Driving the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway Is Worth Doing Twice

Most of our park visits are planned around the trails we want to hike. The driving part is just a way to get us to the trailhead. But on the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, the drive is the main event. This stretch of road is part of Utah State Route 9 and is a stunning 25-mile scenic drive through Zion National Park.

One of our favorite things to do in Zion

It’s not just a way to get around. It feels like taking a scenic hike through the park, but in a car. And it’s an experience that changes depending on which direction you travel. We always try to drive it both ways because the views are different and rewarding in each direction.

The highway’s centerpiece is the 1.1-mile tunnel connecting the east and west sides of the park. Dedicated in 1930, this incredible engineering feat cuts directly through the towering Navajo sandstone cliffs. Regardless of which direction you’re driving, the tunnel feels like a portal to a different world. You enter solid rock on one side and emerge into a completely different world on the other.

Eastbound: The Great Ascent

Heading east from the main canyon, the road climbs high above the valley floor. This ascent offers expansive, bird’s-eye views of Zion Canyon that are difficult to find anywhere else in the park.

Once you clear the tunnel on the east side, the landscape transforms. The road winds through swirling slickrock and open terrain dotted with evergreens. The vibrant green against the deep orange sandstone is striking. And if you’re lucky enough to catch it dusted in snow, it’s easily one of the most beautiful scenes in the entire National Park System.

Westbound: The Dramatic Descent

Returning west, the experience flips. Wide-open slickrock gives way to tightening canyon walls, making the transition feel just as dramatic the second time around. This “reveal” is exactly why we never treat this as a one-way trip.

A Must-Stop Viewpoint

Just east of the tunnel is the trailhead for the Canyon Overlook Trail. This short hike offers more elevated views of Zion Canyon for very little effort. While parking near the trailhead is limited, the trail’s short length means hikers are constantly leaving, making way for the next visitors. With a little patience, we’ve always found a place to pull in.

Every trip reminds us that the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway isn’t just filler between destinations. It’s a highlight in its own right.