Zion National Park is 160 miles from Las Vegas, a two-and-a-half hour drive. It can be done in a day trip, but it’s best to spend a night somewhere in order to have at least a full day in the park.
Mesquite is a good place for that, being roughly 80 miles to Zion. (Scenic St. George is also convenient, at 40 miles). It’s situated in the Virgin Valley near the Virgin River and hemmed in by the Virgin Mountains and is a fine border town near the Arizona and Utah state lines.
It has nine places to stay, but the three that see the most action are the Virgin River, CasaBlanca, and Eureka resort-hotel-casinos.
From the bottom up, the Virgin River is pretty bare bones, like a Motel 6 from the ’80s or ’90s: bed, dresser, table and two chairs, and small TV. It’s the least expensive of the major lodgings at around $27 weekdays and $50 weekends. You get what you pay for.
The CasaBlanca is a step up, through it’s seen better days and could be due for an overhaul. In our experience, the rooms are small and somewhat outdated, and the last time we were there, they didn’t have coffee makers. The property is also noticeably smoky. The spa, though, is still great, with couples massage, mud baths, and outdoor showers looking out on the mountains. Rates start around $38 weekdays, $76 weekends.
Our recommendation would be the Eureka. The hotel is separate from the casino, which holds down the smoke factor. The 210 rooms are large and immaculate; some have oversized bathtubs. The $30 early-bird special (with players card, $36 without; 4-5 p.m.) at Gregory’s, the steakhouse is consistently excellent, with a choice of 10 entrées. Rates are slightly more expensive, starting around $70, but worth it.
As for when to go, Zion is in the high desert, so it’s hot in the summer, commonly 100 degrees or more. Winter can be cold, though the sun is normally shining and warms things up at midday. Winter is least crowded and you can drive your own vehicle through the park; shuttle buses provide all the transportation April 1 through October 31.
The best weather is in spring and fall, April-May and September-October, usually warm and sunny with a temperature range of 60 to 85 or so. Fall colors (aspens) are usually at their peak in late October. And the crowds are thinner in the months on either side of the peak summer-vacation season June-August.
Have a great trip!
