Zion National Park Camping Guide

Zion is the park where I fell in love with the National Park system 30+ years ago. 

Since then, I have camped at the Watchman and South Campgrounds countless times as I explored everything Zion has to offer. 

I have combined my personal experiences, along with my professional experience as a Park Ranger to write the Zion National Park Camping Guide to help you plan the perfect trip to Zion National Park.

Zion National Park Camping

Most visitors to Zion would agree that finding a place to park and get to the free shuttle bus into Zion Canyon can be the biggest hassle and time killer when visiting Zion. 

This is because Zion has seen unprecedented growth in visitation which can make it difficult to find parking. 

To give you an idea, in 1973, Zion had 993,800 park visitors, and 50 years later in 2023, Zion National Park had over 5 Million Visitors! 

Knowing this, the best way to avoid parking issues is by either staying at the Zion National Park Lodge or going camping at the Watchman or South Campgrounds as you can simply park your vehicle in your campsite and utilize the free shuttle bus whenever you want.

The only time you will need to park your vehicle is after you enter the park's south entrance of the park in Springdale, Utah, and go park in your campsite which will be on the right side of the road just past the contact station. 

The campgrounds are located next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center which is also the hub for the Free shuttle buses. 

 

Zion National Park Entrance Fee  

Just to give you a heads-up, you must first pay to enter Zion National Park. It does not matter if you have a campground reservation or a reservation at the Zion Lodge, you still have to pay the entrance fee to get into the park. Here is the cost to enter Zion:

Private Vehicle: $35

Motorcycle: $30
Snowmobile: $20

Per Person: $20

Are you planning a National Park vacation? The National Park System has an America the Beautiful/National Park Pass which covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites. The cost is $80 for the pass.

Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually. 

Many of Zion National Park's day-use visitors end up parking in the town of Springdale and take the free shuttle up to the park's walk-in entrance. Lines in the summer can be an hour plus wait time just to get into the park.

You will then need to walk to the visitor center and catch the Zion Shuttle into Zion Canyon as vehicles are not allowed into the canyon.  This means that you can spend a lot of unnecessary time getting in the park just to get to one of Zion National Park Hikes.

 

 

Park Ranger John Pro Tip

I like to get an early start to go hiking, especially when going on a big hike. Some of Zion's hikes take you straight up the cliffs and some have elevation gains over 2000'.  You can choose for yourself if you want to get up early or fight the crowds and hike up 2000' when it's 95 degrees!

Early morning hikes often reward you with wildlife sightings and solitude in an otherwise busy park. How do you take an early morning hike? You camp and take one of the first shuttles into the canyon.

​Make sure to check my guide on Hiking Zion as some trails require permits like The Subway and Angels Landing. 

I have told you all the positives of camping in Zion but I do want to give everyone some of the negatives of camping in Zion too. April-May could bring an unusual infestation of Tent Caterpillars. They will fall from the trees onto your tent, table, camper, car, and even you, and could make it uncomfortable for someone to sit outside.

July and August could also bring ants. Remember that you are not allowed to use any kind of insecticide at your campsite.

Be careful of the irrigation ditches in the campground as they could pose a tripping hazard.

Watchman Campground Map

Watchman Campground

The Watchman Campground is the most popular campground in Zion National Park. 

During the busy season, reservations are strongly recommended as the campground is full nearly every night during the reservation season.

The campground typically fills up every day between 9 am-Noon

Watchman Campground, Zion National Park has most of the amenities that one would expect in a front country campground. Several of the sites have shade from trees and are mostly sandy with native grasses.

I have had cell service in the campground area but that becomes scarce when you head into the Zion Canyon.

There are 176 campsites, 95 sites with electricity, 2 are ADA Accessible, and 6 group sites.

 

Campground Information

Season: Open Year-Round 

*Watchman Campground remains open all year, with reduced availability in winter. All sites in Watchman Campground require reservations. Generally, the D, E, and F Loops are closed in December, January, and February. 

Number of Sites: 176 regular sites, 2 wheelchair-accessible sites, and 7 group sites

Location in the park: Near the South Entrance to the park. 

Campground Address: 

1Zion Park Blvd. 

Springdale, UT.84767

Latitude/Longitude: 

• Latitude:
• 37.1986111
• 37° 11' 55.0000" N
• Longitude:
• -112.9863889
• 112° 59' 11.0000" W

Elevation: 3,900 Feet elevation

Accessible Sites:  

Sites A-24 and A-25 are reserved for ADA use. Watchman Campground has seven accessible sites and multiple other flat sites with easy access to six accessible restrooms. The road access route to the Visitor Center and Shuttle Stop has grades of up to 5% for 30-foot stretches but has trench drain covers across sections of the road with openings wider than 1 inch in certain locations. An alternate concrete and asphalt-paved pathway adjacent to the amphitheater through the river entrance plaza has slopes of up to 18% for 5-foot stretches and slopes up to 8% for 39-foot stretches. The amphitheater has accessible seating located on the top row.

Wheelchair Access - Pavement in some sites is broken and can make wheelchair use difficult. Gravel pathways to bathrooms. Fire grills are elevated, and picnic tables are extended. The asphalt trail leads to Watchman Amphitheater. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Pets Allowed:  Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet.

Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes

Showers: No, THere are Hot showers just a short walk outside the park at Zion Outfitter

Payphone: No

Is Wi-Fi available? No, there is free WIFI available at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center

Is Cellular Phone Service Available? Yes

Is the camp host available on-site? Yes, Year-round 

Is firewood available for purchase? No 

You may purchase firewood  in Springdale, Utah, one half-mile away

No fires are permitted when Fire Restrictions are in place.

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire rings/fire pits in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box/Food Storage Locker in site/area? No

Potable Water? yes

RV Camping at the Watchman Campground

RV Length: 40 feet 

*Sites are a variety of sizes. Length limits for each site are provided in the site details on recreation.gov.

The group campsites are tent-only. RVs, camping trailers, and pop-up campers are not permitted

Dump Station: A dump station with potable water is available at the entrance to the campground.

Generators: Generators are NOT allowed in the campground.

Hookups: There are no full hookups Available in Zion

Electric hookups are all 30 amp, with only a handful of sites that supply 50 amp

The maximum site length is 50' although the average is more like 35'

There are very few pull-through sites and I would not count on one.

A trailer dump is available.

The maximum stay is 14 days from March- November, 30 Nights for the rest of the year.

Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table

There is drinking water, and flush toilets available but no showers. There are showers nearby in the town of Springdale.

Pets are allowed but have to be on a leash no longer than 6' in length.

Quiet Hours are 10 pm - 8 am

Checkout time is 11:00 am

There is a maximum of 6 people, 3 tents and 2 vehicles per campsite.

See our entire post on the Watchman Campground for individual site photos, campground photos, info, and more. 

South Campground Map Zion

 

South Campground Zion

South Campground, Zion National Park has many amenities that one would expect in a front country campground. Several of the sites have shade from trees and are mostly sandy with native grasses. I have had cell service in the campground area but that becomes scarce when you head into the Zion Canyon.

The South Campground is just as popular as the Watchman Campground and it typically fills up every day between 9 am-Noon. 

 

Campground Information

Season: South Campground is open from approximately March 1st to the Monday after Thanksgiving in November. 

Number of Sites: 117 campsites

Latitude/Longitude: 

• Latitude:
• 37.2016667
• 37° 12' 6.0001" N
• Longitude:
• -112.9855556
• 112° 59' 8.0002" W

Elevation:  4000 Feet elevation

Accessible Sites:  Yes, sites 114 and 115

South Campground has three flat sites, but no accessible facilities such as restrooms or trails.

Campers staying in South Campground can travel .3 miles to the Watchman Campground to utilize accessible restrooms if necessary. (from the NPS)

Pets Allowed:   Yes, Pets must be on a leash at all times no longer than six feet in length.

South Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes

Payphone: No

Is Wi-Fi available? No

Is Cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is the camp host available on-site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? Yes, You can buy firewood in town 

 Wood gathering is prohibited in the park

 

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire ring in the site? Yes

Picnic Table on the site? Yes

Bear Box/ Food Storage Locker available? No

Potable Water? Yes

 

RV Camping at the South Campground

RV Length: 

Shaded/tree sites can only accommodate vehicles with a maximum height of 12 feet 6 inches (3.84 meters).

Dump Station: A dump station with potable water is available at the entrance to the campground.

Generators: 8:00 am to 10:00 am and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Hookups: There are no hookups in this campground

Campground typically fills up every day between 9 am-Noon

There is no WIFI in the campground but is available in the visitor center.

There is no firewood for purchase in the park. Firewood is available just outside the park at the Happy Camper Market.

There is a trailer dump available.

There is an entrance fee to drive into the park on top of the camping fee. The good news is that if you are camping in the South Campground, you will receive a 50% discount on your tent site if you have the Interagency Park Pass

There is a trailer dump available.

There is an entrance fee to drive into the park on top of the camping fee. The good news is that if you are camping in the South Campground, you will receive a 50% discount on your tent site if you have the Interagency Park Pass

There are no utility campsites and generators are allowed between the hours of 8a-10a, 6p-8p

Tent sites are $20/Night as of October 2017

The maximum stay is 14 days.

Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table

There is drinking water, flush toilets available but no showers. There are showers nearby in the town of Springdale.

Pets are allowed but have to be on a leash no longer than 6' in length and can only be in certain areas of the park. One of the cool things about staying in the South campground with pets is that you can access the Pa'Rus Trail right next to the campground with your pet.

Quiet Hours are 10p-8a

Checkout time is 11:00 am

There is a maximum of 6 people, 3 tents and 2 vehicles per campsite.

Check out our full article on the South Campground Zion NP for individual site photos, descriptions, and more. 

Zion National Park Shuttle Route Map

Lava Point Campground Zion

The Lava Point Campground, Zion National Park is a primitive campground off the beaten path and perfect for those who want to find solitude. Road conditions on Kolob Terrace Road can change rapidly.

Turn North in the town of Virgin and travel 25 miles, 45 minutes to get to the campground.

GPS Coordinates: 37.3839'N 113.0329'W

Elevation: 7980'

Open May-September depending on weather

There are 6 primitive campsites, 19' maximum length

There is no camping fee at Lava Point Campground!

There is no drinking water, vault toilets, no showers.

Zion National Park Phone Number

Phone Number: (435)772-3256

Zion National Park Resources 

Zion National Park Guide- Your complete guide to exploring Zion National Park 

Things To Do Zion National Park- List of things to do at Zion National Park including horseback riding, ranger programs, and exploring the town of Springdale! 

Zion Hikes- The ultimate hiking guide to plan your trip to Zion! Get Trail information, photos, and trail descriptions directly from a park ranger who has spent countless hours hiking this incredible park! 

Zion Shuttle Guide- Learn when the shuttles are running and how to use them to plan your trip to Zion

Zion Narrows planning guide- The ultimate guide to plan your hiking adventure to the Zion Narrows. Includes both day hikes and top-to-bottom overnight hikes. 

Emerald Pools Trail Guide- Plan your trip to one of Zion's most iconic trails! 

Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually. 

 

Zion Camping Resources  

Zion National Park Camping Guide- Complete guide to camping in Zion National Park

Watchman Campground- Zion's main campground is located next to the visitor center and the park shuttle stop. The campground has 176 campsites, 95 electric hookups, and 7 group sites. 

South Campground- Centrally located next to the visitor center, the shuttle bus stop, the Parus Trail, and the Virgin River. The campground has 117 campsites and no  RV hookups. 

Camping Near Zion National Park

The closest RV campground to the South Entrance is Zion Canyon Campground and the closest RV Campground to the East Entrance is the Zion Crest Campground. Both campgrounds offer full Hook-ups. 

If you don't have an RV but looking for a fun adventure, check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built-in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss! 

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando

 

Where to stay when visiting Zion

Zion Lodge - Spend the night in the heart of the Zion Canyon giving you the easiest access to some of Zion's most popular trails! This review includes amenities, photos, and video of what it is like to stay in the lodge. 

Zion Cabins- The cabins are located next to the Zion Lodge in the heart of the Zion Canyon. The review includes photos, video, and a list of amenities. 

The majority of lodging outside of the park is located in Springdale or Virgin Utah. 

Under Canvas Zion - Sleep under the stars in a glamping tent. 

Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection by Hilton  - 4-star hotel. Take advantage of a roundtrip airport shuttle, a grocery/convenience store, and a terrace at Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection by Hilton. With a private beach, this hotel is the perfect place to soak up some sun.  In addition to a firepit and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites - Consider a stay at Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites and take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour health club. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a 24-hour business center, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham at Zion - Consider a stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham at Zion Park/Springdale and take advantage of free continental breakfast, a grocery/convenience store, and laundry facilities. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a gym and a 24-hour business center.

Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion - Take advantage of free breakfast, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour gym at Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a 24-hour business center and a snack bar/deli.

Holiday Inn Express Springdale - look forward to a grocery/convenience store, a terrace, and shopping on site at Holiday Inn Express Springdale - Zion National Park Area, an IHG Hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a firepit and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Virgin Zion - free breakfast buffet, a grocery/convenience store, and a terrace at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Virgin Zion National Park. Active travelers can enjoy bicycling at this hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with dry cleaning/laundry services and a fireplace in the lobby.

 

Additional State Parks and Tribal Parks Near Zion National Park

Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada)- an incredible park with great trails and jaw-dropping scenery between Las Vegas and Zion! 

Upper Antelope Canyon- The slot canyon that every photographer on the planet desires to photograph! 

Monument Valley- The most iconic scenery of the American Southwest and the location of countless Western movies.

Valley of the Gods- This is a park where you can spend as little as a couple hours and complete the 17-mile scenic drive and truly get an appreciation of the area. 

Goosenecks State Park (Utah)- amazing views of the San Juan River twisting and turning causing epic goosenecks in the canyon 1,000 feet below.

Goblin Valley State Park (Utah)- is best known for its goblin-like geologic features that can be easily seen. 

National Parks near Zion National Park

Pipe Springs National Monument- learn about the Mormon War! 

Lake Mead National Recreation Area- Explore all the recreational opportunities along Lake Mead and around Hoover Dam 

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument - If you are flying into Las Vegas on your way to Zion this is an easy park to visit on the way. 

Bryce Canyon National Park- No matter if you see Bryce in the summer or snow, at sunrise or the middle of the day, its breathtaking scenery and hoodoos will leave you inspired and awestruck! 

Cedar Breaks National Monument-  Another gift from nature, the mini Bryce Canyon with sunsets that will dazzle your imagination! They have pretty epic fall colors too

Grand Canyon National Park-  nicknamed "The Big Ditch" is something you just have to see to believe! Its wonders are hard to put into words,  photographs can only capture a small portion of its epicness! It truly is one of the seven wonders of the natural world! 

Capitol Reef National Park- The least visited of the 5 National Parks in Utah is what I call one of the top hidden Gems in the National Park System! It has epic scenic drives, epic hikes, jaw-dropping scenery, and much more! 

Arches National Park- A hikers and photographers paradise! Arches is home to over 2000 natural sandstone arches, many of which will blow your mind! 

Canyonlands National Park- Canyonlands is broken down into 3 sections, each filled with the charm and rugged beauty of the American Southwest. It's easy to see some of the highlights but its real charm come to those who plan and prepare to go deep into the wilderness. 

Check out these other great Utah National Parks, Nevada National Parks, Idaho National Parks, Wyoming National Parks, Colorado National Parks, New Mexico National Parks, and Arizona National Parks.