If you’ve only seen Zion from the shuttle window, you’ve missed one of the best drives in southern Utah. The Zion east side scenic drive along Highway 9 climbs out of the main canyon through slickrock switchbacks, a mile-long tunnel, and some of the most photographed sandstone in the park, all without a shuttle ticket or a parking lottery. It’s a route you drive on your own schedule, in your own car, and it deserves a full morning rather than a rushed pass-through on the way to somewhere else.

Whether you’re heading toward Bryce Canyon, looping back from Kanab, or just want to see a side of Zion most visitors skip, this guide breaks down exactly what to expect on the east side, where to stop, and how to time it right.

What Is the Zion East Side Scenic Drive?

The east side of Zion National Park refers to the stretch of Highway 9, also called the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, that runs between the main canyon near Zion Canyon Village and the park’s east entrance at Mount Carmel Junction. Unlike the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive inside the main canyon, which is shuttle-only during spring, summer, and fall, the east side road is open to private vehicles year-round. That makes it one of the easiest ways to see dramatic Zion scenery without waiting for a shuttle or planning around seasonal restrictions.

The drive itself is short, only about eleven miles from the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel to the east entrance, but the elevation change and geology packed into that stretch make it feel much bigger. You’ll go from the deep red rock of the main canyon to pale, cross-bedded slickrock domes in a matter of minutes.

Driving the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel: What to Know

The centerpiece of the east side scenic drive is the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, carved through solid rock in 1930. It’s just over a mile long, and if you’re driving anything oversized, an RV, a trailer, or a full-size van, you’ll need to check in with a ranger for a traffic control permit before entering. Oversized vehicles are escorted through the center of the tunnel, one direction at a time, since there isn’t room to share the lane safely.

Standard passenger vehicles can drive straight through with no permit needed. Either way, budget extra time in summer, when tunnel traffic control can add a short wait during peak hours.

Best Stops on the Zion East Side Scenic Route

Once you’re through the tunnel and climbing east, the landscape opens up fast. Here’s what’s worth pulling over for:

• Checkerboard Mesa – a massive sandstone dome with a natural grid pattern etched into its surface, formed by wind and water erosion over time. There’s a small pullout right at the base, and it’s an easy five-minute stop.
• East Temple viewpoint – one of the best places to photograph the sweeping slickrock formations without a crowd.
• Canyon Overlook Trail – a short, one-mile round-trip hike from the east side of the tunnel that ends at a viewpoint over the main canyon. No permit required, and it’s one of the better payoff-to-effort hikes in the park.
• The switchbacks – just west of the tunnel, the road drops through a series of tight switchbacks carved into the canyon wall. Pull into one of the marked overlooks rather than stopping on the road itself.

When to Drive the Zion East Side Scenic Drive

Spring and fall are the sweet spot. March through May and September through November bring mild temperatures and softer light on the slickrock, which makes for better photos and a more comfortable Canyon Overlook hike. Summer works too, but the east side has little shade, and the exposed rock holds heat well into the evening, so an early morning or late afternoon drive beats midday. Winter brings the smallest crowds and occasional snow on the switchbacks, which is stunning against the red rock but worth checking road conditions for beforehand.

Because the east side road stays open to private vehicles all year, it’s actually one of the best ways to see Zion in winter, when the main canyon shuttle isn’t running and options can feel limited.

Where to Stay for Easy Access to the East Side

Most people staying in Springdale end up bottlenecked at the park’s south entrance, which means backtracking through canyon traffic just to reach Highway 9’s east side. Basing yourself at Zion’s Tiny Getaway in Apple Valley skips that entirely. We’re 30 minutes from Zion National Park via the Smithsonian Butte Byway, positioned to reach either the south entrance or loop around toward the east side without fighting Springdale congestion.

Each of our 40 boutique tiny homes comes with a private deck, propane fire pit, BBQ, full kitchen, private bath, high-speed WiFi, A/C, and locally roasted Utah coffee, so you can fuel up before an early start on the scenic drive and unwind with a fire once you’re back. Select homes add a private hot tub, rooftop deck for sunset and star viewing, or a skylight for stargazing right from bed, and we’re pet-friendly if the whole crew is coming along. As a tiny home resort near Zion National Park, we’re built for exactly this kind of day, out early, back late, still comfortable.

Pair the Scenic Drive With More East-Side Adventure

The Highway 9 corridor is really just the start of what’s out here. Gooseberry Mesa, one of the best mountain biking destinations in the Southwest, sits a short drive from the property and delivers slickrock riding with views that rival anything inside the park. Wire Mesa Trail offers a quieter hiking alternative with panoramic canyon views and none of the crowds. If you want water instead of rock, Quail Creek State Park and Sand Hollow State Park both make for an easy afternoon, and Zion Canyon Hot Springs in LaVerkin is a great way to soak out a long day of driving and hiking.

This is why our guests treat Zion’s Tiny Getaway as their basecamp rather than just a place to sleep. Between the scenic drive, the mesas, and the water, there’s enough out here to fill several days without ever repeating a trailhead. Book a stay at our tiny home resort near Zion National Park and use it as your launch point for the whole east side, not just the park itself.

Plan Your Zion East Side Scenic Drive

Don’t treat Highway 9’s east side as a drive-through on your way somewhere else. Give it a morning, stop at Checkerboard Mesa, hike the short trail to Canyon Overlook, and let the switchbacks earn the slow drive down. Then come back to a private deck and a fire pit that’s already waiting. Our tiny home resort near Zion National Park puts you 30 minutes from Zion National Park via the Smithsonian Butte Byway, close enough for an early start on the Zion east side scenic drive and far enough from the crowds to actually relax when you’re done. Book direct for the best rate and start planning your east side day.

Frequently Asked Questions