Central is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Central. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"There’s of shade from the trees and a beautiful creek.
We arrived at around 3pm and no one was around. By 5pm a good amount of people started driving in a picking their spots."
"Went to the right from the entrance all the way to end next to a private property. It’s really quiet and more secluded. You see other campers but you have privacy and your own place."
"We camped in a tent and it was really flat which made sleeping easy! The roads were a little rough from previous rain fall but not too bad! We were able to go to a site pretty far in, in a Kia forte."
"Recommend driving in and finding your spot with daylight versus at night like we did."
"I stayed in dispersed camping spot #5 arriving on August 31st, 2020. There are 11 or 12 designated spots here."
"This campsite is located among some of the most beautiful landscapes. On your way in, you drive past fancy homes until the road becomes dirt."
"Leeds Canyon Dispersed camp sites are on the Dixie NF. Lower dispersed sites 1-6 are easiest to get into with a TT. Camp in designated spots, camping free for 16 days. No water, no trash, no toilets."
"It was only a 1-2 block walk to Leeds Creek to sit on a rock and soak feet in creek. “Children’s Forest at the Kiln” maybe 1/4 mile down from site. A sweet little trail leading to a historical kiln."
"There are no fees but also no amenities. So please, if you pack it in then you need to pack it out. Bring plenty of water for drinking and cleaning."
"Great camping close to Zion! There are some shaded spots but they get taken quick. There were lots of spots out in the open and we ended up at one of those."
"Leeds Canyon Dispersed camp sites are on the Dixie NF. Lower dispersed sites 1-6 are easiest to get into with a TT. Camp in designated spots, camping free for 16 days."
"We got in late last night (1am) and had to drive pretty deep in to find a site. I’ve camped here several times en route to Colorado and it’s always a good choice."
$40 / night
"Lakeside dispersed camping is competitive, so get there early on a Friday if you plan to be there over a weekend."
"They're at your campsite and all the trails. I'll definitely recommend this place and will be coming back!
Always remember folks if you bring it, you pack it out!"
"Nice flat soft area for tent tucked in trees out of wind. Beautiful views and lots of birds."
"Nice site with tent area tucked in the trees. Drove our Subaru Outback wilderness. Roads very nice. Leeds creek runs behind it, nice sound of water."
"This was a lovely experience - we got in quite late and were afraid there were no spots left - we’d almost given up, and likely would’ve, if we’d found a place to turn around before we finally came to"
ScoutAt the far corner of an unassuming neighborhood, there’s a dirt road with a couple signs saying no shooting and no camping. They’re referring to the first three miles of that road. It’s a narrow road with unusually high walls but easy to drive. Make sure you go all 3 miles until you reach the big classic BLM Public Lands sign after which is the start of your options. There’s a few quite large turnoffs with fire pits
LegendLeeds Canyon Dispersed camp sites are on the Dixie NF. Lower dispersed sites 1-6 are easiest to get into with a TT. Camp in designated spots, camping free for 16 days. No water, no trash, no toilets. Sites are along a well maintained FS gravel road so dust may be a concern. Only a few miles outside of Leeds and Interstate 15.
Leeds Canyon #2 is behind #1 a hundred yards but requires high clearance and 4wd to access....no TT or RVs. Nice big open area with views for the overlander types
GuideWe stayed here for a week while waiting for a package to arrive in Cedar City. The gap is a beautiful place and the petroglyphs would be as well were it not for the vandalism on them. On some camping apps people are saying just camp anywhere out here. I wanted to clarify that. While there are lots of places to camp please don't make new campsites or drive off roads and in the desert/grass. We stayed in a lovely spot on Jackrabbit Road, but had to drive over a mile to find what I consider an established site. All along the road there is damage from people driving and camping wherever they want. This is tragic and violates leave no trace. So does the many bullet shell casings, broken glass, dog turds, old gun targets, shotgun shells, etc, out here. This is how public lands get closed. It's a nice place and we saw respectful campers, OHV'rs, and bicyclists. Just use existing campsites and roads.
GuideI stayed in dispersed camping spot #5 arriving on August 31st, 2020. There are 11 or 12 designated spots here. There is a sign on the right side once you enter the Forest Service Road that maps all the hiking trails and dispersed camping sites available in the Leeds Creek dispersed camping area. No 4x4 is necessary to get to spots 1- 5. I didn't go all the way up the mountain and see the other spots. The entrance to spot 5 is a horseshoe shape big enough and convenient for an RV. However, for tent campers, you will want to go beyond the bushes for wind coverage and privacy. The space opens up with trails, amazing views, you can here the creek burbling below the canyon. Spectacular stargazing at night and pretty quiet aside from some road traffic. NOTE: tent campers; park your vehicle with visibility in the horseshoe drive in to avoid unbeknownst camp crashers. The coverage is good enough for tent campers that someone could easily believe the campsite was not taken. Also, bees like your trashbag. So, keep it in your vehicle rather than hanging it. Lastly, sadly there was A LOT of litter when I visited. I did my best to clean some of it up while I was there. Please remember to pack in/pack out and leave no trace!!
LegendIll start off by saying that you should probably have an AWD or 4WD high clearance vehicle for the upper campsites. There are campsites lower on but are right next to the road. Getting there you'll want to follow Dalton Wash Rd all the way to the plateau, staying left the whole way unless its private property.
There are no bathrooms or amenities here so either come prepared or take care of business before heading up or inbetween excursions. The good thing from that is you'll be pretty secluded! (Cant speak for the peak months as we visited in May) The upper campsites are ~45 minutes from Zion with the lower sites being only 30 minutes away! Summer may not be the best time to visit as the sites are kind of exposed and theres not a ton of shade
GuideSandy and shady free Campground near Zion Natl Park. Easy access even with a car for the most spots. Crossing the creek there are more spots but not recommended without high clearance and 4x4. Beautiful sunset and shady in the morning. No highway noise. No fires permitted. Max stay 14 days. Love this place and the murmurs of the creek. Fills up very quickly around 6pm in the summer.
LegendThis area is up BLM Road #71 and was the old hwy. The actual main camping area is an old gravel pit area but views are great, solar is plentiful. Free BLM Dispersed, no signage, no water, no toilets, no trash. Cell was 1-2 5g bars for me. Road access is rough broken hwy pavement, just go slow. Second road on left to GP area.
ScoutAfter seeing how crowded hurricane cliffs were, camped on the left fork after the Windmill trailhead. Gooseberry mesa biking is incredible. The road to the mesa is very washboarded and will rattle the daylights out of your car. The sites are fairly spaced out and have great views. vault toilets at both trailheads but no water. Very strong (20mbps) cell reception on both ATT and T-Mobile. You will need to come from the apple valley side unless you have a very high clearance 4wd car. Smithsonian butte is no joke, I did it in my SUV with 8.5 inches of clearance and I would not repeat it.
LegendLeeds Canyon Dispersed camp sites are on the Dixie NF. Lower dispersed sites 1-6 are easiest to get into with a TT. Camp in designated spots, camping free for 16 days. No water, no trash, no toilets. Sites are along a well maintained FS gravel road so dust may be a concern. Only a few miles outside of Leeds and Interstate 15.
Dispersed #3 is a large back in spot next to the parking for a trailhead, so activity and noise is possible during weekends.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Central, Utah, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of options, this area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a unique camping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Central, UT is North Creek Dispersed Camping with a 4.6-star rating from 42 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 72 dispersed camping locations near Central, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
