Dispersed camping opportunities in the St. George region include several BLM areas within a 30-minute drive of downtown. The elevation variation between city-level sites (2,700 feet) and higher areas like Pine Valley (7,000+ feet) creates temperature differences of 15-20°F, providing camping options year-round. In summer months, temperatures regularly exceed 100°F at lower elevations, making higher elevation campsites significantly more comfortable.
What to do
Hike to dinosaur tracks: Red Cliffs Campground provides direct access to trails with unique prehistoric features. "This campground is very nice, but a bit crowded in the day. The sites all had covered picnic tables and the area was very clean," notes one camper at Red Cliffs Campground. Another visitor mentions, "Apparently, you can hike through the slots to see petroglyphs and even dinosaur tracks."
Cool off in the reservoir: Sand Hollow State Park offers water recreation with beautiful red sand beaches. "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 a visitor at Westside Campground — Sand Hollow State Park. One camper adds, "Great place even for a day trip and conveniently located close to St. George."
Play lawn games and sports: Several RV parks offer recreational amenities beyond swimming. A reviewer at Southern Utah RV Resort notes, "Basketball half court, small playground for kids, corn hole area, community fire pit area," all available for guests. The resort also features "flat/low slope roads for the kids to ride their bikes" and "dog runs available."
What campers like
Convenient water recreation: Quail Creek State Park provides easy access to the reservoir for water activities. "You can rent kayaks and paddle boards. It was quiet, but close to town," explains one visitor. Another camper at Quail Creek State Park Campground adds, "The dock for non-motorized water craft is easy to access from the parking lot next to the camp ground. If you do not have gear with you, there is a rental shop on site."
Varying privacy levels: Snow Canyon offers different site layouts for different preferences. According to a visitor, "The sites themselves were clean (some sites are closer to other sites than others—look at the campground map before booking if you prefer space)." Another visitor at Snow Canyon pointed out the contrast between areas: "Only the RV sites have power, and the RV sites were pathetically small. They were basically parking spots with tiny shared picnic tables between them... If you're able to go without power and internet, the tent sites were fairly nice."
Child-friendly facilities: WillowWind RV Park maintains family amenities that guests appreciate. "They had a really fun cabin with a pool table and games and movies that all the campers were allowed to use," mentions one camper at WillowWind RV Park. The campground features "concrete sites with lots of trees. The shade is amazing in that heat," which is particularly important for families with children during summer months.
What you should know
Tent sites vs. RV sites: Many campgrounds offer dramatically different experiences depending on accommodation type. At Snow Canyon State Park Campground, a visitor notes, "The non-hookup sites are MUCH better than the ones with hookups. The hookup sites are VERY narrow (some as little as 10 feet wide) and difficult to pull into. I would not recommend staying in them."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. A Quail Creek visitor warns, "They lock you out of the park by 10pm, that is kind of annoying!" Another camper elaborates, "While it wasn't private, we didn't feel right up against the other sites. Not being from Utah, the hours limiting when you can come and go from the campground were annoying."
Cell service variability: Connectivity varies dramatically between campgrounds and carriers. At Red Cliffs Campground, "Cell signal is very good for TMobile, not so good for Verizon or ATT." One reviewer at Southern Utah RV Resort reported, "AT&T coverage was quite good, with 4 Bars of 5G service and speeds up to 22 MB/s. We didn't use the CG WiFi, since cell service was so good."
Tips for camping with families
Find shade protection: The desert heat makes shade essential for family camping. At Zion River Resort, "All spots have a tree with grass, picnic table and concrete pads. Also has small playground and dog park. Access to Virgin River with a primitive trail." This combination provides cooling options during hot days.
Consider campground activity schedules: Some resorts offer organized activities. A visitor at McArthur's Temple View RV Resort shares, "This campground has a very nice rec center and plenty of activities during the winter months. We visited right after their winter season when there were no activities planned. We still enjoyed the spring warmth and their large outdoor pool."
Look for sites with grass: In the desert environment, grassy sites provide comfort for families. "Despite basically being in a desert, the park had lush grass in every spot and a dense tree cover. It was about 10 degrees cooler in the park because of the shade from the trees," reports a WillowWind RV Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Check tunnel clearance: Large vehicles may face restrictions on certain routes. A Red Cliffs Campground visitor warns, "You have to go under the interstate thru two narrow concrete tunnels, they are 11.9 high, so be careful, many large RVs, 5th wheels, Class As will not fit!!"
Consider site selection timing: At McArthur's Temple View RV Resort, the layout can be confusing: "After check in we were escorted to our site and given information about the park. The strange was it wasn't clear on where to park the tow vehicle, although you will have plenty of room once you figure it out. It just looks like you are parking in another site."
Be aware of water issues: Water pressure problems can occur at busy campgrounds. One RV camper at Zion River Resort reported, "Only issue we had the 2 days we stayed was low water pressure entire stay. Called the office to see if the pressures could be raised and was told to wait a few minutes and try. Well I tried around 100 times for taking a shower and ended up unable to in our new RV."
