11:00am
30 min

Fly into in Las Vegas

You’ll be flying into McCarran International Airport (LAS) in the morning. After you’ve picked up your luggage from baggage claim, go ahead and pick up your rental car via the airport counter.

11:30am
30 min

Grab rental gear from Basecamp Outdoor Gear Rental

You’ll be picking up the camping gear you rented (cooler, camp stove, kitchen utensils, table, etc.) from Basecamp in Las Vegas before we head north towards Zion National Park.

Basecamp Outdoor Gear Rental
2595 Chandler Ave #12
Las Vegas, NV 89120
(702) 357-9513

12:00pm
30 min

Pick up lunch at Bob’s East Side Deli

After you’ve picked up your gear, just up the street is a local sub shop that all the locals rave about! We recommend the Marino’s Special, but don’t take our word for it. Feel free to call in your order ahead to beat the lunch rush. Get your sandwiches to go, hop in the car, and head north.

Bob’s East Side Deli
2900 E Patrick Ln STE 9
Las Vegas, NV 89120

12:30pm
3.5 hours

Drive to Springdale, UT

With your lunch in tow, you can start making your trek north towards Zion National Park. Use the 515 exchange to get onto Interstate 15 towards St. George/Hurricane/Springdale. The drive itself takes about 3 hours without any stops. Enjoy the scenery headed out of Sin City (Vegas)! On the way back to the airport, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the ever popular Valley of Fire State Park. It’s absolutely worth a stop!

4:00pm
60 min

Arrive in Springdale, UT

Congratulations! You’ve arrived in the hip mountain town of Springdale, UT, which serves as a gateway into Zion National Park. Springdale offers a free shuttle service throughout town but does NOT enter the park itself. There is a separate shuttle service operated by the National Park Service within Zion. Springdale features a bevy of shops, galleries, restaurants, and coffee houses. Be sure to wander around the town if you have some free time on your hands. For now, go ahead and follow the check-in instructions for your VRBO (check your mobile app for specific instructions), unpack your gear, and take in the gorgeous sights and fresh mountain air.

5:00pm
60 min

Grocery Run in Springdale

Within walking distance of your vacation rental is a convenient local grocer called Sol Foods Supermarket. They have a solid selection of dry goods, fresh fruit, vegetables, beer/wine, as well as a full-service deli. Grab whatever food and supplies you need for the next few days (like making packed lunches, trail snacks) and head back to the VRBO.

Sol Foods Supermarket
995 Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy
Springdale, UT 84767

6:00pm
1.5 hours

Dinner at Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon

Also within walking distance of your VRBO is a wildly-popular restaurant called Bit & Spur. It’s so popular in fact, you should try to call ahead and make a reservation sometime during your first day. It can get very busy during the peak season, so plan ahead! Bit & Spur does have outdoor seating should you feel uncomfortable eating inside. And on a nice Utah evening, we prefer to! The sweet potato tamales and the house margaritas are must-tries.

Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon
1212 Zion Park Boulevard
Springdale, UT 84737
435-772-3498

7:30pm
60 min

Pack ahead for tomorrow

Tomorrow is your first full day in Zion National Park! We recommend packing a lunch and some snacks as you’ll be moving all day. There are food options within the park itself, but they tend to be pretty bland and expensive. You’ll want to save your hard earned money for the restaurants back in Springdale, trust us! Each member in your party should have a day pack, lunch, snacks, and plenty of water (minimum 2L). You’ll be able to refill any water bottles you have at the main lodge and park entrance. Now shut off those lights and get to bed!

8:30am
30 min

Pick up your e-bikes from Zion Adventure Company

Today is your first full day in Zion National Park! We’ll be entering the park via e-bikes that you’ll be renting through the reputable Zion Adventure Company outfitter. With your e-bike, you’ll be able to control how much support or help you get from your bikes onboard battery, which is especially helpful for some of the hills on the main park road. Looking for a challenge? Then say no to your bike assist and burn off those calories from last night’s dinner. Safety first—make sure you wear your helmet at all times!

Zion Adventure Company
36 Lion Blvd
Springdale, UT 84767
(435) 772-1001

9:00am
60 min

Ride e-bikes to the Zion Lodge

Once you have your bikes and gear ready to go, head north from Zion Adventure Company to the Park Entrance. From there, you’ll be able to hop on the Pa’rus Trail, a mostly flat, but beautiful paved trail that takes you into Zion itself. The trail is also open to pedestrian traffic, so be mindful on your bike before you reach the park road. Head north on the main park road (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive) towards the Zion Lodge (Stop #5 on your Park Map). At the Lodge, you’ll be able to lock up your bikes, use the restroom, and refill your water for hikes later in the day. Go ahead and store your bikes at one this stop as they have several bike racks near the main lodge. You’ll come back here after your morning hikes to eat lunch, so skip the souvenir shop, for now.

10:00am
2.5 hours

Explore the Emerald Pools Trails

Your pre-lunch hike will clock in just under three miles. Easy, no? Head north from the Zion Lodge shuttle stop on the Grotto Trail. The Grotto Trail is a simple and short 0.5 mile connector trail that will take you to the Grotto shuttle stop. From there, you’ll be able to work your way back south, hitting up several of the Emerald Pools viewing areas. At the Grotto shuttle stop, you’ll see signs for another connector trail called the Kenyata Trail, which leads connects to the various Emerald Pools Trails (Upper, Middle, and Lower). All of these trails are listed as easy in difficulty, which is by design! You’ll be attacking more difficult trails later in the trip, so feel free to be as leisurely as you’d like on this hike. When you’ve gotten your fill of the Emerald Pools, start making your way back to to the Zion Lodge via the Lower Emerald Pool Trail for lunch. Your morning route should form a nice point-to-point triangle without the need to backtrack through the Kenyata and Grotto trails.

12:30pm
60 min

Eat lunch outside the Zion Lodge

Right outside the Zion Lodge, there is a gorgeous grassy area that many visitors use as a huddle or meal stop. If you packed your lunch, it’s time to dust off that PB&J and piece of fruit you packed this morning. If you weren’t as prepared or the elementary school lunch didn’t whet your appetite, they do sell sandwiches and other lunch items at the Lodge. If you go this route, be prepared for long wait times around the lunch hour. So relax, give your feet a break, and hydrate, especially if it’s a hot day!

1:30pm
60 min

Ride back towards the Park Entrance

After lunch, grab your e-bikes that you parked outside the Zion Lodge and head south on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive back towards the Park Entrance. You can take the same detour via the Pa’rus trail that you did on the way out. Feel free to stop at the Visitor’s Center for any shopping or souvenirs that you might want to grab while you have time today.

2:30pm
3 hours

Free time! Explore Springdale or rest

After any shopping or exploring you want to do at the Visitor’s Center, you’re free to explore Springdale for a couple of hours or head back to the VRBO for some downtime before this evening’s activities. Feel free to hop on the FREE Springdale shuttle to hop around town.

5:30pm
1.5 hours

OPTIONAL: Hike Watchman Trail @ sunset

If the morning activities haven’t completely drained your energy, I highly recommend checking out the Watchman Trail in the early evening. This often-overlooked trail leaves from the Watchman Campground near the Park Entrance and is fairly short (less than 3 miles roundtrip). Time this one to experience the sun setting over Zion, but bring a headlamp just in case it gets too dark on the way back.