Our recommendation
Visit Zion in April
April offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, June is the most crowded month (~1.5× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
5.0M
2025
Busiest month
Jun
1.5× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.3× avg
10-yr trend
rising
+14.6%
How crowded is Zion by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 56 Fair | 54°F / 30°F | 9.7 h |
| February | Very quiet | 60 Good | 58°F / 34°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Average | 50 Fair | 66°F / 39°F | 11.7 h |
| April★ best | Average | 54 Fair | 73°F / 44°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 61 Good | 84°F / 53°F | 14.0 h |
| June | Busy | 45 Fair | 95°F / 62°F | 14.6 h |
| July | Busy | 37 Poor | 100°F / 70°F | 14.3 h |
| August | Busy | 43 Poor | 98°F / 69°F | 13.4 h |
| September | Busy | 49 Fair | 91°F / 61°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Busy | 52 Fair | 78°F / 49°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 54 Fair | 64°F / 37°F | 10.0 h |
| December | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 53°F / 29°F | 9.4 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00429717, ~6.6 mi away).
Email me when Zion's crowd forecast updates
Get an email when new NPS visitation data changes the best time to visit Zion or its month-by-month crowd levels. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
About visiting Zion
Zion National Park is a National Park in UT and one of the busier parks in the system, drawing about 5.0 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 14.6%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: June is the busiest month at about 1.5× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 35% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 85°F in July down to about 41°F in December, with the wettest stretch in February and meaningful snowfall around December. About 7 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is April: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the June rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.4 hours in midwinter to 14.6 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $35, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
Follow the paths where people have walked for thousands of years. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience the tall, stretching walls of a narrow slot canyon. Zion’s unique array of plants and animals will enchant you as you absorb the rich history of the past and enjoy the excitement of present-day adventures.
Weather & conditions
Zion is known for a wide range of weather conditions. Temperatures vary with changes in elevation and day/night temperatures may differ by over 30°F. In summer, temperatures in Zion National Park often exceed 100°F/38°C. Zion experiences monsoons from mid-July into September that result in an increased risk of flash floods. Always be aware of the threat of storms and lightning and be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Winters are generally mild.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Zion
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Zion National Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. April is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Zion
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Zion?
Get the best time to visit Zion plus lodging deals near the park by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Getting there — nearest airports
Updated July 2026The closest airport to Zion National Park is Cedar City Airport (CDC), about 55 mi (1 hr 13 min drive) away. For the most flight options, most visitors fly into McCarran International Airport (LAS), about 3 hr 16 min away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar City Airport (CDC)Closest | 55 mi | 1 hr 13 min | Delta |
| Page Airport (PGA) | 139 mi | 3 hr 33 min | Frontier Airlines, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines |
| McCarran International Airport (LAS)Best for flights | 168 mi | 3 hr 16 min | Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Bonza |
| Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 308 mi | 5 hr 26 min | Air France, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines |
| Canyonlands Field (CNY) | 322 mi | 5 hr 31 min | Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Cedar City Airport (CDC) — about 1 hr 13 min from the park.
- Most flights / best value: McCarran International Airport (LAS) — the largest hub near Zion, about 3 hr 16 min away.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $35, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
April offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Zion National Park. The park is busiest in June (about 1.5× the average month) and quietest in January.
June is the busiest month at Zion National Park, running roughly 1.5 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Zion National Park, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Zion National Park recorded about 4,984,525 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+14.6%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Zion National Park averages about 85°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Cedar City Airport (CDC) is the closest airport to Zion National Park, about 55 mi (1 hr 13 min drive) away.
McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the nearest major airport, about 168 mi (3 hr 16 min drive) away, with the most flight options of any airport near Zion.
There is no airport inside Zion National Park. Fly into McCarran International Airport (LAS) and drive the rest of the way — about 3 hr 16 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Zion
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Kolob Reservoir Midway water qualityGrade A · 10 mi · UT
- Quail Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 21 mi · UT
- Kolob Reservoir water qualityGrade C · 9 mi · UT
- Navajo Lake water qualityGrade C · 21 mi · UT
- Baker Dam Reservoir water qualityGrade D · 34 mi · UT
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.