Best Campgrounds near Rockville, UT

The small town of Rockville, Utah serves as a gateway to multiple camping options within a short drive, particularly those surrounding Zion National Park. Watchman Campground and South Campground, both located inside Zion National Park about 10 minutes from Rockville, provide developed sites with basic amenities and convenient access to park shuttles and trails. For those seeking alternatives to the often-crowded national park campgrounds, several BLM dispersed camping areas exist along Kolob Terrace Road and near Virgin, offering free primitive camping with spectacular canyon views. Private options include Zion River Resort in Virgin and Zion Canyon Campground in Springdale, both providing full hookups, showers, and amenities not found in public campgrounds.

Reservations are essential for camping in this region, particularly during the peak season from March through October. As one camper noted, "Watchman is difficult to get a reservation for but worth it." Sites at Watchman and South campgrounds often book six months in advance. Weather varies dramatically by season, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F in the canyons while winter brings occasional snow and freezing temperatures. Many BLM dispersed sites require high-clearance vehicles to access, with one reviewer warning about Toquerville Falls: "This is NOT a 2 wheel drive adventure. It's strictly 4 wheel drive only. Hike it first to end don't ruin your vehicle for this."

The Virgin River corridor provides water-adjacent camping opportunities at several locations, though sites near water fill quickly. Campers consistently mention the dramatic red rock scenery as a highlight, with one visitor describing Sand Hollow State Park as having "scenery something out of an outer space movie, making you feel more like you're on a distant planet of bright red sand, black mountains, and crystal blue water." Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with national park campgrounds enforcing quiet hours while areas popular with off-road enthusiasts like Sand Hollow can be considerably louder. Many campgrounds in the region have limited or no shade, making summer camping challenging without proper preparation for the intense desert heat.

Best Camping Sites Near Rockville, Utah (263)

    1. Watchman Campground — Zion National Park

    242 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3837

    $35 - $130 / night

    "Sites were typical National Park, small and close together but well positioned.  We had close access to a modern restroom that was clean and well maintained.  "

    "Watchman is conveniently located within walking distance of the Zion National Park south entrance. The camp sites are shaded with trees and red gravel/sand ground structure."

    2. Westside Campground — Sand Hollow State Park

    569 Reviews
    Hurricane, UT
    18 miles
    +1 (435) 680-0715

    $50 / night

    "It’s fun of all sorts, kayaking, lake beach, boating, cliff jumping, bbq, off-roading everywhere!!! And the beauty that surrounds is unreal!!"

    "It’s always a family favorite when we go to Southern Utah"

    3. Zion Canyon Campground

    92 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3237

    "Lovely spot with a river running along one side, but only people with river spots have access to it! Conveniently within the nice town of Springdale and very close to park entrance."

    "The location is definitely a highlight, it’s just a short walk to the park entrance, which made getting in and out of Zion really convenient. "

    4. South Campground — Zion National Park

    91 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3256

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Perfect location just a short walk away from the visitors center where you catch the shuttle into the park, or exit to catch the shuttle to Springdale. Clean bathrooms. No shade at site 125."

    "Located right inside of the National Park area just a few hundred yards from the visitor center this place is the hardest reservation to get at Zion because it is always filling up."

    5. Zion River Resort

    74 Reviews
    Virgin, UT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 822-8594

    "At the site we were on there was a creek behind us which we loved and so did our dogs! Friendly neighbors! Beautiful place. Located close to Zion park. A lot of off road adventures near by"

    "The park is 10minutes away from Zion National Park and about 2hrs from Bryce Canyon. The park is adjacent to the Virgin River. Walking path to the river is great for kids."

    6. North Creek Dispersed Camping

    44 Reviews
    Virgin, UT
    8 miles
    Website

    "Sandy and right off road. Road noise minimal if any after dark."

    "Great access to Zion. There were a bunch of open sites when we got there (4pm) some were along the stream too. We have a Honda Fit and we’re able to camp just fine. Saw a few smaller pull behinds."

    7. Kolob Terrace Road Dispersed

    38 Reviews
    Virgin, UT
    8 miles
    Website

    "All around a great spot. Right next to the creek, generally quiet with few other campers. Nice and dark at night for star gazing, and shade trees for during the day."

    "Spots tucked next to trees that shelter from sunrise, if you’re a late riser ;)"

    8. Zion RV and Campground (Hi-Road)

    45 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 648-3302

    $40 - $54 / night

    "Also a nice little restaurant within walking distance (right across the street)."

    "Pool, laundry, snacks and not to mention walking distance to everything in town. There is a nice river running behind the camp ground"

    9. Sheep Bridge BLM Area (Hurricane Cliffs Trail System) - Utah

    32 Reviews
    Virgin, UT
    9 miles
    Website

    "Cool biking, hiking and off-roading trails. Peaceful and secluded as you can look off into the mesas and up at the best view of the stars I've seen."

    "The sheeps bridge road that gets out through the campsites has camping options from right off the highways to deep into the fields by the virgin river canyon."

    10. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

    29 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 293-5444

    "The campground is located away from the resort features which we appreciated, so that is was a little more of an authentic camping experience."

    "We were just looking for a place to sleep, checked out the first camping outside of Zion east entrance and decided to check out the next closest one according to info from the Zion ranger."

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Recent Reviews near Rockville, UT

2114 Reviews of 263 Rockville Campgrounds


  • Ruben G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Kolob Road BLM Dispersed

    Easy access near Zion

    The road is a bit bumpy but there are a few spots to camp. Amazing views during sunset and sunrise. Look out for the fire restrictions as there was a level 2 restriction on this BLM area during the stay. Some road noise after 7am from the occasional car.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Seaman Wash Dispersed

    Not good for trailers

    So this is a very, very long, box bladed, very smooth dirt road. On either side it looks as if a snow plow has come through and just piled up the dirt. In some places over 2’ high. Near the entrance, there are various places where folks have pulled off into the sand and parked/camped. However, the areas are small and still very bumpy & sandy. There are a few places where it looks like off roaders come for fun, but with all the very prickly underbrush, it’s not very “camping” friendly. The road is VERY long, and I was driving a 2WD van, towing a utility trailer. I turned down the road to scout out a place for us to park our 5th wheel for the night. Eventually the small camping spots disappeared and all there was were walls of dirt on either side with no where to turn around in site. Judging from the map the dirt road went on for a few more miles. I decided not to go any farther as there was zero cell service and my phone went into satellite SOS mode. I’m so thankful I did not get stuck trying to turn around, that would have been a very long walk in the dark back to the main road. I will say that it is very remote, and the road is wide and flat and smooth enough to just park on for the night if you don’t require a camping spot, but DO NOT attempt to pull a trailer in here unless you feel like during all the way to the end to turn around, or want to back allllll the way out. I finally stopped to turn around about 2 miles in, at the cattle guard. I very nearly got stuck in the very soft dirt. I have no idea

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    North Creek Dispersed Camping

    Great Spot Right Outside Zion

    Great spot 20 minutes outside south entrance outside of Zion. We were here Monday night and Tuesday. Arrived mid afternoon Monday and there was only 2 other people. It did fill up later in the evening but there was still several sites available and looked like maybe more down the road. Campsites are decent spaced out no one was too close.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Starlight Camping

    Close to perfect

    We really enjoyed staying at site 22. All the sites are incredibly well maintained and the camp host is so friendly. There’s flush toilets, showers with hot water, a clean place to wash dishes and they provide 5 gallon buckets of water if you want to have a fire (as required by the fire Marshall). It’s a little close to 89 so there’s a bit of road noise, but that’s really not a big deal.

  • F
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Duck Creek

    Great campground. Will come back for sure!

    We had a great stay! The campground is well-kept with clean restrooms, and the camp host was super friendly and welcoming. We loved the convenience of having a little town just 5 minutes away for anything we needed. We stayed in Loop A since Loops B and C are under renovation. The only downside was the traffic noise at night/day which can get a bit loud, but overall it was a very nice campground.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    McArthur's Temple View RV Resort

    Great Zion base with a dinghy

    Met with the Bigfoot Owner’s Club International (BOCI) here for rally. Very nice helpful staff. Nice amenities. Off load your mini foot and check it out. Great food nearby if you’re too tired to cook. Be sure you have an awning or pop up for shade!

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Bryce Zion Campground

    Bryce Zion RV park and campground

    Its a pleasant enough little place. THe 1st couple nights we were here, there were several families with several children. Very loud and made the dogs nervous, but hey- let kids be kids. We weren't sad to see them go. Its the perfect spot situated 1/2 way between Bryce and Zion, we stayed 6 much needed nights. Staff small but extremely friendly and helpful. Nice laundry. Nice bathrooms and showers. Good prices, the store was a bit sparse, but coming on the end of the season, so it's understandable. There is a pool which we did not use. The RV sites are a little crammed together with your neighbors hookups quite close to your RV.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Panquitch Lake Cliffside Campsite

    Small Cliffside campsite overlooking Panquitch Lake

    This campsite can be utilized with Campers, RVs or tents and has a great view of the Lake and cabin areas around Panquitch Lake.  Dirt road access with many trails and jeep roads that connect surrounding areas including Escalante, Utah.  Don't attempt to get to this site if raining or snowing, roads are slick and impassable.


Guide to Rockville

Camping sites near Rockville, Utah typically experience temperature swings of 30°F between day and night in spring and fall, requiring layered clothing for comfort. Located at 3,700 feet elevation, Rockville serves as a strategic base for exploring both the lower desert campgrounds and higher elevation options in the surrounding public lands. Most dispersed camping areas require visitors to pack in all water and pack out all waste.

What to do

Kayak the Virgin River: Access points near North Creek Dispersed Camping offer opportunities for paddling when water levels permit. "This has been a great spot with lots of places to camp. Along this road there are several dispersed camp sites but this ground has some trees with shade if you go further in," notes Tyler D.

Mountain bike Hurricane Cliffs: The trail system near Sheep Bridge BLM Area features routes for various skill levels. "Cool biking, hiking and off-roading trails. Peaceful and secluded as you can look off into the mesas and up at the best view of the stars I've seen," reports Liv L.

Night photography: The minimal light pollution makes these areas ideal for astrophotography. "We woke up the next morning to a light dusting of snow, but were not cold during the night," explains Katie M. about her winter stay at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

Explore lesser-known canyons: Side canyons offer solitude away from crowded park areas. "Another campground that provides quick, free access to Zion National Park and a large part of the St. George area. There is camping all along Sheep Bridge road," mentions Alan B.

What campers like

River access: Campers appreciate sites near water for cooling off in summer heat. "The beach is mostly clean, sometimes rude people leave behind garbage but the main culture their helps out to maintain a clean peaceful and fun environment!" notes Jodi M. about Westside Campground at Sand Hollow State Park.

Dark skies for stargazing: Areas away from towns offer exceptional night viewing. "The stars were gorgeous! Zion is only a 25 minute drive from this BLM!!" exclaims Olivia K. about her experience at Sheep Bridge BLM.

Proximity to east entrance: Staying near the east entrance means different traffic patterns than the main canyon. "This campground is right outside the east entrance to Zion, which was super convenient. It's right off the highway, which makes it easy to get to but not super quiet," writes Micahlyn W.

Community feel: Some campers enjoy the social aspects of campgrounds. "We experienced a first: It was Halloween and many of the kids camped around us dressed up in costumes and went trick or treating. Many campers put up festive lighting and one even set up a full size inflatable castle which was a big hit," describes Rod D.

What you should know

Reservation timing: For in-park sites, planning is crucial. "Sites at Watchman Campground often book six months in advance. You MUST make reservations online 6 months in advance to get a spot and they go SO FAST!" explains Brittany S.

Heat management: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F with minimal shade at many sites. "Very hot in the summer, and the shoreline of the lake has a bad case of the Swimmer's Itch," warns Michael J. about Sand Hollow State Park.

Vehicle requirements: Some dispersed sites require appropriate vehicles. "If you have a vehicle with high clearance, take the creek crossing and you will have many more options!" advises Morgan L. about North Creek Dispersed Camping.

Facilities vary widely: From full hookups to no amenities, know what's available. "The showers/bathrooms are very clean and you are given shower coins per person/per day," explains Taylor C.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming alternatives: When rivers run high or low, consider reservoir options. "Sand Hollow State Park Camping is such a good time. The summer nights by the beach camping out with your people and your dogs is one of my favorites," shares Jodi M.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds have resident wildlife. "We had deer strolling through our campsite in the morning," reports Bonnie M. about South Campground.

Recreation options: Some campgrounds offer built-in activities. "Lots of fun for kids. Horseback riding, putt putt golf, pad boards, cabins, tents and Rv sites," explains David G. about Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

Shade considerations: For summer camping, prioritize shade. "Our site was mostly level with a grill (that was closed to use due to fire risk) and a shade structure with a picnic bench," notes Michele H.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Level sites with appropriate hookups matter. "Sites were typical National Park, small and close together but well positioned. We had close access to a modern restroom that was clean and well maintained. Parking for an extra vehicle was close by and convenient," explains Rod D.

Connectivity challenges: Cell service varies throughout the area. "There is virtually no cell signal in Virgin. Certainly not enough to even begin to create a hot spot. There is wifi (and we even had a booster on our site)...but there was still terribly connectivity," warns Reuben about Zion River Resort.

Accessibility concerns: Some areas have challenging approaches. "You def need a higher up car to get to where I went. I have a Honda HRV and took it really slow and didn't have any issues," shares Mads G. about dispersed camping options.

Weather preparation: Elevation impacts temperatures significantly. "We experienced sunny days, cold nights and even a little snow. Regardless of the weather, Watchman is the best place to park your camper and venture out to experience the best of Zion NP," advises Rod D.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rockville, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rockville, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 263 campgrounds and RV parks near Rockville, UT and 99 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rockville, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rockville, UT is Watchman Campground — Zion National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 242 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rockville, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 99 free dispersed camping spots near Rockville, UT.