Whether you’re looking for a family vacation that every generation can enjoy together, a place to enjoy some challenging adventures, or a romantic getaway, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Southern Utah
A stay in hotels near Virgin, Utah is perfect for exploring all that Southern Utah has to offer, including Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, as well as a number of Southern Utah State Parks, museums, and more.
If you’re thinking about enjoying a stay at Flanigan’s Resort in 2024, there are a few dates you should know ahead of time. These dates may have an impact on how or when you plan your visit. Keep reading to learn more.
The Zion Canyon Shuttle Operating Dates
One of the first dates that you should know, particularly if you’re planning a visit to Zion during the park’s Secret Season, are the operating dates for the Zion Canyon Shuttle and Springdale Shuttle.
For most of the year, the Zion Canyon Shuttle allows visitors to the park to travel within the Lower Canyon while it’s closed to private vehicle traffic. While the shuttle can be a great resource to get around, and is important for protecting the park, riding it does take a little extra planning. You’ll need to find a place to park your personal vehicle so that you can hop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle at the park’s entrance.
Because this can be a challenge, it’s a good idea to book a stay at hotels in Zion, like Flanigan’s Resort. That way, you can leave your car parked at your hotel, and ride the Springdale Shuttle to the park, avoiding the hassle of finding parking.
The Zion Canyon Shuttle and Springdale Shuttle have ceased operations for the 2023/2024 winter season. There hasn’t been a date announced yet for when the shuttles will begin operating again. However, this will occur sometime in spring, typically in mid-March.
Along a similar schedule to the Zion Canyon Shuttle, other park amenities, like the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, adjust their operating hours during the winter. You can read more on changes to park hours here.
Angels Landing Lottery Dates
Hiking enthusiasts and adventure seekers know that one of the best things to do while staying in hotels near Virgin, Utah is to hike to the peak of Angels Landing. If this hike is on your bucket list, you’ll need to apply for a permit. You’ll need to do this when you’re searching for places to stay in Zion—or perhaps even earlier.
Starting in April of 2022, the National Park Service launched the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program. Now, hikers hoping to take on Angels Landing will need to present a permit if they want to hike past Scouts Lookout. Permits are available in two lotteries; the Seasonal Lottery and the Day-Before Lottery.
If you’re planning a last-minute visit to hotels in Zion, your only option may be to enter the Day-Before Lottery. As the name suggests, this lottery opens daily and allots permits for the following day. But if you’re planning to visit Zion later in the year, you can plan in advance to increase your chances of getting a permit to hike Angels Landing by entering the Seasonal Lottery.
Right now, the Seasonal Lottery opens four times per year and awards permits for the following season. The 2024 dates for the Seasonal Lottery are:
- For hikes from March 1 to May 31, the Seasonal Lottery is open from January 1 to January 20, with permits awarded on January 25
- For hikes from June 1 to August 31, the Seasonal Lottery will be open from April 1 to April 20, with permits awarded on April 25
- For hikes from September 1 to November 30, the Seasonal Lottery will be open from JUly 1 to July 20, with permits awarded on July 25
- For hikes from December 1 to February 28, 2025, the Seasonal Lottery will be open from October 1 to October 20, with permits awarded on October 25
Free Entrance Days
If you are planning a short stay at hotels near Virgin, Utah and want to save a little money, you’ll need to know the 2024 dates for free entrance to national parks.
In years past, the National Park Service has hosted five Free Entrance Days. On these dates, entrance fees for all national parks, monuments, battlefields, and other NPS properties are waived, allowing all guests to enter free of charge. For parks like Zion, which charges an entrance fee of $35 per passenger vehicle or $20 per person for those entering on foot, this can save you quite a bit of money on your day in the park.
In 2024, a sixth date was added. On the following dates, visitors can enter Zion, Bryce Canyon, and any other site managed by the National Park Service for free:
- January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 20: The first day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: The anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Staying in hotels in Zion on these dates might save you money if you only plan to visit the park for a day. However, if you plan to visit for more than a day, or plan to visit a few other national parks throughout the year, the Free Entrance Day might not end up saving you any money.
The regular entrance fee to Zion and Bryce Canyon allows for entrance to the park for seven consecutive days. The Free Entrance Days only provide entry on that date. So if you know that you’ll spend more than one day in Zion, you’ll wind up paying the entrance fee anyway.
A better way to save money might be to purchase a national park annual pass. For just $80, this pass allows entry into any NPS property for two cardholders and up to three guests for a full year.
Planning a Stay at Hotels Near Virgin, Utah
Now that you know the dates that will be important in 2024, it’s time to start planning your stay at Flanigan’s Resort. Book your stay at one of the best hotels near Virgin, Utah today to start planning your next adventure!