01 Oct 2022: Zion to Bryce Scenic Drive

by JamesNational Parks / RVing / Tow Vehicle / Travel / Travel Trailer / Utah / Zion National Park

Ordinarily, our drive from one destination to another doesn’t warrant comment but this one is pretty unique. There are a couple ways to get from Springdale to Bryce Canyon. The shortest is UT-9E through Zion National Park to US-89. But UT-9E is a winding route that has a 1.1mi tunnel with height restrictions. If your RV is taller than 13ft than you have to take one of the alternate routes.
From NPS.Gov: “The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel – Construction of the 1.1 mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920s and was completed in 1930. At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel of its type in the United States. The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) provides direct access for travel between Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks.
Rangers posted at both ends of the tunnel convert two-way tunnel traffic to one-way for larger vehicles, ensuring safe passage. This service, for which a $15 dollar tunnel permit fee is charged, was provided for over 32,832 oversized oversized vehicles in calendar year 2019.
In 2022 large vehicles may only travel through the tunnel daily from:

  • February 27 to March 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
  • March 13 to April 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • April 24 to August 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • August 28 to September 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • September 25 to November 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
  • Starting November 6, winter hours of operations for the tunnel are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

We opted to pay the toll and save ourselves and extra hour of driving using an alternate route. Much of UT-9E through Zion NP is 35mph or slower because of all the 180° curves. There are plenty of turnouts so you can let cars pass if they start to pile-up behind you. There is a second short tunnel on UT-9 inside of Zion NP without any restictions because of better clearance so no toll.
Once out of the park, much of the route is fairly flat and you can tow full-speed. But only a few sections on US-89 have more than two lanes.