Zodiacal light results from sunlight being scattered by "space dust" in our disk-shaped Solar system. It is best seen two hours after sunset (around Spring) or before sunrise (around Autumn).
Because it is so diffuse, it is easily obscured by Moonlight and light polution. In good conditions, however, it can be as bright near the horizon as the core area of the Milky Way.

In this picture, the zodiacal light is the diffuse left-tilted glow which near the horizon envelops the conjunction of bright Venus and fainter Mars.
Part of the faint Winter Milky Way can be seen on the right, oriented parallel to the zodiacal band at this time of year.