One Of America's Most Popular National Parks Is Planning To Ban RV's From Its Main Roadway

There are several compelling reasons to visit Zion National Park, from its stunning canyon scenery to the incredible hikes. It's no wonder the park is one of the most popular in the U.S. According to the National Park Service, Zion is one of only a few national parks that have ever had over 5 million annual visitors.

Unfortunately, visits to the Utah destination are about to get a lot harder for those traveling with an RV. Zion National Park published a news release announcing it would no longer allow large recreational vehicles on its famous Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, starting in mid-2026. The highway is the main roadway through the park, accessible via its east entrance.

The nearly century-old Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is a significant landmark in and of itself and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, it was never built to accommodate RVs and other oversized vehicles. Today, roughly 50 vehicles require escorts to get through the highway's tunnel daily, as Park Spokeswoman Amanda Rowland told KSL NewsRadio. The new ban will eliminate these traffic jams, as well as reduce the risk of collisions, prevent dangerous lane crossing, and limit the weight placed on the route's bridges.

If you were hoping to hike the beautiful waterfalls and emerald pools at Zion National Park, pause before canceling your travel plans. RVs are still allowed inside the park, though they must use alternate routes. With that said, give yourself plenty of time if you want to plan a successful RV trip. The National Park Service estimates that eliminating the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway from your journey will add between 10 and 40 minutes to typical travel times.

Note that some smaller camper vehicles may still be granted access to the popular highway. Vehicles less than 11 feet, 4 inches tall, 7 feet, 10 inches wide, 35 feet, 9 inches long, and 50,000 pounds in weight will still be permitted on Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. Be sure to check your vehicle's dimensions before hitting the road.

If you decide to avoid the hassle of driving an RV or camper van around the park, know that there are still ways to stay in the area overnight. First, it's possible to rent an RV and have it delivered to Zion's campsites, though you must choose a reputable business that has the required permits. Otherwise, stick with tent camping. There are three campgrounds in Zion National Park, as well as several more surrounding it. Within the park, two tents are allowed per site, and early reservations are recommended, as the campgrounds are often fully booked.