Zion National Park wraps around Springdale. The town's territory actually extends into the park. Six hundred people live here year-round; five million visit the park annually, and most of them pass through this two-mile strip of hotels, restaurants, and galleries. A free shuttle runs the length of town and connects to the Zion shuttle at the visitor center. You can walk from your hotel to the canyon. Mormon farmers settled here in 1862. Now it's an International Dark Sky Community with surprisingly good food for a town this size.
Where to Stay
Flanigan's Resort and Spa
Boutique resort with a park-lodge feel. Five-minute walk to the south entrance and visitor center. On-site spa, pool, and the Spotted Dog restaurant. The kind of place that takes Zion seriously without being stuffy about it.
Desert Pearl Inn
Modern rooms on the Virgin River, three-quarters of a mile from the park entrance. Private balconies and terraces with canyon views. Large pool and hot tub. One of the nicer options in town.
Where to Eat
Whiptail Grill
Mexican food in a 1965 Texaco gas station at the park entrance. Bright murals, outdoor seating under the red cliffs. The goat cheese chile relleno is the signature: roasted Anaheim, panko-crusted, tomatillo sauce. Open since 2007, locally owned.
Oscar's Cafe
The breakfast spot. Southwestern huevos rancheros, iced lattes, outdoor seating. Good enough that people come back twice in one trip. Also serves lunch and dinner, but breakfast is why it's packed.
Sol Foods
A grocery store with the best salad bar in town hidden in the back. Homemade soups, paninis, breakfast burritos. Locals know about it. Tourists walk past to the sit-down restaurants. Affordable by Springdale standards.
Where to Drink
Zion Canyon Brew Pub
The first brewery in Southern Utah, established 2008. Ten house-brewed beers on tap. Three-minute walk from the visitor center, directly across from the pedestrian bridge into the park. Canyon views, live music, the place to end a hiking day.
Bit & Spur Saloon
The bar side of Bit & Spur. Pool tables, local beers, the same vibe it's had since the 1970s. The restaurant evolved; the saloon stayed a saloon.
Getting Around
Car needed? Recommended
A free shuttle runs the two-mile length of Springdale and connects to the Zion shuttle at the visitor center. You can stay in town without a car, but you'll need one for day trips to Bryce Canyon, the North Rim, or Grafton ghost town.
Beyond the Park
Springdale has more going on than you'd expect from a town of 600.
Grafton Ghost Town
One of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. Mormon settlers founded it in the 1850s; floods from the Virgin River eventually drove them out. Pioneer cabins, a church, a graveyard. Appeared in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Free to visit.
Art Galleries
More galleries than you'd expect in a town this size. David J. West for local photography. Worthington for painting and metalwork. LaFave for blown glass and sculpture. Sorella for pottery and jewelry. Worth a wander between hikes.
Pro Tips
- The free town shuttle connects to the Zion shuttle. You can get from your hotel to the canyon without driving.
- April through October, the shuttle is the only way into Zion Canyon. Private vehicles aren't allowed.
- Book lodging 3-6 months ahead for spring and fall. Five million people visit Zion annually.
- Springdale is a designated Dark Sky Community. The stars are worth staying up for.