Information About Camping in Zion National Park
Camping in Zion National Park offers amazing landscape views you can’t find anywhere else!
Use this Zion National Park travel guide to help you plan your vacation with things to do, what to pack, best photo spots, and more!
There are three campgrounds at Zion. Keep reading to know when they are open, what facilities are available, and if reservations are required.
We also share a list of other places to camp near Zion in case you can’t get a spot in the park.
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A Photo Tour of Zion National Park
Take a visual tour through Zion National Park to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!
Zion National Park Camping Information
There are three campgrounds at Zion National Park: the Watchman Campground, the South Campground, and the Lava Point Campground.
If you are interested in winter camping in Zion National Park, the Watchman Campground is the only one open. Always check the NPS website for the most current camping information and rates.
Camping at Zion is only permitted in the campground designated campsites. You cannot camp in pullouts or parking lots.
Important Note: It’s popular to rent an RV or camping equipment and having it delivered to Zion National Park. YOU must make sure the individual or business you are renting from has a valid permit to do business at Zion! If you rent from a person or business that doesn’t have a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the park, the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon delivery and you’ll be left with no accommodations.
From March through mid-November, the park-wide camping limit is 14 nights. An additional 30 nights is permitted the rest of the year. These limits apply to all park campgrounds.
The two campsites in Zion Canyon (Watchman and South):
- Drive-up sites and allow a maximum of two vehicles.
- Only one RV or trailer is allowed.
- Any RV including motorhomes, cabover campers and camper vans, or any trailer including 5th wheels, pop-up campers, and cargo or boat trailers are vehicles and count toward the limit.
- Each campsite allows a maximum of six people and two tents; plan accordingly.
- Hammocks are allowed but are limited to the footprint of the campsite.
Watchman Campground
The Watchman Campground is next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. It’s about a quarter of a mile from the South Entrance of Zion in Springdale.
This is the only campground at Zion open year-round, but has reduced availability in the winter. All campsites at Watchman Campground require reservations, which may be made six months prior to your arrival date online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
Watchman Campground has 176 total sites:
- Tent only: 69 sites
- RV only: 65 sites
- Groups: 7 sites
- Electric hookups: 95 sites
Campground Features:
- All sites here include a place for a tent or RV, a picnic table, and fire pit with attached grill.
- Flush toilets, dump station, cold running drinkable water, trash containers, and cell phone reception are available year-round.
- No showers, full-hookup campsites, electrical outlets, internet connectivity, laundry or store on site. (All services are available in Springdale, Utah, one half-mile away.)
- Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet only at Watchman Campground, on the park roads and along Pa’rus Trail.
- Food must be stored in a vehicle or a hard-sided lockable container. Deer like to hang out at this campground, but remember that feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited. Don’t leave trash unattended while camping at Zion, and dispose of trash in dumpsters.
- In nearby Springdale you’ll find pay showers, small markets, firewood, laundromats, a limited medical clinic, and restaurants. Access the town by car, foot, bicycle, or Springdale shuttle.
Regulations:
- Check out time is 11:00 a.m.
- Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Generators are not permitted at any time.
- Do not move picnic tables.
- Tents and vehicles must not be on vegetation.
- No fires are permitted when fire restrictions are in place.
South Campground
The South Campground is near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. It’s about one-half mile from the South Entrance of Zion in Springdale.
This campground is usually open March through October, and closes in the winter. All campsites at South Campground require reservations, which may be made two weeks prior prior to your arrival date online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
South Campground has 117 total sites:
- Tent and dry RV: 105
- Tent only: 8 sites
- RV only: 0 sites
- Groups: 4 sites
Campground Features:
- All sites here include a place for a tent or RV, a picnic table, and a fire ring.
- Flush toilets, cold running drinkable water, trash containers, dump station, and cell phone reception are available seasonally.
- No showers, electrical outlets, internet connectivity, laundry or store on site. (All services are available in Springdale, Utah, one half-mile away.)
Regulations:
- Check out time is 11:00 a.m.
- Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Generators are allowed from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Do not move picnic tables.
- Tents, vehicles, and hammocks must remain within campsite boundaries and cannot be on vegetation.
- No fires are permitted when fire restrictions are in place.
Lava Point Campground
The Lava Point Campground is the right location if you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy the Zion Wilderness area in the Kolob Terrace area.
It’s usually open May through September, depending on weather. Its high elevation is 7890 feet above sea level!
Lava Point is toward the end of the scenic Zion National Park scenic drive, Kolob Terrace. It’s 25 miles north of the town of Virgin, and takes about an hour and twenty minutes to drive there from Springdale.
Campground Features:
- 6 campsites, all first come first serve
- Pit toilets
- Trash cans
Regulations:
- Vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted on the road to the campground.
- Food must be stored in a vehicle or a hard-sided lockable container.
- Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited.
- Do not leave trash unattended while camping and dispose of trash in dumpsters.
Where to Camp Near Zion National Park
You’ll find campgrounds, camping, RV parks, and glamping options near Zion National Park.
Campgrounds Near Zion
Several area campgrounds are a short drive from the park. Click the links for more information.
- BLM Camping Near Zion – south of Highway 9
- BLM Camping Near Zion – north of Highway 9
- Zion Canyon Visitors Bureau
- East Zion Tourism Council
- St. George Area Visitor Bureau
- BLM, St. George Field Office
- Kane County, Utah (including Kanab)
Glamping Near Zion
- Zion Under Canvas – glamping in luxury tents under the stars is one of the best ways to experience this park!
- Zion View Camping – big tent, clean water on site, shower and bathrooms, and a real bed! They also provide a charcoal grill and grill supplies.
- Zion Wildflower – you can choose to stay in a panoramic tent or a covered wagon!
- Zion Glamping Adventures – outside of your tent enjoy a private hangout area with picnic table, chairs, fire pit and a charcoal grill (complimentary coffee, marshmallows, hotdogs)!
RV Parks Near Zion
Camping Near Zion and Bryce Canyon
If you plan to also visit Bryce Canyon National Park, you may want to find a central location to camp between the two parks:
BUY ZION GUIDES & MAPS AT AMAZON
Plan Your Vacation To Zion National Park
- Zion National Park Itinerary
- Zion National Park Packing List
- Best Time to Visit Zion National ParkThings to do at Zion National Park
- Zion National Park Tours
