Are you ready to spend a night camping under the stars near the dramatic hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park? A camping trip in this park is incredible — good luck finding a place with a more spectacular night sky!
Staying overnight in the park is the best way to catch the famous views of this park (especially the epic sunrises and sunsets), and these campgrounds will put you right in the middle of some of the best hiking trails.
It’s especially convenient if you’re like me and you have small kids…you can still enjoy the beauty of the park even after their bedtime.
What You Need to Know About Camping in Bryce Canyon
- Each standard campsite only accommodates six people and three tents. If you have a larger group of family or friends, you will need to book two campsites or look for a campground that offers double or group campsites.
- There is a 14-day stay limit during the summer months, and Senior/Access Pass holders can get 50% off of the camping fee (this does NOT include the Annual America the Beautiful Pass)
- Many of the first-come, first-served sites should be claimed first thing in the morning! Plan your trip so that you can get to the campground early before it fills.
- Suspending items from trees is not permitted. This includes hammocks and slacklines.
- A maximum of 2 vehicles is allowed at each campsite (RVs, 5th Wheels, and trailers count as vehicles).
- The campground restrooms do not have shower facilities, but they do have flush toilets. Coin-operated hot showers and laundry facilities are available at the nearby General Store.
- RV camping is welcome at Bryce Canyon, but be aware that there are no camping sites equipped with water, sewer, or electrical hook-ups. If you’re looking for full hook-ups, there are several RV parks in the surrounding area that offer close proximity to the park entrance.
- Bryce Canyon is 9,000 feet above sea level, so be prepared for any weather due to the high elevation!
This article contains information on the frontcountry camping experiences that are available within Bryce Canyon National Park. In other words, it covers places you can get to with your car! If you’re interested in hike-in backcountry camping options, click here.
Getting to the Campgrounds in Bryce Canyon
Check the Bryce Canyon National Park Map before you go! Both campgrounds are ideally situated near the main points of interest in the park.
How to Get a Campsite in Bryce Canyon
All campsites in Bryce Canyon are reservation-only during the summer months. You will need to make an advanced reservation at Recreation.gov 6 months in advance for the North Campground and 14 days in advance for the Sunset Campground.
In the off-season, sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and must be claimed in person. I recommend getting here no later than 8 or 9 a.m. to get in there to snag an available site.
To choose your ideal campground, take a look at the in-park options below:
North Campground
The North Campground is a great place to stay while exploring Bryce Canyon. It is conveniently located near the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, and the General Store. You’re also just a few steps away from the Rim Trail and the gorgeous hoodoo views!
This campground has four loops. Loops A and B are for RV campers, and Loops C and D are for tent campers. I suggest taking a look at the campground map before you decide which site you are hoping to reserve.
Open Season: Year-round.
Max RV Length: Loops A and B can accommodate vehicles over 20 feet. Do not drive through Loops C and D with a vehicle that is longer than 20 feet.
Generators: Allowed from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. in Loops A and B. No generators are permitted in Loops C and D.
Reservations Required: Yes, from the middle of May to the beginning of October. Click here to check availability. Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season.
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes, but only during the summer months. There is no fee for registered campers. Potable water is available.
Fee: $30 per night.
Number of Sites: 99
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Bryce Canyon’s Pet Policy.
Restrooms: Flush toilets and running water.
Wheelchair Accessibility: No.
Sunset Campground
Like the North Campground, the Sunset Campground is also located right in the action. This campground is perfectly situated for catching the Bryce Canyon shuttle, walking over to the Lodge, or hiking the famous Bryce Canyon trails that begin at Sunset Point (which is just across the street)!
This campground has three loops and one group site. Loop A is for RV campers with two accessible sites, and Loops B and C are for tent campers. I suggest taking a look at the campground map before deciding which campsites will work best for you.
Open Season: Mid-April through Mid-October.
Max RV Length: Loop A can accommodate vehicles over 20 feet. Do not drive through Loops B and C with a vehicle that is longer than 20 feet.
Generators: Allowed from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. in Loop A. No generators are permitted in Loops B and C.
Hookups: No.
Dump Station: No, but there is one just down the road at the south end of the North Campground.
Reservations Required: Yes, from the middle of May to the beginning of October. Click here to check availability. Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season.
Fee: $30
Number of Sites: 100 regular sites and 1 group site.
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Bryce Canyon’s Pet Policy.
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes, two sites.
Planning a trip to Bryce Canyon can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Bryce Canyon Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Insider Tip: If you’re not able to get a campsite in Bryce Canyon National Park, check the nearby Red Canyon Campground!
More Bryce Canyon Trip-Planning Information
Bryce Canyon Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Bryce Canyon — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Bryce Canyon? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
The Best Things to Do In Bryce Canyon — activities for your whole group.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Bryce Canyon — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Ultimate Bryce Canyon Trip-Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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Hey Ash,
I have a question about loops C and D at North Campground. On the Recreation.gov website, it states that these loops are for tents only. On the Recreation.gov app, it states that these loops can also accommodate a campervan. I will be camping in a campervan and will be at Bryce Canyon in September, so the time is getting close to make a reservation. I would like to use loop D since it closest to the General Store and lodge. I have made contact with the campground through a message, but I have not heard back yet. So I thought that you might know the answer.
Thanks,
Jim Anderson
This site says you can have a small campervan in the tent-only sites: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234058?tab=info I don’t have a campervan, so I don’t know for sure what “small” means. All I know is that they absolutely won’t let you have an RV or a trailer in those sites, but campervans should be ok. And you can’t run a generator or anything in those sites :)
Hi! Thanks for your great site and Podcasts! I am trying to plan a trip to Zion, then Bryce and possibly the Gran Canyon. I just checked the Recreation.gov site and ALL the campsites are showing as First-Come-First-Server??? There seems to be NONE available for pre reservation. I was looking at March, April, of 2024. Have they changed all their camps to a 100% FCFS or is this a glitch in the system?
It must have been a glitch — things are looking normal for me! Most sites are available 6 months in advance, so you should be able to snatch something up right now.
For the first-come, first-served sites, do a lot of these sites clear out early from the night before? You mention they are often filled quickly, but how do you know when people will leave? Also, is there a “too early” to pick a spot for the night? I’m looking for the optimal time to come in during the last week of March.
For this park in March, I’d show up by 7 or 8 a.m. to get a FCFS site that day :)
Hello! Thanks for this information. Do you know what the campground availability looks like first week in March? We had planned to arrive later in the evening from Zion but with the first come first serve availability I am concerned. But we want to spend the full day in Zion before driving to Bryce. Any advice? Thanks so much. Love your instagram.
Bryce Canyon is still typically pretty quiet in March, so you should be ok. But I really like the Campendium website if you need to find an alternative campsite near the park. Enjoy Bryce Canyon!
Hi! First of all – thank you for all of your posts and for sharing your tips and tricks for all of the parks! It’s very informative and is really helping me plan my first trip to Utah on the last week of March 2022. I’m planning to take a trip to hit the Mighty 5 and I want to spend 2 days in Bryce Canyon. I will be coming from Capitol Reef National Park and want to tent camp or car camp (if it gets way too cold) in the North Campground. Is there a spot you’d recommend if I get lucky enough to choose from various spots? I know Loops C and D are for tent camping, but is there one you prefer over the other? I’m planning to be there by 8AM which I’m hoping is enough time to get a good spot on a Tuesday. Thanks again, big fan of your website!
Hey Brianna, I don’t have a specific site/area that I recommend in that campground. But you could try a site like Campendium and read through other people’s reviews to see what sites they like. Have fun!
Bryce Canyon is a gem! We went right before we moved to Oregon! It is one of my favorite National Parks because it is less crowded than many others and provides beautiful views.
Glad you had a great time!