. The trailhead is just before the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel on the east side, and you will have to drive up here because the shuttle doesn’t come up this route.
After hopefully snagging a good parking spot, this trail will take you along some rocky terrain and steep drop-offs as you make your way to the Canyon Overlook. This hike is supposedly only about 1 mile round trip, but it felt a little longer. There is some uphill climbing, so be prepared for moderate difficulty
The views from Canyon Overlook are stunning, and it’s an amazing way to either start or end your one day in Zion National Park.
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
After hiking the Canyon Overlook Trail, head to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center where you’ll be parking your car for the rest of the day. Once back in your car, make the winding drive through the canyon (an experience in and of itself) back down to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Again, arriving early will be your best bet at a parking spot.
At the Visitor Center you can browse informational displays, stop at the gift shop, and grab a trail map or Junior Ranger booklet.
The Narrows
With the Virgin River narrowing to just 20 to 30 feet in some parts and canyon walls soaring hundreds of feet above, this epic hike certainly belongs on every Zion National Park bucket list. The most popular route begins at the easy Riverside Walk trail, but by the end you’ll be jumping right into the water for the rest of the hike.
A little walking, a little wading and some swimming are required for this strenuous, 9.4-mile roundtrip hike. However, it’s an out-and-back path, so you can turn around at any point, which I highly recommend (unless you want to spend your one day in Zion National Park knee deep in a gorge).
Since river conditions and flash flooding can make The Narrows dangerous, so definitely check conditions before setting off. This hike is mostly recommended only for late spring through summer when the water isn’t as cold, but even then you’ll want the right gear for a safe trip. You can read more about this hike up on the NPS website and decide if it’s right for you and your Zion National Park itinerary.
Angels Landing
If you’ve ever seen photos of Zion National Park, there’s a good chance they were posted by daredevils on Instagram after completing this daring climb. Angels Landing is known for its dramatic heights and narrow footpath, so this hike is not for the faint of heart.
If you only have one day in Zion National Park, I recommend choosing between either Angles Landing or the Narrows because they’re both strenuous hikes that will eat up a few hours.
Angels Landing calls to adventurous spirits far and wide as the West Rim Trail is about 5.4 miles roundtrip, with 1,488 feet of elevation change and switchbacks. But it’s the end of the hike that will really get your blood pumping as you cling for dear life on a rusty chain almost 1500 feet in the air, shuffling along a skinny little ridge and trying not to peer down into the seemingly bottomless abyss.
But the lookout at the top? WORTH EVERY SECOND.
Emerald Pool Trails
With lower, middle and upper tiers, the Emerald Pools and their waterfalls make for a fun and scenic hike that can be easy to moderately challenging, depending on how far you decide to trek.
The paved Lower Emerald Pools Trail is an easy 1.2 miles round trip and leads to a pool and waterfall that you can walk under. The middle pool sits just above the lower, but it takes a bit of a steep climb to reach.
The upper is some 200 feet higher and turns the whole thing into about a 3-mile excursion. It also connects to the Kayenta Trail, which means you can make a loop instead of climbing back down the exact same way. Check the park maps to plot your course.
If you want to keep going and want to add on a bit more difficult hike to your day, keep going upwards, following signs for the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools. Be prepared for a steep elevation climb to the top where you’ll find a large pool nestled under a cliff.
Riverside Walk
Once aboard the shuttle, follow it all the way to the last stop, #8 Temple of Sinawava. From there, head toward the Riverside Walk Trail. This trail will again lead you along the Virgin River and is the start of The Narrows hiking trail, if you choose to do that.
This easy trail runs alongside the Virgin River with canyon walls rising far above, and it spans a total of 2.2 miles out and back. The Riverside Walk is a family-friendly option, with a paved and mostly flat route and restrooms and water at the trailhead.
Pa’rus Trail
The paved, multi-use Pa’rus Trail is the only one in the park that allows leashed pets and bikes. It runs alongside the Virgin River for 3.5 miles roundtrip, although you can turn around at any point for a shorter trip.
There are some exhibits along the way, but the main attraction is the multihued canyon walls hovering overhead in the distance and the river constantly gushing by. The Pa’rus Trail takes you along the Virgin River bank and then through a grassy meadow. The trail is completely flat, making it nice and easy.
You could keep going along the river or go to the Zion Human History Museum. This will ensure your hike is only 1 short mile. If you want to stop here you can check out some cultural exhibits on the people, plants and animals native to the part of Utah. There are also displays about the power of water and how it shaped this glorious canyon.
There’s also a 22 minute park overview video, which is necessary to complete the Junior Ranger program. Rangers are always nearby to answer any questions.
Scenic Routes
Even if you just want to stay in the comfort of your car all day, there are still a few spots in and around the park where you can admire Zion’s beauty while cruising down the highway.
The 6 mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive follows the Virgin River through the canyon before ending at the Temple of Sinawava and the trailhead for the Narrows hike. Also known as Floor of the Valley Road, this route give unparalleled views of the sandstone mountains rising up overhead to either side. This is the road that can only be accessed via shuttle, except between the months of December and February when the shuttles aren’t running because crowds are so sparse.
The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is best sightseeing drive for private vehicles. This 25 mile road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a 1.1 mile long tunnel through the cliffs with cut out windows offering surreal views into the canyon.
Kolob Canyon
I stumbled upon Kolob Canyon completely by accident, but boy am I glad I did! I put “Zion National Park” into my phone’s gps, assuming it would take me to the entrance, but it took me to Kolob Canyon (which, technically, is just a different entrance).
Kolob Canyon is a MUCH less visited part of Zion National Park, and it was personally my favorite area for that reason. It’s also great because you can drive your car into this part of the park rather than needing to take a bus or shuttle. Second, because there are so few people here, it’s easier to find parking and the trails are more enjoyable.
I was here a little after sunrise, and the light coming through the canyon was nothing short of majestic. I would bet that Kolob Canyon is a great spot to watch sunset, too.
Tip: There’s a short hike, Timber Creek Overlook, at Kolob View Point where you can see almost 360-degrees – including as far as the North Rim of the Grand Canyon – WHAT?! – and to nearby rock formations as they light up during golden hour.
