Outpost

Getting There

Zion

From other areas of the country, the most efficient way to get to Zion is to fly Delta or American into St. George, rent a car, and drive to Springdale. From back east, the flight into St. George arrives at 6:30 pm and costs $250-300 round trip depending on your city of origin. You'll probably change planes in Atlanta or Chicago, then either Phoenix or Denver, flying a regional airliner to St. George.

You'll be surprised when you arrive. St. George is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation, with retirees from California, Salt Lake City and the Northeast moving in. The airport closed for six months in 2019 for complete runway reconstruction and expansion. The airport has one of America's most beautiful backdrops.

The drive, on I-15 and Utah Route 9 East, will take about 50 minutes. It's 40 miles. Budget and Alamo car rental agencies both operate at the airport.

Amtrak comes into Salt Lake City. The midnight arrival time discourages many. The ones who do come that way usually stay overnight in the city, rent a car and drive down I-15 the next day. Some people drive over to Bryce and Canyonlands National Park on the way, staying a night or two at each park before arriving in Zion. But coming by Amtrak has its own appeal. The train trip is a vacation all to itself. If you're coming from back East, you take either the Cardinal, the Capitol or the Lakeshore to Chicago. Then you board the California Zephyr. You'll eat dinner watching Iowa farmland drift by your window. You'll sleep through Nebraska and northern Colorado and wake up as the train stops in Denver. Then for the next 14 hours you'll enjoy some of America's most stunning scenery as the Zephyr carves through deep Colorado canyons and gorges. You want to reserve a "roomette," which for this trip will include two dinners, breakfast and lunch in the dining car. You can shower. You can roam about the train, sitting in the observation car or stopping by the snack bar. Amtrak takes longer than flying but is a truly great way to travel.

Driving, the best route for most is to come across I-70, staying at Lawrence (Kansas) and Glenwood Springs (Colorado). Those two towns have great KOAs and great Holiday Inns, so whether you're camping or staying in motels, you have fine options. You might consider spending an extra day and night in Glenwood Springs. It's a historic resort with hot springs, spas and lots of other attractions.

If you drive, you should seriously consider the stretch from Glenwood Springs to Zion. You'll pass Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Bryce National Park. It's an amazing collection of national parks, and if you haven't already seen them, you really should add a few days and nights to your trip and visit some or all of them.

Even if you don't stop at any of them, the drive iself is breathtaking. You see spectacular views around every bend. It should take about seven hours. Be sore to plan so that you do it all in day time.