There’s no shortage of things to do in Springdale Utah. The town is home to a number of unique art galleries, featuring works by local artists inspired by Southern Utah’s natural beauty. A short drive from town, there are several Utah state parks that offer unique landscapes and fun outdoor activities, like boating, fishing, and even sand sledding. There’s also plenty to do without leaving your Zion National Park hotel, like spending a day at Deep Canyon Spa.
Of course, one of the most popular things to do during a stay at Flanigan’s Resort is a visit to Zion National Park. This famous park draws millions of visitors to Southern Utah each year. Whether you’re taking a ride through the park on the Zion Canyon Shuttle or taking on one of its challenging hikes, like Angels Landing, there’s something for everyone!
Like most national parks, Zion does charge an entrance fee. Paying this fee just once will get you entry into the park for 7 consecutive days. However, the National Park Service also offers a National Park Pass. Should you purchase this for your visit? Keep reading to find out.
Entrance Fee for Zion National Park
Whether you enter Zion National Park on foot, in a car, or on a bike, you will need to pay an entrance fee. Each entrance fee is valid for 7 days and will vary in price depending on how you enter the park:
- Private vehicle with 15 passengers or less: $35
- Motorcycles: $30
- If you’re entering on foot or with a bicycle, the fee is $20 per person
Annual passes for Zion National Park are also available. These cost $70 and allow for entry for one vehicle for a full year. However, at just $10 more, an annual pass for the National Park Service may be the better option.
Everything You Need to Know About National Park Service Annual Passes
The National Park Service offers annual passes that allow entry into all national parks for one year. There are a variety of different types of passes available.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass
The only national park pass that’s available to anyone, the America the Beautiful Pass is the most popular option for visitors. For just $80, you’ll get access to hundreds of federal recreation sites, including all 418 national park sites and 61 national parks, for a full year.
Unlike other passes on this list, you don’t even have to be a citizen to purchase this pass. This makes it ideal for visitors planning to see several parks during their vacation.
The America the Beautiful Annual Pass can hold two cardholder names. For those entering the park in a vehicle, the pass covers the vehicle fee or individual entrance fee for one cardholder and three passengers.
Annual Pass for U.S. Military
This annual pass offers all of the same benefits as the America the Beautiful Annual Pass but is available to current U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. It is also available to those in the Reserves and the National Guard.
To obtain this pass, you’ll need to present a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID at any of the locations that issue national park passes.
Senior Pass
Available to any U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or older, the Senior Pass is available as a lifetime or annual pass. The Lifetime Senior Pass is $80, while the Annual Season Pass is $20. If you purchase four Annual Senior Passes and keep your cards, you can exchange them for a lifetime pass.
The Lifetime and Annual Senior Passes give cardholders access to the same sites as the America the Beautiful pass. But you’ll also get other benefits, like a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees, like camping, swimming, boat launches, and more.
Access Pass
U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a permanent disability may be eligible for the Access Pass. The Access Pass provides all of the same perks and benefits as the Lifetime and Annual Senior Passes. In order to obtain this pass, you’ll need to provide documentation of a permanent disability, as well as your residency or citizenship.
Annual 4th Grade Pass
Another free pass is the Annual 4th Grade Pass. Part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative, U.S. 4th graders and home-schooled or free-choice learners who are 10 years of age can get a free annual pass good for entrance into all federal recreation sites that the America the Beautiful Annual Pass provides access for.
To get the 4th Grade pass, students and their parents need to go online to the Every Kid Outdoors website to print a paper pass. The pass can then be exchanged for a card at any park entrance that sells annual passes.
Should You Buy a National Park Annual Pass?
There are a few factors that you should consider when deciding whether to purchase a national park pass. Before your visit, ask yourself:
- Do you plan to stay longer than 7 days?
- Will you visit other nearby national parks during your stay, like Bryce Canyon National Park?
- Are you eligible for any free or reduced passes?
- Will you visit other national parks with an entrance fee in the next year?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, a national park pass is likely a good investment for you! While not all national parks charge an entrance fee, many of the most popular ones do. For instance, the entrance fee for some of the Southwestern national parks include:
- Arches: $30 per vehicle/$15 per person/$55 for a park-specific annual pass
- Bryce Canyon: $35 per vehicle/$12 per person/$50 for a park-specific annual pass
- Canyonlands: $30 per vehicle/$15 per person/$55 for a park-specific annual pass
- Capitol Reef: $20 per vehicle/$10 per person/$35 for a park-specific annual pass
- Grand Canyon: $35 per vehicle/$20 per person/$70 for a park-specific annual pass
Purchasing a Pass During Your Zion National Park Hotel Stay
If you do not qualify for a free annual pass, it’s a good idea to take a look at the national parks you plan to visit during the course of a year to decide whether or not a pass would be a good investment. If you know that you’re likely to visit our Zion National Park hotel multiple times throughout the space of a year, a pass can be a great investment! Rather than paying $35 each time you visit, you can pay $80 once and enjoy endless visits all year long!
If you decide to purchase a national park pass, you can do so at the front entrance to Zion or the park’s Visitor Center. You can also purchase your pass online ahead of your trip, or at another national park close to you.
What better excuse to book a vacation in Utah than to celebrate your new pass? There’s never been a better time to book your stay at the best Zion National Park hotel. Right now, when you book a three night stay at Flanigan’s Resort before January 31, 2023, you’ll receive a fourth night free. Book today to take advantage of this amazing deal!