Best Airport for flying to Zion National Park
There are a number of considerations when choosing the which airport to fly into Zion National Park in Utah. Which one is the best?
Image: Delta Air Lines aircraft waiting at airport: The Window Flyer | Zion Canyon: Flickr/John Fowler (CC BY 2.0, cropped and color-enhanced from the original)
The great outdoors await. Whether you’re a national park enthusiast, outdoor enthusiast, passionate hiker, or just looking to take a family vacation, you might be thinking about planning a trip to Utah’s famous Zion National Park.
Over 4.2 million people visit Zion National Park annually to take in its iconic rock formations, canyon, and cliff edge hikes.
Given Zion’s remote location in southwestern Utah, you may be wondering how to get there. Where should you fly into to get to Zion National Park? What is the closest airport to Zion? What is the cheapest airport for Zion? What is the best international airport near Zion? Should you rent a car to get to Zion?
All good questions, and the answer for the best airport for Zion National Park will largely depend on your budget, willingness to drive for a distance, and what else you want to see while you’re in the area.
Continue reading on. We’ve got all your air travel questions for your Zion trip covered in this guide.
The Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park offers a memorable hike.
Image: Flickr/Robbie Shade (CC BY 2.0)
WHERE TO FLY INTO FOR ZION NATIONAL PARK
As mentioned above, Zion National Park is quite remote, like really remote. Its location is sandwiched between Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Phoenix. Unless you live in the Southwestern United States, you’re going to need to fly in, rent a car, and drive the rest of the way to Zion.
Zion National Park is located in Southwestern Utah, approximately three hours from Las Vegas, NV and five hours from Salt Lake City, UT.
Image: Unsplash/Kace Lott
There are several airport options for flying into Zion; St. George (SGU), Cedar City (CDC), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Las Vegas (LAS).
The main entrance and visitor center for Zion National Park is located on the southern border of the park, near Springdale, Utah.
Based on this geography, your best bet is traveling in from the south, either from St. George Regional Airport or Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. However, you’ll find there are different factors and considerations that might make another airport better for your specific travel situation.
WHAT IS THE CLOSEST AIRPORT TO ZION NATIONAL PARK?
St. George Regional Airport is the closest airport to Zion National Park, roughly 45 miles from its main entrance.
St. George Regional Airport (SGU), located in the small city of St. George, Utah, is the closest commercial airport to Zion National Park. The airport serves the roughly 200,000 people living in the metro area around St. George, along with providing a gateway to Zion.
SGU is a relatively new and modern airport, having opened in 2011. The three largest airlines in the United States, American, Delta, and United (representing oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance, respectively) fly into St. George, so finding flight should be pretty simple.
Travelers should be advised that although the three largest airlines serve St. George, it is a small airport that doesn’t see many direct flights. You’re guaranteed to have a layover in one of four hub cities – Phoenix, Dallas, Salt Lake City, or Denver – before hopping onto a connecting flight to St. George.
ARE THERE RENTAL CARS IN ST. GEORGE?
The St. George Regional Airport (SGU) has representation from four national rental car companies, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz.
Travelers will need to rent a car and drive to Zion National Park. Pictured here is Springdale, Utah, located at the main entrance to Zion.
Image: Flickr/Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
HOW FAR IS ST. GEORGE, UTAH FROM ZION?
The driving distance between St. George, Utah, and Zion National Park is about 45 miles. The quickest route is to take Utah State Route 7 from the airport north, until it intersects Utah State Route 9. From there, head east along Highway 9 until you reach Springdale and the entrance to Zion.
If you happen to be staying in the City of St. George, or nearby Washington, the directions will be the same – except that you’ll be taking Interstate 15, instead of State Route 7, to get to State Route 9.
ADVANTAGES OF FLYING INTO ST. GEORGE TO VISIT ZION NATIONAL PARK
Close proximity. You can’t get much closer than 45 miles from the park. This is especially convenient if you are flying with younger children who have trouble sitting in a car for long periods at a time, or if you’re on a tight travel schedule.
Small size. St. George Airport is a small airport, meaning you can get the convenience of avoiding busy crowds and lines associated with a larger airport like Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. Being in a small town also means avoiding the potential traffic jams of a big city.
DOWNSIDES OF FLYING INTO ST. GEORGE FOR ZION
Small size. While being small can be an advantage, being a small airport is a double-edged sword. The small size of St. George Regional Airport means there is less of everything. Less flights, less rental car availability, etc. This places more constraints on schedules, and also increases the risk that if your flight gets disrupted, you could become a stranded traveler because there are not many alternative flight options.
Higher Cost. Flying into smaller cities like St. George (SGU) can significantly increase your airfare and be more expensive than flying into larger cities.
OTHER AIRPORTS CLOSE TO ZION NATIONAL PARK?
Cedar City Regional Airport is another nearby option for Zion National Park, but air service is very sparse.
Image: Flickr/Bob Palin (CC BY 2.0)
Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC) is located north of St. George and is about a 70 mile drive to Zion National Park. However, we really would not recommend it as it is an even smaller airport than St. George.
Airfares will generally be even higher, and your travel options will be very slim. Delta Air Lines is the only airline that serves Cedar City, with minimal flights to its Salt Lake City hub. Cedar City is also only served by two rental car agencies, Avis and Enterprise.
WHICH AIRPORT HAS THE CHEAPEST AIR FARE FOR FLYING TO ZION NATIONAL PARK?
Traveling can be expensive, especially if you’re trying to fly an entire family.
The cheapest airport to fly into with the lowest airfare for Zion National Park is, without question, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.
There are different tactics to reduce your airfare costs, such as using a travel rewards credit card, buying airline gift cards at the grocery store, buying from Amazon, or buying discounted airline gift cards at a warehouse club like Costco and Sam’s Club. However, which airport you fly into can have an even greater potential to reduce your airfare and rental car costs.
Travelers looking to save the most on airfare should fly into Harry Reid Int’l Airport in Las Vegas. LAS is about a three-hour drive to Zion National Park and is a major airport for many low-cost carriers.
Image: Flickr/Tomás Del Coro (CC BY-SA 2.0)
What makes Las Vegas (LAS) the airport with the cheapest airfare? The first reason is that Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination. Pretty much every airline flies there, which has the effect of increasing competition and lowering airfare.
Secondly, Harry Reid International Airport (formerly known as McCarran International Airport) is also a major airport for national low cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Allegiant Air, which further drives down airfare. Las Vegas can often be reached from other cities for less than $100 per ticket, compared with a ticket of a several hundred or more dollars to fly into other airports like St. George.
HOW FAR IS ZION NATIONAL PARK FROM LAS VEGAS?
Though it is located in another state, Las Vegas and Harry Reid International Airport are only about a three-hour, 170-mile drive from Zion National Park’s entrance near Springdale, Utah. The three-hour drive might actually be quicker than flying into a closer airport due to having more flight options into LAS.
Flying into the closest airport, St. George, undoubtedly saves driving time to Zion, but getting there requires layovers at another airport. The time you spend waiting for a connecting flight might actually negate the time savings versus flying directly into Las Vegas and driving for a couple hours more.
DIRECTIONS FROM LAS VEGAS TO ZION NATIONAL PARK
Getting to Zion from Las Vegas is very simple. Once you rent your car, follow the signs to head north on I-15 toward Salt Lake City. When you reach St. George, Utah in a couple hours, head east on Utah State Route 9, which will lead you directly to Springdale, Utah, the town just outside of Zion National Park’s main entrance. There are a number of lodging options in Springdale, as well as St. George.
WHY ELSE SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FLYING TO LAS VEGAS FOR ZION NATIONAL PARK?
Combining a trip to Zion with a visit to Las Vegas can make for a great vacation.
Image: Domenico Convertini (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Aside from the significant cost benefit, if you’re traveling from a distance, you might want to do a little extra sightseeing while you’re in the area. With great hotel rates and plenty of entertainment, food, casinos, shows, professional sports, it might make sense for you to book-end your Zion National Park trip with some fun in Las Vegas before heading home.
WHICH IS THE BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO FLY INTO FOR ZION NATIONAL PARK?
If you are visiting Zion National Park from another country, Salt Lake City (SLC) is the best international airport to fly into for your visit to Zion. It will be a longer drive to Zion than Las Vegas, but Salt Lake City International Airport is home to a major SkyTeam Alliance hub.
Salt Lake City is Delta Air Lines’ western US hub, with direct flights to major cities and SkyTeam hubs around the world such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Mexico City. It also connects to other major Delta/SkyTeam hubs such as Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Los Angeles, which have direct flights to major cities on other continents like Asia, Africa, South America, and the rest of Europe.
An additional benefit for international travelers is the modern travel experience – complete with a high level of amenities, premium lounges, and passenger comfort – that Salt Lake City offers. The airport opened its brand-new replacement terminal in 2020, and its latest design trends and comforts can be very refreshing and beneficial to travelers after flying for hours across oceans.
HOW FAR IS ZION NATIONAL PARK FROM SALT LAKE CITY?
Salt Lake City is located north of Zion National Park and is about a 5-hour, 320-mile drive. Zion’s main entrance is located on the south side of the park which does add some driving distance from Salt Lake City.
The Kolob Canyons at Zion National Park are just one of Zion’s prominent features.
DIRECTIONS TO ZION NATIONAL PARK FROM SALT LAKE CITY?
Driving to Zion from Salt Lake City is relatively simple, and mostly by interstate highway. Head south on Interstate 15 from Salt Lake City toward Las Vegas. Stay on I-15 for about 300 miles. At Exit 27, exit I-15 toward the towns of Toquerville and Hurricane.
This will take you onto Utah State Route 17, which provides a shortcut to access Utah State Route 9. Alternatively, you can continue driving on I-15 until you reach the State Route 9 interchange, just north of St. George, Utah. Head east on State Route 9 for a half hour until you reach Springdale, Utah, just outside Zion National Park’s main entrance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ZION NATIONAL PARK
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT ZION NATIONAL PARK?
Zion National Park is open year-round, but most people visit Zion National Park between the late spring and early fall months (May through October). June through August are its most popular months, so if you want to avoid some crowds, it may be better to visit during the shoulder months in May, September, or October.
As for other times of year, flying to Zion in early spring also provides the opportunity to see wildflowers bloom while visiting in mid-to-late fall allows one to see fall foliage colors. Winter visits bring winter travel conditions, but snow cover on the rock formations and canyon walls offers a unique experience.
While summer is the most popular season at Zion, winter is the least crowded time of year and brings an entirely difference experience.
Image: NPS
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN ZION NATIONAL PARK?
In late spring and early fall, temperatures at Zion National Park typically range from lows in the 50s to highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.
Summer months in Zion are much hotter with daily high temps reaching the upper 90s and low 100s. Nights during summer are cool, typically in the mid 60s.
WHAT TO SEE AT ZION NATIONAL PARK?
In addition to the many hiking trails that Zion offers, the most iconic features are the Zion Canyon and the popular, photogenic Angel’s Landing.
HOTELS NEAR ZION NATIONAL PARK?
There are a variety of lodging options for Zion. Visitors can stay in the park at the Zion National Park Lodge, camp at one of several in-park campgrounds, or stay in hotels just outside the park.
The town of Springdale, Utah, just outside of Zion’s southern entrance, has several hotels from national chains such as Best Western, La Quinta, Hampton by Hilton, Holiday Inn Express, etc.
Nearby St. George Utah, a city of about 100,000, also has numerous lodging and dining options. Those driving their rental car back and forth between St. George and Zion will also be pleased to know there is a Costco in St. George located just off I-15. This Costco includes a gas station, which will allow members to take advantage of those cheap fill-ups.
Travelers have the option of staying in Springdale, Utah, located at the main entrance to Zion National Park.
Image: Flickr/Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
WHAT CITY IS THE CLOSEST CITY TO ZION NATIONAL PARK?
Zion National Park’s main entrance and visitor center is located in Springdale, Utah. The park is also less than an hour’s drive from St. George, Utah.
SUMMARY
We hope you’ve enjoyed this air travel guide for Zion National Park.
In summary, there are four airports that serve Zion National Park:
St. George Regional Airport (SGU)
Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
The closest airport is St. George Regional Airport, and the next closest is Cedar City Regional Airport. Both airports are within a 45 to 70 mile drive of Zion National Park. However, while they are the closest airports, they are also the smallest airports serving the park.
While flying into these airports will certainly help you avoid crowds and save on driving time, the major disadvantages are higher air fare costs, less flight options, and less rental car availability.
The airport with the cheapest airfare by far is Harry Reid International Airport (formerly known as McCarran) in Las Vegas. It’s about a three-hour drive to Zion from Las Vegas, but the cheaper air fare and high rental car availability can easily temper the inconvenience of a longer drive. Being a major airport for discount carriers like Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant helps keep competition high, and air fare low, in Las Vegas.
Flying into Las Vegas for a trip to Zion National Park also offers the opportunity for travelers coming from some distance to also experience Las Vegas during their trip.
If you’re flying internationally from abroad, flying in and out of Salt Lake City International Airport will be your best bet for visiting Zion National Park. Featuring a new, modern terminal that opened in 2020, Salt Lake City offers a level of passenger comfort and experience that Las Vegas does not have. Additionally, it is a major hub for Delta Air Lines, offering connections to the rest of the world through its SkyTeam Airline Alliance membership.
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