Zion National Park is a beautiful national park and one that receives a lot of visitors, including visitors traveling in RVs.
This article focuses on RV travel through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel is 1.1 miles long and was completed in 1930, providing visitors with direct access to the National Park.
As vehicles started getting bigger, including tour buses, motor homes, and trailers, there were more and more accidents and near-misses in the tunnel due to a significant increase in the volume of traffic and in the size of vehicles passing through the tunnel. It was found that large vehicles could not navigate the turns without crossing into the middle of the lane.
Currently:
To avoid more issues, a change was made in 1989 for large vehicles accessing the tunnel. A mandatory Ranger escort was required with a fee charged allowing for 2 passes through the tunnel. Large vehicles (over 11'4" tall or 7'10" wide) needed to wait until the Ranger could safely escort them through the tunnel. Especially during the busy summer season, the wait could be as long as 40 minutes. Additionally, you could only pass through the tunnel during specific hours. If you arrive before or after the posted hours, you will be not be allowed through the tunnel and must take either I-15 N or drive through Hurricane and connect to Hwy 59, which becomes Hwy 389 to Hwy 89 in Kanab.
Because the tunnel is a narrow, high-traffic passage, RV-ers can face delays of up to 40 minutes while waiting to be escorted through.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 7, 2026 – CHANGES TO THE TUNNEL REQUIREMENTS
Zion National Park will strictly enforce new size and weight restrictions on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway to improve safety and reduce traffic.
Helpful Hints:
- Arriving to Zion National Park on Hwy 9 West, you will go through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel
- Departing Zion National Park on Hwy 9 East, you will go through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.
- Do not drive a large, oversize vehicle through the tunnel when rangers are not present to manage traffic.
- Standard sized passenger vehicles can go through the tunnel whether rangers are present or not, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Key Restrictions
Most RVs are over 9 feet wide including mirrors so be aware of the new restriction which will prohibit you from
going through the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel Maximum Dimensions: 11'4" tall, 7'10" wide, 35'9" long (single vehicle), 50' long (combined). Weight Limit: Vehicles over 50,000 lbs are prohibited. Trailers: Cannot exceed 26 feet in length from hitch to rear axle.
Impact:
Vehicles exceeding these limits must take alternative routes (e.g., Hwy-89 or I-15) instead of passing between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance.
These changes address long-standing safety concerns for the 1930s-era tunnel and reduce severe traffic congestion. Yes it does take longer to go around, however, when you consider the wait time to pass through the tunnel, it amounts to almost the same driving time.
Why RV Adventure-USA
We combine structured planning with realistic expectations about park access and reservations, ensuring your Zion National Park RV journey is smooth and practical.
When planning your next RV trip, have the professionals help make it a perfect trip! Check us out at rvadventure-usa.com!