Best time to visit Zion.
Photo · NPS/Shane Carte · NPS sourceCheck before you go
- Closures, fire restrictions, construction and water: NPS Zion current conditions
- We are independent of the National Park Service. The official pages above are the source of record for anything that changes.
Current conditions
- Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (SR-9, Canyon Junction to East Entrance): closed in effect now
- Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway closed from Canyon Junction to East Entrance Closed · in effect now · nps.gov
- Watchman Trail Closed Closed · in effect now · nps.gov
- Toxic cyanobacteria in rivers, streams, and pools Safety · in effect now · nps.gov
- Large vehicle restrictions on Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway Safety · in effect now · nps.gov
Compare Zion by month.
Three signals for each month: how busy it is against June, the average weather, and how much of the road system is normally open. Tap a month for its full Zion guide. We don't roll these into one "best month" score, because a photographer and a family on school break want different months.
Weather · NOAA normals, Zion National Park (4,038 ft)
| Month | Crowds | Weather | Roads & lodging | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January |
Quiet
23% of June · 139K avg
|
Good
54°F / 30°F (12°C / -1°C)
|
Usually most open
Typical windows · score 75/100
|
Quietest month. Shuttle off after January 2; private cars allowed up Zion Canyon. Cold nights, short days, possible ice on shaded trails.Read the January guide |
| February |
Quiet
25% of June · 153K avg
|
Ideal
58°F / 34°F (14°C / 1°C)
|
Usually most open
Typical windows · score 75/100
|
Crowds still light. Mt. Carmel Highway open; shuttle typically not yet running. The Narrows often runs high and cold.Read the February guide |
| March |
Busy
68% of June · 411K avg
|
Ideal
66°F / 39°F (19°C / 4°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 85/100
|
Spring break and shuttle restart push visits sharply higher. Confirm shuttle dates on the NPS Zion page.Read the March guide |
| April |
Peak
81% of June · 485K avg
|
Ideal
73°F / 44°F (23°C / 7°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Heavy spring traffic. Shuttle running. Cottonwood leaf-out. Cool mornings, comfortable rim days.Read the April guide |
| May |
Peak
94% of June · 569K avg
|
Good
84°F / 53°F (29°C / 11°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Near-peak crowd. Shuttle running; NPS says summer parking is often full by 9 a.m. Mostly dry; Narrows snowmelt may still spike.Read the May guide |
| June |
Peak
100% of June · 602K avg
|
Rough
95°F / 62°F (35°C / 17°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Peak month. Triple-digit afternoons begin. Plan trailheads at sunrise; hike rim trails, not exposed Angels Landing midday.Read the June guide |
| July |
Peak
92% of June · 553K avg
|
Rough
100°F / 70°F (38°C / 21°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Heat and monsoon storms. Flash-flood risk in slot canyons (NPS safety). Visits high but easing slightly from June.Read the July guide |
| August |
Busy
77% of June · 462K avg
|
Rough
98°F / 69°F (37°C / 20°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Monsoon continues. Still very hot. Crowds drop modestly. Check flash flood potential before any slot-canyon plan.Read the August guide |
| September |
Busy
79% of June · 476K avg
|
Rough
91°F / 61°F (33°C / 16°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Busy but easing. Highs drop from August, the shuttle is running, and the monsoon season still runs through September.Read the September guide |
| October |
Peak
82% of June · 491K avg
|
Ideal
78°F / 49°F (26°C / 9°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Our pick. Highs near 78°F, and the shuttle runs all month with shorter hours from October 25. NPS says fall color reaches Zion Canyon at month's end.Read the October guide |
| November |
Moderate
50% of June · 301K avg
|
Ideal
64°F / 37°F (18°C / 3°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 90/100
|
Crowds drop sharply. Shuttle runs until late November. NPS says fall color reaches Zion Canyon in early November.Read the November guide |
| December |
Quiet
36% of June · 215K avg
|
Good
53°F / 29°F (11°C / -1°C)
|
Usually most open
Typical windows · score 75/100
|
Quiet month. No shuttle until the December 26 holiday run, so private cars can drive up Zion Canyon. Snow possible on Kolob Terrace.Read the December guide |
Open the full Zion crowd calendar
Rain, snow, latest-year counts, and the weather station
Zion NP station sits inside the park at ~4,038 ft, near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center elevation. These numbers represent the Zion Canyon floor (south entrance, Springdale, the main shuttle corridor). Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace sit higher: NPS puts the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center at 5,200 ft and Lava Point Campground at 7,890 ft, and says snow builds up at higher elevations after winter storms while it melts within hours lower down.
| Month | Visits in 2025 | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 149,768 | 1.99″ | 0.7″ |
| Feb | 162,438 | 2.06″ | 0.8″ |
| Mar | 425,780 | 2.01″ | 0.7″ |
| Apr | 538,541 | 1.22″ | 0.0″ |
| May | 589,279 | 0.77″ | 0.0″ |
| Jun | 585,040 | 0.23″ | 0.0″ |
| Jul | 529,798 | 1.15″ | 0.0″ |
| Aug | 476,657 | 1.63″ | 0.0″ |
| Sep | 475,492 | 1.17″ | 0.0″ |
| Oct | 504,122 | 1.22″ | 0.0″ |
| Nov | 310,439 | 1.18″ | 0.1″ |
| Dec | 237,171 | 1.64″ | 1.7″ |
Zion's October figure (~82% of June's peak) is a monthly mean. The shuttle runs all month, with shorter hours from October 25, and NPS says fall color reaches Zion Canyon at the end of October and early November. We don't publish weekly NPS counts on this page, so treat the headline 'best month' recommendation as a monthly-mean call.
How these scores are computed (and why there's no combined "best month")
Crowd score
Formula: 100 − (this month's visits ÷ park's peak month visits) × 100. Each park scored against its own peak, not against other parks.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package 2025, Recreation Visits (TRV), 5-year monthly mean (2021-2025). Reproduce these numbers on the NPS IRMA Stats portal.
Reading it: June at Zion reads 0 (peak). January reads 77 (quietest). A 50 means about half the park's peak crowd.
Weather score
Formula: weatherScore = round(max(0, min(100, dayComfort − precipPenalty − snowPenalty − freezePenalty))). The piecewise day-comfort function is continuous at every boundary.
- Day comfort:
tmax < 50°F →
max(10, (tmax − 20) × 2)(cold tail); 50–60°F →60 + (tmax − 50) × 4(ramp to 100); 60–78°F → 100 (plateau); 78–85°F →100 − (tmax − 78) × 5(ramp to 65); > 85°F →max(30, 65 − (tmax − 85) × 5)(hot tail). - Precip penalty:
max(0, prcpIn − 1.5) × 8; kicks in above 1.5 in / month. - Snow penalty:
snowIn × 2.5. If the selected station does not publish a snowfall normal, the score applies no snow penalty and labels snowfall as unavailable. - Night-freeze penalty:
max(0, 32 − tmin) × 1.5when tmin < 32°F.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Zion National Park, UT (USC00429717, 4,038 ft).
Caveat: Zion NP station sits inside the park at ~4,038 ft, near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center elevation. These numbers represent the Zion Canyon floor (south entrance, Springdale, the main shuttle corridor). Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace sit higher: NPS puts the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center at 5,200 ft and Lava Point Campground at 7,890 ft, and says snow builds up at higher elevations after winter storms while it melts within hours lower down.
Access score
Formula: For each named park road, count it open if its typical operating window covers that month. Score = round((sum of weights of open roads / sum of all weights) x 100). Where a park has a partial winter access mode, the profile documents that assumption in its access notes.
Route weights at Zion:
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the main artery): Shuttle most of year · private cars in winter
- Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (SR-9): Open year-round
- Kolob Terrace Road: Upper section closed fall → spring
- Kolob Canyons Road: Mostly open · winter storm closures
- Angels Landing permit: Year-round permit system
- The Narrows (bottom-up day hike): Closes during high water · monsoon flash-flood risk
- Entry, fees, and timed entry: Year-round entry · no timed entry
- Lodging: Year-round · Springdale walkable base
Editorial methodology: the route weights are chosen by our editors from NPS road and lodge operating dates and the park's own access caveats below the score table.
Caveat: The score reflects wheeled-vehicle road access only. Backcountry, hiking, lodging, shuttle, and other service availability are not directly included unless the park profile states otherwise.
Why no combined score?
A combined "best month" number forces a weighting: how much do you care about crowds vs. weather vs. access? Those weights are personal. A photographer optimizing for golden light weights differently than a parent locked to school break weights differently than a winter visitor with a 4WD. We show the inputs and let you decide. Use the per-month grid above to navigate to a deeper page.
When are roads and lodges open?
Roads, entrances, and lodges by season. Road closures and lodge seasons decide what a month can actually offer. Verify with NPS before you travel; these change.
Last updated · Sep 13, 2026
Every road's opening and closing dates: Zion road closures.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (the main artery)
For most of the year, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles and accessible only by the free Zion Canyon Shuttle. Outside the shuttle season (usually December through February, per NPS), private vehicles can drive the canyon directly. NPS notes that when the road is open to drivers and parking fills, the canyon road may be temporarily closed. Confirm current shuttle dates and parking status on the NPS Zion conditions page before arrival.
Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (SR-9)
Open year-round. NPS works to keep this east-west through-route open in all seasons, but it occasionally closes for snow, ice, rockfall, or traffic. Vehicles over the size or weight limits (35 ft 9 in long, or 50 ft with a trailer; 7 ft 10 in wide; 11 ft 4 in tall; 50,000 lbs) cannot drive between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance, and there is no permit that lets an oversize rig through. See the NPS large vehicles page before you bring an RV.
Kolob Terrace Road
Open year-round on the lower section. NPS says the road usually closes for several months from fall to spring because of snow, starting at Maloney Hill, about a mile past the Hop Valley Trailhead. Confirm current status on the NPS Zion conditions page before driving to Lava Point in the shoulder months.
Kolob Canyons Road
Open most of the year. NPS notes the road closes frequently in winter for storms but is otherwise drivable to the Timber Creek overlook. Worth a half-day if you're staying in St. George, Cedar City, or driving I-15.
Angels Landing permit
Hiking the Angels Landing chains section requires a permit assigned by lottery. NPS runs both a seasonal lottery (apply months ahead for a season window) and a day-before lottery. Rules and fees are set by NPS and change between seasons; verify current rules on the NPS Angels Landing permit page before counting on the hike.
The Narrows (bottom-up day hike)
No permit is needed to hike upstream from the Temple of Sinawava as far as Big Spring. NPS closes The Narrows above 150 CFS and during Flash Flood Warnings, and names hypothermia as a major hazard in narrow canyons. Always check the NPS Narrows page and the flash flood potential before entering. The top-down through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch needs a permit.
Entry, fees, and timed entry
Zion requires no park-entry reservation. It is one of 11 parks where non-U.S. residents age 16+ pay a $100 nonresident fee in addition to standard admission unless covered by an eligible pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents. The shuttle is free with park entry. Verify terms on the NPS nonresident fees page.
Lodging
Zion Lodge is the only in-park lodge, with about 120 rooms, suites, and cabins, booked through Zion National Park Lodges. Springdale sits at the South Entrance, and its free shuttle line runs to the pedestrian entrance while the park shuttle operates. Watchman Campground is inside the park and takes reservations year-round, and South Campground is a short walk from the visitor center.
Which month fits your trip?
The month table answers most trips. These four decide the date for the rest, and each has its own page with the facts behind it.
Also for Zion: Road closures and dates · Airports · Fees and passes · Accessibility.
Questions about when to go.
What is the best month to visit Zion?
It depends on what you want. For a balance of crowds, weather, and open roads, October usually works well. If empty trails matter most, look at mid-September to October. For the widest range of open roads and services, aim for April to October.
When should I avoid Zion?
June is the busiest month, when parking and lodging are tightest. For weather, the tougher month is July, when conditions limit how much you can comfortably do.
What are the quietest months at Zion?
The quietest stretch is January, February, and December. January is the low point, averaging about 139,474 recreation visits, roughly 23% of the June peak.
Which month has the best weather at Zion?
October usually brings Zion's most comfortable conditions, with average highs near 78°F. It is not always the quietest month, so use the month grid above to weigh weather against crowds.
How this page
is built.
Not affiliated with or endorsed
by the National Park Service.
Crowd numbers on this page are the Recreation Visits column from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025. Monthly figures are five-year arithmetic means (2021-2025) against each park's own peak month. We do not compare parks against each other for the crowd score: only against themselves.
Weather numbers are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, drawn from the Zion National Park, UT station (USC00429717). The station sits at 4,038 ft; the elevation caveat above the weather table explains where this misreads the higher districts.
Access notes are an independent summary of NPS operating posture. We do not republish NPS pages; we link them. Conditions change; confirm road status, reservation requirements, and lodging windows on https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm before travel.
Full year-by-year history, records, and the events behind each year: Zion visitation by year.
- Air quality: AirNow.gov; real-time air quality and smoke conditions.
- Park conditions: NPS Zion current conditions, verify before you drive.
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