Electric Vehicle Charging in and around Utah’s National Parks

When you think about Utah, your mind might immediately go to the opposite of clean energy, but it’s surprisingly easy to to plan an eco-friendly road trip to all five of Utah’s national parks and lower your carbon footprint by driving an electric vehicle. Many hotels, RV parks, campgrounds and restaurants only allow EV charging for patrons. Be sure to call ahead if you don’t have a reservation to make sure you can charge. From the red rocks of Arches and Canyonlands to the orchards of Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos and Zion’s epic views, take in the best of Utah’s natural wonders with our guide on where to charge in and around each park.

EV Charging Near Arches and Canyonlands

You won’t find any chargers amongst the stunning red rock formations of Arches National Park or the awe-inspiring canyons of Canyonlands National Park. However, the parks’ gateway town of Moab just five miles from the Arches entrance station offers several places to charge.

If you’re driving a Tesla, head to 16 S. Main St. for a supercharge. If not, there are several locations with J-1772 chargers available. The Jeep Solar Station (300 S. Main St.), Moab City Recreation (217 E. Center St.) and Moab Chevrolet (481 S. Main St.) all will give you a Level 2 charge. While you wait, peruse the shops along Main St., or grab a meal at one of Moab’s many restaurants.

Moab makes a great basecamp for exploring Arches and Canyonlands national parks, Dead Horse State Park and all the surrounding red rock country. Many Moab hotels offer electric vehicle chargers. Stay at Archway Inn (1551 US-191), Moab Springs Ranch (1266 N Hwy. 191), Adventure Inn (512 N. Main St.), Homewood Suites (132 N. Main St.) or Gonzo Inn (182 N. Main St.) for J-1772 Level 2 charging. Sorrel River Ranch (Mile 17, Hwy. 128) has a Tesla charger.

Electric Vehicle Charging Near Capitol Reef

While Arches and Zion get a lot of the publicity, Capitol Reef National Park shouldn’t be missed on a Utah road trip. The stunning rock formations and pioneer history make it a perfect place to explore. While there aren’t any charging stations in the park, nearby Torrey has several places to charge before hitting the road.

Broken Spur Inn & Steakhouse (955 UT-24) has two 16kw Tesla Destination chargers. It’s also a great spot for dinner while you wait. Rim Rock Patio (2468-2512 UT-24) has NEMA 14-50 outlets and often has live music.

The rest of Torrey’s charging opportunities are all at campgrounds, so make your reservations in advance at Wonderland RV Park (44 S. SR 12), Sand Creek RV Park (540 UT-24) or Thousand Lakes RV Park (1110 UT-24) for NEMA 14-50 outlets at campsites.

Bryce Canyon Charging Stations

On Utah’s western side you won’t want to miss the pink, orange and white hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. The surrounding towns offer several places to get a charge, and the short road through the park makes it easy to explore without draining your battery.

Just outside the park’s entrance in Bryce Canyon City, you’ll find two locations to charge at the Ruby’s Inn complex. The Best Western Plus (26 S. Main St.) has four 8kw Tesla Destination chargers and Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground has campsites with NEMA 14-50 outlets.

You don’t even have to drive your car into the park from here. Hop on the Bryce Canyon shuttle just across the street and explore all the main overlooks and hiking trails while your car charges.

In nearby Tropic, stop by the Bryce Canyon Inn & Bryce Canyon Coffee Company (21 N. Main St.) for 16kw Tesla Destination chargers. Panguitch, to the north, has NEMA 14-50 outlets at campsites at the Hitch-N-Post Campground (420 N. Main St.) and the Panguitch KOA (555 S. Main St.)

Zion EV Charging

Zion National Park is Utah’s most visited national park, but that also means there are plenty of nearby opportunities to charge your electric vehicle.

Zion has two charging options inside the park. You’ll find J-1772 Level 2 chargers at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and the Zion National Park Lodge. From the visitor center, you can take the park shuttle to explore destinations along the Scenic Drive that isn’t open to passenger vehicles, such as Emerald Pools and the trailhead for the Narrows. Zion National Park Lodge is located along the Scenic Drive and you can easily access shuttle stops and Emerald Pools from the hotel.

Many of the hotels outside the park in Springdale have J-1772 and Tesla Destination chargers.

On the east side of the park, your best opportunity for charging is in Kanab, just over 30 minutes from the park’s east entrance. The Kanab City Administration building (28 N. 100 E.) has 125kw CHAdeMO and CCS/SAE chargers and J-1772 Level 2 chargers. Several hotels and RV parks in town also offer charging. While you wait, stroll the shops and galleries of downtown Kanab.

Ready to plan the rest of your road trip? Check out our ultimate Utah National Parks Plus Grand Canyon Road Trip and learn where to grab a charge at Grand Canyon National Park.