The Best RV Camping at the Utah National Parks: A Guide
Pack up your RV and camp your way through the Utah national parks!
The Utah national parks are an incredible way to explore the outdoors, and taking your RV along for the ride means you get the fun of camping with the luxury of sleeping in your own bed at night.
In this guide below, you’ll find excellent RV campground options in the national parks and at least one near each of the national parks, so you can pick the correct one for your budget, itinerary needs, and RVing style.
I’ve also included information on amenities, maximum RV length, proximity to each park’s major highlights, and more.
Let’s go RV camping at Utah’s Mighty 5!
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
RV Camping in National Parks vs. Private Campgrounds
When choosing the perfect RV campground for your visit to the Utah national parks, it’s important to consider what you’ll be getting at a national park campground versus what you’ll be getting at a private campground.
The national parks campgrounds are incredible if you’re all about location. The campgrounds recommended below are all inside the parks and steps from hiking, dining, and ranger programs.
However, the national parks campgrounds are often only good for smaller travel trailers, some Class C’s and Class B’s due to their limited space. If you own a Class A, you will need to check the campsite measurements very carefully to ensure that you’ll fit (and you probably won’t since most sites won’t accommodate trailers or RV’s longer than 25’).
Another major consideration with the national parks campgrounds is that they tend to have extremely limited electrical and water hook-ups. It’s rare to find full hook-ups with sewer—and don’t even think about cable. Many will have vault toilets on site, but no showers. Most will have a dump station, but there are some that don’t even offer that.
Generally, you should be prepared to boondock in your RV or travel trailer if you’re staying inside the national parks. This means double checking your fresh water, grey tank, and black tank capacities, and then filling up your fresh water tank in preparation for dish washing, showers, and toilets. It also means having solar on your rig for electricity, or be willing to use battery powered lanterns while you’re there.
In the private campgrounds, you’re going to get all of the bells and whistles like full hook-ups and cable. Plus, the campgrounds try to sweeten the deal by adding in pools, daily activities, and playgrounds for families.
The downsides of these private campgrounds is that they are further away from the parks, so you’re traveling to get into the parks. They’re also much more expensive than the parsed down lots inside the park, so you’ll have to assess your budget to determine which works best for you.
Where to RV Camp When Visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks
Below, I’ve compiled a guide for RVers who are interesting in bringing their campers along for their time in one or more of the Utah national parks.
You’ll find 2 suggestions for each park, one campgrounds that’s inside the national park and one that’s nearby. Seeing these campgrounds compared in this way should help you easily assess which ones will work for your rig, budget, and planned activities.
If you’ve got the whole family in tow, I highly recommend checking out my Utah Mighty 5 with kids road trip itinerary, which will allow you to learn more about all of these incredible places.
Best RV Camping for Arches National Park
Location: Moab, Utah
Arches National Park is located in Moab, Utah, and is one of the closest national parks to the Colorado-Utah border.
Here, you’ll find the world’s largest concentration of stone arches, as well as Delicate Arch, an instantly recognizable symbol of Utah’s vast outdoors.
Learn more about Arches National Park here:
In the park: Devil’s Garden Campground
If you want to camp inside of Arches National Park in an RV, you only have one option, and that’s the Devil’s Garden Campground at the very back of the park.
You are steps from the Sand Dune and Broken Arch trailhead, and a short drive from everything in the park.
You should make a reservation if you’re planning to visit Arches in the summer as this campground books up solid, and does so nearly as soon as the sites open up 6 months ahead of time. Winter camping doesn’t require a reservation, and you’re more likely to nab a spot as they’re first come, first served then.
The amenities here are extremely basic. There is a vault toilet and flush toilet available in different areas of the campground, and there is a communal water spigot if you need potable water for your rig.
You won’t find any electrical hook-ups or a dump station here, so come prepared for those limitations.
The maximum vehicle length is 25 feet, which eliminates Class A motorhomes and many travel trailers.
Near the park: Sun Outdoor Canyonlands Gateway
There are many private campgrounds in the larger Moab area, and even more camping sites on BLM lands within a half hour drive of Arches National Park’s entrance.
So, why am I recommending Sun Outdoor Canyonlands Gateway?
First, the property is well laid out with areas for tent camping, RV camping, and cabins. We’ve actually stayed here in both the cabins and our Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH, and I can confidently say that the entire campground is an excellent home base while exploring Moab and beyond.
Plus, it’s location just north of downtown Moab means that you’re close to everything but far enough away that the campground still feels remote.
Your RV or travel trailer will be placed in the campground by size, which helps keep the smaller sites from feeling overcrowded. The smaller sites will fit RVs and trailers up to 35 feet long, while the extra long ones can accommodate RVs up to 110 feet long. Most of the sites are pull-through, making these super easy to get into and out of.
There is a pool and separate splash pad, which were a must haves for my kids when we visit here in the warmer months.
Guests can also make use of the large grilling area near the pool, which includes several picnic tables for an ideal weekend cookout.
Best RV Camping for Canyonlands National Park
Location: Moab, Utah
Canyonlands National Park is also located in Moab, and consists of 3 districts: Islands in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze. Islands in the Sky is the most accessible to visitors (especially those with kids), and offers up incredible vistas of the sprawling canyons here.
It’s also Utah’s least visited national park, so you’re likely to have the place nearly to yourselves.
Learn more about Canyonlands National Park here:
In the park: Willow Flat Campground
The Willow Flat Campground in Island in the Sky is an excellent choice if you’d like to stay inside Canyonlands’ most visited district. (For more information on the different districts, read through my comprehensive Canyonlands with kids guide.)
This quiet campground is off of the main route through Island in the Sky, and is instead located on a spur road leading to the Green River Overlook.
If you’re looking for a place to stargaze in Moab, you won’t do better than this small, 12-site campground.
It is first-come, first-served, so you’ll need to plan to arrive early for the largest number of options.
You’ll also want to bring plenty of water as there isn’t any potable water here, though you will find a vault toilet. There aren’t any electrical hook-ups, so you’ll need to be self-sufficient.
The sites are larger than most in the national parks, and can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 28 feet in length.
Near the park: Sun Outdoor Canyonlands Gateway
While there is a small campground at nearby Dead Horse Point State Park, this campground fills up very quickly in peak months. These sites do have electric hook-ups, but no water within the park for RV fill-ups and no on-site showers.
Rather than partially boondock outside of the national park, I still recommend staying at the Sun Outdoor Canyonlands Gateway, which is the closest private RV park to the Island in the Sky entrance. (I really like the reliability of a shower when traveling with my kids! And the pool and other amenities helps, too.)
Plus, the Sun Outdoor’s location means you can split your time between Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, downtown Moab, and the many other incredible hikes in Moab outside of the national parks.
Best RV Camping for Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Torrey, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park is located in the remote middle of the state, and Utah State Route 24 bisects the park’s main area.
In addition to great hiking and off-roading, you can explore the historic district of Fruita, where Mormon pioneer families once tended large fruit orchards.
Learn more about the park here:
In the park: Fruita Campground
Fruita Campground is located near the Capitol Reef visitors center and—perhaps, more importantly—the Gifford House, which serves up freshly baked pies each day.
This beautiful campground has grassy sites that are in stark contrast to the desert environment elsewhere in the park, and that’s one reason why this place stays booked up.
The campground has 3 small loops with a total of 71 sites. While you’ll need to be self-sufficient at your site since there aren’t any hook-ups provided, there is a dump station on site and a potable water station.
There are just 3 sites with electricity, but these are ADA sites that are exclusively to be used for medical device hookup. Generators are allowed in some of the other spots, but be sure to to note which. During peak season, only sites in Loop C can use generators. When Loop C closes in the winter, both Loops A and B can use generators.
One of the biggest perks here is that the campground offers flush toilets with running water in the sinks, a rarity in national park campgrounds.
You must reserve a spot ahead of time and up to 6 months before the date of your arrival. Reservations are done through Recreation.gov.
Near the park: Thousand Lakes RV Park, Torrey, Utah
If the Fruita Campground is full, or you’re looking for a more robust RV camping experience, head into Torrey, Utah, just west of the national park. To get to the national park from Thousand Lakes RV Park takes about 15 minutes drive time.
There are other private campgrounds nearer to the park, but Thousand Lakes has the widest array of amenities, site sizes, and a quiet atmosphere. The largest lots are 110 feet and can fit even the largest of Class A RV’s. Not only are the sites spacious length wise, but they’re also roomy enough to accommodate slide outs.
This privately owned campground has huge lots and beautiful views of the Waterpocket Fold—that same gorgeous red rock formation that you see inside the park—from many of its sites.
There’s a camp store on site where you can get propane, snacks, and souvenirs, and on select nights, a small BBQ restaurant opens up. There’s no actual grocery store nearby, so you can grab dinner or a few snack bars here (just be prepared to pay a higher price because of the limited options). Because of this, you’ll want to ensure that you have all of these travel trailer must haves, which are excellent for RV’s, too.
The campground also has full hookups at each site with 30/50 amp electrical, water, and sewer. The property also has about half a dozen cabins if you’d like to glamp. For kids, there is a small pool, large grassy area for placing frisbee or soccer, basketball court, and a playground.
The bathrooms here are basic but very clean. The men and women’s restrooms each had 2 showers and 2 toilet stalls.
Best RV Camping for Bryce Canyon National Park
Location: Bryce Canyon City and Cannonville, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its natural amphitheatres filled with red, orange, and white hoodoos and incredible long range views at Rainbow Point.
One of the more remote Utah national parks, this area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, who can explore Bryce Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Red Canyon, Panguitch, Scenic Route 12, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument nearby.
Learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park here:
In the park: Sunset Campground
Bryce Canyon National Park has 2 campgrounds for RV’s: North Campground, which is close to the entrance and visitors center, and Sunset Campground, which is deeper in the park and near the famed Sunset Overlook.
While both are good options, I like Sunset Campground slightly better for one reason: the location. Since on the southern end of the Bryce Amphitheatre section, there’s much less traffic here than around the entrances to North Campground.
There’s a free Bryce Canyon shuttle that stops at the front of the campground if you’d like to go anywhere in the Bryce Amphitheatre section. North Campground has access to the shuttles, too, but you’ll need to walk over to the visitors center to access it, which I feel isn’t as convenient.
Within Sunset Campground, there are 3 loops, and RV’s are allowed in just one, Loop C. The 54 RV sites here do not have any hookups, and the overall offerings here are super basic. The campsites are relatively flat and are paved, and they come with a wood and metal picnic table, as well as a fire ring.
Most of the sites can accommodate RV’s to 26 feet, but there are a few that have room for a 30’ rig. Read the site details carefully if you’re at the upper limit.
You can reserve these sites through Recreation.gov beginning in April of each year, as the campground is closed during the winter months.
To use the dump station and get potable water, you’ll need to head over to North Campground, but know that these amenities are only available during the peak summer months.
Near the park: Bryce Canyon by R Journey, Cannonville
If the park campgrounds are full or you’d like full hookups, you’ll need to head out of the park. The most obvious place to stay would be at Ruby’s RV Park, which is just outside of the national park entrance and part of the massive Ruby’s Inn complex.
However, that’s not my suggested RV campground near Bryce Canyon for a few reasons. While you are nearer to the entrance of the park at Ruby’s, you’re also in the midst of hotels and traffic, which isn’t what many of us are looking for when choosing a campground.
Instead, if you get onto Scenic Route 12, go past the park’s other entrance at Mossy Cave, and drive 8 miles, you’ll come to the cute (and quiet!) Bryce Canyon RV Park by R Journey.
This campground is a former KOA, but R Journey has done a great job at keeping it up in their new ownership. The lots are grassy, shaded, and bigger than most KOA’s we’ve visited, and the staff was helpful throughout our stay.
Each site has 30/50 amp electricity and water, and some have sewer. If yours doesn’t, there is a dump station on site. There is a wide range of site sizes that accommodate everything from a Class B to a Class A with toad.
There’s a pool and small playground for the kids, and the beautiful Kodachrome Basin is around the corner in Cannonville.
Plus, the R Journey campground is significantly cheaper than Ruby’s, which I was more than happy to drive an extra 15 minutes for. The only true grocery store in the area, Clark’s Country Market, is less than 5 minutes from the campground entrance.
Best RV Camping for Zion National Park
Location: Springdale, Utah
Zion National Park is located in adorable Springdale, Utah, and is Utah’s most visited national park. It’s in the southwestern corner about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
Here, you can hike the famous Angel’s Landing or The Narrows, splash in the Virgin River, or drive the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
There are 3 sections to this park, Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyon, and East Zion. Only Zion Canyon has camping for RV’s.
Learn more about Zion National Park here:
In the park: Watchman Campground
Normally, the main area of Zion National Park, Zion Canyon, has 2 campgrounds available: Watchman Campground and South Campground. As of the writing of this post in January 2025, the South Campground has been razed to the ground, and ongoing reconstruction efforts have no determined end date.
So, that means you have one option when it comes to RV camping inside of Zion Canyon: Watchman Campground.
This campground is located directly along the Virgin River and behind the visitors center. This location makes it easily accessible from anywhere in the Zion Canyon section of the park and to Springdale, but still gives it a secluded feel.
At 175 sites, it’s the biggest national parks campground on this list. There are F different sections within the park, with one of those sections (F) dedicated just to tents. There are also 8 RV-only sites in Loop B and near the entrance, but RV’s can also reserve any of the other non-tent-exclusive sites.
The campground has 6 different bathroom areas, which include flush toilets but no showers. You can get potable water towards the front of the campground, along with use of the dump station.
Loops A and B even have electrical hookups (mostly 30 amp, but a few have 50 amp). The sites here vary wildly from a maximum rig size of 25’ to some that will accommodate RV’s up to 68 feet. Just read the individual site descriptions closely to ensure you’ve got the right one for your vehicle.
There’s no pool, but you can easily access the Virgin River from the background of the campground. The water near this part of the campground is fairly slow moving, and there’s a wide sandy area perfect for setting up a beach chair.
Near the park: Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park
Located less than half a mile from the Zion National Park pedestrian entrance is this incredible campground!
On our 8-week road trip through UT, CO, ID, MT, and SD, this was one of my family’s favorite campgrounds. It’s so close to Zion, has a dedicated free shuttle stop on the Springdale line, and was convenient to everything we wanted to do that area, like Grafton Ghost Town, the national park, and exploring Springdale.
Amenities include a pool, access to the Virgin River, a large laundry facility, onsite convenience store, and the nicest bathrooms of our entire road trip.
There are sites here for tents, Class A motorhomes, and everything in between.
Check out my complete review of Zion Canyon Campground here.