User Guide to the Zion Shuttle System
Overview of the Springdale and Zion Shuttle System
Navigating the free shuttle system in Zion National Park and the town of Springdale can seem overwhelming at first, but we’re here to break it down for you to simplify your visit so you can get around smoothly.
There are two shuttle routes: the Springdale Line and the Zion Canyon Line. The Springdale Line operates in Springdale, with nine shuttle stops along the main highway through town. The Zion Canyon Line operates within the National Park, with nine shuttle stops ranging from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center all the way to Temple of Sinawava.
During seasons of operation, both shuttle lines run regularly throughout the day in both directions (north and south). Inside the park, on the Zion Canyon Line, shuttles come every 5-10 minutes. Outside the park, on the Springdale Line, shuttles come every 10-15 minutes. You can hop on or off the shuttle at any open stop, allowing you to customize your day.
You don’t need a reservation, ticket, or permit to ride either shuttle. Both shuttles are completely free to use when they are in operation. If you decide to enter the National Park—whether by walking, biking, or driving—you still have to pay the park entrance fee, of course.
To keep the shuttles clean and safe, there is no eating, smoking, or pets allowed. You can put regular bikes and strollers on the exterior bike rack of the shuttle, but not eBikes or fat tire bikes. The shuttles are wheelchair accessible.
You can easily transfer between the shuttles. Stop 1 on the Springdale Line is at Zion Canyon Village, right at the park boundary. This allows for a quick connection between lines since you can walk across the Pedestrian Entrance footbridge to enter the National Park (where you can pay your entrance fee), and then you can hop on near the visitor center at Stop 1 of the Zion Canyon Line.
During seasons when the Zion Canyon Line is running, visitors cannot bring private vehicles on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (often called the “main canyon”). You must take the shuttle, ride a bike, or walk, to visit the Scenic Drive during shuttle season. There are occasional exceptions if you get a special permit for certain activities, or if you stay overnight at the Zion Lodge, but these have tight regulations, so check with the park if applicable.
When the Zion Canyon Line stops running, typically for most of the winter, you can drive your personal vehicle on the Scenic Drive, and park at the various parking lots along the way as needed. Regardless of the shuttle season, you can always drive your own vehicle on other roads in the park that aren’t serviced by the shuttle, like the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, Kolob Terrace Road, and Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive.
This Info Guide from the National Park Service has a great map showing the locations of all of the shuttle stops, the main hiking trails, and lots of other helpful information.
Shuttle to Zion National Park
Shuttle Schedules for the Zion Canyon Line and Springdale Line
The shuttle within Zion National Park is called the Zion Canyon Line. Typically the shuttle runs every day from March through November, and briefly for the holiday season near the end of December. The full shuttle route takes around 45 minutes one way to get from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (Stop 1) to the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9).
The National Park Service makes changes to the shuttle schedule annually and seasonally; the best place to check the current schedule is on this NPS website. A general overview for spring through fall usually looks like the following schedule.
For most seasons, shuttles leave the Zion Canyon Visitor Center starting at 7:00 am. If you want to enter the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive earlier than 7:00 am during shuttle season, you will have to bike or walk. One great way to enter the main canyon before the shuttles is by renting an eBike so you can access trailheads for Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, the Narrows, and more however early you want (more on that later)!
The last shuttle leaves the visitor center at 6:00 pm in the spring and fall, and 7:00 pm in the summer. The last shuttle out of the canyon (from Temple of Sinawava) leaves at 7:15 pm in the spring and fall, and 8:15 pm in the summer.
It’s best to not bet on making the last shuttle out of the park. If it’s full, or if you miss it, you may end up having to walk over 8 miles out of the park to get back to the visitor center! Yikes! Plan accordingly so you can get on the shuttle in time to exit the park after a day full of adventure.
The shuttle that runs through town is called the Springdale Line. For most of the year, the first shuttle leaves Stop 9 at the Hotel de Novo at 8:00 am. The last shuttle leaves Stop 1 at Zion Canyon Village at 6:00, 7:00, or 8:00 pm depending on the season. Check this NPS website for the current schedule. You can hop on and off the Springdale shuttle at any stop, which gives you lots of options depending on where you parked your car, where you’re staying, or where you want to grab food or go shopping.
Parking in Springdale and Zion for the Shuttles
If you’re visiting Zion National Park via the town of Springdale, you have a few parking options.
You can drive your personal vehicle through the park entrance station, and then turn off to park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where you can then catch the park shuttle. This parking lot often fills up, especially during periods of high visitation. The earlier you arrive, the more likely you’ll be able to find an available parking spot. The park service will put up signs in Springdale warning when the visitor center parking lot is full.
Parking full?
The best solution to this problem is to pay to park in the town of Springdale, and take the free town shuttle to the pedestrian/bike park entrance instead.
Parking is enforced in different areas by the town of Springdale and by local businesses. Make sure to check signs for any street parking or specific parking lots so you know the regulations on payment and duration for each zone. Most of them will have self-serve kiosks and/or QR codes to scan. Be respectful of local businesses and make sure to adhere to the rules for wherever you choose to park.
For more info on parking in town, check out the Springdale parking info page, the parking rates page, and this specific map showing the zones. Once you have your parking spot secured, hop on at the nearest shuttle stop for the Springdale Line to easily take you up to the park entrance!
Public Transit to Springdale
There are transportation options to get to Springdale as well, including the SunTran route that connects St. George and Springdale with stops in Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, and Virgin (for only $5 each way!). There is also the Zion Corridor Park & Ride in Virgin. For more information on all of these options and more, check out this page from UDOT.
Plan Ahead
Zion National Park gets quite busy around holidays, spring break, summer vacation, and on weekends. It’s good to plan ahead and have an idea of what to expect for transportation so you can enjoy your visit. Getting up early can help avoid crowds (and beat the heat!). Planning your shuttle stops for the trails you want to hike and scenery you want to admire can make your days run smoothly. Checking the NPS website before your trip to make sure you know the current shuttle schedule, and if there are any shuttle stop closures, can help ensure you don’t have last-minute surprises during your visit.
eBikes as a Shuttle Alternative
One way to avoid the shuttle system is to bike around town and/or into the park. You can bring a personal bike, or you can rent an eBike at Zion Guru. One perk of renting an eBike is that you don’t have to adhere to the shuttle schedule—you can enter and exit the main canyon on your own timeline. Also, you get the unique opportunity to bike the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, with the sandstone walls rising around you and the breeze flowing past in a truly immersive, peaceful experience. Pedal-assist eBikes make your ride nearly effortless, and you have the ability to stop anywhere along the way, so you can enjoy the park on your own terms.
Get Out There!
We hope this has been a helpful summary of the Zion and Springdale shuttle system, schedules, parking options, and alternatives.
You can always call Zion Guru if you have questions about Zion National Park, transportation, guided tours, rentals, and more.
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