There are dozens of accommodation options in and around Zion National Park, including hotels, cabins, tents and RVs. Of course, camping keeps you closest to Zion’s towering red rocks and otherworldly starry nights, but you don’t have to give up creature comforts to commune with nature when you visit Utah’s oldest national park.
Staying at one of Zion’s glamping resorts offers the best of both worlds — and they can be booked using points. I recently visited the area with my family to check out two of the park’s outdoorsiest points-friendly options, Under Canvas Zion and AutoCamp Zion. Here’s what you need to know about each resort before your southern Utah adventure.
Related: The best places to stay near Zion National Park
Under Canvas Zion
Under Canvas Zion opened in 2017 near the national park’s more remote westerly edge in Virgin, Utah, and the Mr & Mrs Smith property joined World of Hyatt in 2024. The 196-acre, DarkSky-certified resort is surrounded only by red-rock desert and endless skies for as far as the eye can see. Because of its outdoorsy nature, the resort closes each year between early November and mid-March.
How far is Under Canvas from Zion?
Under Canvas Zion is about a 30-minute drive from the main entrance to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. Its remote location means its surroundings are just as beautiful as what you’ll find inside the park, but it also means you should bring all the supplies you need for your stay with you, or pick things up when you pass through Springdale on your way to Zion. Note that there is a restaurant on-site, and the hotel does have some supplies available for purchase — more on that below.
Under Canvas nightly rates
Under Canvas Zion is home to 66 safari-style tents, including 15 suites and four two-tent suites. Most World of Hyatt properties operate using a set award chart — defined by Category 1 through 8 — that shows how many points per night rooms will cost. Under Canvas, on the other hand, uses dynamic cash and award pricing that fluctuates based on availability and seasonality.
Pricing starts at around $362 or 28,250 World of Hyatt points per night for a Deluxe Tent that sleeps up to two guests, and $472 or 38,000 points per night for a Suite Tent that sleeps up to four. You can also opt for a Stargazer Tent with a viewing window above the bed for $439 or 35,250 points per night.
Deluxe and Stargazer tents are available with an adjacent kids tent, starting at around $967 or 88,250 points per night.
For larger parties like my family of five, opt for an Angels Landing Suite that sleeps up to six guests across two large tents connected by a furnished deck. Nightly rates start at around $967 or 88,250 World of Hyatt points.
Under Canvas accommodations
Each tent at Under Canvas Zion is outfitted with luxury bedding, a private split-layout bathroom, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a wood-burning stove. I’ve done a lot of camping, but I almost forgot I was in a tent when my head hit those plush pillows and the soft bedding felt like a warm embrace shielding me from the cool nighttime desert air.
Though the evenings were chilly, the daytime temperatures were still in the high 80s. The tents are equipped with misters, which emit moisture into the air, just outside and inside the door to help cool them down.
I was also equal parts surprised and impressed to find the advertised “hot water” in the shower was indeed quite warm. The sink temperature varied based on the outside temperature, but it was safe to drink, making it easy to fill up our bottles without driving down to the resort lobby tent.
To fully help you connect with nature (and untether yourself from your routine), there is no electricity or Wi-Fi in the tents. Our tent had one fan, large lanterns on each side of the bed and a smaller lantern hanging above the bathroom mirror. All were portable, should you venture out after sunset. Each tent has two power banks with USB-A and USB-C outlets that power the fan, lanterns and any of your personal devices.
The tent also had plenty of storage space. Our suitcases slid comfortably underneath the bed, and there was a storage ottoman, luggage rack, coat rack and coffee table for belongings we needed easier access to.
The tents are spread out and secluded, giving each guest uninterrupted desert views and the quiet seclusion you are likely craving when you visit a remote resort such as this.
Under Canvas amenities and activities
The lobby tent is the heart of Under Canvas Zion. Inside, you’ll find the check-in desk, a bar and restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner, a grab-and-go food and drink area, a small gift shop, and an activities concierge desk where you can book local excursions. Outside, there are several tables, lawn games and a little library.
There was also all-day tea, coffee, hot cocoa and water; a guitar; several board and card games you could play at the lobby or take to your tent; walking sticks you could use during your stay; and a cooler with unlimited s’mores supplies. You could even send a postcard to friends or family back home, and Under Canvas would take care of postage.
When we weren’t hiking or sleeping, we spent most of our time at the lobby tent’s outdoor area. The kids played cornhole while we listened to live music and sipped local brews in the evenings, after playing Slapjack or Scrabble while dining alfresco.
We had breakfast and dinner at Embers, the resort’s on-site restaurant. The menu included several hand-held and fork-and-knife options, shareables, and a kids menu. In the morning, Embers also served a full coffee, tea and espresso menu.
Once the sun set, we roasted (too many) s’mores, chatted with other guests around the fire pit and stared up at a night sky filled with more stars than I’ve ever seen in my life. It was so beautiful that I struggled to peel myself away and go to bed at night.
Under Canvas tips
- Under Canvas has a strict “no food in tents” policy, which means no cooking or snacking in your tent. We kept nonperishable snacks in our car, and complimentary ice and coolers were available at the lobby tent if we had items we needed to keep cold.
- Pack layers. It can be chilly in the morning and at night, even when it still feels warm during the daytime.
- There are no TVs in the tents and no Wi-Fi anywhere at the resort. Cell service was spotty, so be prepared to go off-grid during your stay. Your heart rate and stress levels will thank you.
- Under Canvas locations, including Zion, have wheelchair-accessible tents with ramps and roll-in showers.
- The resort is in a remote, secluded area. It’s about a 30-minute round-trip drive into Virgin for provisions, so be sure you’re fully stocked, if you don’t want to rely on the restaurant, before you head up to the resort.
AutoCamp Zion
If you think, “I wish I had an Airstream!” every time you pass one on the highway, your next glamping stay needs to be with AutoCamp. AutoCamp offers a variety of accommodation types, but the most iconic are the Airstream Suites, climate-controlled travel trailers outfitted with a midcentury design and modern amenities.
How far is AutoCamp from Zion?
AutoCamp Zion is in Virgin, Utah, only about a 15-minute drive from Zion National Park. The resort is on the main stretch of road that runs through Virgin and on to Springdale, so it’s a straight shot between AutoCamp and Zion.
AutoCamp nightly rates
AutoCamp Zion’s Airstream Suites sleep up to four guests and start at $165 or 61,000 Hilton Honors points per night. For a Premium Airstream Suite that’s more secluded near the back of the property, the nightly rate starts at $199 or 95,000 points per night.
Related: A glamping getaway you can book with Hilton Honors points: My stay at AutoCamp Yosemite
Larger groups can book a Basecamp Suite that sleeps up to six guests — up to three in the Airstream and up to three in an adjacent tent — starting at $375 or 197,000 points per night.
Cabins, including some that are wheelchair accessible, start at $165 or 61,000 points per night.
AutoCamp accommodations
My family has outgrown anything resembling a standard hotel room, so we stayed in a Basecamp Suite. The kids slept on the queen bed and sofa bed in the AirStream, while my husband and I opted for the queen bed in the large canvas tent.
The Airstream was separated into three sections: the bedroom, the living and dining area, and the bathroom. The bedroom’s large window let in ample light and the gorgeous views. There was also a TV, bedside tables with standard and USB outlets and storage, and two additional storage drawers.
Outside the bedroom was a galley kitchen with a small sink and all the dishes and cooking utensils we needed during our stay. There was also instant coffee and tea, which I made in the provided electric kettle. Opposite the sink, white cabinets hid the microwave and minifridge. There was also a sofa bed, a small table and a portable USB-powered lantern.
The bathroom was modern and functional, with a large sink and a tiled shower with citrus-scented bath products from Ursa Major.
Our Airstream had an adjacent tent with another queen bed and a sofa bed. There was a medium-size refrigerator, a fan and several lamps, but only the Airstream had a TV, bathroom and kitchen area.
Between the Airstream and the tent was an outdoor seating area with a dining table, chairs and a fire pit. We spent a lot of our time out here cooking dinner and stargazing by the fire.
AutoCamp amenities and activities
The resort had a large heated pool surrounded by loungers and umbrellas near the main lobby. There was also a basket filled with balls and pool toys. (We spent so much time playing volleyball in the pool that my forearms were sore by the time we checked out.) The large lawn outside the lobby had a fire pit surrounded by chairs and lawn games like cornhole and ladder ball.
The Virgin River, which forged Zion’s fiery-red canyons, runs along the resort’s back edge and is accessible via a short walking path. We were lucky enough to be right next to the path and visited the river’s sandy shores many times during our stay.
Most of those visits were to search for treasure. The kids were so excited when the staff member who checked us in gave us a treasure map with two spots marked by an “X.” Our treasure hunt took a little time, but we were rewarded with a hidden geode pile and a treasure chest filled with toys.
AutoCamp had other kid-friendly activities, too, including a playground and board games available to borrow in the lobby.
Other AutoCamp activities ranged from outdoor yoga to live music and family game nights.
The lobby also housed grab-and-go snacks and drinks, complimentary granola, milk, coffee, tea and hot cocoa each morning and an all-day restaurant.
Rather than order off the menu, we purchased one of the grill kits ($60). It came with two steaks, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, asparagus and cornbread. Along with it, they gave us a cast-iron pan, grilling utensils and full instructions. We cooked and ate outside of our Airstream with the sounds of the Virgin River babbling along in the background.
Each evening after dinner, we headed for the lobby. One night, a local band was playing inside, so we listened along and played games like chess, tic-tac-toe and Sorry. The next night, a guitarist was playing outside, but the kids chose to sit inside again and play more games.
Between the pool and the activities, I was impressed by how much AutoCamp catered to kids and families.
AutoCamp tips
- AutoCamp is a “car-free zone.” Once you park your car in the parking lot, you can use a wagon or golf cart to transport your belongings back and forth to your Airstream or cabin.
- The location and inclusion of Wi-Fi and televisions mean you are more connected to the outside world. It’s also easy to pop into a store or gas station for anything you forgot to bring with you.
- AutoCamp’s cabins have wheelchair-accessible ramps for guests needing that option.
- The resort does occasionally host weddings and events that may make some of the public areas unavailable to regular guests (though when this happens, it does offer alternative activities like indoor music and games).
Bottom line
You really can’t go wrong with any Zion resort when you consider the view outside your window, but these two are among the best of the best, especially since you can earn and burn points. Both offer upscale accommodations and amenities, fun activities inspired by nature, and top-notch service, and they participate in major hotel loyalty programs.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
