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I'm reading about the Shuttle System in Zion. As far as I understand, there are two types of shuttles. The first one gets you from Springdale to Zion Park Fee Collection Office, and the second operates within the Zion Park. Cars are not allowed to enter the park when the shuttle is operating (correct me if I'm wrong * [see an addition below]).

The fees page mentions the $20 per person entrance fee. And it doesn't mention anything about America the Beautiful Pass. If a group of 5 people is travelling in one car (and is normally admitted to national parks without additional fees), are they required to pay $20*5 additionally to enter Zion (since they will not be entering Zion in one car)?

* Even if my understanding is incorrect and the cars are allowed to enter the territory of Zion, the parking near the visitor center is known to be always filled up, in which case, I assume, the only option is to park in Springdale and take the shuttle to Zion Park Fee Collection Office.

user557
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1 Answers1

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Cars are always allowed into the park up at least until the tunnel (people staying at the lodge can go farther to park there), because highway 9 runs through the park. This allows parking at the visitor's center and the museum, as well as some of the campgrounds, I believe. As you say, these spots will fill up very early, depending on time of year. If you attempt to find parking there, you will enter as a single vehicle and your annual pass should permit you free entry.

The Springdale shuttle takes you to near the edge of the park, where there is a pedestrian bridge that takes you to a ticket office. In theory there your pass entitles you to enter with 3 other people, in which case you'd have to pay $20 for the remaining person. In practice I would expect that it's quite likely that the agent there would allow your group in on one pass, but that would be dependent on the particular agent.

(In actual practice, I've accidentally entered the park without showing a pass before by taking the wrong trail in when walking from Springdale, although this is hard to do on accident from the shuttle stop. In addition, I've also walked in when nobody was manning the ticket booth.)

ex-user3761894
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