Preferred side of Zion

Having not been to Zion as yet, was wondering which side, west or east is better for rv campgrounds, etc. Hurricane side or Glendale.  Seems the better parks are on west side.  Coming from Oklahoma, it will be I-40 (yes, bumps and bumps) but then not sure, I guess it depends on which area I'm going to.  Appreciate the info, there are always good responses.

We spent about 4 nights there last year and are returning for 7 nights this year. We stayed in Springdale. There is a hotel/RV park about 1/4 mike from the park entrance with full hookups. City shuttles will take you to the park entrance although sometimes walking is faster. Once in the park use the park shuttle system. But this is for the central or main area of the park....

Going EAST from Zion between there and Mt Carmel Junction there is a narrow mile long tunnel that has a curve about 1/2 way, large vehicles and trailers are PROHIBITED, for Pickups with a small cab over camper the Rangers will stop ALL traffic at both ends and escort the pickups thru one at a time.

coxid said:

Going EAST from Zion between there and Mt Carmel Junction there is a narrow mile long tunnel that has a curve about 1/2 way, large vehicles and trailers are PROHIBITED, for Pickups with a small cab over camper the Rangers will stop ALL traffic at both ends and escort the pickups thru one at a time.

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Not sure what you are talking about here. But if you are talking about the tunnel on UT 9  motorhomes drive through it all the time (including my class C with kayaks on top). They close traffic and allow traffic one way only and you drive in the middle of the road. Go to the NP website they have the cost and restrictions...

John97031 said:

Not sure what you are talking about here. But if you are talking about the tunnel on UT 9  motorhomes drive through it all the time (including my class C with kayaks on top). They close traffic and allow traffic one way only and you drive in the middle of the road. Go to the NP website they have the cost and restrictions...

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From the park website, we weren't allowed through:

Q. What are the size limits for an oversized vehicle?
A. Any vehicle that is 11 feet 4 inches high or higher and 7 feet 10 inches wide or wider needs the one-way traffic control service. Any vehicle 13 feet high or higher cannot pass through the tunnel.
Length restrictions are 40 feet for a single vehicle and 50 feet for any vehicle combination.
This information is also listed on the back page of the Park Newspaper. Visitors must pay for the one-way traffic control service at the entrance stations - not at the tunnel.

We drive through the Zion tunnel every now and then.  We have a 40 foot motorhome that needs 12 feet overhead clearance.  We pay the fee and drive "very carefully" down the middle of the tunnel.  If you're over 13 feet high you won't make it because the ceiling of the tunnel is curved (built a long time ago).  We disconnect the toad because of the sharp switchbacks on the way to/from the tunnel on the park side.  You have to watch the rear tires to make sure you stay on the pavement and don't drop off into the drainage ditch.  That's the reason for the length limitation.  People who have only one driver generally take the route that goes around from Hurricane UT.

ArdraF

jackiemac said:

From the park website, we weren't allowed through:

Q. What are the size limits for an oversized vehicle?
A. Any vehicle that is 11 feet 4 inches high or higher and 7 feet 10 inches wide or wider needs the one-way traffic control service. Any vehicle 13 feet high or higher cannot pass through the tunnel.
Length restrictions are 40 feet for a single vehicle and 50 feet for any vehicle combination.
This information is also listed on the back page of the Park Newspaper. Visitors must pay for the one-way traffic control service at the entrance stations - not at the tunnel.

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You weren't allowed through? What were you driving? Our Class C had a small kayak and a SUP on a roof rack (12'3")  and we still were under the limit. Now if we had our touring kayaks we probably would be too tall...

By the way, the tunel issues have been discussed before...

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=66327.0

John97031 said:

You weren't allowed through? What were you driving? Our Class C had a small kayak and a SUP on a roof rack (12'3")  and we still were under the limit. Now if we had our touring kayaks we probably would be too tall...

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We are just over 50ft combined length. I did say it wouldn't be allowed  :

We stayed in watchman campground in march but made reservations 6 months in advance.  After reading that  Zion is 4th most visited park in states and had 21000 visitors on one day...last week. I would make sure you had a reservation where ever you were wanting to stay. And stay as close as you can to park. Shuttle is nice but everything was busy, and no parking.... awesome place to visit.... tunnel was  $15.00 in march... to close road and let you thru. A rv park on east side but staying close to Springdale better. Enjoy