Winter Camping in Zion National Park

Located in Southern Utah, Zion National Park is one of the most breathtaking and iconic national parks in the United States. If you enjoy camping with amazing landscape views, there are a few places for winter camping in Zion National Park.

Use this Zion National Park travel guide for a list campgrounds, facilities available, and reservation information for winter camping in the park.

In case you can’t get a spot for camping in Zion National Park, we’ll list campgrounds and RV Parks near the park as well.

Check out these 1, 2, and 3-day Zion Itineraries to help you plan an amazing winter vacation:

Grab the FREE Zion Travel Bundle Printable below!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you! Read the full Disclosure Policy.

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!

Winter Camping at Zion National Park

Camping at Zion National Park in the winter is a great way to enjoy the park without the crowds!

Check out these Zion National Park winter photos to inspire you to plan a trip during this time of year!

There are three campgrounds at Zion National Park, but only is open in the winter: Watchman Campground.

Any time of year, camping at Zion is only permitted in the campground designated campsites. You cannot camp in pullouts or parking lots.

One good thing about winter camping at Zion is the less-restrictive time requirement. From March through mid-November, the park-wide camping limit is 14 nights. An additional 30 nights is permitted the rest of the year.

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.

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 has 176 total sites:

Tent only: 69 sites
RV only: 65 sites
Groups: 7 sites
Electric hookups: 95 sites

Watchman 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 at Zion National Park 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.

Zion national park winter — Zion national park scenic drive in the winter

Winter Camping Near Zion National Park

You’ll find campgrounds, camping sites, RV parks, and glamping options near Zion National Park.

Campgrounds Near Zion

Several area campgrounds are a short drive from the park, but always call in advance to make sure they are open in the winter.

If you plan to also visit Bryce Canyon National Park, you may want to find a central location to camp between the two parks:

Camping Near Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon
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)

RV Parks Near Zion

There are quite a few RV parks near Zion National Park:

RV Parks Close to Zion Canyon:

RV Parks Near the Zion East Entrance:

Zion Crest Campground & RV Park

RV Parks Near Mt. Carmel Junction to Bryce Canyon

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)!

Visiting Zion National Park in the Winter

Most of the year you’ll enjoy fun outdoor things to do at Zion National Park like scenic drives, hiking, biking, and photography. During the winter, the activities may be a bit more limited due to cold or snowy conditions!

It’s important to be up-to-date with current Zion National Park weather and road conditions!

Winter Weather at Zion National Park

Because the temperatures really drop at Zion National Park in the winter, it’s the least busy season. For us, this makes winter the best time to visit to escape the crowds!

BUT the cold winter weather may not be for everyone.

Zion National Park in December: Highs 48 | Lows 24 degrees F
Zion National Park in January: Highs 50 | Lows 25 degrees F
Zion National Park in February: Highs 50 | Lows 25 degrees F

During the winter it is especially important to dress in layers. We recommend an insulted winter jacket, fleece jacket, warm hat and gloves if you’ll be doing any outside activities. Here’s the full list of the outdoor winter clothing we use!

We enjoy Zion National Park photography in the winter – check out these awesome photographer gloves and rechargeable hand warmers we use!

Does the Zion Shuttle Run in the Winter?

The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles during the shuttle season. Typically, Zion National Park shuttles are running March through November, weekends in February, and the week between major holidays in December.

Visit the Zion NPS website to get the most updated shuttle information for the time you’ll be visiting.

With winter being less crowded one of the benefits is that you can drive your car through Zion Canyon (except for the holidays at Christmas/New Year’s and President’s weekend in February).

All four Zion National Park scenic drives are open in the winter, but when a storm rolls through, they may close if conditions are bad so always check the park service website for updated road conditions.

The upper part of the Kolob Terrace Road, including Lava Point, closes in the winter. Kolob Canyons regularly closes during inclement weather. Driving conditions can be very poor during a storm, but roads are usually plowed quickly after.

Does Zion National Park Close in the Winter?

Zion National Park and the Visitor Center are open all year long, every day of the year. Check the website for the most current Zion facilities hours.

Winter Camping in Zion National Park

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you! Read the full Disclosure Policy.

A Photo Tour of Zion National Park