How to get to Best Friends
Lodging - Staying on the Sanctuary
Lodging - Staying in & around Kanab
Dining Options
How to take a tour of Best Friends
Other things you should know about visiting
How to take part in the work at Best Friends
Other attractions in the Kanab area
Visiting Best Friends Forum

By Airplane:
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport, located in Las Vegas, NV, is the closest major airport. Driving from Las Vegas to Kanab takes four hours.

Airport
Delta Connection and United Express operate shuttle flights between St. George, Utah, and Salt Lake City as well as between St. George and Los Angeles. The drive from St. George is about an hour and a half. View SGU Flight Schedule Information.

Kanab Aiport
Kanab has a local airport that is open 24 hours a day. It can handle small private planes. Call (435) 644-2299 for more information

Car rental
Las Vegas and St. George have regular car rental facilities. XPRESS Rent-a-Car of Kanab, LLC (435) 644-3408 and (435) 899-9057 Please call ahead for availability. Thank you!

Public Transportation
There is no public transportation in Kanab.

By Car:
Important: In the interest of safety, and to avoid fines, please observe speed limits. Also, mule deer are plentiful in the area from fall through spring, so take care when driving - particularly from dusk to dawn.

From Las Vegas (see map)
The drive takes approximately 4 hours (Remember that Kanab is on Mountain Time, an hour later than Nevada and California.) Take I-15 north from Las Vegas. Drive approximately 6 miles past St. George, Utah and take exit 16 (Hwy 9) into Hurricane. Go approximately 10 miles and turn right at the Main Street traffic light. Go one block and turn left at the 4-way stop onto Hwy 59. Drive approximately 55 miles into Fredonia, Arizona. Turn left (north) at the stop sign onto Highway 89, and drive 7 miles into Kanab. Then follow directions from Kanab below.  Additionally, see below for an alternative route through Zion National Park.

From Saint George, Utah (see map)
When exiting St. George Municipal Airport, go South on Airport Parkway, then West on Southern Parkway (State Route 2). Enter I-15 heading North (towards Salt Lake City). Approximately 6 miles out of St. George, take Exit 16 (Hwy. 9), towards Hurricane/Zion National Park. Go approximately 10 miles and turn right at the Main Street traffic light. Go one block and turn left at the 4-way stop onto Hwy 59. Drive approximately 55 miles into Fredonia, Arizona. Turn left (north) at the stop sign onto Hwy 89, and drive 7 miles into Kanab. Then follow directions from Kanab below.

Alternative Route from St. George - Zion National Park (see map)
If you have the time, and would like to drive through Zion National Park, the drive can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours longer, depending on (tourist) traffic. Park entrance fees apply. Learn more about Zion National Park

From Salt Lake City (see map)
The drive takes about 6 hours. Take Hwy I-15 south approx. 220 miles. Take Hwy 20 (exit 95) east 20 miles to Hwy 89 and turn right (south) to Kanab. Best Friends is 5 miles north of Kanab off Hwy 89. Just past mile marker 71, watch for the green road sign saying Kanab Canyon and turn left (east) into the sanctuary.

From Phoenix (see map)
The drive takes about 6 hours. Take Hwy I-17 north to Flagstaff, then Hwy 89 north through Page, Arizona, to Kanab. Then follow directions from Kanab below. (Note that Arizona does not observe daylight savings time, so from April to October it is effectively on Pacific Time ? an hour earlier than Kanab.)

From Kanab (see map)
The entrance to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is about five miles north of Kanab on the east (right) side of Hwy 89. Between the 69 and 70 mile markers, a green highway sign indicates Kanab Canyon. Turn into Kanab Canyon and drive about 1.5 miles to the Welcome Center, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week.

Traveling with pets
Click here for helpful information about traveling with pets.

Angel Canyon Guest Cottages
Nestled in the red cliffs of Angel Canyon and near the Best Friends Welcome Center these eight guest cottages also overlook the horse pastures. Each has one bedroom, a sitting room and kitchen. The Cottages are $140 per night double occupancy, with $10 fee per night for each additional person. Best Friends members receive a discount on these rates as follows: High season rates (Mar 1 - Nov 30) are $120 per night. Low season rates (Dec 1 - Feb 29) are $95 per night.  Click HERE to view photos.

Angel Canyon Guest Cabins
A smaller alternative to the Cottages, the Cabins are also conveniently located on sanctuary property. Each has a studio setup with one queen-size bed, kitchenette, and a 3/4 bath (shower stall). The Cabins are $92 per night and cannot accommodate more than two people. Best Friends members receive a discount on these rates as follows: High season rates (Mar 1 - Nov 30) are $75 per night. Low season rates (Dec 1 - Feb 29) are $60 per night.  Click HERE to view photos.

Learn more about the cottages and cabins (amenities, availability, etc.)

Angel Canyon RV Sites
We have two fully-equipped RV sites.  Each site offers a spectacular view and comes complete with 50 amp electricity, water, septic tank, 35' concrete platforms and an unobstructed sight line for SAT TV.  There are no length limitations; however the sites are not pull-through, and you must be able to back your RV into or out of the site. These sites do not have shower or restroom facilities. You cannot drive your RV around the sanctuary, so you will need to bring a separate vehicle for transportation. Overnight RV parking is not allowed anywhere else on the sanctuary grounds.

Nightly rates (excluding tax) are $45 or $315 per week; Best Friends members receive a discount, with nightly rates of $35 or $245 per week.  Each stay is limited to 14 consecutive days and a total of 28 days within a 60-day period.  The RV sites are closed from November 1 through March 15. View photos.

Accommodations in Angel Canyon tend to be booked well in advance, so make a reservation early. For more information about the Cottages or Cabins, or to make a reservation, call 435-644-2001 ext. 4826, or e-mail cottages@bestfriends.org.  Click View our vacation brochure.



There are additional lodging options in the surrounding area, such as hotels/motels, RV Parks and campgrounds. View lodging options.



There are plenty of dining options within a 30-60 minute drive of Kanab. Additionally, Kanab has two grocery stores. View dining options.

Always call first to reserve your tour. Angel Canyon is a big place, and you will not be able to find your way around alone at first. Visitors cannot go to the animal facilities unaccompanied.

We offer four full tours of the sanctuary each day. The tours take approximately an hour and a half and wind through the magnificent red-rock landscape of Angel Canyon, a sacred place to generations of people for thousands of years. You'll stop at one of our Cat buildings and one of our Dog buildings. You'll also drive by the Horse Pastures, the Bunny House and Feathered Friends. Special tours are available for the Bunny House, Feathered Friends, and Pot-Bellied Pigs.

Our members make it possible for the animals to live here "happily ever after" and they love for you to come and visit them. If you're not yet a member of Best Friends, we invite you to become a member.

Guided tours of the sanctuary leave from, and return to, the Welcome Center at specific times each day. Be sure to call before you arrive if you'd like to take one of these tours. Call (435) 644-2001 ext 4537.

If you would like to interact more closely with our Sanctuary animals, please contact us about volunteer opportunities at (435) 644-2001 ext 4119.




Clothes
Shoes, rather than sandals, are recommended for walking in the sand. It's good to wear long pants since you're likely to be greeted by some quite enthusiastic dogs and cats! Most people find glasses better than contact lenses, also because of the sand. Sun block and a hat are essential for protection from the sun at this elevation. Bottled water is a must all year in the dry climate.

Pets
While you are touring or volunteering at the sanctuary, it is important that your pet remain contained in a safe and comfortable place. We do not offer any kind of "day care" for visiting pets. So if you want to bring a pet, please make your own arrangements. (Your car is not an option during the warm season.) The one exception is for people who are visiting the sanctuary for the purpose of adopting a pet. In this case, we strongly encourage you to bring other pets with you to the adoption area (only), in order to introduce your pets before finalizing an adoption. Many of the motels in Kanab will allow pets, as long as they are supervised. Additionally, there is a pet store in town, Critter Corner, that sells premium food and supplies.

Admissions Policy
Due to a variety of factors, including local ordinances for areas you may be passing through on your way to Best Friends and the many people who need assistance with animal situations every week, we cannot accept animals into the Sanctuary without prior notification and approval. For further information, click here.

Climate/Time Zone
Kanab sits at a high-desert elevation of approx. 5,000 ft and is in the Mountain Time Zone.
Jan-March: Typically cold and sunny, often snows or rains. Can also be sunny, warm, and in the mid-60's. Be prepared for all types of weather.
April-June: April can be stormy and windy. Otherwise sunny 50's-70's through May. June is warmer, usually into the 80's.
July-Aug: Our hottest months, often 90-100 degrees. We typically experience summer thunderstorms and rain during this season, although it is usually brief. There is a danger of flash floods in canyons and washes. Hikers need to exercise great caution.
Sept-Oct: Once the summer rains are over, it is typically dry, mild, and sunny. Our best season to be outdoors. Beautiful fall colors.
Nov-Dec: Occasional snow before Thanksgiving, but November can also be mild and beautiful. December is cold, often with rain or snow.



Volunteer help with the animals is much appreciated.   Whether it be  Parrots, Pigs, Rabbits, Horses, Cats, Dogs, or Wild Friends, you can join in every day with the work of preparing meals for the animals, cleaning their living areas, grooming them, taking them for walks, and socializing with them. Socializing with the animals is important, as it gets our animals used to people and makes them more adoptable.  We like to give them as much personal attention as possible, so your help is much appreciated! 

As well as working directly with the animals, other volunteer skills are welcome. If you are adept in a particular area such as maintenance, or landscaping, for example, and you can let us know a few weeks before your visit, we may be able to arrange for you to be involved in a specific project.

Please note that each animal area has a maximum number of volunteers it can accommodate daily.  So please contact our Volunteer Department at volunteers@bestfriends.org or at (435) 644-2001 ext 4119 to make arrangements prior to your visit. As much advance notice that you can give us regarding your volunteering dates and preferences is helpful in fulfilling your requests for specific animal areas.

Young People Volunteering
For the safety of both people and animals, children 5 years and younger are not able to volunteer.  Children between the ages of 6-17 may volunteer at the discretion of the staff if accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.  Young people 18 and over may volunteer by themselves.

Group Visits
Schools, universities, youth groups, there?s something for everyone at Best Friends.  Our group coordinators will customize a visit with your needs and interests in mind.  From service work to socializing, classes to tours, we?ll make your visit special.  For more information please visit The Volunteer Center at http://volunteer.bestfriends.org/volunteering/groups.

Internship Program
This program is open to individuals ages 20 and over that are considering or pursuing a career in an animal related field and to adults looking for a possible change in career. For more information regarding our Internship program please visit The Volunteer Center: http://volunteer.bestfriends.org/programs/internships.

Preceptors and Veterinary Technicians
Externships are available and open to 4th year veterinary student or students enrolled in a certified veterinary technical program who are considering a career in shelter medicine and animal welfare. Please visit The Volunteer Center at http://volunteer.bestfriends.org/programs/preceptors for more information.

Visit the Best Friends Volunteer Center for more information about volunteering with Best Friends.




KanabGuide.com has comprehensive information on lodging and food, area attractions, local information, and a calendar of events.

The Southern Utah News, the local Kanab newspaper, is online at www.sunews.net.

Utah Adventure Online has the good information on local adventures, places to go, things to see.

Local journalist Max Bertola has a web tour of the Southern Utah region.

You're at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks that include the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell. Each of these is 90 minute drive, or less, from Kanab and Angel Canyon. There are numerous web sites on these magnificent national parks. For literature and other information, visit the Kane County Travel Center or call them at (800) 733-5263.

For more details, reservations and other information, e-mail visiting@bestfriends.org or call (435) 644-2001, Ext. 4537. 
For additional information about the area, calendar of events, and Kanab businesses, visit the Kanab Chamber of Commerce.



Have you visited or are you planning to visit Best Friends? Chat with other visitors, arrange carpools, ask questions of seasoned visitors or keep in touch: Visiting Best Friends