Zion National Park - HW9 Tunnel

[PKI]

We found in our AAA book on Utah that any vehicle wider than about 7'-8" including mirrors must be escorted through the HW9 Zion National Park Tunnel. In looking at the Google street view, cars are waiting and a big MoHo is passing through the tunnel with the Google camera car, The price of $15.00 is quoted as the fee for a wide or tall vehicle to transit the tunnel. Anyone done this? If you choose to go around, what is the best route? HW20, HW143, or HW14?

Appreciate your experiences. Pat

[janetb]

Originally Posted by PKI

We found in our AAA book on Utah that any vehicle wider than about 7'-8" including mirrors must be escorted through the HW9 Zion National Park Tunnel. In looking at the Google street view, cars are waiting and a big MoHo is passing through the tunnel with the Google camera car, The price of $15.00 is quoted as the fee for a wide or tall vehicle to transit the tunnel. Anyone done this? If you choose to go around, what is the best route? HW20, HW143, or HW14?

Appreciate your experiences. Pat

We've done this in both directions in our wide body 25' and no problem at all. We had to pay the fee and wait a bit for the one-way traffic to clear, but it was a total non-issue. They routinely close the tunnel to two-way traffic to allow larger rvs through, and you just get in line. Easy going. And great scenery while waiting.

[spenfolder]

I have done this many times. Paying the fee is a far better deal then driving all the way around, a half day event. Like JanetB said above, you pay $15, you wait for just a bit, then you drive down the middle of the tunnel with no oncoming traffic. It's actually sort of cool.

Stan
Salt Lake City

[GammaDog]

Did it in May. The "escort" is a ranger who takes your $15 ticket (or sells it to you if you don't have it already) and says "the tunnel is operating with one way traffic in your direction now. Drive down the center of the tunnel until you see the stopped traffic waiting for their turn to enter in the opposite direction".

No big deal

[Tn Traveler]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

No big deal

It truly is no big deal. We drove the tunnel coming out of Zion NP. The scenery getting to the tunnel was spectacular. The tunnel was quite an experience. The "windows" cut into the sides were unique. It was a very pleasant drive.

[PKI]

Sounds like tunnel travel may be the ticket. Thanks for all the good words. Pat

[Starlight Mike]

Originally Posted by PKI

We found in our AAA book on Utah that any vehicle wider than about 7'-8" including mirrors must be escorted through the HW9 Zion National Park Tunnel. In looking at the Google street view, cars are waiting and a big MoHo is passing through the tunnel with the Google camera car, The price of $15.00 is quoted as the fee for a wide or tall vehicle to transit the tunnel. Anyone done this? If you choose to go around, what is the best route? HW20, HW143, or HW14?

Appreciate your experiences. Pat

No need to go around, we just did the trip, $15.00, short wait very simple

[eubank]

What? You don't want to drive by and stare at Colorado City and Hillsdale? (It is ok to drive by, but i wouldn't really recommend a leisure drive off the highway and through the towns. Word is that they're not real big on outsiders and prying eyes.)

Lynn

[TSOMMY]

It's a piece of cake. We pulled our 27 ft Eddie Bauer through not a problem. REMEMBER TO TAKE OFF YOUR SUN GLASSES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ENTERING THE TUNNEL and turn on your lights or it's like driving into a black hole

[NY24]

What is the MAXIMUM size an RV can be and still fit through the tunnel? TIA!

[mpbiagi]

I've seen the biggest tour buses on the market go through this tunnel without issue, so certainly any Airstream or even 5th wheel that is made would make it no problem.

[danjoe91]

I have been through that tunnel many times before we had our trailer. I have been wondering, not about the tunnel, but about pulling our 32' trailer around the sharp curves right after the tunnel towards Lake Powell.

[kdickinson]

No big deal - do the tunnel. It's a great drive, saves a ton of time, and the visitor centers sell books about the history of the tunnel which is fascinating.

[PKI]

Thanks all. This sounds like the way to go. With all that road the other way, it seems odd there is not an interesting drive around as well. Guess that thought was just wrong. Don't like outsiders? Who is an outsider? Everyone here is part of the gang. Pat

[eubank]

Hilldale and Colorado City are home to a old-style Mormon community (of Warren Jeffs fame) that permits plural marriage. Sort of on the black list of the folks in Salt Lake. They don't look kindly on people sticking their noses into their lives.

Not Airstreamers, almost for sure. Unless they decide to make one mega-bunkhouse model.

Lynn

Originally Posted by PKI

Thanks all. This sounds like the way to go. With all that road the other way, it seems odd there is not an interesting drive around as well. Guess that thought was just wrong. Don't like outsiders? Who is an outsider? Everyone here is part of the gang. Pat

[cando]

Nobody mentioned that the $15 fee is for a round trip through the tunnel if completed within a certain time (like 10 days or so) don't know if this is still true but it was when we drove our 25' wide body pulled by a Chevy 2500 crew cab through both ways--no problem--about 10 years ago. Check to be sure if you're wondering.

[Len n Jeanne]

The tunnel has really interesting, spectacular scenery through some big "windows" as you go from the East Rim to the canyon floor, or vice versa. Well worth it just for the experience.

Except via its south entrance, Zion NP is surrounded by wide stretches of very rugged country without a lot of pavement on it.

[labalope]

I have been through the tunnel in my Prevost H3-45 13'-4" high no problem, just turn on lights and take off the Hollywood shades!

[PKI]

Thanks for all the info. The tunnel is now on our must see list. Don't need a two way ticket, but that is a helpful addition to the thread. We should be OK. Had a lot of practice looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Everybody travel safe. Pat