The Zion center is approximately 8 miles north of Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens and 9 miles north of Zion National Park.
The climate in Zion National Park is classified as cold desert, with hot summers, cold winters, and limited precipitation. The moderate weather in spring and fall make these the best times to visit. April and May and September and October tend to be warm and sunny, with average highs ranging from 60-90 degrees. The warmest month is July, when average highs are around 101 degrees.
The most popular times to visit Zion National Park are in April through November when free shuttle buses run in Zion Canyon, but the park is open all year. If you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind colder temperatures, you could travel in winter and get lower hotel rates. The winter temperature averages 53 degrees, and the park doesn't get much snow.
The ideal time, however, is fall. Hiking can be very hot in summer, with temperatures approaching 120 degrees, and is difficult in spring because of runoff, so fall offers the best setting for those who want to spend time in the canyon. You can buy seven-day entrance passes to the park for vehicles or individual passes for pedestrians or people on motorcycles or bicycles.
La Quinta Inn & Suites at Zion Park / Springdale offers senior and military/government discounts. It's a five-minute drive from the South Entrance of Zion National Park. The spacious rooms and suites have soft pillowtop mattresses, microwaves, refrigerators, flat-panel TVs, free Wi-Fi, and work desks. The hotel has a business center with printing services, an expansive fitness center, and free Brightside Breakfast.
Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale / Zion National Park offers senior, AARP, and military/government discounts and is five minutes from Zion National Park's South Entrance. The hotel has an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, and a snack bar deli, and also offers dry cleaning/laundry service. Free buffet breakfast is served daily, and free newspapers are available in the lobby. Rooms feature refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, wired and wireless Internet access, desks, and coffee/tea makers.
If you want quick access to the park each day, Zion Pioneer Lodge is just a few blocks from the West Entrance and provides incredible views. Since you'll be so close, you can walk or bike in on some days and drive or take the free shuttle on days when you want to cover more ground. Your room will have a charming, rustic decor and will be equipped with a kitchenette with a microwave. You can make coffee and tea in your room. TV and free Wi-Fi will keep you entertained and connected, and some rooms have Jacuzzis.
Quality Inn & Suites Montclair in Springdale, near the South Entrance of Zion National Park, is also near LaFave and DeZion galleries and Chinle Trail. The hotel features an outdoor pool and patio seating, as well as a spa tub. Free breakfast is served each day. Rooms have comfortable bedding with soft pillows, refrigerators and microwaves, televisions with cable programming, desks, free Wi-Fi, and coffee/tea makers. Coffee and tea is also available in the common area.
Your vacation at Zion National Park will be one you will never forget. You can view majestic canyons, traverse miles of hiking trails with gorgeous views, go horseback riding, attend park ranger talks at the visitor center and evening programs in the campground amphitheater, rent bikes for cycling adventures, and much more. From April through October, you can take a narrated tram ride through Zion Canyon.
With so much to do within the park, you won't need to venture elsewhere, but you could also travel to sites such as Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, and Lake Powell. Springdale, originally settled as a farming community for Mormon evacuees after flooding in nearby Northrup, is now geared primarily toward tourism. The city offers restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment options.