Watchman Campground, Zion National Park

Zion’s year-round campground by the Virgin River.

Watchman sits a quarter mile inside Zion’s south entrance, beside the Virgin River and the visitor center where the canyon shuttle starts, with Springdale’s cafes and outfitters a short walk away. It’s open all year and every site is reserved, up to six months ahead; Zion’s other big campground, South, books only 14 days out. Electric sites suit RVs, and the walk-in tent sites in F Loop suit cyclists and backpackers.

At a glance

Sites

184, incl. 6 group sites

Electric sites

92 (mostly 30 amp)

Walk-in tent sites

18

Max RV

40 ft; big rigs must enter via Springdale

Reservations

6 months ahead; no first-come sites

Nightly

$35 standard, $45 electric

What’s here

• Tent sites
• RV hookups
• Lake or riverfront
• Pets allowed
• Open in winter

Gear, rentals and guides

• Zion Outfitter

  Narrows gear and bike rentals by the park’s pedestrian entrance.

• Zion Adventures

  Narrows outfitting, guided hikes and canyoneering, plus bike rentals.

• Zion Guru

  Narrows gear, guided hiking, canyoneering and climbing, and e-bike rentals.

• Zion Cycles

  Bike shop at the park entrance with road, mountain and e-bike rentals.

Where to stay

• lodgeZion Lodge

  The only lodging inside the park, deep in Zion Canyon on the shuttle route.

  15 min by shuttle
• hotelCable Mountain Lodge

  Hotel rooms and suites at the park’s pedestrian entrance.

  5 min walk
• innDesert Pearl Inn

  Riverside rooms and suites in Springdale.

  5 min drive

Nearby

• The Narrows · 40 min by shuttle

  Wade up the Virgin River between towering walls from the last shuttle stop; check flows and flash-flood risk first.

• Angels Landing · 25 min by shuttle

  The chain-assisted final stretch needs a permit from a seasonal or day-before lottery on Recreation.gov.

• Pa’rus Trail · From camp

  Paved riverside path from the campground into the canyon, open to bikes and the park’s only trail for leashed dogs.

• Zion Canyon Brew Pub · 5 min walk

  Brewpub right at the park entrance in Springdale.

Getting there

• St. George Regional (SGU) · about 55 min drive
• Las Vegas · about 2.75 hr
• Salt Lake City · about 4.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps