Visitation rates at the country's national parks is highest during the spring and summer, when sunny weather makes for great hiking and sightseeing in the outdoor spaces. Many times national parks are slightly cooler than cities due to the fact that there is little as far as structures which would trap heat and restrict wind flow. While many of the national parks of the southwestern United States will begin to see snow and colder temperatures in the winter, this seasonal change actually does make the trip more enjoyable in many respects. In a place like Zion Canyon national park, this slight drop in temperatures actually thins the crowds down significantly, making the experience feel far more personal. There are many who feel that winter is the exact right time to visit Zion, as the hiking and nature walks are less crowded yet offer the exact same spectacular views. Bringing a jacket is a small price to pay to avoid the crowds. Zion Canyon has become one of the country's most popular tourism spots, probably due to a combination of effective marketing to younger people and the proximity to Las Vegas. One of the major drawbacks that has caused national park's tourism rates to decline is their distance from any city that can support airline traffic. Since most people do not live within driving distance of the park they want to visit, they need to fly into the nearest city and use it as a starting point for their trip. Most major cities that have commercial airports are a minimum of four hours drive from the nearest park, with some being even more than that. Zion is an exception, being located only 2.5 hours driving from Las Vegas. Because of the sheer amounts of people who visit Las Vegas every year
Visitation rates at the country’s national parks is highest during the spring and summer, when sunny weather makes for great hiking and sightseeing in the