Zion Adds New Park-and-Ride Option for Visitors

Visitors to Zion National Park now have a new option for getting into the park during busy times.

The Town of Virgin has introduced the Zion Corridor Park & Ride, a new shuttle connection that links visitors from Virgin to Springdale, where they can connect with the park’s free shuttle service through Zion Canyon. The new service is aimed at helping ease congestion in one of the country’s busiest national parks, where parking can be difficult to find, especially during peak visitation. For more ways to ease summer congestion when visiting a busy park this summer, check out our top suggestions here.

What to Know Before You Go

According to the town, visitors can park for free at the Zion Corridor Park & Ride lot at Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin. From there, a 20-minute, $5 shuttle ride takes passengers into Springdale, where they can connect to the town and park shuttle systems.

RVers and all guests staying at Zion White Bison Resort will have easy access to the shuttle; however, the $5 fee will still apply.

The service also arrives ahead of Zion’s upcoming restrictions on large vehicles along the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway, which connects to the park’s east entrance. Those restrictions are expected to affect oversized vehicles traveling that route and have been part of a broader effort to manage traffic and access in the park.

Parking has long been one of the biggest challenges for visitors heading to Zion during the busy season. Private vehicles are generally not allowed to drive the main Zion Canyon Scenic Drive when the shuttle system is in operation, which means many visitors already rely on shuttle service once they arrive in Springdale. The new park-and-ride option gives travelers another place to leave their vehicle before heading toward the park.

For visitors traveling to Zion this year, the new service could offer a simpler way to avoid some of the congestion that often builds up near the park entrance during high-traffic periods.

This article was featured on Episode 404 of the RV Miles Podcast.