Zion National Park Shuttle - What You Need To Know
While you can explore most of Zion National Park in your own vehicle year-round, Zion Canyon—the park’s most iconic and visited area—requires all visitors to hop on a shuttle for much of the year. But don’t worry! Your Shaka Guide tour works whether you’re on the shuttle or behind the wheel. That said, here are a few tips and FAQs to help make your shuttle ride smoother and more enjoyable.
1. When/Why do I need to board the shuttle?
Since 2000, Zion has implemented a mandatory shuttle service inside the park in an effort to ease congestion. Shuttle season in Zion is from February to November (and again at Christmas). During shuttle season, personal vehicles are not permitted in Zion Canyon, meaning visitors must ride a shuttle. You can, however, drive yourself in the other three sections of the park—East Zion, Kolob Canyons, and Kolob Terrace.
2. What shuttle routes are available at Zion National Park?
There are two shuttle systems in Zion, the Springdale Shuttle and the Zion Canyon Shuttle.
3. What is the Springdale Shuttle?
The Springdale shuttle runs from the Majestic View Lodge in Springdale to the Zion Canyon Village, right at the entrance to Zion Canyon. For visitors who are unable to find free parking at the Visitor Center, Human History Museum, or Zion Nature Center, this shuttle provides a short route from Springdale to the park. This shuttle service is never required, but rather, provided as a convenience. Springdale Shuttle service is generally available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but check the park schedule for the most up-to-date information.
4. What is the Zion Canyon Shuttle?
The Zion Canyon Shuttle runs from the Visitor Center to the Temple of Sinawava—the final stop on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle service typically runs from about 7 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. The shuttle schedule changes slightly from season to season and year to year. The NPS website will have the most up-to-date shuttle schedule. Before leaving, visitors should verify the current shuttle timetable posted at the Zion Visitor Center. During shuttle season, this shuttle is required to enter Zion Canyon.
5. Are the shuttles free?
All Zion National Park shuttles are free.
6. How to Board the Zion Canyon Shuttle?
Visitors can board the shuttle at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
7. What positives come from riding a shuttle?
First, it’s worth noting that Zion’s shuttles provide convenient and safe transportation through the park. By hopping on a shuttle instead of driving, you’re helping reduce traffic congestion, cut down on emissions and noise, and lower your overall carbon footprint. Plus, shuttles help keep both visitors and wildlife safe by limiting the number of vehicles on the road—especially in narrow canyon areas where space is tight and visibility can be limited.
8. What should I expect from my shuttle experience?
One thing almost everyone can expect on the Zion shuttle is some noise. To keep the air flowing throughout the bus, most of the windows will be down. This usually means a whooshing, whirring ride. This isn’t a big deal if you’re wearing headphones, but if you forgot them, it’s gonna' be pretty hard to hear your tour.
My advice? Crank up the volume on your headphones and sit away by the window. That way, it’s easier to spot some of the features your tour will point out. Noise-canceling headphones are a definite plus if you have them.
Beyond that, every visitor’s shuttle experience will be different because every shuttle driver will be different. Some drivers love to tell you all about the park’s history, the features you’ll be passing, and the upcoming stops. Others? They’re more the strong, silent type—focused on the road and not much for small talk. Which one will you get? That’s the magic of the shuttle—it's a total grab bag.
That means there might be times when you’d rather listen to your driver than the tour—and that’s totally fine! We’d love to be your go-to guide the whole way, but if your driver’s on a storytelling roll, hey, go with it. We won’t take it personally if you hit pause. That’s the beauty of a Shaka Guide tour: you’re in control. Press play, press pause—ride your way.
If you’re afraid you missed out on some cool in-tour advice, you can always play the tracks manually when you’re off the shuttle bus. The only crucial thing we ask is that you remember to turn your tour back on before you leave the canyon.
So don’t forget, if you stop or pause your tour, be sure to turn your tour audio back on before you leave Zion Canyon. We’ll give you directions for getting out of the canyon, as well as stories and songs for your return trip. We don’t want you to miss out!
9. How to have the best tour shuttle experience/ tips/ what to bring?
My two biggest pieces of advice? Nothing groundbreaking, but they make a big difference:
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If you’re having trouble hearing—yep, you guessed it—turn up the volume on your headphones.
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Grab a window seat if you can. It’ll make spotting the sights we’re talking about way easier (and let’s be honest, nobody wants the aisle view of someone’s backpack).
And, don’t forget, the three other sections of Zion (East Zion, Kolob Canyons, Kolob Terrace) are all open to personal vehicles all year long. If you’d rather not hop on a shuttle, consider exploring some of those other places with us!
RELATED: Know Before You Go: Zion National Park
Other FAQs
Mav at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Can I bring pets on the shuttle?
No, pets are not allowed on shuttle buses. Service animals, however, are permitted.
Can I bring strollers on the shuttle?
Yes, strollers are allowed. The owner will mount the stroller to the bike rack at the front of the bus.
Is there room for bicycles on the shuttle?
Yes, although space may be limited. Bicycles need to be mounted by the owner to the front of the bus.
Are the shuttle stops on the Zion Park Shuttle the same on the way up or down?
Yes, each direction follows the same route, stopping at every shuttle stop in each direction.
What stops does the Springdale Shuttle make?
On the way into the park, the shuttle bus will stop at every bus stop in town with someone waiting to board. On the way out, the bus will stop only when requested/alerted by a passenger. If needed, the bus will make up to 9 stops.
Where can I check the shuttle schedules?
Check the NPS shuttle page here for the most up-to-date shuttle schedule.
How often do the shuttles stop?
The Zion shuttles stop every 10-15 minutes.
What happens if the shuttle is full?
If the shuttle is full, you will have to wait for the next shuttle.
What happens if I miss the last shuttle out of the park?
Pro tip: don’t wait for the final shuttle. Seriously. If you miss it, you’re looking at an 8-mile trek back to the Visitor Center from the last stop at the Temple of Sinawava—and that’s not exactly the sunset stroll you had in mind. Plus, the last shuttle might already be full. Save yourself the stress (and the blisters) by catching an earlier ride. Getting stuck in the canyon after dark? Could be a tough end to a long day.
About the Writer: Rachel Ennis is a storyteller, nature nerd, and park enthusiast who believes every trail has a tale. Zion was her first love—the very first tour she wrote for Shaka Guide—and the moment she saw those towering red walls, something clicked. That spark of awe has followed her to every park since. Now, she’s on a mission to share the stories that live in the land and the spaces that make us feel small in the best way.
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