Trips to Springdale
Getting to Springdale, the gateway town to Zion National Park, is the easy part, with a regional airport less than an hour's drive from town. Doing Zion well from here takes more planning: Zion Canyon parking fills quickly, and the free shuttle through town runs only part of the year, so our sightseeing packages handle the timing and guests spend their day taking in the canyon rather than hunting for a space. The town dates to 1862, when settlers farmed beside springs on the North Fork of the Virgin River, and it stayed agricultural until the early 1900s, when the surrounding scenery became its main draw. Nearly everything still lines up along one main street, UT-9, which runs straight to the park's south entrance.
Getting To and From Springdale
Under an hour separates Springdale from the closest airport, while the larger hubs sit three to four hours away by road. Each option still means a rental car and a hunt for parking once you arrive. Our guests travel by guided motorcoach as part of the itinerary, with the drive into Zion’s gateway town handled from start to finish.
Motorcoach travel brings our package guests into Springdale, so no separate flight is needed. Independent travelers have three options: St. George Regional (SGU) at about 45 minutes, Harry Reid International (LAS) in Las Vegas at about three hours, and Salt Lake City International (SLC) at roughly four hours. Las Vegas is the closest international airport.
A rental from your arrival airport covers the drive in, but the park sets its own limits once you’re here. During shuttle season, the free shuttle is how visitors move through Zion Canyon, and oversized vehicles can’t use the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. Our motorcoach guests leave every one of these details to us.
Our package guests rejoin the motorcoach when it’s time to move on, so there’s no airport run to plan. Independent travelers head back to St. George Regional (SGU) in about 45 minutes, Harry Reid International (LAS) in about three hours, or Salt Lake City International (SLC) in roughly four.
Guests traveling with us by motorcoach have no car to hand back. Independent travelers should plan the return around their onward flight, dropping the car at St. George Regional Airport (SGU), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) or Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Where to Stay in Springdale
Your Springdale accommodation will be confirmed in your Final Travel Documents 45 days prior to departure. Lodging will be at the Desert Pearl Hotel, Driftwood Lodge, or a similar property.
Where to Eat in Springdale
Torrey's dining options are compact, but they go well past what you'd expect from a town of under 200 people. Cafes and casual spots cover the quick stops before a day in the park, while a couple of places nearby lean into more of a sit-down evening. For a town this small and this remote, the range on offer here is genuinely a pleasant surprise.
Named for the owners’ two daughters, Dulivia Ristorante Italiano brings scratch-made pasta, wood-fired pizza and a full wine and cocktail bar to Zion Park Boulevard. The main dining room is formal, with high ceilings and chandeliers, and a covered patio makes a pleasant choice on warm evenings. Reservations are taken online, so a long, relaxed dinner after a day in the park is easy to plan.
A steakhouse built around USDA Prime cuts and fresh seafood, Switchback Grille sits on Zion Park Boulevard close to the park’s south entrance. Its polished dining room suits an unhurried evening after a day in the canyon, and private events, from small dinners to full buyouts, can be arranged for special occasions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a stay in Springdale, Utah starts with the questions below: how guests arrive, how the town connects to Zion National Park, and what to expect from the crowds and the seasons.
The simplest way is by motorcoach on one of our packages, so there’s no flight, rental car or parking to arrange. On your own, it’s a drive of 45 minutes from St. George, about three hours from Las Vegas or roughly four from Salt Lake City, followed by a search for parking once the park’s lots fill.
Right next door. The town sits at Zion’s south entrance, and the main street, UT-9, leads straight into the park. Staying in Springdale puts guests minutes from the canyon, with no long drive at either end of the day.
Not for guests on our packages, since the motorcoach handles every leg of the journey. Independent visitors who drive in will find that during shuttle season, the free shuttle is how people move through Zion Canyon and town, while park lots fill quickly.
For the most part. Nearly everything in town lines up along UT-9, so restaurants and lodging sit close together, and in season a free shuttle route runs the length of town. Guests arriving by motorcoach can explore the main street easily, with no car to park or keep track of.
Very, in peak months. More than 4 million visitors pass Springdale’s entrance sign each year, summer is the busiest season, and March brings a spring break rush. Fall avoids the worst of the crowds. Our sightseeing packages handle the timing, so guests see the park without competing for parking or shuttle seats.
Two routes stand out. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive follows the canyon floor and, during shuttle season, is reached by the park’s free shuttle rather than private car. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway climbs east through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. Guests on our packages see the canyon without arranging any of the logistics themselves.
Springdale Vacation Packages
