Springdale · At the entrance
Cable Mountain Lodge
Suites steps from the park gate.
Official details for Cable Mountain LodgeUtah · Couples · Two nights
Zion National Park & Springdale
Red cliffs and a river canyon.
Zion Canyon’s sandstone walls rise 2,000 feet above the Virgin River, and the little town of Springdale sits right at the park gate. Land at St. George Regional, drive an hour east, stay at Cable Mountain Lodge steps from the entrance, ride the park shuttle up the canyon, wade the Narrows or walk to Emerald Pools, and watch the cliffs glow at sunset.
National parkHikingRed rock
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KSGU
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~1696 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~11 hr 32 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car and park shuttle
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at St. George.
KSGU, St. George Regional, is a non-towered airport at 2,884 feet with a 9,300-foot runway, about an hour from Springdale.
The FBO
Million Air St. George
435-688-8009St. George Regional Airport, St. George, UT
Other FBOs: Sandstone Aviation (435-674-1000) and Above View Jet Center (435-688-2111). Hot summer afternoons and gusty winds. General Dick Stout Field in Hurricane (1L8), closer to the park, has a 3,282-foot runway. No live fuel price is shown.
Utah canyon-country flying: high elevations and density altitude, gusty afternoon winds, summer monsoon storms from July to September, smoke in fire season, and long distances between airports. About 1700 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.
02 / Where to stay
Lodges at the park gate.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Book months ahead for spring and fall.
In the park · Historic lodge
Zion Lodge
The only lodging inside Zion Canyon.
Official details for Zion LodgeIvins · Spa resort
Red Mountain Resort
A red-rock spa resort beside Snow Canyon State Park, about 25 minutes from the airport, with guided hikes and the Sagestone Spa & Salon.
Greater Zion for Red Mountain Resort03 / Where to eat
Canyon-town dining.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Southwestern
Bit & Spur
A Springdale favorite with a garden patio.
Official details for Bit & SpurBreakfast · Café
Oscar’s Cafe
Big breakfasts and burgers.
Official details for Oscar’s CafeLocal guide
More restaurants
Restaurants in Springdale and St. George.
Greater Zion for More restaurants04 / Things to do
Canyon trails.
Angels Landing requires a permit; check river conditions before the Narrows.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
March–May
Spring
Mild temperatures and flowing water.
NPS for SpringSeptember–November
Fall
Cottonwoods turn gold in the canyon.
NPS for FallJune–August
Summer heat
Hike early; storms bring flash floods.
NPS for Summer heatConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Zion weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KSGU early.
- Midday
Drive to Springdale and ride the canyon shuttle.
- Afternoon
Emerald Pools, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at KSGU, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Drive to Springdale and the visitor center.
- Evening
Dinner at Bit & Spur.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
The shuttle to the Narrows, early.
- Afternoon
Emerald Pools.
- Evening
Sunset on the cliffs.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Breakfast at Oscar’s, then back to St. George.
- Before leaving
Compute takeoff performance for the morning temperature and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Desert afternoons are hot and gusty; leave in the morning.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The Narrows.
- Afternoon
The Riverside Walk.
- Evening
Dinner at Bit & Spur.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging, then permits for Angels Landing.
Very long flight
About 1,700 nm: two long days each way.
Flash floods
Check the forecast before canyon hikes.
Best seasons
March to May and September to November.
Reviewed · Destination 234
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.