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A stunning slot canyon interior known as 'The Subway' in Zion National Park, featuring smooth water-carved sandstone walls glowing with warm amber and rust tones, framing a serene turquoise pool below. The ethereal lighting filters through the…

Utah · Zion National Park · Gateway

Kanab

Three-park east-entrance basecamp

The Subway · near Zion National Park

Kanab, Utah

At a glance — Kanab

Kanab is a drive-in basecamp 25.4 miles from the entrance of Zion. Services on hand: lodging, dining, and gas stations. Population around 4,946. No town shuttle into the park — plan to drive in and park at the entrance lots. Approach restriction: Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel — vehicles over 11'4" tall or 7'10" wide require a one-way escort and an oversize-vehicle permit (verify the current fee and escort schedule at nps.gov/zion before your trip)

Distance to entrance
25.4 mi drive

Plan to drive in via the east entrance.

Town → park shuttle
No — drive in

Drive in and park at the entrance lots; no town shuttle ties into the park system.

Population
≈4,946
Property mix
Small inn / motel mix

Independent inns and motels; book early in peak season.

Map

Explore Kanab

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Accessibility

Accessibility — Kanab

Drive-in required and the entrance corridor passes a size-restricted tunnel — oversize vehicles need a one-way escort permit. Plan for private vehicle access; confirm lodging room ADA features with the operator before booking.

Lodging

Where to stay near Kanab

Sorted by tier (top picks first), then by drive time to the entrance. Confirm room features and current rates with the operator before booking.

  • Kanab (east-side basecamp)

    Solid option

    Hotel / inn

    Kanab (east-side basecamp)

    Kanab, UT (east entrance route)

    Price $$–$$$ Proximity 40 mi from gate

    Season Open year-round; spring and fall fill on weekends because Kanab also serves Bryce and the Grand Canyon North Rim.

    On the Mt. Carmel side of the park, 40 minutes from the east entrance. Skip the south-entrance queue if you're routing in from Bryce or Page — but bring a vehicle under 11'4" tall (and under 7'10" wide) to clear the Zion–Mt. Carmel tunnel, or expect a one-way escort and the oversize-vehicle permit.

    Best for

    • Day hikers The east entrance puts you in the canyon without passing through Springdale — useful if you're coming from Bryce or Page and the south-entrance lot is already filling. Canyon Overlook Trail and the long east-side mesa hikes start minutes from Kanab. Budget an extra 15 minutes if you're heading for Angels Landing or the Narrows (those trailheads sit at the south end of the canyon).
    • Budget road-trippers Kanab's hotel market is priced below Springdale's and carries more chain-motel inventory — you can usually find a room under $100 mid-week, even in shoulder season, when the same Springdale options are two to three times that. The 40-minute east-entrance drive is the trade.
    • East-entrance access
    • Equidistant from Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon
    • Skips the south-entrance queue
    Find on Booking.com See all Kanab lodging

    Area search — individual property links below. Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776).

  • Hampton Inn Kanab

    Value pick

    Hotel / inn

    Hampton Inn Kanab

    36 N 300 W, Kanab, UT

    Price $$ Proximity 40 mi from gate Rated 8.9/10

    Season Year-round; weekends fill in spring and fall when Kanab serves Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon North Rim simultaneously.

    The strongest accessibility package in Kanab — Braille and tactile signage, auditory guidance, and wheelchair-accessible rooms beyond the standard ADA minimum. Indoor pool, hot tub, and the reliable Hampton breakfast to fuel an early drive to the east entrance.

    Best for

    • Accessibility-priority Purpose-built accessibility features that go past the chain minimum: Braille and tactile signage, auditory guidance systems, wheelchair-accessible rooms with roll-in showers. If accessibility is the deciding factor and you are routing through the east entrance, this is the pick.
    • Day hikers Forty minutes to the east entrance — skip the south-entrance queue if you are routing from Bryce or Page. The included breakfast means you are fueled and driving by 7 a.m. without a restaurant stop.
    • Families Indoor pool and hot tub for rest days, the included breakfast cuts a daily expense line, and the east-entrance route avoids the south-gate parking crunch that makes families late for everything.
    • Braille, tactile signage, auditory guidance
    • Indoor pool, hot tub
    • Wheelchair accessible throughout
    • Hampton breakfast included
    Find on Booking.com See all Kanab lodging

    Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices shown are indicative and may vary by date.

  • Value pick

    Hotel / inn

    Comfort Suites Kanab

    150 W Center St, Kanab, UT

    Price $$ Proximity 40 mi from gate Rated 8.9/10

    Season Year-round; fills on spring and fall weekends. Mid-week availability usually strong.

    A well-rounded mid-range option in Kanab — pool, hot tub, tennis court, pet friendly, and wheelchair accessible. Suites give families and road-trippers room to spread out. The downtown location puts restaurants within walking distance.

    Best for

    • Families Suite rooms give a family actual space — not a cot wedged against the wall. Pool, hot tub, and a tennis court for rest-day variety. Pet friendly if the dog came along. Walkable to Kanab's restaurants for easy dinners.
    • Accessibility-priority Wheelchair-accessible rooms and common areas. The downtown location means restaurants and the grocery are walkable rather than another drive after a park day.
    • Pool, hot tub, tennis court
    • Pet friendly, wheelchair accessible
    • Suite rooms — extra space
    • Walkable downtown Kanab
    Find on Booking.com See all Kanab lodging

    Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices shown are indicative and may vary by date.

  • La Quinta by Wyndham Kanab

    Value pick

    Hotel / inn

    La Quinta by Wyndham Kanab

    815 E US-89, Kanab, UT

    Price $$ Proximity 40 mi from gate Rated 8.8/10

    Season Year-round; good mid-week availability. Pet-friendly policy draws road-trippers with dogs.

    The budget-friendliest chain option in Kanab with pool, hot tub, EV charging, and a pet-friendly policy that does not charge a punitive cleaning fee. A practical pick for the multi-park road trip routing through Zion's east entrance, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon North Rim.

    Best for

    • Budget road-trippers The lowest chain rate in Kanab with EV charging and a pool. Pet friendly without the steep surcharge. The multi-park routing math works here: Zion east entrance, Bryce, and Grand Canyon North Rim are all within 90 minutes.
    • Backpackers Budget-friendly with EV charging if you are driving an electric vehicle on the loop. Pet friendly for road-trippers with a dog. The pool and hot tub are there when you get back from a long day at the Wave or Buckskin Gulch.
    • Pool, hot tub, EV charging
    • Pet friendly — no punitive fee
    • Budget-friendly for Kanab
    • Multi-park road-trip base
    Find on Booking.com See all Kanab lodging

    Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices shown are indicative and may vary by date.

See all Kanab lodging →

Things to do

Things to do near Kanab

  • East Zion 2.5-Hour Slot Canyon Canyoneering UTV Tour

    A UTV ride through the East Zion backcountry into a slot canyon — part off-road adventure, part canyoneering. Two and a half hours. The UTV gets you past the trailhead crowds and into terrain you can't reach on foot from the main canyon.

    Book →

  • Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon Guided Hike (Small Group)

    A short, guided slot-canyon hike through Peek-a-Boo — the Instagram-famous orange walls, no ropes required. Two to three hours, small group. The most accessible slot canyon experience in the Kanab corridor; works for families with older kids and anyone who wants the slot-canyon photos without the rappelling commitment.

    Book →

  • East Zion: Coral Sands Half-Day Canyoneering Tour

    A half-day slot-canyon canyoneering trip on the east side of Zion — rappels, scrambles, and narrows without the permit lottery or the crowds at the main canyon. Runs from the Orderville side, making it a natural add-on for Kanab-based trips or east-entrance itineraries.

    Book →

  • Sunset Sandboarding & Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon UTV Adventure (Private)

    A private UTV ride to the Coral Pink sand dunes for sunset sandboarding, plus a Peek-a-Boo slot canyon run. Two hours, private group. A different angle on the Kanab corridor — dunes, not just canyons — and the sunset timing makes it a natural second-half-of-the-day add-on after a morning in Zion.

    Book →
See all Zion experiences →

Camping

Camping near Kanab

Kanab has no campgrounds in town — the nearest sites are inside the park.

See all Zion camping →

Quieter alternatives

Quieter alternatives near Kanab

We're still mapping quieter alternatives near Kanab. We'll add suggestions as we field-test them.

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