Camping near Zion National Park

It depends which one. Watchman Campground opens reservations 6 months ahead on Recreation.gov (12 months for group sites) — book the moment your dates unlock, especially for spring and fall. South Campground only opens 14 days before arrival, so it's not something you can lock in early. Lava Point is small and primitive with a reservation status currently in flux — verify at nps.gov/zion before you go.

Watchman is Zion's largest campground, open year-round, with electric-hookup loops and a 6-month advance booking window. South Campground is seasonal (closed in winter), reservation-only with just a 14-day booking window, and doesn't offer electric hookups. Both sit near the South Entrance and Springdale, an easy walk to the shuttle.

Historically first-come-first-served with just 6 primitive sites, but the park has discussed moving it to a reservation and day-use-fee system — the current status may have changed. It's also only open roughly May through September or mid-October and isn't reachable via the Zion Canyon shuttle, so plan on driving Kolob Terrace Road. Confirm current rules at nps.gov/zion before relying on a walk-up spot.

Standard non-electric sites run around $20/night and electric-hookup sites around $30/night at the reservable campgrounds, with group sites from about $50-$130/night depending on size. Rates are set by NPS and can change — verify the current fee for your exact site at Recreation.gov before booking.

Not at Watchman Campground — generators aren't permitted there at all. South Campground allows them, but only during set windows, typically 8-10am and 6-8pm. Quiet hours at both run 10pm to 8am.

Yes — any overnight stay in Zion's backcountry, not just the three developed campgrounds, requires a wilderness permit. Permits are awarded through a seasonal Recreation.gov lottery held four times a year: a $6 non-refundable lottery application fee, a $20 non-refundable permit fee, plus a refundable $7 per person per night. Routes like the top-down Narrows, the West Rim, Hop Valley, and La Verkin Creek all require one; the standard bottom-up Narrows day hike does not.

It's gotten much more limited. In March 2026, the BLM signed a decision closing most free, primitive dispersed camping across roughly 14,000 acres along the SR-9 corridor outside the park, cutting the number of dispersed sites from about 56 down to roughly 30, with new fee-based designated campgrounds planned to replace some of that capacity. The decision is currently under appeal, so the situation may keep changing — check current BLM St. George Field Office guidance before planning a trip around free dispersed camping.

Yes, leashed pets are welcome at the developed campgrounds. Keep in mind Zion's trail pet policy is much stricter than its campground policy — dogs are not allowed on nearly all park trails, so a campground stay doesn't mean your dog can join you on the hikes.

Check private RV parks and campgrounds in Springdale and nearby towns — they typically have more last-minute availability and full hookups the park's own campgrounds don't offer. Free dispersed camping outside the park has become less reliable since BLM's 2026 SR-9 camping plan took effect, so don't count on it as a guaranteed backup. If camping falls through entirely, see the Zion lodging guide for hotel and rental options.