13 Best Stops on Scenic Drive in Zion National Park (Useful Maps+Practical Tips)

Scenic Drive in Zion is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Zion National Park. Following are the 13 best stops and viewpoints on Scenic Drive in Zion National Park you can’t miss!

Are you planning on visiting Zion National Park? Make sure to check out Complete Guide to Zion National Park – 13 Tips for First Visit before you go.

Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. If you like challenging trails, then check out: 13 Great Hikes in Zion National Park You Need to Explore. If you are a beginner hikers then take a look at 7 Easy Hikes in Zion National Park with Stunning Views.

Zion National Park Scenic Drive runs through Zion Canyon along the Floor of Valley Road.

The Scenic Drive through Zion Canyon is approximately 8 miles long one-way.

GOOD TO KNOW: It takes about 20-30 minutes to do the drive without any stops. If you plan on stopping along the way, then it would take you about 6-8 hours.

GOOD TO KNOW: The starting point can be confusing. So, here are some directions:

• Start the Zion National Park Scenic Drive at the Zion National Park Visitor Center (MAP STOP # 1) located along Zion-Mount Carmel HWY 9.
• Follow Zion-Mount Carmel HWY 9 until you reach Zion Human History Museum (MAP STOP # 2).
• Continue driving until you reach Zion National Park South Entrance.
• When you get to Canyon Junction Bridge Viewpoint (MAP STOP # 3), continue straight ahead. You are now driving along the Floor of Valley Road and continuing your Zion National Park Scenic Drive!

Hands down, the best time to start your Scenic Drive in Zion National Park is as early in the morning as possible.

Zion National Park is a very busy place! About 4.5 million people visited Zion National Park in 2019. With this being the case, expect plenty of company everywhere in the park.

GOOD TO KNOW: The Zion National Park Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles from March through November.

If you are visiting Zion National Park between March through November, then you will have to use the shuttle. By the same token, the shuttle is free. Your park entrance ticket covers the cost of the shuttle.

Zion National Park Shuttle is super easy to use and very convenient.

INTREPID’S TIP: My recommendation is to park in the town of Springdale and then hop on the shuttle. 9 shuttle stops in Springdale pick up visitors. Once on the shuttle, you can follow all the best stops on Zion Scenic Drive recommended in this post.

If you are visiting starting in December through February, then you can use your vehicle and drive inside the park. Snow seldom reaches the canyon floor.

• By Plane: The closest International Airports to Zion National Park that you can fly in are located in Las Vegas (LAS), Nevada, and Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah.

There are smaller Regional Airports in St. George (SGU), Utah, and Cedar City (CDC), Utah.

• By Car: If you fly into any of the airports around Zion National Park, you will have to rent a car and then drive.

Driving from Las Vegas, Nevada – 160 miles, 2 h 30 min

Driving from Salt Lake City, Utah – 308 miles, 4 h 30 min

Driving from Cedar City, Utah – 58 miles, 1 h 5 min

Driving from St. George, Utah – 41 miles, 1 h

• On a Tour

Many tours are available. If you are visiting Las Vegas, Nevada. then look into Zion National Park Day Tour From Las Vegas. Also, you might look into this small-group tour from Las Vegas, which visits both Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in one day.

On the Scenic Drive in Zion National Park, you will see stunning views and interesting geological features.

I recommend that you check out the map at the top of this post. It lists 11 points of interest. I know that it is a lot! So, if you are short on time, at the end of this post, I listed my absolute three must-do stopping points.

Are you searching for places to stay at Zion National Park or near Zion?

Here are my recommendations on where to stay at Zion National Park or near Zion with prices for every budget including lodges, campgrounds, and hotels!

Check them out!

Hands down, Zion National Park Visitor Center needs to be your first stop along Scenic Drive in Zion!

The center is located in the town of Springdale, Utah, just outside the South Entrance to the park. And, it is a perfect starting point for your Scenic Drive in Zion National Park.

You do not need to use the shuttle to get to the Visitor Center. There is plenty of parking all around. However, keep in mind that shuttle stop # 1 is just outside the center and it is super easy to use. Simply hop on and hop off at all the stopping points.

The Visitor Center is filled with displays and information about the park. The displays are both inside the building as well as outside.

There are many Ranger-led programs offered at the Visitor Center.

GOOD TO KNOW: The daily schedule of Ranger-led programs is posted just outside the entrance. These programs range from presentations about Zion’s history and folklore to talks about geology, flora, and fauna. Zion National Park Visitor Center is open daily (except for December 25th).

INTREPID’S TIP: Make sure to check out the Bookstore! It has a ton of books about Zion National Park, maps, and cute souvenirs.

Zion Human History Museum is your second stop along Zion Scenic Drive. It is located 1.5 miles north of the park’s South Entrance on the main park road.

Zion Human History Museum’s permanent exhibits display the rich human history of Zion National Park. They showcase American Indian culture, historic pioneer settlement, and Zion’s growth as a national park.

In addition, Zion Human History Museum illustrates the effects of water in Zion. Both creator and destroyer, water is why people have traveled through and settled in Zion. Water creates the scenery and sanctuary that makes Zion famous.

Make sure to watch a 22-minute video that provides an excellent overview of Zion National Park.

INTREPID’S TIP: If you go around and to the back of Zion Human History Museum, you will be rewarded with the most stunning view of the Towers of the Virgin, the large collection of peaks. They include the West Temple, the Sundial, the Altar of Sacrifice, and the Meridian Tower. Some visitors claim they can see the shrouded figure of the Virgin Mary on the face of the central peak. The Towers are best viewed early in the morning.

Canyon Junction Bridge is the third stop along Scenic Drive in Zion National Park.

Have your camera ready! The spot right at Canyon Junction Bridge is the one of best locations in Zion National Park to see and photograph Watchman Mountain with the Virgin River flowing below. Hands down, it is the most iconic view of Zion National Park.

GOOD TO KNOW: Canyon Junction Bridge is a very popular spot at sunset. So, if your time allows, make another stop at this location around sunset time.

Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint is stop number four along Scenic Drive in Zion. It is one of the most inspiring landmarks on the Scenic Drive in Zion.

GOOD TO KNOW: Right at shuttle stop number four, there is a path that goes up to the viewpoint. It is no more than a 5-minute hike, but it will give you more elevation and a better view of the Court of Patriarchs!

Zion Lodge is stop number five along Zion Scenic Drive. It is a perfect place to grab some lunch or get a few snacks for the road. Or, just to have some ice cream and chill for a bit.

There are a couple of dining options, namely Red Rock Grill and Castle Dome Cafe. In addition, there is a large patio area where you can hang out or have a picnic.

GOOD TO KNOW: Zion Lodge is one of my favorite places to stay while I am visiting Zion National Park. If you are looking for places to stay in Zion National Park, or near the park, then make sure to check out my post: Where to Stay at Zion National Park.

Emerald Pools Trail is a short and easy hike located just across the Zion Lodge. It is stop number 5A on Zion Scenic Drive.

Just cross the main road and then a hikers bridge, and off you are on an amazing little hike where you are going to see waterfalls and beautiful pools.

What is cool about this trail is that takes you right under an alcove with the waterfalls cascading over the edge.

The Grotto is stop number six along Zion Scenic Drive.

The Grotto Trail is just a short and easy hike that will take you to a lovely picnic area.

In case you are planning to do some hiking, I need to mention that the Grotto is the starting point for a hike to the famous Angels Landing.

Weeping Rock Trail is one of my favorites! No matter what time of the year I visit, I always make sure to include Weeping Rock Trail in my itinerary.

First of all, It is a short and easy hike. It is no more than 0.5 miles round trip.

Second, you will love it because this trail will take you along “weeping walls” with water dripping down, small rushing streams (depending on the season), and lush hanging gardens.

Eventually, the trail will take you into a large bowl-shaped alcove with water flowing over its recess.

Big Bend Viewpoint is stop number eight along the Scenic Drive. Here, the Virgin River takes a sharp turn and wraps around the Organ creating a breathtaking view.

From the northern part of the bend, you can see the top of the Great White Throne as it peeks out over the saddle between the Organ and Angel’s Landing.

Big Bend Viewpoint also offers dramatic views of Observation Point, Cable Mountain, and several other formations.

INTREPID’S TIP: In my opinion, the view of the Great White Throne from Big Bend Viewpoint is the most stunning at sunset!

Temple of Sinawava is stop number 9 along Scenic Drive in Zion National Park.

Two of my favorite trails start here – the Riverside Walk Trail and the Zion Narrows Trail. And, right from the start, the views are breathtaking!

The Riverside Walk Trail is an easy, paved trail with little elevation change. It is about 1.1 miles one way and the views along the way are simply off the charts!

The Riverside Walk Trail ends at the famous Zion Narrows Trail where you are hiking the Virgin River upstream. The river is your trail!

GOOD TO KNOW: After you are done with the Riverside Walk Trail and getting a glimpse at the famous Zion Narrows, retrace your steps to the Temple of Sinawava.

Next, either jump in your vehicle or hop on the shuttle and get back to Canyon Junction, which was stop number three.

Now, you are going to experience driving through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is the number 10 point of interest on the map that you should not miss. It is an engineering marvel!

Construction of the 1.1-mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920s and was completed in 1930.

At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel of its type in the United States.

The purpose of building the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) was to create direct access to Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon from Zion National Park.

The tunnel climbs 289 feet from the west to east end at a 3.3 percent grade, sits approximately 800 feet above the Zion Canyon floor, and is 20 feet inside the sandstone monolith in which it is housed.

The fact that workers began at each end of the mile-long project, drilling and blasting through solid rock and darkness, and somehow ended up less than a foot off from meeting perfectly in the middle, is an amazing example of cooperation!

Image Credit: PICRYL 

Image Credit: PICRYL

GOOD TO KNOW: What you need to know is that vehicles wider than 7 feet 10 inches or higher than 11 feet 4 inches must have a tunnel permit.

The tunnel permit costs $15 in addition to the park entrance fee. Traffic through the narrow tunnel is regulated by park rangers.

Canyon Overlook is stop number 11 and, hands down, it is one of the best views of Zion Canyon!

GOOD TO KNOW: What you need to know is that there is no shuttle service available in this area, so you will need to use your vehicle.

The parking area is located on the south side of the road, and the trailhead is across the street, on the north side of the road. The hike from the trailhead to the Canyon Overlook is about 1 mile one-way. It is a moderate hike however it is worth it and you should not miss it.

Needless to say, you will be rewarded with some incredible views of the Zion Canyon with the switchbacks below the west end of the Mount Carmel Tunnel, West Temple, the Towers of the Virgins, the Streaked Wall, and the Beehives.