Plan ahead for Memorial Day weekend at Zion National Park

Contact: Zion Newsdesk, (435) 772-0162

SPRINGDALE, Utah - Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of Zion National Park's busy summer season, and visitors should be ready for larger crowds, full parking lots, shuttle bus lines, and hot weather. In a park that had nearly 5 million visits in 2025, advance planning will be one of the best ways to have a safer, smoother, and more enjoyable trip.

Memorial Day weekend

In 2025, Zion recorded over 95,000 visits during Memorial Day weekend. That is more than the annual total visitation for 165 National Park Service sites that year.

For 2026, the NPS anticipates:

• Long lines at entrance stations, trailheads, visitor centers, and restrooms

• Lengthy waits to board park shuttles in Springdale and Zion Canyon

• Intermittent, temporary closures at the park's east and south vehicle entrance stations

• Heavy traffic in Springdale and throughout Zion Canyon

The Zion Nature Center opens Friday, May 22, just in time for the holiday weekend. Located near the South Campground construction site and accessible via the Pa'rus Trail, the Center features interactive exhibits and ranger-led activities ideal for kids and families. It will remain open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily through September 7.

The Zion Canyon Visitor Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Zion Human History Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you are passing through the area but not recreating in the park, use alternate driving routes. Because of anticipated congestion, delays, and closures, the best option is to bypass Zion entirely. Alternate routes include:

• US-89 - Arizona 389 - Utah 59

Parking and shuttle services

Parking fills early each day in Zion. For real-time updates and alternative parking options, visit the Zion Area Roads to Recreation website, hosted by the Utah Department of Transportation.

The following shuttle schedules are effective as of Sunday, May 17:

Zion Canyon Line Shuttle

• 7 a.m. - First shuttle leaves the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (Stop 1)

• 7 p.m. - Last shuttle leaves the Visitor Center to the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9)

• 8:15 p.m. - Last shuttle out of the canyon from the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9)

Springdale Line Schedule

• 8 a.m. - First shuttle leaves the Hotel De Novo (Stop 9)

• 8 p.m. - Last shuttle leaves Zion Canyon Village (Stop 1)

General trip planning tips

• Go to a ranger program: offered daily - check the park calendar for locations and times

• Check the Narrows conditions: prior to taking one of Zion's most iconic hikes, always check the flow rate, check the weather forecast, and bring the proper equipment

• Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program: Remember to apply the day before for a permit to hike to Angels Landing. Everyone needs to have a permit, and you need to bring ID to show a ranger along with your permit. You may encounter a ranger anywhere on the trail or the route with chains.

Recreate responsibly

• Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on May 22, Zion National Park will be entering Stage 2 fire restrictions. These restrictions prohibit setting, building, maintaining, attending, or using open fires of any kind in the park in general, and specifically campfires and charcoal fires within campgrounds or picnic areas in Zion Canyon.

• Become a Junior Ranger! Learning about the park is always in season, and junior rangers can help plan trips with Junior Ranger Explorer materials.

• Be patient with rangers and other visitors. Busy weekends can be stressful, and we need your help to make sure everyone enjoys their national park visit.

• Drink plenty of water and watch for signs of heat stress.

• Park only in designated parking areas. Illegally parked vehicles can harm park plants and animals and may be ticketed or towed.

• Pack it In - Pack it Out. Take everything you bring into the park out again. This helps protect plants, animals, and historic resources and reduces the amount of trash NPS staff need to manage.

• Go Before You Go. Use restrooms at trailheads and shuttle stops before venturing out on trails.

Learn more about summer operations in Zion National Park, check our social media and visit our website for the latest park information.

www.nps.gov/zion

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.