Best Dispersed Camping near St. George, UT
Public lands surrounding St. George, Utah feature extensive dispersed camping options on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service land. Cedar Pockets Pass Road, located 25 minutes from St. George, offers free camping with established fire pits and room for multiple vehicles. Leeds Canyon Dispersed sites, situated in Dixie National Forest just a few miles from Interstate 15, provide numbered sites with varying accessibility. The region includes numerous BLM areas near Zion National Park, such as Hurricane Cliffs BLM Dispersed and Kolob Terrace Road Dispersed, where campers can find primitive sites with panoramic desert views.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with many sites requiring careful navigation. As one camper noted, "The road to the mesa is very washboarded and will rattle the daylights out of your car." High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing upper campsites at locations like Dalton Wash Dispersed and Gooseberry Mesa. Most dispersed sites lack amenities, with no water, toilets, or trash service available. Cell service is surprisingly robust in many locations, with one reviewer reporting "very strong (20mbps) cell reception on both ATT and T-Mobile" at Gooseberry Mesa. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F, while winter nights can drop below freezing. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, particularly in summer months.
Scenic views consistently rank as the top highlight in camper reviews. A visitor to Cedar Pockets Pass noted, "My site has epic 360 views that make you feel like you're in the Grand Canyon." Many sites fill quickly during peak seasons, especially those closest to Zion National Park. Arriving by mid-afternoon is recommended to secure preferred locations. The 14-day stay limit applies to most BLM and Forest Service sites in the region. Several areas feature established fire rings and can accommodate various camping styles from tents to large RVs. Campers frequently mention the importance of proper preparation, as one reviewer advised: "No facilities or water but lots of space around so that if nature calls, you can get away from camp and have epic views to answer its call in private."
