Commercial Tours

Motor coaches require one-way traffic control through the Zion-Mt.Carmel Tunnel

Motor Coach Tours

Hundreds of motor coach tours visit Zion National Park every year. To insure a pleasant and safe visit motor coach companies, guides, and drivers, are asked to please be aware of the following information.

Commercial Road-based Tours

A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers. Refer to the Commercial Tour Fee Rate Schedule to determine the fee for vehicles with a capacity of 6 or less. Possession of an annual or lifetime pass or the ages of the passengers does not affect the price charged.

How to Pay

When entering the park, at the South or East Entrance, please have your payment ready (see Commercial Tour Fees below). Credit Card payment is preferred; however, Zion National Park does accept cash and company checks. All checks must have the company’s Federal Tax ID printed on the check.

The National Park Service will not collect a fee from an empty vehicle entering the Park for the purpose of picking up passengers.

Tunnel Traffic Control fee of $15.00 (subject to change) is required for all vehicles 7’ 10” wide and wider or 11’ 4” high and higher. Vehicles over 13' 1' tall or combined vehicles or buses over 50' feet in length are prohibited.

Re-entry Stickers

Any entry or reentry to Zion National Park requires a valid entrance pass or reentry sticker to be shown, including at the park's pedestrian entrance.

If passengers plan to exit the park on foot to explore the Town of Springdale, the driver must accompany them to the pedestrian entrance. The driver must show their road-based tour entrance receipt to the ranger at the booth, request reentry stickers, and distribute the stickers to passengers before they leave Zion.

Passengers who do not have a sticker or who are not accompanied by the driver showing their valid entrance receipt will be required to pay the $20 per person park fee. If a ranger is not present, it is still the driver's responsibility to show their valid "road-based tour" entrance receipt if and when the ranger returns and the group reenters the park.

Commercial Tour Fees

$35.00+:1-6 Passengers ($35.00 + $20.00 per passenger not to exceed $70.00)
$70.00: 7-15 Passengers
$80.00: 16-25 Passengers
$190.00: 26+ Passengers

What Your Passengers Will Receive

Each couple/family/group will receive a park brochure with information on planning their visit and how to use the shuttle system. Encourage your passengers to read and take this helpful publication with them during their visit.

Only mini-buses and motor coaches (16+ seating capacity) that have advanced reservations at the Zion Lodge (dinning, overnight lodging, auditorium, or tram tour) may access the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Contact the Zion Lodge sales office by calling 435-772-7752 (weekdays) or 435-772-7700 (weekends) to inquire about reservations. This procedure allows the staff to serve you better. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and based on availability. Reservation holders will be provided a gate code to access the Scenic Drive.

Road-based Tour operators (16+ seating capacity) without a reservation at the Zion Lodge may not access the Scenic Drive.

Where To Park, Load, and Unload Buses

The following areas are approved for loading/unloading of passengers:

• Loading/Unloading zone south of the Zion Lodge Lawn (see map)
• Oversize/RV Parking Lot at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (park in area labeled "Tour Bus")
• Kolob Canyon Visitor Center parking lot (labeled RV/Bus parking area only)
• Kolob Canyon - Timber Creek Overlook (labeled RV/Bus parking area only)

 

Tour bus parking in the oversize vehicle lot at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

Zion Lodge

When Shuttles are Not Running (Usually in Winter)
Loading/unloading or waiting for passengers in the loading/unloading zone is limited to 5 minutes maximum. Drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times when at the lodge loading/unloading area. All vehicles must proceed to the authorized parking area once unloading is complete and return to the loading area at a pre-determined time. If designated bus parking is full at the Zion Lodge, buses may remain in the Lodge loading/unloading Zone. During times of full parking, drivers must move vehicles forward toward the front of the loading zone as vehicles leave so additional vehicles can enter the lane behind them. When authorized parking spaces become available, buses must exit the loading/unloading zone and utilize the authorized Lodge bus parking area.

During Shuttle Operations (Usually Spring until Winter)
Zion Road-based Tours may not use Zion Canyon Scenic Drive shuttle stops or parking areas, except to drive to Zion Lodge with a reservation. Contact the Zion Lodge sales office by calling 435-772-7752 (weekdays) or 435-772-7700 (weekends) to make first-come, first-served reservations. Zion Lodge will provide a gate code to reservation holders to access Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. No loading/unloading is authorized in front of the Zion Lodge hotel buildings. Drivers must always remain with their vehicles when stopping in a designated loading/unloading area. All vehicles must proceed to an authorized parking area once unloading has been completed. Vehicles occupying loading/unloading areas are limited to a maximum of five minutes while waiting for passengers. Buses must park in the designated area on the south end of Zion Lodge cabins. Engines must be shut off.

Parking

The only places where motor coach drivers are authorized to park are:

1. Zion Lodge designated bus parking.

2. Large Vehicle Parking Lot at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (park in area labeled "Tour Bus")

3. Kolob Canyon Visitor Center (labeled RV/Bus parking area only)

4. Kolob Canyon Timber Creek Overlook (labeled RV/Bus parking area only)

Driving on the Floor of the Valley Road (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive)

• Drive straight to Zion Lodge. Do not stop or park in any shuttle stop.

• Speed limit is 20 mph. National Park Service Shuttle Buses will be sharing the road and their maximum speed is 20 mph.

• Do not pass National Park Service Shuttle Busses.

• Be aware of hikers, runners and bicyclists also on the road.

• Motor Coaches are not allowed past Zion Lodge under any circumstances.

 

Entrance station ranger

Using the Park Shuttle Bus System

Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
Large vehicle restrictions remain in effect for motor coaches passing through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. Fees must be paid at the entrance stations.