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Traveling by RV in Southern Utah

In southern Utah the roads are wide open and scenic. Almost 80% of Utah land is managed for public use by federal and state agencies. National forests, national parks and monuments seem to be everywhere. No highway however can compare with the majestic beauty of Zion National Park's SR- 9. RV's frequently travel along the narrow, winding Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway in Zion. Rangers are stationed at both ends of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, stopping traffic so that the larger vehicles can enter and travel the tunnel in the center, using both lanes. Before you travel to Zion National Park, know the Tunnel restrictions.

Utah boasts of five national parks, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion National Park. Utah even lays claim to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon since many visit the North Rim during Utah vacations. The state of Utah also has seven national monuments including Cedar Breaks, Dinosaur, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hovenweep, Timpanogos Cave, Natural Bridges and Rainbow Bridge. Two recreation areas, Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon, add to the beauty of Utah. Golden Spike adds the culture of a national historic site.

Directions to Zion National Park From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance. From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance. From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.			Zion Photo: Bo Beck in Zion's Telephone Canyon. Bo is the veteran on Zion's Search and Rescue Team and spends a great deal of his time climbing, hiking and canyoneering in Zion.
	Zion National Park Lodging Lodging and services are available in East Zion. The main road through Zion, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9) is open year-round, and is not a route the Zion Canyon Shuttle takes. Zion Canyon is deep inside the park. Towering 3000' walls form a slot canyon, forged by the violent rush of torrent water over millions of years. From late March to late October access through the six mile stretch of road is via the Zion Canyon Shuttle, the rest of the year the canyon is accessed in private vehicles.

The Kolob Terrace Road is a beautiful scenic drive, but it is not suggested for RV travel. The campgrounds in Zion can accomodate RV's and is a great place to leave your RV while you explore the park. You can catch the Zion Canyon Shuttle at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center or near the campgrounds. Zion's South Campground has 127 RV sites, but there are no hookups. The Watchman campground is closest to the south park entrance and it has 95 RV sites. Both campgrounds have a dump station.

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