- Best time to visit Zion: March, April, October and November. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: June, with about 577,507 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.4 times as many as January.
- Quietest month: January (130,368 visits).
- Heat: average highs reach 100°F in July; June to August are dangerous for long hikes in the middle of the day.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Visits (typical) | High / low (°F) | Precipitation | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 130,368 | 54° / 30° | 2.0 in | 1 in |
| February | Quiet | 153,328 | 58° / 34° | 2.1 in | 1 in |
| March ★ | Busy | 421,425 | 66° / 39° | 2.0 in | 1 in |
| April ★ | Busiest | 482,597 | 73° / 44° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| May | Busiest | 564,225 | 84° / 52° | 0.8 in | 0 in |
| June | Busiest | 577,507 | 95° / 62° | 0.2 in | 0 in |
| July | Busiest | 547,544 | 100° / 70° | 1.1 in | 0 in |
| August | Busiest | 464,722 | 98° / 69° | 1.6 in | 0 in |
| September | Busiest | 483,645 | 91° / 61° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| October ★ | Busiest | 504,353 | 78° / 49° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| November ★ | Moderate | 300,741 | 64° / 37° | 1.2 in | 0 in |
| December | Quiet | 223,923 | 52° / 29° | 1.6 in | 2 in |
Weather figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Zion NP station (4,038 feet above sea level), 1 miles from Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Higher parts of the park are colder and snowier. Visitor numbers are the median of 2022 to 2025 monthly recreation visits from the National Park Service.
By season
- Spring (March to May): 30% of the year’s visits; average highs 66° to 84°F.
- Summer (June to August): 33% of the year’s visits; average highs 95° to 100°F.
- Fall (September to November): 27% of the year’s visits; average highs 64° to 91°F.
- Winter (December to February): 10% of the year’s visits; average highs 52° to 58°F.
Weekends and holidays
Even in a quiet month, holiday weekends fill parking lots and campgrounds. The 2027 federal holidays to plan around:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
- Presidents Day: Monday, February 15
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
- Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19
- Independence Day: Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
- Labor Day: Monday, September 6
- Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 11
- Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the park service’s fee-free days. The last one in 2026 is Veterans Day, November 11; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Free days are often busier. See the crowd calendar for all 64 parks.
Weather, in the park service’s words
Zion is known for a wide range of weather conditions. Temperatures vary with changes in elevation and day/night temperatures may differ by over 30°F (16°C). In summer, temperatures in Zion National Park often exceed 100°F (38°C). Zion experiences monsoons from mid-July into September that result in an increased risk of flash floods. Always be aware of the threat of storms and lightning and be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Winters are generally mild.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Today at Zion
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
Sources
- National Park Service visitor use statistics (IRMA): monthly recreation visits, 2022 to 2025
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (monthly)
- National Park Service Data API: weather overview (public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.