10 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Dog-friendly camping near Dixie National Forest ranges from free dispersed sites with minimal restrictions to developed campgrounds with full hookups, making it one of the more flexible regions in Utah for camping with pets. Several dispersed camping areas, including FS #117 Rd Dispersed Camping and Toms Best Spring Road, feature pet-friendly policies with no designated pet facilities but ample space for dogs to explore. Campgrounds with more amenities include Ruby's Inn RV Park and Campground, where pets are welcome with access to full hookup sites, cabins, and established facilities. Red Canyon Campground provides pet-friendly camping with picnic tables, drinking water, and trash disposal, though pets must remain leashed in developed areas. Bathrooms at Hitch-N-Post RV Campground remain exceptionally clean with sites that accommodate large rigs while welcoming pets.
Several forest roads provide access to free dispersed camping where pets can roam more freely while supervised. FR 090 dispersed camping areas rate highly among pet owners seeking minimal restrictions for camping with dogs. Great Western Trail Dispersed camping accommodates tent campers with pets in a more primitive setting. Both North and Sunset Campgrounds within Bryce Canyon National Park allow pets in campgrounds though not on most trails within the park itself. The surrounding Dixie National Forest provides extensive pet-friendly hiking opportunities on designated trails. During summer months, early morning or evening walks prove best for pets due to hot daytime temperatures on exposed trails. The small town of Panguitch offers basic veterinary services and pet supplies for camping emergencies.
"Bryce Canyon campgrounds were full, as well as the nearby designated campsites at Red Canyon. "
"We decided on this camping spot as our first camping trip out in Utah, and we could not have picked a better place! The location is everything."
"Our camper was nestled in the trees with a hill behind the camper, where we could also explore."
"We rented a pull behind trailer to tow behind our LR4. We were looking for a clean, established campground with full hook ups, as close to Bryce Canyon NP as a possible."
"The sites are tucked into cozy piney woods that belies the massive red, rocky hoodoos just a few yards away in the amphitheater. "
"I was only able to spend a short time here on my Utah National Park road trip this year but I really fell in love with this place."
Available next weekend
from $30 / night
"About 38ish mixed use sites (tents and campers mixed in, although most RVs and campers were on the one side and tents on the other loop) right on Highway 12, so there is road noise all day (but it quiets"
"It's in the Dixie National Forest about 12 miles from the entrance to Bryce Canyon NP."
from $30 - $60 / night
"Dispersed camping in the beautiful Ponderosa pines of Dixie National Forest. The Forest Service road is easy to navigate. There are many dirt roads branching off of it with sites to choose from."
"It's a beautiful drive coming up here from Flagstaff and especially through Kanab, a sweet little town with such amazing people."
"Sunset is one of two campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwest Utah. Bryce is a beautiful canyon and a must see if you are touring southern Utah."
"Sunset Campground in Bryce Canyon National Park is beautiful and spacious, and is very close to some overlooks and the visitor's center."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $100 / night
"Found a secluded spot farther back on the road surrounded by trees and a beautiful view of distant mountains. Perfect place to get the dog some exercise too. Quiet and close to Bryce Canyon entrance."
"It was pretty busy when we arrived so our spot was next to the road. One bonus: short off-road drive to our spot"
"Do not park near the road if you can avoid it. Ruined our time here as groups with dirt bikes and ATVs speeding by. We could eat outside for the dust."
"Literally right next to the entrance of the national park! Magical area, very secluded, sites are spaced well apart, and roads aren’t too bad, though we had a high clearance vehicle."
"There is a dog park, horseshoe and cornhole courts. The beginning of June is the town's quilt walk. The end of June is the Balloon Festival. We will be back!!!"
"Full hookups drive through or back in however I did tent camping. perfect place to use as a hub when traveling the national parks in Utah!"
from $20 - $70 / night
"Great location around 10 miles to Bryce. Cell reception is great Verizon and Att. Nice bike path through red canyon and up to Bryce. Lots of dirt trails in the Dixie Forest."
"Nice paved bike path right at the entrance of the dispersed camping area. We drove in about a mile on a nice gravel main road. Found a nice secluded spot about 100 yards off the main road."
LegendNothing too grand. Most sites are very off level for van camping. Each site has a pretty leveled off space for tents. Pit toilets are some of the cleanest ones I have ever seen. Bike trails go through this campground as well. Sign in front states 12$ a night booking online only. With an 8$ fee. So 20$
ScoutLarge clean park with new improvements. Only drawback might be the payment kiosk was a bit confusing and the layout of the big RV area was a bit ambiguous.
GuideStayed for 2 nights at the Bryce View CG (no hookups). Was very quiet with beautiful views from our site. Sites are well spaced and most feel private. Flush toilets but no hot water in this CG bathroom, potable water and dumpster, and firewood available (small bundles) at the CG for $10/each (cash only) so I would recommend stopping to get some outside the park. Basin CG loop has bathrooms with hot water and great hot showers (free...included in your camping fee). There is a nice store/gift shop and you can also rent mountain bikes. Several hiking trails. Beautiful hiking among the sandstone formations. Beautiful park.
TravelerEasy to find and gravel roads throughout and easy to navigate.
GuideNice views and close to town yet far enough away to be quiet. Only a couple other people here. Most sites are pretty small and on the back half the most are pretty slanted. We had to change sites because the first one required 12 inches at the front to get level. Road in is a little bump but not bad at all.
TravelerWe parked just past the gate/cattle guard to the left. Good location relative to Bryce Canyon. Spaces seemed to be sparse and spread out. The road has pretty deep tire ruts and mud (at least this time of the year) so we had to be careful in our 2Wd car. Otherwise, spaces were pretty flat. It was very cold, there was frost everywhere in the morning, so dress warmly! Showers are available at the Bryce canyon general store (in the park) for $5 / 8 minutes. Also potable water at the visitor center.
ScoutSpots are flat, easy access, good size and only about 10 miles from Bryce
GuideNice basic RV camp. Spot A04 was flat enough that leveling system was able to finish leveling without much effort. Bathrooms were clean but dated. Traffic noise was there but not overwhelming. Gas stations and grocery stores were near by making it convenient to restock or fill up before heading down the road. Staff was friendly and outgoing. Dog run was adequate in size.
GuideVery quiet in the shoulder season. Bathrooms were clean with flush toilets and hot water. We would definitely stay here again! Laundry and showers available at the Bryce Canyon Lodge General Store. Firewood also available for $8/bundle but in our experience it didn't burn very well. Propane and potable water is available at Ruby's CG outside the park and they allow you to use their laundry and showers even if you are not staying at Ruby's.
Dixie National Forest dispersed camping areas provide pet-friendly accommodations with minimal restrictions. Located at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, the forest creates a high-altitude camping environment with temperature drops of 30°F between day and night. Free campsites typically have primitive fire rings while designated campgrounds offer more structured facilities.
Hiking with dogs: Most forest trails welcome pets, unlike nearby Bryce Canyon where pets are restricted. A camper at Red Canyon Campground shares, "The hiking paths behind the campground are easy and fun, with spectacular views and NO crowds!"
Mountain biking access: Several forest roads provide connections to established bike routes. At Toms Best Spring Road, a reviewer noted, "Close to Bryce Canyon and easy access to Thunder Mountain trail loop, awesome moderate mt biking trail."
Wildlife viewing at dawn/dusk: Forest roads often lead to open meadows where deer congregate. One camper at FR 090 - dispersed camping observed, "Lots of wildlife walking around our tent area at night. It's very clean with a few fire pits and is a great temperature in early August."
Proximity to attractions: Most dispersed sites provide quick access to popular destinations while avoiding crowds. A camper at Great Western Trail Dispersed explained, "The distance back to the National Park was about 10-15 minutes from our camp spot, well worth it to stay outside the park and save some money as well as have a nice quiet and private area."
Cell connectivity: Unlike many remote areas, most Dixie Forest campsites maintain decent coverage. At Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed, a camper reported, "I also had full bars with Verizon so that was a plus."
Temperature regulation: The forest's pine coverage helps moderate summer heat. A visitor at Dave's Hollow noted, "Beautiful with woods surrounding our site... It's very clean with a few fire pits and is a great temperature in early August."
Variable road conditions: Forest roads can become difficult after rain or snow. A visitor to FR 090 commented, "It's a beautiful area but with the recent weather the road into the camping area was closed. Very wet and slick mud."
Seasonal closures: Many forest roads close from late fall through mid-spring. At North Campground — Bryce Canyon National Park, a winter camper noted, "You have to book through the reservations.gov website which proved to be problematic as they only open up a week or two due to weather changes this time of year."
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack any amenities. On the Great Western Trail, a visitor advised, "Due to fire restrictions, you need to drive 1173 or other older interstate dirt roads to find eligible camping areas. We found a great one about 50 yards back from the dirt road."
Best dog-friendly campgrounds in Dixie National Forest: While all forest sites allow pets, established campgrounds offer more structure. One family at Red Canyon Campground shared, "We got the chance to wonder and explore Bryce on foot and with our car. The trip was so amazing we plan on coming back but next trip we will have our bikes!"
Arrive early for weekend camping: Popular forest roads fill quickly on Fridays. A camper at FR 090 advised, "I'd say get here by 4P for a guaranteed spot on the weekend. Beautifully shaded open sites. About 3-5acres/site."
Pack for temperature swings: High elevation causes significant temperature drops at night. A tent camper noted, "We stayed in September and by the middle of the night it was about 20 degrees so bundle up!"
Level site availability: Many forest roads have naturally level pullouts. At Hitch-N-Post RV Campground, a reviewer mentioned, "Utilities conveniently located and easy to use. Sites were a bit tight but workable."
Rig size limitations: Not all forest roads accommodate larger vehicles. An RVer at Tom's Best Spring Road reported, "We couldn't go very far down the snow covered road due to only having a two wheel drive but it would be cake for any four wheel drive while there is snow. The road seems easy to navigate for a two wheel drive if there was no snow."
Solar panel considerations: Many sites balance tree cover with solar exposure. A boondocker at FR 090 observed, "Great solar gain for such a nice wooded spot."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Dixie National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Dixie National Forest is Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 70 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Dixie National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 191 dog-friendly camping locations near Dixie National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
