Looking for tent camping near Dixie National Forest? Find the best information on tent camping near Dixie National Forest, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Utah tent camping excursion.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a developed campground. In some popular dispersed camping areas, camping is limited to designated sites only. Dispersed camping is free, therefore no services; such as trash removal, and little or no facilities; such as tables and fire pits, are provided.
There are extra responsibilities and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. It is your responsibility to know these before you go camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.
Rules for Dispersed Camping Motorized vehicle use for the purpose of dispersed camping is only allowed 150 feet from any designated route to limit resource damage. Use existing campsites. Groups of over 75 people, who wish to use the forest, need to obtain a special use permit. There is no fee and permits can be obtained at the nearest Forest Service Office. You need to be self-contained. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. You may camp in a dispersed area for up to 16 days. After 16 days, you must move at least 10 miles for camping in another dispersed area. Please place your campsite at least 200 feet from any stream or other water source. Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Follow Leave No Trace principals. Contact a local Forest Service office to see if any fire restrictions are in place.
$15 - $40 / night
The perfect location for all your camping and RV needs conveniently located just East of the Zion National Park boundary. Our spacious and beautiful campground offers everything you will need for a perfect camping experience.
$40 - $54 / night
NESTled in the mountains near Panguitch, Utah, and is a prime location for camping with a great many places to visit nearby. All 2W Drive. Those being Bryce Canyon 23 miles, Zion Canyon 56 miles, Panguitch Lake 18 miles, Kodachrome Basin 32 miles, Petrified Forest 40 miles, Coral Pink Sand Dunes 63 miles, and many more.
$35 / night
This site is on the Riggs Spring Loop 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Rainbow Point. There is reliable water in the stream below the pumphouse that is just below the campsite. There are Aspens, Ponderosa Pines and Blue Spruce at the site as well as good views of the pink cliffs and out into the Grand Staircase.
*Bear Canister required and storage site for it.
Beautiful campsite on your way to pine lake
$35 / night
Guide
Found this place on the DYRT as we were looking for a place to check out when going from Bryce Canyon to Zion. And decided on Cedar city. Almost all RV sites in town were >$60/night, so we opted to dry camp. Pyramid Ridge was exactly what we wanted. And for only $12/night (plus a $8 reservation fee) it was well worth it. Highly recommend.
Guide
So close to Zion this is a great free camping spot. The access road is a bit bumpy as the pavement is potholed but no trouble in our Class C. Lots of spots to choose from and some great views to be had. Highly recommend
Traveler
A beautiful camp to set up RVs, vans, and tents. Plenty of space. There were several others here and did not feel close to anyone. Fire pits are available, but they are just slightly dug holes with small rocks. Recommend reinforcing the rocks before use.
Traveler
The area was very easy to find and very quiet. I arrived as sunset and only saw one camper. I know it is the end of the season, but other places right now are packed.
Make sure you camp in a designated spot, marked with posts and numbers.
T-Mobile work...2 bar LTE
Scout
Very clean restrooms, relatively quiet, well maintained.
TravelerWe rented a van from Escape camper vans and this spot of easy to find and get to! We saw a lot of people with campers and vans. We kept driving until site 10 which was the first one that was empty at about an hour before sunset. Very private and lots of fire wood! Right outside of Bryce NP. As we left early in the morning people were pulled off the side of the rode. Looked like they were just looking for a place to park overnight.
TravelerBumpy dirt road going in. Large area with plenty of private dispersed camping spots.
Guide
Pulled in around 9pm and found an empty site about .5 miles from Route 12. Awesome spot. Fire ring and very spacious. Managed to get 1-3 bars of T-Mobile 5G/LTE all night and morning.
Will most certainly revisit next time I’m in the area.
Guide
~$13.50/night to park in the gravel lot. I’ve got a RTT so it worked out perfectly. Full access to shop/restaurant, laundry, dish sink and shower (very hot, which was awesome).
Covered picnic tables and a communal fire pit nearby. Great alternative to the numerous BLM sites in and around town.
Ranger
Stayed in spot#51 in Arch Campground with water/electric hookup. Showers only available in Basin and Oasis group sites, which are down the dirt road to the main road and then further into the park from where we stayed (not walkable). Showers were good though, free and unlimited time. Took a trip over to check out Bryce View and sites 53, 57 and 59 were best. Site mostly level, has interesting views of surrounding natural features. Only one toilet bldg and it's at the entrance so not particularly convenient.
Food aside: Had dehydrated egg with chorizo, bacon, hash brown and cheese on hatch tortillas, mmm.
Guide
Loved this spot!! It’s quiet and has a creek and trees Lots of sand so don’t get stuck, you can go to Belly of the Dragon before anyone due to camping next to it!!
Guide
Very pretty spot. Clean and level campsites. Had a very hard time finding a site, very crowded. But once we did we loved it. BEWARE! Someone stole our trailer break emergency breakaway cord, it was a pain in the butt. Hopefully it was just a one time thing.
Guide
Ruby’s tent area was separate enough for the hordes of RVs to make it an okay place to stay. Lots of car campers in this area (like us) and enough elbow room that you are not on top of each other. They advertise free WiFi, but it is a weak throttled network that is frustrating to even open email on. The good news- great cell service in Bryce!
It was a decent choice to be able to book in advance. The people were nice at check in and the Bryce shuttle runs from this location.
Scout
Not a bad camp spot but it was hard to find a level spot. We were staying in our rooftop tent and had to find rocks to level out
Guide
I enjoyed my stay here. I pitched a tent and drove a Honda Accord there. There was great cell service a bathroom/rest stop within 5 minutes and this is only a 15 minute drive to Bryce canyon NP.
Traveler
Great spot not far from Bryce Park entrance. Quiet and lots of spots to choose from. We were pulling a 20 ft trailer.
GuideEasy to get to, plenty of room and quiet. One of the best spots we've stayed in. Vault toilets across the highway if needed.
GuideTent site are not marked. The map is incorrect that is given to you. Clean bathrooms and showers. Walking distance to general store and gift shop. The two things keeping it from 5 stars is the unmarked tent sites and (in my opinion) the people are weird in the area
Scout
We were driving through looking for a quick place to pull off the highway for the night. It's a few tarred miles off the road, but wauper esy to find, even at 11:30 pm when we stopped. There was only one car that came in after us.
GuideWe enjoyed the stay at Ruby‘s Inn. Clean Facilities, a lot of options to do laundry and a lot of space. There is a free shuttle to get to Bryce Canyon NP.
Guide
The tent site were a little tight for our camper van so they pro rated us the tent price for the first night. Very clean showers and bathrooms. Washing machines and dryers available for a fee in an air conditioned room. Very friendly staff!
Traveler
This family run business knows what travelers need and will do whatever possible to accommodate them. I asked for a larger space as I have a rescue dog that’s reactive, and they accommodated me. And as I was getting ready to leave I checked my tires and noticed they were low. The young woman at the front desk called around and found a place where I could get air in them! Super clean bathrooms and showers, with ample washers and dryers, too. All of this and a great location. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay again.
GuideCame to camp after dark. Had to travel 7-8 miles off the main road. Sites are sporadic- lots of big campsites with lots of people, so it took a bit to find a secluded spot. Some trees. Very few fall branches for fire. Beautiful views.
Guide
The campground is well kept, and the bathrooms are nice and clean, there is water, but no electricity. Spots are close together, no privacy and generator noise every morning and every evening
Legend
This so called designated dispersed is actually more like a regular developed CG, with gravel pads, and a vault toilet. Don't even come on from the north on that sketch road, it was narrow rocky and VERY STEEP into the hole the CG is in. Come on on south end thru the subdivision housing area.
Legend
Dispersed camping at an area called LAVA FLAT in the Dixie NF above Panguitch Utah. 8330 elv here in mixed conifer aspen. No numbered sites at this location even though this area is identified as a DESIGNATED site dispersed camping area. Seems to be about 8 sites on both sides of the hwy. No vault toilets, no water, no dumpsters. Paved road all the way to the jct of the short dirt side roads. Cell was very weak LTE on T-Mobile. Starlink is the solution here for me. Seems this area has meadows for the sheep herders. In early Oct.
Guide
Clean bathrooms and showers ($2.50 for 8+min) and beautiful setting in the pines with the red sandstone hoodoos in front and red cliffs behind. I’d recommend it, but it is first come first serve with folks looking for sites before 8am on their way to Bryce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dixie National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dixie National Forest is Great Western Trail Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Dixie National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Dixie National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
