2 Days in Zion National Park – Or Is 24 Hours In Zion Enough?

If you’ve got 2 days in Zion National Park or only 24 hours, you can see a lot and go on some incredible hikes.

Zion was once home to the ancient Native Americans and then Mormons settled here in the 1860’s and renamed it Zion (meaning a place of peace and refuge).

Zion is one of the most scenic and popular national parks in the US and is a paradise for hikers and spiritual people.

It is simply incredible, with unique scenery found nowhere else in this world! Plus it is only 2.5 hours drive from Las Vegas.

I spent 24 hours in Zion – I had the best time and got to see so much, but I did a full day hiking and saw a lot so you could easily split this itinerary into 2 days.

Read on to discover how to have the best 24 hours or 2 days in Zion National Park.

If you’re looking for more Utah inspiration check out these Utah Quotes & Captions For Instagram!

2 DAYS OR 24 HOURS IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

Angel’s Landing (5 miles round trip ~ 4 hours)

It is true that the best views often come from the most challenging hikes, and the Angel’s Landing hike is no exception.

Angel’s Landing is one of the world’s most dangerous hikes with steep drop-offs hundreds of feet down.

It is a strenuous climb up but the views are incredible, with 360-degree views of Zion from the top.

I must admit, it wasn’t as difficult as people had made it out to be, it is just the last bit that is challenging as you are literally hanging onto chains and pulling yourself up them 1,500 feet above the ground to get to the top, with cliff edges on either side of you.

This hike is definitely not for the faint-hearted, and sadly several people have fallen and died trying to get to the top so please be very careful.

Note that if you visit in winter, it is not advisable to hike Angels Landing in the snow, rain, or ice as it can become very dangerous.

Since April 2022, everybody needs a hiking permit to hike Angels Landing. You can find out more and apply for one here.

The Narrows (9.5 miles round trip ~ 8 hours)

If you don’t mind getting a bit wet, hike The Narrows trail: a knee-deep hike through the Virgin River that takes you deeper into the canyon through the narrowest section of the canyon with the rock walls towering hundreds of meters above you.

If you have been to Jordan it is a bit like The Siq Trail at Wadi Mujib. You don’t have to do the whole hike – you can turn back at any time, so you can go for a short walk or head upstream for hours.

Whilst the full hike is pretty strenuous, it is fun, and plenty of families take their children here to play in the water near the beginning of the hike!

Other Hikes in Zion National Park

One of the great things about Zion is that there are hikes with varying levels of difficulty, so there is a hike to suit everyone.

One of the shortest and easiest hikes in Zion National Park (1-mile long round trip ~ 45 minutes), with incredible views over Zion Canyon, is Canyon Overlook Trail – a must-do hike when you are in Zion National Park.

This is also the only hike that you can drive to, although bear in mind there is limited parking there.

To drive to the start of the trail you pass through the 1 mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, carved through a mountain in the late 1920s to make travel easier between Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks.

Another brilliant hike in Zion National Park is the West Rim Trail – although at 15 miles long this is one of the longer hikes so it is best done if you have a couple of days at Zion!

How much is the entrance fee to Zion National Park?

Entrance fee to Zion National park is $30 per vehicle, valid for one week.

Or you can buy the National Parks annual pass for $80 (valid for one year) which grants you access to all the National Park Services in the US, so you will save money if you plan to visit at least 3 parks within one year.

Transport inside Zion National Park

Zion National Park is always busy with tourists. In a bid to control the amount of traffic through the park, cars are not allowed to drive through the park as there would just not be enough parking available.

Instead, you leave your car at the car park by the entrance and utilize the super convenient free shuttles offered by the park.

Shuttle buses arrive every 10 minutes or less, and you can learn about the history and geology of Zion Canyon by an audio narrator.

The hop-on hop-off shuttle makes several stops throughout the Park, you can get off and on at whichever stop you like.

There are stops at all the hiking trails, all of which are marked on the map provided at the Visitors Center.

Best time to visit Zion National Park:

Spring/early summer and autumn is the best time to visit Zion National Park (less crowds and more moderate weather).

During the summer it is super busy and super hot plus there is the risk of flash floods so it should be avoided. During winter it will be quieter but roads and trails may be closed due to snow/ice.

You can camp at Zion National Park or stay in one of the nearby hotels in Springdale but you need to book in advance. Stargazing after dark here is amazing as there is no light pollution.

Top tips for Visiting Zion National Park:

– The best piece of advice I can give you is to get to the park as early as possible. By 10 am it is already incredibly busy (over 4 million people visit this park each year).

I got there at sunrise and would definitely recommend coming this early not only to avoid the crowds on the hikes but also to avoid hiking during the intense midday heat.

– If renting a car in Las Vegas, rent it from a hotel on the strip and not from the airport, which is a lot more expensive.

– The nearest town is Springdale, but stock up on food items before you get here as the one convenience store in town is pretty expensive.

Other National Parks Near Zion National Park

The great thing about this area is that so many National Parks in Utah are very close together: Zion to Bryce Canyon is just a 1.5-hour drive, and Capitol Reef National Park and Arches National Park are a short drive away.

Equally, The Grand Canyon, The Wave, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and several other canyons and National Parks in neighboring states are just a few hours’ drive away.

If you will be doing a road trip around Utah check out this 7-day Utah road trip itinerary.

Kolob Canyon area is also another part of Zion National Park that I would like to visit next time.

It is accessed through a different entrance on the northwest of the park, is quieter than at Zion Canyon (the main part of Zion National Park) and it also has the world’s second-largest natural arch and lots of big peaks.

To read about the best National Parks in the USA click here.

Whilst all these areas are well known, Southern Utah also has many beautiful hidden gems for those of you who wish to escape the crowds!

24 Hours or 2 Days in Zion National Park?

Of course, 24 hours is not enough to explore Zion National Park: 2 or 3 days would be ideal. But if you only have one day, make sure to get to the park early (ideally after sunrise) and stay until evening.

During that time you can easily fit in 2 or 3 hikes and still have plenty of relaxing time there. You just need to work out how much you want to hike in one day!

I managed about 15km, including Canyon Overlook (easy hike) Angel’s Landing (strenuous hike), and the Emerald Pools Trail (moderate hike).

Whilst other popular hikes with great views are Observation Point and The Narrows, they both take up almost a whole day and are very strenuous. I will just have to save them for next time!

I was completely blown away by Zion National Park, it exceeded my expectations a thousand percent! It was seriously one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and special places I have ever visited.

I feel the photos can’t even do it justice, and I know I will definitely be back one day. 

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