Zion camping guide
Best Campgrounds Near Zion National Park (and the Best Base Camp)
The honest version: which campgrounds are closest, which ones you can actually book, which fit a big rig or a family of seven, and why so many Zion trips work best from a base camp in Hurricane.
Search "best campgrounds near Zion" and you'll find the same short list everywhere. The trouble is, the best campground depends on your trip. A couple with a tent and a 6 a.m. alarm needs something different from a family of six, a 40-foot fifth wheel, or a winter visit when half the park's campgrounds are closed.
So here's the full picture. We'll start with the three campgrounds inside the park, compare every area around it with real trade-offs, then make our case for Jellystone Park™ Zion as the base camp. We're not the closest, and we'll say so. We think we're the best base for most families and RVers, and we'll show you why.
Campgrounds inside Zion National Park: Watchman, South and Lava Point
Zion runs three campgrounds. Two sit at the mouth of Zion Canyon near the South Entrance; the third is high on the Kolob Terrace. All three are reservation-only, with no first-come, first-served sites.
Watchman Campground
- Where: next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, ¼ mile from the South Entrance.
- Sites: 184 tent, RV and group sites; 92 have electric hookups.
- Booking: up to 6 months ahead for standard sites, 12 months for group sites. In the park's words, it is "full nearly every night during the peak season."
- RVs: 40 ft maximum, with limits listed site by site on Recreation.gov. Generators are not permitted at any time.
- Facilities: flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station. No showers are listed.
- Fees: $35 non-electric, $45 electric. Checked October 27, 2026
- Heads up: many sites are near the North Fork of the Virgin River, where the park warns about toxic cyanobacteria. Don't drink the water or dunk your head.
South Campground
- Where: between the Visitor Center and the Zion Nature Center, ½ mile from the South Entrance, connected to the paved Pa'rus Trail.
- Sites: 124, with no electric hookups. Generators only 8–10 a.m. and 6–8 p.m.
- Booking: up to 14 days ahead.
- Season: typically mid-March through October 31. Closed for winter October 23, 2026 to March 14, 2027.
- Facilities: flush toilets and seasonal water and dump station. No showers are listed.
- Fee: $35 per site. Checked October 27, 2026
Lava Point Campground
- Where: 7,890 ft up the Kolob Terrace Road, about 80 minutes from the South Entrance.
- Sites: 6 primitive tent sites, $25. Vault toilets, no water.
- Vehicles: no RVs or trailers, and nothing over 19 ft on the road to the campground.
- Booking: up to 14 days ahead. Cell service is limited, so reserve before you go.
- Season: usually May through September. Closed October 5, 2026 to May 31, 2027.
The honest trade-off
Nothing beats rolling out of your tent and onto the first shuttle. But camping inside Zion is simple camping: no showers listed at any of the three, limited hookups, no generators at Watchman, and a booking race for peak dates.
If you land a Watchman site, take it. If you don't, or you want more comfort, the towns around the park fill the gap. Read on.
Official pages: Watchman · South · Lava Point · Camping regulations
Best campgrounds near Zion compared
Every area has a reason to pick it. Here's how they stack up on the things that change your trip: how fast you reach the canyon, who it suits, and what you give up.
| Where | Getting to Zion Canyon | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watchman (in park) | ¼ mile from the South Entrance, next to the Visitor Center | First-shuttle mornings, walking to trailheads | Book up to 6 months ahead; full nearly every night in peak season; 92 electric sites; no showers listed; no generators; 40 ft RV max |
| South (in park) | ½ mile from the South Entrance | Short-notice trips in season | Closed Oct 23, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027; 14-day booking window; no electric hookups; no showers listed |
| Lava Point (in park) | About 80 min from the South Entrance | Cool, quiet summer tent nights | 6 primitive sites; no water; no RVs or vehicles over 19 ft; closed until May 31, 2027 |
| Springdale | In town; walk or ride the free Springdale shuttle in season | Car-free days, dinner in town | A small canyon town with paid street parking; oversized vehicles park on Lion Blvd only; no sleeping in vehicles in paid parking areas |
| Virgin & La Verkin | About 25 min (Virgin) and 35 min (La Verkin) to the Visitor Center | A shorter drive, park-and-ride days | SunTran from La Verkin runs Mon–Sat only; the free Virgin Park & Ride bus runs daily ($5) |
| Hurricane (Jellystone Park™ Zion) | About 45 min to the South Entrance; about 35 min to Kolob Canyons; SunTran stop about 6 min away | Families, big rigs, cabins, winter and longer stays, seeing the whole region | An earlier alarm for Zion Canyon (leave about 6:00–6:15 a.m. to park before the first shuttle); not walkable to the park |
| East side & Kanab | Kanab: about 40 min to the East Entrance, about 1 hr 10 min to Zion Canyon through the tunnel | Pairing Zion with Bryce Canyon, Kanab or the Grand Canyon North Rim | The direct route to the main canyon uses the tunnel road; vehicles over the size limits can't drive it; overnight tunnel closures for fiber work started Oct 26, 2026 |
Town drive times are OpenStreetMap routing estimates checked October 27, 2026; ours are our own published figures. Real mornings run longer with Springdale traffic and entrance lines. Check UDOT's Zion site and the tunnel work page before you drive.
Camping near Zion National Park: which town fits your trip?
- Springdale puts you at the gate. During shuttle season the free Springdale Line carries you to the pedestrian entrance. It's the easiest place to go car-free, and the tightest for big rigs: town parking is paid, and oversized vehicles are limited to Lion Blvd. Springdale parking rates
- Virgin and La Verkin are on SR-9 between Hurricane and Springdale. Virgin is home to the free Zion Corridor Park & Ride (400 UT-9), which has room for large vehicles and a bus to Springdale every day, Sundays included.
- Hurricane is where we are, on Sand Hollow Road. It's farther from the South Entrance, but it's the closer side for Kolob Canyons, it sits next to Sand Hollow State Park, and it's about 25 minutes from St. George. One road, SR-9, runs straight to Springdale.
- The east side and Kanab make sense for a Zion-Bryce-Grand Canyon loop. Measure your rig first: anything over 35'9" long, 7'10" wide, 11'4" tall or 50,000 lb can't drive between the East Entrance and Canyon Junction. Our RV rules breakdown
Our pick for most Zion trips
Why Jellystone Park™ Zion is the best Zion base camp
Watchman wins on distance. We think we win on everything that happens before and after the hike: room to spread out, hot showers, real beds, full hookups and a reason to take a rest day. Here's what you get in Hurricane.
-
Glamping Cabins
- Sleep 5 to 9
- Kitchens & decks
- Linens in Yogi Bear™ cabins
Yogi Bear™ and Cindy Bear™ glamping cabins, an accessible two-bedroom cabin, and the budget-friendly Ranger Smith™ Bunkhouse. Real beds after a day in the river.
See glamping cabins › -
RV Sites
- Pull-through up to 75 ft
- Water, sewer, 30/50 amp
- Picnic table, grill, fire ring
Big-rig-friendly full-hookup sites, from 45-foot back-ins to 75-foot pull-throughs. Leave the rig hooked up and take the tow car to Zion.
See rv sites › -
Tent Sites
- Designated tent sites
- Fire pit & BBQ grill
- Hot showers nearby
Pitch on a designated sleeping-tent site near air-conditioned comfort stations with restrooms and clean, hot showers.
See tent sites ›
Eight reasons Zion families and RVers base here
- Full hookups for big rigs. Water, sewer and 30/50 amp power, pull-throughs up to 75 feet and back-ins up to 70. Room for the biggest rigs and their tow vehicles.
- Stay your way. Five cabin and bunkhouse types sleeping 5 to 9 (including an accessible cabin), RV sites, tent sites, and RV rentals from Glampers RV delivered and set up on your site.
- Hot showers and the basics. Air-conditioned comfort stations with restrooms and clean, hot showers, laundry, free park-wide Wi-Fi and the Ranger Station camp store.
- A real rest day. The heated lap pool and hot tub, the jump pillow, playground, gem mining and sports courts. In season, the Yogi Bear™ Water Zone and the floating obstacle course on Samson Lake are included for everyone on your reservation.
- One easy drive, or none. SR-9 runs straight to Springdale. Or skip the parking hunt: the SunTran Zion bus stops at the Hurricane Walmart, about 6 minutes from our gate (Mon–Sat).
- The quiet side of Zion is closer. Kolob Canyons is about 35 minutes up I-15, with no shuttle and no Springdale parking.
- A whole region, not just one canyon. Sand Hollow State Park is about 4 minutes away, St. George about 25, Snow Canyon State Park about 28 and Tuacahn about 35.
- Open all year. Winter rates for long stays, and the heated pool and hot tub stay open for campers through the cold months.
Make Jellystone Park™ Zion your base camp for Zion and beyond.
505 S Sand Hollow Rd, Hurricane, UT 84737. Zion National Park entrance fees are separate from your reservation. The Water Zone is seasonal: it has closed for the 2026 season, and 2027 dates will be posted on our hours page.
RV parks near Zion: what big rigs need to know
Zion is tough on big RVs, and it got tougher in 2026. Since June 7, 2026, any vehicle over these limits can't drive the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance at all, measured with mirrors, AC units, bike racks and dishes included.
| Single vehicle | Combination (truck + trailer, motorhome + toad) | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 35'9" | 50' total; trailer max 26' from hitch to rear axle |
| Width | 7'10" | 7'10" |
| Height | 11'4" | 11'4" |
| Weight | 50,000 lb | 50,000 lb |
- Inside the park: Watchman lists a 40-foot maximum and 92 electric sites, and generators aren't allowed. South has no electric hookups. Lava Point allows no RVs.
- The easy play: park the rig on a full-hookup site at Jellystone Park™ Zion, unhitch, and drive the tow car or truck into Zion. Back-in sites from $49 a night and pull-throughs from $55 are posted on our RV sites page (booking fee not included; rates vary by date).
- Bringing the RV in for the day? The Large Vehicle Lot across from the Visitor Center has 20-plus spaces, first come, first served. Springdale's oversized parking is Lion Blvd only, and the Virgin Park & Ride is free with large-vehicle space.
- Staying a month or the season? See long-term stays, including the Winter Utahn special: $699 a month with utilities included, October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (background check required).
Where to stay near Zion with kids
Zion with kids is about pacing. The big hike days are early starts and long afternoons in the heat, and the best trips build in a slower day between them. That's why we think the right family base matters more than the closest one.
What families tell us they need
- Real beds and a hot shower after a day in the river
- A kitchen or a grill for easy dinners
- Something fun for rest days that isn't another drive
- Space for everyone, not one tent site for six people
- Easy laundry for sandy, muddy clothes
How we cover it
- Cabins for big crews. The Yogi Bear™ Two Bedroom and Cindy Bear™ Two Bedroom glamping cabins sleep up to 9. Compare cabins
- Rest-day fun. Jump pillow, playground, gem mining, character visits from Yogi Bear™, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™, and the heated pool. Activity schedules vary by season.
- Summer splash days. In season, the Water Zone has slides, a lazy river and a splash pad for little ones. Check the hours before you promise.
- Find your way around. See the park map to pick a site near a comfort station (restrooms and showers) or the pool.
In the park itself, the easiest kid day is permit-free: the paved Pa'rus Trail, Lower Emerald Pool, the Grotto Trail and the Riverside Walk. Our Zion with kids section has the details, Junior Ranger tips included.
Camping near Zion in winter
Winter is Zion's quietest season, and it changes the camping picture. South Campground and Lava Point are closed. Watchman stays open, though the park notes its D, E and F loops may close seasonally. December and January (outside the holidays) are the quietest months, and with no shuttle from November 29 to December 25, 2026, you can drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive yourself until parking fills.
Winter at Jellystone Park™ Zion
- Open all year, with winter rates for longer stays.
- A warm soak after a cold hike. Campers can use the heated lap pool and hot tub every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with an access code (closed 2–3 p.m. Fridays for cleaning).
- Staying the season? The Winter Utahn special is $699 a month, utilities included. Details
- Bring traction devices for icy trails in Zion, and check park conditions for Kolob Canyons Road, which closes often in winter.
How to do Zion from Jellystone Park™ Zion
The one thing that matters most: Zion's parking is the bottleneck, not the trails. On Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Visitor Center lot was full by 7:48 a.m. Plan around that and a Hurricane base works beautifully.
The early canyon day
- Night before: pack lunch (there's no eating on the shuttle) and check UDOT for road work.
- 6:00–6:15 a.m.: leave camp and take SR-9 to Springdale.
- By 7 a.m.: park at the Visitor Center and catch the first shuttle.
- Lot full? Don't circle. Park in Springdale and ride the free Springdale shuttle to the pedestrian entrance.
Take the bus
- About 6:15 a.m. (Mon–Sat): SunTran leaves the Hurricane Walmart stop, about 6 minutes from us.
- About 7:02 a.m.: arrive at Lion Blvd in Springdale, about 0.4 mile from the South Entrance. $5 each way.
- Evening: the last bus back leaves Lion Blvd around 9:10 p.m.
- Sunday: no Hurricane service. Drive to the free Virgin Park & Ride and take the daily bus ($5).
Leave the RV home
- Unhitch and leave the rig on its full hookups.
- Drive the tow car or truck to Zion, so the tunnel limits and Springdale RV parking never come up.
- Want the east side? If your car is within the limits, go through the tunnel to Canyon Overlook. Parking there is very limited.
Kolob Canyons + pool
- Morning: about 35 minutes up I-15 to Exit 40. Stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to pay or show your pass (closed noon to 1).
- Late morning: drive the 5-mile scenic road and walk the Timber Creek Overlook trail.
- Afternoon: back to camp for the heated pool and a campfire.
Shuttle dates to plan around
- Oct 25 – Nov 28, 2026: first shuttle 7 a.m., last bus up-canyon 5 p.m., last bus out 6:15 p.m.
- Nov 29 – Dec 25, 2026: no shuttle; drive the Scenic Drive yourself until parking fills.
- Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027: holiday shuttle, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. up-canyon, last bus out 5:45 p.m.
- Entrance: $35 per private vehicle for up to 7 days; 15 and under free. Checked October 22, 2026
For Angels Landing permits, The Narrows, crowd-free corners and full day plans, read our Zion National Park insider guide, especially parking hacks, shuttle secrets and day plans that work.
Booking tips for Zion campgrounds
Inside the park
- Watchman: standard sites open up to 6 months ahead on Recreation.gov or at 877-444-6777. The park doesn't publish a release time of day, so check your exact dates on Recreation.gov.
- South: opens 14 days ahead on Recreation.gov, from mid-March through October.
- Lava Point: 14 days ahead on Recreation.gov, in summer only.
- Check site lengths on each Watchman site's Recreation.gov listing before you book an RV site.
- No luck? Keep watching for cancellations, and book a backup outside the park so you're not stuck.
At Jellystone Park™ Zion
- Book online any time, or call (435) 359-9970 and the office will match you to the right site.
- Want a specific site? Add a site lock at booking. Without it, you're guaranteed the site type, not the exact site.
- Rates move with demand, like hotels, so compare a few dates.
- Plans change? Cancel 10 or more days out for a refund minus a $25 fee; inside 10 days you get Camp Credit. Policies
- Holiday weekends: cabins have a three-night minimum during peak season and on major holiday weekends.
Our favorite trick: split the stay
Land a night or two at Watchman for your big canyon day? Great. Spend the rest of the trip at Jellystone Park™ Zion for hot showers, full hookups, Kolob Canyons, Sand Hollow and a pool day. You get the best of both.
Zion camping questions
What is the closest campground to Zion National Park?
Watchman Campground. It sits next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, about a quarter mile from the South Entrance in Springdale. South Campground is about half a mile from the entrance but is closed for winter from October 23, 2026 to March 14, 2027. Jellystone Park™ Zion is not the closest: we're about 45 minutes from the South Entrance and about 35 minutes from the Kolob Canyons entrance.
Can I camp in Zion without a reservation?
No. All three campgrounds inside Zion require reservations, and none has first-come, first-served sites. Watchman takes reservations up to 6 months ahead for standard sites (12 months for group sites). South and Lava Point open 14 days ahead. Book on Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
Are there RV parks near Zion with full hookups for big rigs?
Inside the park, Watchman has 92 sites with electric hookups, a 40-foot maximum RV length listed by the park, and no generators at any time. South has no electric hookups. Outside the park, Jellystone Park™ Zion in Hurricane has full-hookup sites (water, sewer, 30/50 amp) with pull-throughs up to 75 feet and back-ins up to 70 feet. If your rig is over 35'9" long, 7'10" wide or 11'4" tall, it can't drive the tunnel road east of Canyon Junction, so most big-rig visitors leave the RV at camp and explore in the tow car or truck.
Where should I stay near Zion with kids?
If waking up in the canyon matters most and you can book early, Watchman is magical. For a longer family trip, our pick is a base with hot showers, real beds and something for rest days. Jellystone Park™ Zion has glamping cabins that sleep 5 to 9, a heated lap pool and hot tub, a jump pillow and playground, and the Yogi Bear™ Water Zone with slides, a lazy river and a splash pad in season.
How far is Jellystone Park™ Zion from Zion National Park?
About 35 minutes to the Kolob Canyons entrance (I-15 Exit 40) and about 45 minutes to the South Entrance in Springdale, in approximate drive times without traffic. The SunTran Zion bus stop at the Hurricane Walmart is about 6 minutes from our gate (Monday through Saturday).
Can I go camping near Zion in winter?
Yes. When we checked on October 27, 2026, Watchman stays open year-round (its D, E and F loops may close seasonally), South is closed from October 23, 2026 to March 14, 2027, and Lava Point is closed until May 31, 2027. Jellystone Park™ Zion is open year-round, and the heated lap pool and hot tub stay open for campers all winter.
Do the campgrounds inside Zion have showers?
The park lists no showers at Watchman, South or Lava Point. Watchman and South have flush toilets and drinking water; Lava Point has vault toilets and no water. Jellystone Park™ Zion has comfort stations with hot showers, plus laundry and free Wi-Fi.
Can I sleep in my car or RV in Springdale's parking lots?
No. The Town of Springdale does not allow overnight occupancy of vehicles, including camping in vehicles, anywhere in a paid parking area. Book a campsite instead.
Sources & official links
- Watchman Campground (NPS) · Recreation.gov
- South Campground (NPS) · Recreation.gov
- Lava Point Campground (NPS) · Recreation.gov
- Zion camping regulations · Cyanobacteria updates
- Zion Canyon shuttle · Entrance fees · Current conditions
- Large vehicles in Zion · UDOT tunnel work · UDOT Zion parking & traffic
- SunTran Zion route · Springdale parking rates
Campground details were checked on October 27, 2026; shuttle, fee and parking details on October 22, 2026. Drive times are approximate and assume no traffic. This guide is published by Jellystone Park™ Zion and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. More area guides: Zion National Park, Sand Hollow State Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Tuacahn. Ready to go? Book now.