Springdale is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Springdale, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Springdale, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"There’s of shade from the trees and a beautiful creek.
We arrived at around 3pm and no one was around. By 5pm a good amount of people started driving in a picking their spots."
"Went to the right from the entrance all the way to end next to a private property. It’s really quiet and more secluded. You see other campers but you have privacy and your own place."
"There are no fees but also no amenities. So please, if you pack it in then you need to pack it out. Bring plenty of water for drinking and cleaning."
"Great camping close to Zion! There are some shaded spots but they get taken quick. There were lots of spots out in the open and we ended up at one of those."
"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."
"Good camping site, would recommend a 4WD or AWD vehicle. The road up is steep and narrow, passing a lot of private property. Sites are out in the open, no shade."
"While you don’t need 4x4 during dry months, it will help with the drive. It’s steep, loose dirt until you start hitting rocks."
"Our class B camper van made it fine on the uneven terrain. Just go slow. The snow had melted from the previous day by the sun so it didn’t affect us. Easy to find a spot. Beautiful sun rises!"
". Found a nice little campsite that fit two camper vans. In a bit of depression, out of the wind. Woke up to a wonderful view."
"arrived in the dark but we were able to find a site in the 30’s range- loved it especially when we woke up in the morning and saw the view. we stayed a second night tucked into a ravine next to some boulders"
"Sites 1-12
PROS:
Stunning views
Free 14 day - although in 14 days we never saw anyone check
Verizon & ATT 4-5 bars even with no booster
Wide open, strong solar all but 1 day
20m to Zion NP,"
"After seeing how crowded hurricane cliffs were, camped on the left fork after the Windmill trailhead. Gooseberry mesa biking is incredible."
"As soon as you turn off the freeway, it's washboard all the way until you turn left onto Wire Mesa Trailhead.
From there, it's slow moving but nothing major."
"Close to the road without having to hear all the freeway traffic. It’s a good while away from the park (25 minutes maybe) but not too far that you feel like you are wasting gas."
"After unsuccessfully navigating an access point further down Kolob Terr road, we back tracked to an open field just off route 9. No trees or coverage, but enough space to spread out."
"Road was easy to pull down and turn around in my Ford Transit. Nice views and access to creek. Quiet except a bit of road noise."
"Easy to navigate, creekside camp ground near Zion. Easy to navigate but definite tough for 2wd car. Not crowded at all"
"Most people were camping in a large packed area a shit distance from the highway and most campers did not have fire rings. We were there for four nights and no one came be to check. No water."
"Eye candy from this location made us not want to leave. There was a map but campsites are hard to find so we pulled into a place flat enough to set up a tent for a night."
ScoutAt the far corner of an unassuming neighborhood, there’s a dirt road with a couple signs saying no shooting and no camping. They’re referring to the first three miles of that road. It’s a narrow road with unusually high walls but easy to drive. Make sure you go all 3 miles until you reach the big classic BLM Public Lands sign after which is the start of your options. There’s a few quite large turnoffs with fire pits
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
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!
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
GuideI stayed in dispersed camping spot #5 arriving on August 31st, 2020. There are 11 or 12 designated spots here. There is a sign on the right side once you enter the Forest Service Road that maps all the hiking trails and dispersed camping sites available in the Leeds Creek dispersed camping area. No 4x4 is necessary to get to spots 1- 5. I didn't go all the way up the mountain and see the other spots. The entrance to spot 5 is a horseshoe shape big enough and convenient for an RV. However, for tent campers, you will want to go beyond the bushes for wind coverage and privacy. The space opens up with trails, amazing views, you can here the creek burbling below the canyon. Spectacular stargazing at night and pretty quiet aside from some road traffic. NOTE: tent campers; park your vehicle with visibility in the horseshoe drive in to avoid unbeknownst camp crashers. The coverage is good enough for tent campers that someone could easily believe the campsite was not taken. Also, bees like your trashbag. So, keep it in your vehicle rather than hanging it. Lastly, sadly there was A LOT of litter when I visited. I did my best to clean some of it up while I was there. Please remember to pack in/pack out and leave no trace!!
GuideSandy and shady free Campground near Zion Natl Park. Easy access even with a car for the most spots. Crossing the creek there are more spots but not recommended without high clearance and 4x4. Beautiful sunset and shady in the morning. No highway noise. No fires permitted. Max stay 14 days. Love this place and the murmurs of the creek. Fills up very quickly around 6pm in the summer.
GuideSuch a beautiful spot. Right next to Mammoth Creek surrounded by Dixie National Forest. Lots of sites and pull offs. No hookups or water but there are pit toilets. New favorite campsite!!
LegendThis 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. Free BLM Dispersed, no signage, no water, no toilets, no trash. Cell was 1-2 5g bars for me. Road access is rough broken hwy pavement, just go slow. Second road on left to GP area.
ScoutAfter seeing how crowded hurricane cliffs were, camped on the left fork after the Windmill trailhead. Gooseberry mesa biking is incredible. The road to the mesa is very washboarded and will rattle the daylights out of your car. The sites are fairly spaced out and have great views. vault toilets at both trailheads but no water. Very strong (20mbps) cell reception on both ATT and T-Mobile. You will need to come from the apple valley side unless you have a very high clearance 4wd car. Smithsonian butte is no joke, I did it in my SUV with 8.5 inches of clearance and I would not repeat it.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Springdale, Utah, where stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures await. This area offers a variety of spots for campers looking to immerse themselves in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free camping available near Zion National Park?
Yes, several free camping options exist near Zion National Park. BLM Dispersed N Kolob Terrace Road offers sandy, shady sites with easy car access to most spots, beautiful sunsets, and no highway noise, located near the less-crowded west side of Zion. Old Highway 89 Dispersed BLM Site provides free camping closer to Kanab and Zion's east entrance. While it's an open area with limited defined spots, campers report good availability even during busy seasons. Gooseberry Mesa offers spaced-out sites with great views, though the washboarded access road can be rough. Most free sites lack amenities like water, trash service, or toilets, so come prepared with everything you need.
Where can I find dispersed camping near Springdale, Utah?
Several dispersed camping options exist near Springdale. BLM Navajo Rd Dispersed offers sites about 3 miles down a dirt road; follow past the initial no camping signs to reach the permitted camping area. Dalton Wash Dispersed provides options with upper campsites requiring high-clearance vehicles, while lower sites are accessible but closer to the road. Other nearby options include Kolob Terrace Road area, which has sandy, shady spots with easy access even for standard vehicles. For locations east of Zion, check areas near Kanab. Most dispersed sites are on BLM land or within Dixie National Forest, typically 15-30 minutes from Springdale, depending on the specific area.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping around Springdale?
Dispersed camping regulations near Springdale generally limit stays to 14-16 days. At Leeds Canyon Dispersed in Dixie National Forest, camping is free for up to 16 days and restricted to designated spots only. BLM Road #71 Gravel Pit Dispersed follows standard BLM regulations with no facilities provided. Most areas prohibit campfires, especially during dry seasons and fire restrictions. Campers must pack out all trash and practice Leave No Trace principles. Vehicles must stay on established roads and camping areas—no off-road driving is permitted. Some areas have specific restrictions about group size or RV length. Always check current regulations before your trip as rules can change seasonally or with conditions.
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