Zion National Park has been growing in popularity for the past few decades. When President William Howard Taft created the park, then called Mukuntuweap National Monument, in 1909, it had no paved roads, facilities, or even hiking trails. For several decades, visitor numbers to the park remained low, even after it became Zion National Park. But as word got out about the park’s beauty, and roads and facilities within the park improved, visitor numbers began to rise.
By the late 1970s, the park was attracting more than one million annual visitors. In 2021, the park welcomed more than five million visitors for the very first time.
With the growing popularity of the park, it’s no surprise that countless hotels, motels, campgrounds, and resorts have cropped up around Springdale, Virgin, Hurricane, and St. George. This can make choosing the best places to stay near Zion a little challenging. While we might be a little biased, we think there are plenty of things that make Flanigan’s Resort the right choice for your stay. But don’t take our word for it—keep reading to learn a few tips to help you choose the best Zion park hotels.
1. Consider the Location
For most national parks across the country, planning a visit is relatively simple and straightforward. You travel to the national park, pay an entrance fee, and drive in. Zion is a little more complicated.
Most of Zion’s most popular features and attractions, including the Zion National Park Lodge and trailheads for hikes like Angels Landing, are located in the Lower Canyon. This canyon starts at the South Entrance to the park and gets progressively narrower as you travel deeper into the canyon. The road into the Lower Canyon ends at Riverside Walk. To go deeper into the canyon, you’ll have to hike through the Virgin River on The Narrows trail.
The narrow Lower Canyon doesn’t leave much space for parking or for traffic on busy days. That’s why in the early 2000s, the National Park Service implemented the Zion Canyon Shuttle System. For most of the year, if you want to visit the Lower Canyon, you’ll have to hop on a shuttle to do so. You won’t need a reservation to ride the shuttle. But you will need to find parking, which is limited in the park and in nearby Springdale.
Choosing places to stay near Zion that let you walk to the park or allow you to ride the Springdale Shuttle from your resort can save you the time and hassle of finding parking. Flanigan’s Resort is located just over a half mile from the entrance to the park. This means you can easily walk to the park. Or, use the convenient Springdale Shuttle stop located just steps away from the resort to ride to the entrance.
2. Type of Accommodation
The next thing to consider when choosing places to stay near Zion National Park is the type of accommodation that you’re looking for. If you’re dreaming of a comfortable, luxurious stay, you’re not likely to have a very good trip if you book a stay at a rustic campground or roadside motel. While there are plenty of standard chain hotels, most offer basic rooms with few features.
Staying at Zion park hotels like Flanigan’s Resort means having more options when it comes to accommodations. From spacious suites to our incredible villas, there’s a room type for every preference and travel party.
3. On-Site Amenities
The last thing to think about when looking for places to stay near Zion are the available on-site amenities. Most standard chain hotels and motels have little more than a pool if they even have that. But when you stay at Flanigan’s Resort, you’ll enjoy access to a wide variety of amenities.
We do have a stunning pool, set against a backdrop of Zion’s peaks. But there’s so much more than that.
Take a stroll through our tranquil Hilltop Labyrinth, or book a private yoga or pilates class. Spend an afternoon enjoying some pampering at Deep Canyon Spa. Indulge in a delicious breakfast spread, fresh lunch, or delicious dinner at Spotted Dog. There’s no shortage of ways to spend a day during your stay at our Zion National Park lodge.
Choosing the Best Places to Stay Near Zion National Park
From chain hotels to campgrounds to luxurious resorts like Flanigan’s Resort, there are tons of places to choose from near Zion. But choosing the best places to stay near Zion means considering a few important factors, like the distance from the park, your preferred type of accommodation, and the availability of on-site amenities.
Ready to start planning your own adventure in 2023? Click here to book your stay at Flanigan’s Resort today!