Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

Above, Zion National Park's Checkerboard Mesa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who want to visit Zion National Park in Utah but are unable to secure a campsite in the park, here is a viable alternative.

It is Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort that is located east of the park's east entrance (from Mt. Carmel).

RV Life posted an article about Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort and it looks like a nice place to stay.

They wrote:

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is like a world of its own, spread out across 4,000+ acres bordering the eastern edge of Zion National Park. They offer a wide range of accommodations of all types, as well as countless activities on-site and in the surrounding area.

Where is Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort located?

The resort sits just minutes outside of the east entrance to Zion National Park. If you are driving in from the west, you will take the scenic Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway all the way through the park and through the Zion Mount Carmel tunnel (a mile-long tunnel built right into the sandstone cliffs) to reach the turnoff for the resort.

RVers will need to keep in mind there are size restrictions for the tunnel (40 feet max length – or 50 feet for those pulling trailers) and large vehicles are required to pay a $15 oversized vehicle fee. During the summer, the tunnel is closed to oversized vehicles, so those with big rigs may need to travel around the park from Hurricane to Kanab, UT, and then north towards the eastern entrance.

Those coming in from the east will find the resort just minutes from the park’s eastern entrance, about 5 miles off Utah State Route 9. Their unique location puts them within a day’s drive of not only Zion National Park, but also Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas.

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort offer's a Checkerboard Mesa overlook tour as well as Jeep tours. Also, for those with large RVs and who don't tow a dinghy vehicle, they offer shuttle services into the park.

They responded to my query about shuttle service:

We do offer shuttle services! Our shuttle drops off along the Scenic drive of the park instead of the visitors center.

To tour Zion National Park, visitors can take the park shuttle to all points of interest.

To read more, go here.