How To Get To Zion National Park From Los Angeles
This week, we’re going to talk about one of America’s greatest national parks-Zion National Park!
Zion is known for its red rock canyons, white sand beaches, and lush green valleys. But what many don’t know is that there are plenty of ways to visit this beautiful area without having to take expensive transportation or tour packages.
There are several popular cities within striking distance of Zion that offer easy access to the park via Lyft or Uber. Plus, most major airports have at least one shuttle service or rental car company with drop off locations in the surrounding areas.
Book your trip to Zion National Park
One of the best ways to get into Zion is by booking a tour. There are many companies that offer bus tours, private car tours, or organized group trips. All of these have one thing in common - they take you directly through the park!
Some may even stay at hotels right next to the park or use van and shuttle services for drop offs and pickups. It all depends on what you prefer and how much money you want to spend!
Zion can be very expensive if done alone. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to visit the park without spending a large amount of money! Here are some tips for visiting Zion without paying an arm and a leg.
Use an online booking service
Finding cheap flights is one of the most important things you will do before traveling to Zion. You don’t want to spend money on airfare, but you also don’t want to pay through the nose for tickets either!
Luckily, there are plenty of websites that offer discounts or even free flight coupons if you book your trip with them. And some will even help you find the best deal on flight tickets!
We have gathered a list of services that can connect you with the right deals. Make sure to compare all of these sites to get the best price on what seems like the most expensive item - your ticket!
Site name: Cheapoair.com
Price: Free to use
For travelers looking to save big on transport costs, this site is perfect for you. Not only does it give you discount vouchers via Flight Deals, Underground Pass and Tech Deals sections, it also has a Money-saving Tips section full of helpful information.
The site offers lots of ways to earn points which can be exchanged for rewards such as hotel stays or airline tickets.
Visit during the winter months
Winter is an incredible time to visit Zion National Park. The weather is typically much warmer than in the summer, visits are almost always less crowded due to there being fewer people traveling for warm-weather vacations, and snow makes it possible to enjoy some of the park’s many beautiful features that would otherwise be covered up by grass and vegetation.
All this said, winter is also one of the least popular times to visit Zion NP because many areas remain closed until well after the spring thaw. This isn’t too big of a deal if you’re only planning on visiting the Southwestern section of the park or just seeking more serene solitude, but if you hoped to check out some of the other parts of the national monument or take part in any organized tours, then wait till later!
If you do decide to visit at this time of year, make sure to bring adequate layers as most places don’t offer very good insulation from the cold. And even though snow usually stays around longer here, heavy accumulations can quickly cause flooding and damage to roads so be prepared for both those things.
Visit during the summer months
During the warmer seasons, there are many ways to visit Zion National Park. You can take an organized tour where all of the transportation is paid for, or you can bring your own vehicle and just pay additional fees per night to stay at a park-view or outdoor activity hotel.
There are also several cities that have tours that include traveling into Zion so you do not need to travel alone. Some good options are Day Tours by Van and Group Tour Options.
These groups organize their own transport as well as meals while in the area, which gives you more flexibility with time and money.
Pay for your trip up front
It’s very common to pay in advance of your visit, which is totally fine! But make sure you are aware of what price ranges they offer before paying full cost. Some tours will not allow you to change or cancel once paid for, so be careful about picking those.
There may also be additional fees such as transfer tickets, parking, or activity costs. Make sure to check out all of these things first before committing.
Consider using a tour operator
Tour operators offer services that range from picking you up at your destination, booking all of your activities for the day, and even taking care of transportation back home. Some only cover certain areas while traveling, so make sure to research which ones include Zion Canyon as well!
Tour operators usually have much lower prices than doing it yourself due to their large scale operations. For example, if you were to take your own car to visit the park, there are always costs associated with parking, walking around outside the park, and finding a place to eat once you’re done exploring.
Given these expenses, most tour operators will already contain this in the cost of their trip. It is best to do some research and compare before paying more money as a consumer.
Plan your trip
Now that you have a plan for getting into Zion, you need to make sure you have everything ready! Make sure you are prepared for any situation when leaving for or coming back from your trek in The States.
You do not want to be rushing around trying to find things or waiting for something because you left for the day without preparing!
There is limited parking at some of the popular trailheads so it is important to know how to get there if you run out of gas, hit a big rock, or just don’t feel like hiking anymore.
Some people may also choose to hitchhike but this can be very risky unless you are completely certain who you can trust. If someone doesn’t seem trustworthy, walk away!
Plan ahead by bringing enough food, water, and supplies for the length of your stay in the park. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast as well! You wouldn’t want to be stuck outside due to bad weather.
Use a public transport option
Finding affordable transportation to get you into Zion is not difficult at all! If you live in or close to the surrounding areas, then it is much easier than trying to hitchhike or take the bus which may be expensive or of poor quality.
Many major cities have excellent train systems that are cheap or free to use if you are an active traveler. These trains usually run frequent times throughout the day, so your commute-and-your-day time is protected.
Some examples of these transit options include taking the Metro (Los Angeles), Metrolink (San Diego), Amtrak (Washington D.C.), ORCA (Orange County) buses, or even the ferry across Lake Washington in Seattle. All of these have one thing in common - they’re totally free!
If you’re looking to spend some money while traveling, consider buying an inexpensive monthly pass before you leave home. This way, you will only need to purchase tickets when you actually want to go somewhere, instead of constantly having to find ways to pay for rides every few hours.