Map of Zion National Park and its entrances
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. St. George is at the lower left; Zion Canyon and Springdale are at the right, and Kolob Canyons is along I-15 at the top.
How many entrances does Zion National Park have?
Zion has four places where visitors drive in. The South Entrance in Springdale and the East Entrance on State Route 9 are the two main entrances to Zion Canyon. Kolob Canyons, at Exit 40 on I-15, is a separate section with its own visitor center. Kolob Terrace Road, which starts in the town of Virgin, climbs into the park’s high country west of Zion Canyon.
South Entrance (Springdale)
- Where: North end of Springdale on State Route 9, next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. There is also a walk-in pedestrian entrance from town.
- From St. George: About 42 miles, 45 minutes from St. George via I-15 North (Exit 16) and SR-9.
- Best for: Zion Canyon, the shuttle, Angels Landing, The Narrows, Emerald Pools and most first visits.
East Entrance (Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway)
- Where: State Route 9, 13 miles west of Mt. Carmel Junction.
- From St. George: Through the park from the South Entrance, or from Kanab and US-89 to the east.
- Best for: The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel drive and the slickrock east side. Check the vehicle size limits first.
Kolob Canyons
- Where: I-15 Exit 40, at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
- From St. George: 32 miles up I-15 from the St. George Boulevard exit (Exit 8).
- Best for: A quiet five-mile scenic drive away from the Zion Canyon crowds. The road may close in winter for snow or ice.
Kolob Terrace Road
- Where: Starts in the town of Virgin, 13.5 miles west of the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.
- From St. George: I-15 North to Exit 16, then SR-9 east through Hurricane and LaVerkin to Virgin.
- Best for: The park’s higher country west of Zion Canyon, away from the main crowds.
Which Zion entrance should I use from St. George?
Use the South Entrance. It is about 42 miles and 45 minutes from St. George by I-15 North and State Route 9 through Hurricane, LaVerkin and Springdale, and it is where the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the shuttle into Zion Canyon are. If you only want a short scenic drive, Kolob Canyons at I-15 Exit 40 is closer to St. George and much less crowded.
Plan to arrive early in spring and fall, when parking at the visitor center fills on busy days. If the lot is full, park in Springdale and walk in through the pedestrian entrance. Our directions to Zion cover the drive in detail.
Where is the East Entrance to Zion?
The East Entrance is on State Route 9, 13 miles west of Mt. Carmel Junction, according to the National Park Service. From St. George, most people reach it by driving through the park from the South Entrance on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, which runs through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.
After a rockfall closure in fall 2026, SR-9 and the tunnel reopened October 9 with a temporary gravel section. See our reopening details for the latest.
The stretch from Canyon Junction to the East Entrance has strict size limits for RVs, trailers and trucks. Vehicles over any of them cannot use this section of road at all, so check the National Park Service large vehicle page before you go.
Where is the Kolob Canyons entrance?
Kolob Canyons is at Exit 40 on Interstate 15, 40 miles north of Zion Canyon and 17 miles south of Cedar City. It is 32 miles up I-15 from the St. George Boulevard exit. Everyone has to stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to show a park pass or pay the entrance fee before driving the five-mile Kolob Canyons Road.
Kolob Canyons is the quickest taste of Zion from St. George and an easy add-on to a drive to Cedar City. The road climbs into red finger canyons with overlooks along the way. It may close in winter for snow or ice.
Official Zion National Park maps
The National Park Service publishes these maps for free. Download the brochure map before you go, since cell service is spotty in parts of the park.
- Zion National Park official brochure map (PDF): The park map handed out at the entrances: roads, visitor centers, the shuttle route and major trails.
- Zion area map (PDF): Zion with the surrounding parks, national forests and monuments. Useful for planning from St. George.
- Zion wilderness map (PDF): Backcountry trails and wilderness zones, for overnight and long-distance hikers.
- Springdale to South Entrance pedestrian map: How to walk into the park from Springdale if you park in town.