If you are looking to get the most out of each day of a vacation, it’s best to minimize the amount of travel you have to do. Camping in Bryce Canyon National Park is a great way to do that, and to really experience the park in a way that is like no other.
There aren’t a ton of options for camping in Bryce Canyon National Park, but the ones that are available are outstanding, and will allow you to stay in the park for several days without having to see much in the way of civilization.
We hope this guide will help you narrow down your selection on where to stay when camping in Bryce Canyon National Park!
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS: OVERVIEW
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the more popular National Parks, and is one of the “Big 5” National Parks in Utah. It’s common to couple a visit to Bryce Canyon with Zion National Park in particular, which is less than two hours away. The nice thing about Bryce Canyon is that you can visit it all year-round. Even in the summertime, it usually isn’t too hot as it is at a higher elevation than the other parks in the state. The nights in particular are cool and the views of Bryce Canyon in the evenings are spectacular to see as the sun goes down.
Though you can visit Bryce Canyon National Park in all months of the year, most of the visitors come between June and September. This means that if you want to camp in Bryce Canyon that you’ll likely want to get a reservation well in advance. Only one of the campgrounds offer reservations during the busy times of year.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK CAMPING: SUPPLIES
If you are in need of camping supplies, then you are in luck. There is a small general store located at the North Campground, and the store is only open in the more popular months of the year. There are other options as well! Just outside the park is the town of Bryce. Though a bit pricey, you can find food and a limited amount of camping gear just outside the gates of the park. If you are in need of a larger selection of gear, then you’ll need to head to Cedar City, Utah, which is about 90 minutes away. Here, you will find plenty of grocery stores and larger supply stores to help get you stocked up.
The best way to ensure you have a good visit, though, is to be sure you have what you need ahead of your trip entry into the park and getting to your campsite!
Before you go, we recommend you check out our downloadable guide for Bryce Canyon National Park, which has all the best hiking trails, what to pack and what to see while you are in the area. Plus, since cell reception in the park isn’t great (that’s an understatement!), it’s handy to have a guide that can help you out!
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK CAMPING - NORTH CAMPGROUND
North Campground location in Bryce Canyon National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service
Map of the North Campground in Bryce Canyon National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service
North Campground in Bryce Canyon National Park:
- Location: The Bryce Canyon North Campground is located just south of the Visitor Center and right near the beautiful area of Sunrise Point. Directions from the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to the Bryce Canyon North Campground.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: Offered late May through early-October. Bryce Canyon North Campground reservations.
- Capacity: 100 sites.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / Yes (in the summertime only).
- Toilets / Showers: Flush toilets and showers.
- Nearby: The North Campground is located right near the Visitor Center, which is a must-see if you are visiting the park. It is also very close to some great hiking, such as the Navajo Trail / Queens Garden Loop. This 2.9-mile (round-trip) hike is moderate and heads through the amazing hoodoo formations. It starts at Sunrise Point and ends at Sunset Point (or you can hike it the other way, if desired). Sunrise and Sunset Points are also great places to visit multiple times as you drink your coffee in the morning or check out the sunset.
- Additional details: The North Campground is open all year round, and first-come, first-served during the fall through the mid-spring. It’s pretty rustic, but it’s in an amazing location. From here you can drive to anywhere you want in the park, or take the shuttle. Click here for the latest information on the North Campground
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK CAMPING – SUNSET CAMPGROUND
Sunset Campground location, courtesy of the National Park Service
Map of the Sunset Campground, courtesy of the National Park Service
Sunset Campground in Bryce Canyon National Park:
- Location: The Sunset Campground is located on the west side of Park Road across from Sunset Point. It’s a short drive, but a bit of a long walk (1.9 miles) to do frequently during your stay. Directions from the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to the Sunset Campground.
- Accessible via: Car.
- Reservations: None.
- Capacity: 99 sites.
- Electricity / Water Hookups / Dump Station: No / No / Yes (located at the North Campground).
- Toilets / Showers: Pit toilets and no showers.
- Nearby: The Sunset Campground is located near Sunset Point, which is a great place to watch the sunset. The Navajo Trail / Queens Garden Loop is also a must-do hike if you have the energy. You can also hop on the shuttle and check out some of the other great hikes in Bryce Canyon.
- Additional details: The Sunset Campground is only open from mid-April through the end of October. It is rustic, but again it is at a great location. Click here for the latest information on the Summit Lake Sunset Campground
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS - GROUP CAMPING
Group camping site at Bryce Canyon National Park, courtesy of the National Parks Conservation Association
Group camping is offered only at Sunset campground. Reservations are very limited as there is only one site, so be sure to check in advance.
CAMPING OUTSIDE BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Camping outside of Bryce Canyon, photo courtesy of Robbie Shade
Campsites can be a bit challenging to find on the weekends in particular in Bryce Canyon, so you may have to search around the area a bit if you can’t find one. You may also find that you want hookups. There are campgrounds in Bryce Canyon city, right outside of the park. You can also check out King Creek Campground (in Dixie National Forest) or Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Another great resource is this page on Dispersed Camping near Bryce Canyon National Park.
If you are looking at boondocking and being truly off-grid, there is a number of free camping opportunities near Bryce Canyon National Park as well. If you do find a place to camp for free, please leave it better than you found it!
FURTHER INFORMATION ON BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK FROM JUST GO TRAVEL STUDIOS
- Be sure to check out our Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary, which has a ton of detail on the park. We also recommend our Utah National Park itinerary if you are going to several of the 5 national parks in Utah!
- We have several other additional blogs on Bryce Canyon, including hiking the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop, the Bristlecone Loop, the Mossy Cave Trail and the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park.
- Don’t forget to send us a photo after your trip, and we’ll create a really cool custom, vintage travel poster. We are sure you’ll love it!
