Getting from Las Vegas to Zion National Park? Whether you’re on a road trip or you want to just take a day trip from Las Vegas, there are several ways to get there. Las Vegas is about 160 miles from Zion National Park, which might feel a long way away, but it’s a very popular day trip for tourists visiting Las Vegas.

It’s not hard to see why it’s such a popular day trip and worth the early wake-up call. The dramatic scenery spans nearly 150,000 acres of cliffs, canyons, unbelievable viewpoints, rivers, fairy pools, diverse animal life, and over 100 hiking trails. Let’s get you there. Here are some of the best ways to get from Las Vegas to Zion National Park.

Getting from Las Vegas to Zion National Park

Helicopter

Getting from Las Vegas to Zion National Park by helicopter is a great choice for those who don’t want to or can’t walk around the park, or if you’re making the trip for a special occasion. It’s an incredible way to see the park and the canyon, an experience that not everyone will have. Helicopter tours typically circle over the park, taking in the incredible scenery, and then fly back. Bear in mind that you don’t land and get out to explore by foot.

It’s a popular tour, so there are a few helicopter tour operators based in Las Vegas. Of course, this is the most expensive way to get from Las Vegas to Zion Canyon, but you can also include a trip over Bryce Canyon to make the experience even more special.

Tour

If you’re on holiday and you simply want to relax without having to think about organising or planning anything, then a day tour is a great option. It takes all the weight off your shoulders – all you need to do is choose the tour you want to go on.

You can either choose to go to Zion, or you can combine Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon for the ultimate Utah day trip. If you choose to just visit Zion, you’ll get typically get a good six hours to explore the park, go on hikes, and make use of the park’s free shuttle services, which take you to the main areas.

Alternatively, you can take the Zion and Bryce Canyon tour. You’ll be picked up from your hotel at 6am and will get to spend around an hour exploring Zion. Then, it’s about a two-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, where you’ll spend a few hours exploring and hiking. From there, it’s another four-hour drive back to Las Vegas, so bear in mind that it is a long day. While both tours provide water, granola bars, and lunch, you’ll typically also get breakfast with the Zion and Bryce tour because it’s such an early start.

Bus

The most affordable way to get from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is by bus, so it’s a great option for those on a budget. There are a few options here. You could hop on the Greyhound bus, which takes you from Las Vegas to St. George in Utah, which is the closest stop to Zion. This is a popular route, so there are shuttles that take passengers from St. George to Zion four times a day. The journey takes around an hour, going straight to the visitor centre, where you can get shuttles around the park or just explore it on foot.

If you’re landing at Las Vegas airport and you’re staying in Zion, you can get the St. George Shuttle. This conveniently picks you up from Las Vegas Airport and takes you straight to Zion, taking around five hours with several stops along the way.

Car

If you’re up for an adventure then a great way to get from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is by car. You can easily hire a car from Las Vegas Airport or from Downtown, then start your adventure from Nevada to Utah. The journey is just under 160 miles, taking around 2 hours and 40 minutes, depending on traffic. However, we think you’ll want to factor in more time for the journey to take in the spectacular views along the way.

After around 55 miles, you’ll come across the Valley of Fire State Park and you can take a quick detour to drive down the Valley of Fire Scenic Byway. There are loads of view stops along the way, so we think it’s worth the detour. You’ll also drive through the Virgin River Gorge, which has towering cliffs on either side, it’s an incredible sight.

When you get to the park, you can drive along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, but this is closed to private cars in the summer. Visitors have to make of the free shuttles from April to mid-October, which is actually a more convenient way to get around the park anyway. Stopping off at all the famous viewpoints, you won’t have to worry about missing anything out.