Things To Do Near Zion National Park

You’ll find many things to see, do and photograph near Zion National Park: another Utah National Park, a Utah State Park, slot canyons, scenic drives and even a ghost town!

Check out this itinerary of things to do as you drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon. Here’s a list of things to do around the Zion National Park area:

Kolob Terrace Road

This is one of the Zion National Park scenic drives west of Zion Canyon. It’s a FREE section of the park and a great way to get away from the crowds. You’ll find short hikes, backcountry hikes, the Kolob Reservoir and stunning landscape views of the backside of Zion to the east as well as sweeping views to the west.

Grafton Ghost Town

The Grafton Ghost Town is a fun historic location to visit. It’s just a few minutes from Springdale. You’ll see a school house, a few homes, a cabin and the cemetery. Note that the dirt road to access the town may be impassable when wet.

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is 73 miles from Zion and takes around 1 1/2 hours to drive there along Highway 89.

We recommend you plan at least a full day, if not two, to really see and explore the park. Use our Bryce Canyon travel guide to plan a vacation to explore this scenic National Park in Utah:

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is open year-round, seven days a week, during daylight hours. It’s 40 miles from Springdale takes a little over an hour to drive there.

The dunes were formed by the erosion of the nearby colored sandstone cliffs. Here are fun activities you can do at the park:

Camping
Hiking
OHV riding
Photography
Sand boarding / Sand Sledding

woman at Coral Pink Sand Dunes at sunset

Kanab

When you picture US Southwest vacation ideas, the small town of Kanab has it all! From Springdale, Kanab is 43 miles away and takes about an hour to drive there. It’s amazing all the things you can do in this area, so you may want to plan a day or two to stay in this quaint town!

Hiking and slot canyons near Kanab:

More fun things to do near Kanab:

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Little Hollywood Museum
Moqui Cave Museum
Off-roading
Old Pariah
White Pocket – we LOVED our overnight tour with Dreamland Safari Tours!

More Things to Do Around Zion:

BUY ZION GUIDES & MAPS AT AMAZON

Plan Your Vacation To Zion National Park

Where to Stay Near Zion National Park

You definitely want to stay in Springdale which borders the entrance to Zion.

Places to Stay at Zion National Park
Camping in Zion National Park
RV Parks near Zion National Park
Glamping Near Zion National Park
Cabins Near zion National Park
Holiday Inn Express – our favorite place to stay with an outdoor pool and amenities you’d find in a high end hotel
Zion Lodge – we haven’t had a chance to stay here yet, but you can’t go wrong staying right IN the park!
Under Canvas Zion – if you want to experience a less crowded part of Zion, this is the place! It’s in the Kolob section of the park.
Vacation Rentals in Springdale – you’ll want to stay in Springdale so you’re close to the park entrance and can walk to shopping and restaurants.

FIND HOTELS NEAR ZION NATIONAL PARK

Things To Do Near Zion National Park

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What to Pack for Zion National Park

A Photo Tour of Zion National Park

Zion Travel Guides and Itinerary

Zion National Park Activities