Mount Carmel Junction is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mount Carmel Junction and user-submitted reviews.
"This 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."
"You could easily use this as a base to explore Zion if you dont mind no facilities. The view was spectacular, and our spot had an already made fire pit."
"The road is rough I would recommend a high clearance vehicle to be able to drive farther. We don't have that so we were limited on how far we were willing to drive down the rough dirt road."
"Take the exit from 89 and cross the remnants of the old 89 road. You will find several spots with previously used fire rings."
"We loved this free camping area!
There aren't tons of spots(most of it is an open area), but we never had an issue getting one, even during spring break. "
"The section of the dispersed camping on the old highway road I chose was on a hilltop, so even though there wasn't much shade, the breezes were great and the views were even better."
"We stayed a few miles up into the public land. There’s a lot of off-road trails & it’s muddy, tons of fun wheeling! Found a spot on the top of a hill that was flat enough for us to set up camp."
"Unfortunately the dirt road is a pretty heavily used off-road trail so there were several groups that went by while we were there. Nothing annoying but they will be coming by."
"Not many flat spots, I found one for 24ft RV and have seen 2 people pull in, try other spots, and leave. If you want level ground you have to get the spot on the west side."
"Accessible to 2wd vehicles. Made it in fine in my Kia Forte. If you have a tent, you can walk down the slope a little bit for some nice canyon views."
"There was a small ranch/private property close to the beginning campsites and their dogs barked all night but wasn’t close enough to really bother us. Good view of the stars here too!"
"Great area, continued a little further down the road than GPS point and found a huge area with way too many campfire rings and a tree swing with views into poverty gulch."
"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."
"Very quiet place to stay near to the entrance of Zion Park. Access to the dispersed Campground is a little bit rough but if you go slowly it’s ok. You can see very beautiful sunset and sunrise."
"No fee and 14 day limit. Great site but be very careful with the very loose sand at these sites. Approximately 11 miles from the state park."
"We are in a 40ft Motorhome with a 24ft trailer and had plenty of room to maneuver around in the site. We will probably hit this one up again next winter. We had zero trouble driving across the sand."
"Watch weather the road seem like it could become sticky mud in rain. 5 stars for this free blm area expect for our July weather heat. Near belly of the dragon cave hike."
"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!!"
"Bought water and firewood from hosts. Onsite rental of ATVs and such for tours, mountainous sands at arms reach. Walked the 1/8 mile to the viewing area at sunset, great vantage point."
"Right off the road next to the northwest side of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Has an entrance for both pedestrians and OHV's to get into the dunes from here."
LegendDispersed 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. Chose a site relatively close to the forest service road. If you're sensitive to dust may want to choose a site further off the access road as there is lots of dust kicked up every time someone drove in or out on the gravel. Convenient location to Bryce (about 15 minutes). Cell service for Verizon.
When the rigs pulling in and out stopped, the only sounds were the braying of cows (the herd wandered into the site) and the wind blowing.
Views! Peaceful! Free!
LegendThis dispersed camping area is to the west of the more well known Tom Best Road Dispersed area. Still on Dixie NF but access road is native dirt one lane and no gravel or graded...so if very wet or rain could be sketchy access ( hence 3 stars). Sites are along the road upland side in flat spots and alcoves for about first mile or so. There are TT spots and also good overlander sites up higher. I would recon first before pulling a TT up there to make sure you can get a turnaround. No designated sites, no trash, tables, water or toilets. 14d limit. However cell signal is good if a clear line to Wilson peak antennas. Posted map screenshot shows my recon of campsites...trailer icon are sits with trailers, tent icon is more suited to overlander type setups with high clearance vehicles or smaller rigs.
TravelerGreat camping spot and so easy to get to. Nice dirt road. Don’t pay attention to the 4WD warning sign. You can get to many spots right off the road without it. We went maybe 1/4 mile off the highway and found a wide open field. Camper vans and RVs and 2 WD would be able to camp this
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
TravelerWhen our original dispersed camping spot didn’t work out we drove down the road and found this little gem, right outside the entrance to Bruce Canyon National Park. There are a bunch of designated USFS camping spots. They’re level-ish, fire rings, and pretty easy to get to. We have a 1992 (renovated!) motorhome and we got to spot 17 no problem. We could have gone to 17-19, but then the road got to rough for our old girl. Lots of quads and sideXsides riding on the dirt road, kicking up dust till about 8:30PM but was not a big deal. Solid free camping right near the park!
TravelerWe loved this free camping area!
There aren't tons of spots(most of it is an open area), but we never had an issue getting one, even during spring break.
It's close to Kanab and the east entrance of Zion.
Please Leave No Trace! Take care of this place so it can be enjoyed by many for as long as possible!
GuideOctober 15, 2020
We wanted to be close to Bryce Canyon but not in all of the hub and chaos of people. This location is about a 10 minute drive away from Bryce. This is the perfect location to get away from it all. When you first arrive, you will see plenty of spots for RV's and travel trailers. We traveled 1.8 miles and took a left turn on a small dirt road and found 5 or 6 campsites that were level and far away from each other. (We were the only one down this road).
The site was level with a lot of space to spread out. There was a firepit but no other facilities, so come prepared with everything you need. Due to fire restrictions, we didn't have a fire, and enjoyed seeing the Milky Way and shooting stars! There is a pit toilet across the highway before you turn into the BLM land.
We thought we would only stay for one night, but ended up there 2 nights since it was so beautiful!
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
GuideWe decided to disperse camp for the weekend of Halloween. Weather was beautiful, but cold during the evening due to the moisture in the air. The location is literally a few minutes off the 89A, not too hard to miss the service road turn off. We checked out the other sites about a mile in and everything was a little wet/muddy, so we decided to set camp at this location. According to Kaibab NF MVUM, dispersed camping is allowed along open FS roads (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd490027)..)
Space is very open with trees surrounding the area. This spot has a trail nearby, so we had seen a few hikers throughout the weekend. Previous campers created a firepit, but make sure to check with the North Kaibab rangers on fire restrictions (https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kaibab/alerts-notices)..). Surprisingly decent cell service(Tmobile/AT&T).
About an hour and half to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Along our trip there, we also went to Vermillion Cliffs/Marble Canyon. Very beautiful, must see places.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Mount Carmel Junction, Utah, where stunning landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape into nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mount Carmel Junction, UT is BLM Road #71 Gravel Pit Dispersed - BLM with a 4.5-star rating from 25 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 137 dispersed camping locations near Mount Carmel Junction, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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