FAQ
The short version of everything in the guides — what people actually ask before they go.
On the park's fee page (updated June 6, 2026), a private vehicle pays $35.00, a motorcycle $30.00 and anyone on foot or by bike $20.00; youth 15 and under are free, and passes are valid for 7 days. Each non-US resident aged 16 and older also pays a $100 nonresident fee unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Our tickets and permits guide has the full table.
No. You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park or ride the free shuttle; you only pay the entrance fee. Permits are needed for the Angels Landing chains, the top-down hike through The Narrows, the Subway and technical canyoneering.
Apply through one of two lotteries on recreation.gov: a seasonal lottery months ahead, or the day-before lottery, open from 12:01 am to 3 pm Mountain Time with results after 4 pm. Applying costs $6 for up to 6 people, plus $3 per person if you win. You do not need a permit to hike as far as Scout Lookout; our tickets and permits guide has the dates.
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is 170 miles from the park. Drive to Springdale, where the South Entrance sits at the north end of town, or book a day tour that handles the driving; check whether it includes the entrance fee and, if you are not a US resident, the $100 nonresident fee. See our guide to getting there from Las Vegas and St. George.
St. George Regional Airport is 49 miles from the park. SunTran's Zion route links St. George, Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale, so you can park in any of those towns and ride to the park; our guide to getting there from Las Vegas and St. George covers both.
Not for the bottom-up hike: from the Temple of Sinawava you can wade upstream as far as Big Spring, a 9.4-mile out-and-back trip, with no permit. The Narrows closes when the river runs above 150 CFS. Only the 16-mile top-down hike from Chamberlain's Ranch needs a wilderness permit.
The park is busy from early February through late November, and in summer temperatures regularly top 100°F, with flash floods more frequent in the July-September monsoon. Fall is calmer and cooler; December and January are the quietest months, except around the holidays, but the shuttle then runs only part of the time.
On your own you pay the fee, find a parking space (the visitor center lot has over 350, often full by 9:00 am in summer) and ride the free shuttle. A day tour from Las Vegas does the driving; horseback, e-bike and guided hikes add something you cannot do alone. The tours page compares them.