10 Best Spots for Boondocking Near Bryce Canyon

If you’re up for an adventure, boondocking near Bryce Canyon National Park is the perfect way to experience this breathtaking location in southern Utah. Use this Bryce Canyon travel guide to plan your trip: camping information, boondocking sites near the park, and what to pack!

Boondocking, also known as dry camping, involves camping in remote areas without any amenities such as water or electricity hookups. This means you’ll need to be self-sufficient and prepared for living off-the-grid. But trust us, the rewards are well worth it.

There are several boondocking spots near Bryce Canyon, with some located just a few miles from the park entrance. These sites offer incredible views of the canyon and its surrounding landscapes, making them ideal for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.

But before you hit the road, make sure to plan ahead and research your chosen boondocking spot. Some areas may have specific rules and regulations, so it’s important to respect the environment and follow any guidelines set by local authorities.

Once you’ve located the perfect boondocking spot, check out our done-for-you Bryce Canyon itineraries to help you plan the things you’ll do on your vacation. Click the graphic below to get your free Bryce Canyon travel bundle!

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Best Boondocking Near Bryce Canyon

Our friend Candice from CS Ginger Travel shares tips and recommends gear so you can fully enjoy your boondocking experience!

When heading out, make sure your deep-cycle RV battery is well charged or you have a good solar setup to keep your batteries charged.

Bryce Canyon is one of our favorite national parks. It is great for the kids with many fun Bryce Canyon hikes and the area is perfect for boondocking.

Boondocking is great for those wanting to save money on camping fees and want a little more space. We love the views and all the fun Bryce Canyon activities available for the family!

1. Great Western Trail Dispersed Camping

GPS coordinates: 37.655953, -112.166003

The Great Western Trail is a great option for dispersed camping near Bryce Canyon. The road is easily accessible from Highway 63 and there are plenty of turnouts and pull-offs to choose from. You will notice that you have to drive a little way down the trail before you are allowed to boondock.

The pull off to the trail is at the Bryce Canyon sign and the road is also known as Forest Road 090. When the road splits you want to go south. Going north puts you on Forest Road 1175 taking you closer to Bryce Canyon and you cannot boondock there. Two-wheel drive is sufficient in the majority of this area.

2. Johns Valley Road

GPS Coordinates: 37.730175, -112.094403

Johns Valley Road is a paved and easily accessible road off Scenic Byway 12. The road does not enter into the Dixie National Forest for about four miles after you turn onto Johns Valley Road. Once you enter the Dixie National Forest you can boondock.

We would recommend checking out some of the Forest Roads like FR 419 and FR 1480.

It is not recommended to travel these roads when it is wet. They can be muddy. If it’s not wet, you can travel them with 2-wheel drive, but they are not the smoothest of roads.

3. Tom’s Best Spring Road

GPS Coordinates: 37.719782, -112.255302

Tom’s Best Spring Road is also known at FR 117. This is a great place to go boondocking near Bryce Canyon National Park. This area has about 11 miles of boondocking available and is listed on Google as the Dixie National Forest Dispersed Camping Area.

The FR 3626 which branches off Tom’s Best Spring is a commonly known camping loop where you can find lots of options for boondocking but that is not the only option. You can continue down FR 117 and you will be able to find other options.

There are tons of great places to camp on this road, including options for large RVs.

4. Corral Hollow

GPS Coordinates: 37.729755, -112.274131

Corral Hollow is just a little bit up the road from Tom’s Best Spring. It is also known as FR 121. The road goes for many miles, and you can boondock all along it, but the majority of people will find a spot in the first few miles. The farther you do down the road the less traveled the road is.

If you want a spot to yourself, you can continue driving up the road and you will find you have the place almost to yourself.

5. Casto Canyon Road

As you continue down Scenic Highway 12 you will run into Casto Canyon RD which is also know at S Losee Cyn Rd. This road is located on BLM land and not on the National Forest. This is significant because when you are boondocking on the National Forest land you cannot travel more than 150 feet from the road to boondock.

This 150 feet restriction is not something that applies when you are camping on land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The majority of this road is open to boondocking.

If you follow it enough, you will run into Hwy 89 and as you get close to Hwy 89 boondocking is not allowed. There are some great camping spots here, but you may share the area with other campers because of the 150-foot restrictions in place.

You probably won’t get that far because most of the people camp at the beginning of the road because it starts to get rough.

6. Forest Road 294

GPS Coordinates: 37.714417, -112.225750

This dispersed camping area is slightly before Tom’s Best Spring Rd and is a good option because it does not get as much traffic as other well know boondocking areas. The road is good as long as there is not too much moisture in the area.

This road can get muddy in the winter or rainy season so make sure you check the road to prevent getting stuck.

7. East Fork of Sevier River Dispersed Area

GPS Coordinates: 37.584426, -112.25899

The East Fork boondocking area is not an overly large option but it is a little way of Hwy 12 and Hwy 63 so you get less traffic noise. It is about 25 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park. If you are bringing a large RV, you may want to check it out before planning to boondock here.

The road is not paved, and you are not very closed to any paved roads. You will drive about six to seven miles before you arrive to where you can boondock. There are 10 boondocking sites in the area.

If you have any questions about boondocking and its availability or just want to verify anything before you go, we highly recommend calling the Powell Ranger District. They are very nice and can answer and questions you may have about this boondocking are or others. Their phone number is (435)-676-9300.

8. Forest Road 088

GPS Coordinates: 37.626086, -112.228060

The Forest Road 088 is another good spot for boondocking near Bryce Canyon. It is not too far off of Hwy 63 but it is not too close either. If you stay here, you will probably hear people riding around on 4-wheelers and off highway vehicles. You may also hear the Hwy in the distance.

One thing to keep in mind is that the majority of the forest roads are not good to travel on when they are wet. There can also be gates that block certain roads. This is done when roads have snow or too much mud.

If you are going to be boondocking early or late in the year, make sure you have the necessary equipment and call one of the Ranger Districts in the area who will be able to tell you if things are closed.

9. Pines Rest Area

GPS Coordinates: 37.708304, -112.205794

Rest areas are a great spot to boondock. If you are only needing a day, two or more before you move on they can still be a decent option. If you get to an area late the rest stop is paved and has lights making it easy to find a spot in the dark.

In the morning you can find a location where you can set up camp but setting up camp in the dark is not recommended. You will see signs that say NO CAMPING. There is a difference between camping and resting for a day or two.

You cannot pull out your tent and camp but you can sleep in your motorhome, RV, car or other RV options. No camping means you cannot set up camp outside of your RV and prepare to recreate in the rest stop. The area is monitored so if you get too rowdy, they will ask you to leave.

If you see Highway Patrol or an onsite worker who monitors the area, ask them. People are generally nice and will help you if you are respectful. There is no limit to how many days you can stay in a rest stop, but if it looks like you are setting up camp with your lawn furniture, you will probably be asked to leave.

10. Cottonwood Canyon Road

GPS Coordinates: 37.480583, -111.92234

Some people say Cottonwood Canyon has some of the best campsites in the area. The road is usually really good, and it is maintained more often. The downside is it is a little farther away from Bryce Canyon.

If you are going to be staying on Cottonwood Canyon Road, you will be about 30 to 40 minutes away from Bryce Canyon.

You will be able to take any vehicle down this road as long as the road is not wet. Even if you have four wheel drive the type of dirt in the area gets very sticky and not something you even want to be traveling on.

The road does get a bit rough as it gets closer to Grosvenor Arch, so it’s best to find a camping spot closer to Kodachrome Basin State Park.

Tips for Boondocking Near Bryce Canyon

When boondocking near Bryce Canyon there are some important things to keep in mind. You should first make sure the Bryce Canyon National Park Weather is not going to get you stranded or stuck. It is not worth it. Getting stuck can cost thousands of dollars and multiple days. This is not something you want to happen on your trip.

Another important tool you need to have with you is a good RV air compressor. We have been saved by a good air compressor many times. A flat or low filled tire can cause damage and serious problems.

You need to make sure you have sufficient food and water. If an unforeseen storm or other unknown happens it is important to have food and water if you happen to get stuck for a bit. In most of the boondocking sites there is some service, but it does not mean someone can help you in a quick manner.

At most boondocking sites there are no amenities. Consider bringing an outdoor garbage can, pop-up picnic table and hammock with a stand to make it easier and more comfortable to enjoy the beautiful Southern Utah area. It is so great to be comfortable outside after a long day of exploring.

tent camping at Bryce Canyon — Tent camping at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park Camping

If you’re interested in the camping options available in Bryce Canyon National Park, check out these resources:

Due to the high elevation at Bryce Canyon (8,900 feet above sea level), be sure to pack for the weather conditions. The temperatures drop at night, so it’s important to be prepared.

During the winter temperatures can fall below freezing, so pack warm clothing, especially if you’re tent camping. Rain and storms can pop up quickly here as well, so packing waterproof camping gear is a good idea as well.

When it comes to Bryce Canyon National Park camping, these two campground options offer an easy way to stay close to everything that the park offers while being affordable and fun.

Sunset Campground

Sunset Campground offers 100 sites that are scattered throughout three different loops. The loops are labeled A, B, & C and have specific camping requirements for each one. Loop A is specifically for RV campers, while tent campers stay in Loop B & Loop C.

It’s important to note that Sunset Campground is a primitive campground that does not offer electrical hookups or water/sewer. If you’re camping during the summer months, you will be able to use the dump station near the North Campground for no extra charge.

This campground is closer to the main road than the other, which can cause a bit of traffic noise. While it’s not overly loud, it is something to be aware of.

Sunset campground is open April 15th – October 31st. It has 98 first-come, first-served sites and 3 reservable sites through Recreation.gov.

There is firewood, ice, and laundry available when open during the seasonal months of the year. Generators can be used here but only during designated times.

North Campground

North Campground is close to the visitor center and general store with easy access to the Rim Trail.

The North Campground is open all-year-round, but during winter, some amenities may not be available like firewood, ice, and laundry.

There are 100 total sites along 4 loops. Loops A & B are primarily for RVs over 20 ft. North Campground requires reservations through Recreation.gov from May 27 to October 1. From October 2 to May 26 all sites are first-come, first-served.

Keep in mind there are no sewer, water or electrical hook-ups at this campground. There is a dump station available during the summer months.

There is firewood, ice, and laundry available when open during the seasonal months of the year. Generators can be used here but only during designated times.

Check out this ultimate RV Guide if you plan to stay in a Bryce Canyon campground, or find a boondocking spot near the park!

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Packing Lists for Bryce Canyon

Use our Bryce Canyon Packing List to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting in the summer! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!

10 Best Spots for Boondocking Near Bryce Canyon

This site contains affiliate links which means WE may receive commissions for purchases made through these links. We only provide links to products we actually use and/or wholeheartedly recommend! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full Disclosure Policy.