The summer season has arrived in Southern Utah, and with it, some of the highest visitor numbers of the year. Visiting during the off-season is one great way to beat the crowds. But this doesn’t mean summer is necessarily a bad time to visit.
Summer brings some of the most beautiful weather of the whole year to the region. Skies are often clear and blue. Days are long, and full of sunshine. Many local businesses, like restaurants and gift shops, stay open longer, while tour companies may have more times and options available during this season. There’s less rainfall than in the spring, which also means less flooding. If you have your heart set on hiking The Narrows, this is important, as you’ll need water levels to be low and water temperatures warm for a fun, safe hike.
If you want to experience Zion and the rest of the region during the beautiful summer season, or this is the season when your family takes a vacation, it’s still possible to plan a fun visit this time of year.
With a little extra planning, you can make the most of your summer stay at our Zion Canyon Lodge. From booking your plans early to getting smart about the days you visit the park, keep reading as we explore a few tips for planning a summer visit to Zion and Flanigan’s Resort.
1. Book Your Plans Early
With so many people traveling this time of year, hotels, tour reservations, flights, and even airport parking lots tend to fill up fast. This means that if you don’t reserve your plans ahead of time, you could end up disappointed. You may have to change your plans or risk not getting the room option at our Southern Utah resort that you were hoping for.
As soon as you decide on the dates for your holiday travel, head to the web and start booking. You’ll want to book your flights or other travel plans first, then move on to other big-ticket reservations, like hotels and car rentals. Finally, plan your itinerary and book tours, e-bike rentals, and other activities accordingly.
2. Avoid Peak Travel Times if Possible
The entire summer season might be a popular time to visit our Zion Canyon lodge. But certain dates, like around the Fourth of July and Labor Day, and even the weekends, do see higher crowds.
If you have some flexibility in your travel plans, consider booking your visit outside of these windows. If you’re planning a longer stay at our Southern Utah resort that includes a weekend or two, don’t fret. Instead, aim to visit Zion through the week, and use the weekend to enjoy some fun day trips to less-visited destinations, or to enjoy the many amenities at our bed and breakfast near Zion.
3. Get to the Airport Early
If you’re heading to the airport before or after your arrival at our Zion Canyon lodge, consider giving yourself some extra time. Many airports across the country see longer lines at TSA this time of year. Our nearest airport, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, sees higher than normal TSA wait times at certain times of day.
Another option is to try to book flights outside of normal travel times. For instance, on Tuesday evenings, McCarran International Airport sees TSA wait times as low as just seven minutes.
4. Be Flexible
The best thing that you can do when planning a summer visit to our Zion Canyon lodge is to be flexible. In fact, this is a great tip to follow all year long.
Being flexible with your travel plans can allow you to always make the most of your time, no matter what happens. Maybe there was a line for the Zion Canyon Shuttle one day, and you didn’t get to as many trails as you’d like. If you’ve left some room in your itinerary, you might be able to simply move those hikes to another day. Or perhaps someone in your group wakes up too tired to head to the park. Consider changing plans and enjoying a fun, memorable day at our Southern Utah resort instead.
Planning a Summer Visit to Our Zion Canyon Lodge
Don’t let the busy summer season convince you to miss out on an incredible visit to our Zion Canyon lodge. With a little smart planning and these tips, it’s possible to enjoy an amazing visit to Flanigan’s Resort any time of year!
Ready to start planning your summer adventure at one of the best hotels Zion has to offer? Book your stay at Flanigan’s Resort today!