The Ultimate Guide to your South Campground Amphitheater Wedding
Note: As of May 2026, construction is complete and the Amphitheater is accessible again, but the Zion Wedding Permit still lists the location as closed to weddings. It's likely there is just a delay in updating this document and the Amphitheater is available to reserve
The Ultimate South Campground Amphitheater Guide
Like many other pieces of infrastructure in Zion National Park, the South Campground Amphitheater boasts a proud history dating back to the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC constructed the amphitheater using red sandstone stonework between 1934 - 1935. The Park often uses the amphitheater for ranger-led education programs and it's also one of the pre-approved wedding ceremony locations!
South Campground Amphitheater Weddings
The South Campground Amphitheater boasts the large group capacity of all the approved locations, features built in seating, and is one of the easiest to access locations. These factors make it an ideal location for many couples who want to get married in the National Park, especially those with larger guest counts! Like all the other locations, you'll need to apply for a permit to have your wedding here.
Permit Details
Maximum Number of People: 100 People. This number includes your vendors and yourselves, so make sure you take count of everyone who will be present!
Shuttle required?: No. Limited parking on site, parking not guaranteed with permit
Are chairs permitted?: No. Amphitheater features rows of built in seating.
Permit Application Fee: $100
Permit Application Date: At least 3 weeks prior to the requested date
Permit Application Open Date: 1 year in advance
Get all the details for the permit from Zion National Park HERE
Regulations
As a part of the permit, all weddings in Zion much abide by the regulations. Here are a couple of examples of regulations you'll find on the permit:
Non-exclusive: Permits do not provide exclusive access to the permitted location. The general public may not be barred from watching the ceremony.
All decorations and props must be expressly approved in advance during the permit process
You cannot put signs or banners up anywhere in the Park, this includes signs showing guests where to go.
Amplified sound is not allowed in the Park, this includes speakers of any size for music or public addresses. Make sure you have an officiant with a loud voice! If you'd like to have music, you'll need an acoustic artist for that.
No electricity is available for use and generators are not allowed.
Make sure you read all of the rules and regulations included in the permit thoroughly, following these are your responsibility.
About the South Campground Amphitheater
The South Campground Amphitheater primarily serves the Park as a place for ranger led education programs like the Junior Rangers. From the Amphitheater, you can see the Towers of the Virgin and the Watchman. It's located between the South Campground and the Pa'rus Trail, meaning there is often light traffic of people walking between the two.
Where is the South Campground Amphitheater located?
The Amphitheater is accessible from SR-9, the main road that goes through the Park. It's dedicated parking lot is located between the Nature Center and the main entrance to the South Campground. It's also accessible from the Visitor's Center via the Pa'rus Trail, which is an approximately .6 mile walk along a paved trail. Alternatively, you can also use the Pa'rus Trail from the Human History Museum, which is an approximately .4 mile walk. The shuttles do not stop at the South Campground or Amphitheater, so you either need to park in the lot or walk from the Visitor's Center or Human History Museum.
What amenities are at the South Campground Amphitheater?
The South Campground has public bathrooms that are accessible to visitor's using the Amphitheater as well. Prior to the renovation project, the bathroom was approximately 500ft from the Amphitheater. We are not sure if the bathroom was moved during the renovation. The Amphitheater is largely wheelchair accessible.
Planning your wedding at the South Campground Amphitheater
The South Campground Amphitheater offers a lot of advantages to couples wanting to get married in Zion National Park. We've compiled some general recommendations for planning a wedding here. All of our couples get tailored recommendations from your friendly, local Zion wedding expert. So if you need help planning, reach out and let's get started!
The best times of day for wedding ceremonies at the South Campground Amphitheater
From a lighting perspective, the best time of day for a wedding at the Amphitheater is in the late afternoon until sunset. In the morning, the sun hits the east wall of the canyon seen in the background of the amphitheater. If you and your guests are still in the shade, that sunlight will make the background very bright in comparison. The evening light will provide backlighting that will be bright for your guests but it will be easier to balance with the background. Typically, we will choose your ceremony time based on other factors like timing with other events in your day.
Getting to the South Campground Amphitheater for your Wedding
As noted above, the South Campground Amphitheater has a dedicated parking lot. That lot tends to fill up quickly in the mornings and stay full until the early - mid afternoon. Depending on your guest count, you may not want to rely on this as an option for everyone. Guests who are able to walk can park at the Visitor's Center or the Human History Museum and use the Pa'rus Trail to get to the Amphitheater. For larger weddings, you may want to consider hiring a shuttle service to drop of and pickup your guests. A wedding permit does not provide a guarantee for parking, so it's always best practices to carpool. The fewer vehicles you bring, the higher chances you have of finding parking for everyone.
Recommendations for your South Campground Amphitheater Wedding
Consider an arch or floral backdrops. Many couples don't prefer the white screen backdrop and it cannot be removed.
Small ceremonies (10 or fewer) can fit on the small lawn next to the Amphitheater with the Watchman in the background. These ceremonies need to be standing only, chairs are not allowed on this lawn.
Make sure you and your guests are prepared for variable temperatures: The off-season can see wildly different temperatures throughout the day. If you choose a morning ceremony, the air will be quite cool until the sun comes up over the west wall. If you choose an afternoon ceremony, the sun can be quite warm.
Look up sunrise, sunset, and high noon times for your wedding day: Knowing these times as you start planning will help when you start applying for your permit and planning the other activities for the day.
Apply for your permit as early as you can: While off-season weddings are far less popular, you still should apply for your permit as soon as you have the pertinent info to ensure you get the day and time slot you want!
Hire a local to help with planning the logistics: find someone who has experience with weddings in the Park, like us!
Is the South Campground Amphitheater the right location for your Zion wedding?
The South Campground Amphitheater may be the right option for your wedding if any of the following are true:
You have a larger guest count and you want to get married inside the Park
You love the photos you've seen at the South Campground Amphitheater
You have a special connection to the South Campground
You want a location with nearby parking
Alternatively, the South Campground Amphitheater may not be the best fit for you if any of the following are true:
You don't like the backdrop at the Amphitheater
You want a place with guaranteed parking
You have a group larger than 100 people (you'll need to explore options outside of the Park if this is the case)
You want to hold your ceremony and reception at the same place
Consider checking out some of the other locations available in and around Zion!
If you're looking for local expert advice on how to get married or elope in Zion, look no further! We'd love to help you plan it and capture it all for you! Reach out and we'll get you taken care of!
