Zion National Park will impose new restrictions on oversized vehicles traveling the historic Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway beginning June 7. Park officials say the changes are intended to improve safety, protect historic infrastructure, and reduce traffic delays along the 10.7-mile route.
Under the new rules, vehicles exceeding 35 feet 9 inches in length, 7 feet 10 inches in width, 11 feet 4 inches in height, or 50,000 pounds will no longer be allowed to travel the highway between Canyon Junction and the park’s East Entrance. Combined vehicles, such as trucks towing trailers, must not exceed 26 feet from hitch to rear axle and 50 feet overall.
The restrictions are based on safety studies conducted in 1989 and 2019 and validated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. Those studies found that:
• Single vehicles longer than 35 feet 9 inches, or combined vehicles longer than 50 feet, cannot safely maintain their lane on the highway.
• Vehicles wider than 7 feet 10 inches or taller than 11 feet 4 inches cannot pass through the Zion–Mt. Carmel Tunnel within a single lane.
• Vehicles weighing more than 50,000 pounds exceed load limits on four bridges along the route.
Completed in 1930, the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Its tunnels, bridges, and tight switchbacks were built for smaller, lighter vehicles, and park officials say larger modern vehicles increase the risk of damage to infrastructure never designed to accommodate them.
“Many of today’s large touring vehicles and RVs simply couldn’t have been envisioned when the road was built,” Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said. “This decision comes after years of careful study and collaboration with our neighbors, transportation agencies, and the tourism industry.”
Change should improve traffic flow
Park officials also expect the change to improve traffic flow. A 2016 study found that the current pass system for large vehicles using the Zion–Mt. Carmel Tunnel allowed an average of just 19 minutes of free-flowing traffic per hour, with the busiest days dropping to as little as eight minutes. Those delays contribute to congestion and negatively affect the visitor experience.
Large-vehicle access to the park will still be possible through the South Entrance in limited situations, including when space is available in the large-vehicle parking area near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, with a valid pass to visit Zion Lodge, during shuttle off-season travel on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, or for campers staying at Watchman Campground or South Campground once it reopens.
Alternate routes around the park will remain available, providing access to Bryce Canyon National Park, the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, and other destinations on the popular “Grand Circle” tour. Those detours add an estimated 10 to 45 minutes of driving time.
Visitors planning trips to Zion in 2026 are encouraged to measure their vehicles in advance and plan alternate routes if their vehicle exceeds the new limits.
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RVT1243b
7′ – 10″ wide ruling, would that include mirror to mirror width, or would. that be body edge to body edge? Otherwise we just fit in the new restrictions.
Hi, Dennis. On this page regarding the restrictions, it says: “Please note: Measurements include mirrors, tires, and attachments such as AC units, bike racks, satellite dishes, or other after-market modifications.” Shoot. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Due to the tunnel dimensions, traffic was stopped to allow larger rigs to drive in the center of the road to fit. This of course disrupted traffic and created choke points that inconvenienced the many for a few so when conversations arose, the ruling was all but inevitable. There was another park that banned large vehicles. With buses outlawed, they got so choked in cars that parking was impossible, exhaust emissions quadrupled and as a result of the congestion, accidents and road rage actually increased. I hope Zion turns out better.
Zion has shuttle buses most of the year going through the canyon, which is the most visited area, not the tunnel. 11 months of the year, you cannot drive a car through the canyon unless you are staying at the lodge. You have to get there really early to get a parking spot and then stand in line to board a shuttle. Think about it, in 2016, (10 years ago when the park wasn’t near as crowded as it is today) there was only 8 to 19 minutes per hour that traffic was flowing through the tunnel. The rest of the time, traffic was stopped and backed up so trailers and tour buses could be escorted through the tunnel. I’m sure it’s even worse now.
I totally agree Susan. There are no easy answers,
Population decrease.
lol, “Logans Run.”
I hope this includes all vehicles of that size with no exceptions to the tour buses
Wouldn’t a max of 7’10” width ban almost all RVs?