Camping in Bryce Canyon: Campgrounds, Tips, & More!

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So, you want to go camping in Bryce Canyon National Park? You’re in luck! This is our favorite national park we’ve been to, so you’re in for a great time.

Camping in this beautiful park is an incredible experience. The views are unlike anywhere else on Earth, and the night sky is full of stars. However, there are a few things to consider before heading out into the wilderness.

Here is what you’ll want to know for camping in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Why go camping in Bryce Canyon?

If you can’t tell yet, Bryce Canyon is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This park features tons of hoodoos, which are orange rock spires jutting out of the earth’s surface. These hoodoos are what make the park so magical, and it’s why it’s one of our favorites!

The views are incredible, the air is fresh and clean, and there’s no light pollution so you can see the stars at night. In fact, Bryce is one of the Dark Sky Parks, meaning the sky is so incredibly clear at night.

Just imagine going to bed at night to a sky full of stars, all bundled up. Then, you wake up in the morning only to see the light from the sun reflecting off the hoodoos, creating a beautiful yellow-orange hue.

As you can see, camping in Bryce Canyon is an experience you’ll never forget. It can be especially fun if you love nature so much.

Where to go camping in Bryce Canyon National Park

There are luckily a few places to go camping in Bryce Canyon National Park!

North Campground

The first spot for Bryce Canyon camping is the North Campground. This campground is open year-round, making it a great place to camp even in winter (if you can bare that Utah cold).

This is one campground that everyone drives by when entering the park because it’s right next to the visitor center and the park’s entrance, meaning it’s only a quick drive to town in case you happen to have forgotten anything for your camping excursion.

At this campground, there are 100 different campsites, ranging from both tent and RV spots. Note that there are no water or even electrical hookup spots here, but there is a dump station available in the summer months.

This campground has flush toilets year-round, and there are fire grates available. The price to stay here is $20 per night for a tent site and $30 per night for an RV site.

Sunset Campground

The other spot for camping in Bryce Canyon with a designated campground is Sunset Campground. This spot is closer to Sunset Point but still isn’t that far from the entrance of the park or even the visitor center.

In total, this spot has 100 different sites, split between RV and tent spots. Similar to North Campground, there aren’t electrical, sewer, or water hookups available here, but visitors can use the dump station in the summer over by North Campground.

For those wanting to get around the park easily, this is a great spot to go camping. In fact, because it’s by Sunset Point, there’s a shuttle stop right near the entrance. It’s incredibly simple to roam the park with the shuttle!

Unlike North Campground, though, this one does not have flush toilets, but there are portable toilets depending on the time of year.

Costs here are the same as they are at North Campground: $20 per night for a tent site and $30 per night for an RV site.

Backcountry Camping

If you’re up for a challenge and you love the outdoors, you can also go backcountry camping at Bryce Canyon National Park. In order to do this, though, you have to get a permit from the Visitor Center.

There are specific campsites throughout the park for backcountry camping, including the Under-the-Rim Trail and the Riggs Spring Loop Trail, some of the great hikes in Bryce Canyon.

Permit prices are about $10 per permit plus an extra $5 per person. Note that only those aged 16 or older are able to get a permit, and you can only stay for 14 nights maximum.

To do backcountry camping, make sure you follow all safety precautions and travel with everything you will need. Bring water and bear canisters, and be sure to leave no trace.

Spots to Camp Near Bryce Canyon

If you’d rather camp outside of the park or you struggle to get a spot to camp in the park, here are a few other options.

Ruby’s Inn

There are so many places to stay when visiting Bryce Canyon, and Ruby’s Inn almost always takes the cake. That’s because it’s located right at the park’s entrance, making it super accessible to the park.

Ruby’s Inn has camping spots for RVs, trailers, and the like. There are also spots for tent camping.

The best part? By staying here, you can grab the shuttle right from the front of the hotel and head into the park without your car, hassle-free!

Kodachrome Basin State Park

Kodachrome Basin State Park is an incredibly picturesque spot in Utah. There are 62 sites at this campground which isn’t located that far from the park’s entrance.

Unlike the campgrounds in Bryce Canyon, these ones do offer standard full and partial hookup sites. Plus, there are modern amenities like a comfort station, bathrooms, and even hot showers available for use.

Prices at this campground range throughout the year depending on if you’re visiting during the summer peak season or not. Expect to pay around $35 per night.

Bryce Canyon Pines

Another great spot for camping near Bryce Canyon is Bryce Canyon Pines. This place is known for being clean and is a bit quieter than staying directly in the park or even at Ruby’s Inn.

If you’re traveling with an RV, you’ll love that there are full hookups available at the sites for sewer, electricity, and water. There are also restrooms and hot showers right on-site that campers are allowed to access.

What makes this place so great is that, as the name suggests, it’s surrounded by beautiful trees. Just imagine camping here and falling asleep to the stars in the evening!

Bryce Canyon National Park Camping Tips

In order to best enjoy your camping trip, here are some tips to keep in mind!

Plan the time of your trip wisely

The most popular (and best) time to go camping in Bryce Canyon is between April and October. The weather is warmer during these months, and there’s less chance of rain.

Keep in mind that because this time of year is popular for camping here, you’ll want to reserve your spot well in advance. Also, start your days in the park early to avoid the crowds that come later. We’ve found starting right at sunrise in this park in summer is perfect (usually around 5/6 a.m.).

However, if you don’t mind a little cold weather, camping in Bryce Canyon is also great in winter. Just be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes!

Decide whether you need a developed or primitive campground

There are two main types of campsites in and near Bryce Canyon National Park: developed and primitive.

Developed campsites have amenities like water and flush toilets, while primitive campsites are more rustic and usually don’t have running water.

Be sure to pack lots of food and water

When you’re packing for your trip, be sure to bring enough food and water for everyone in your group.

There is a general store in Bryce Canyon National Park, but you’ll need to bring everything you need with you to be safe.

Luckily, there are stores in the town of Bryce Canyon where you can purchase anything you may need.

Leave no trace

Remember to leave no trace when you camp in Bryce Canyon National Park. This means packing out all of your trash, respecting wildlife, and being careful with fire.

Camping in Bryce Canyon is an incredible experience, but it’s important to do it responsibly so we can preserve this beautiful place for future generations.

Check the weather before you go

If you want to go camping, no matter where it is, it’s wise to check the weather well in advance. If you see that it’s going to rain, come prepared! Bring your rain gear, and don’t let it stop you.

Be sure also to remember that because of Bryce’s location, it does get fairly cool in the evenings. Bring everything you’ll need to bundle up and stay warm, especially if you’ll be camping in the off-season and/or in a tent.

Plan in advance

This kind of goes with the first point, but if you know you’ll be camping in summer, make sure to get your campground reservation super far in advance.

We visited Bryce Canyon in the fall (which we much prefer) as well as in the summer, and it was fairly busy. So, prepare for that and don’t get let down if there happen to be no un-reserved spots left.

Camping in Bryce Canyon is an unforgettable experience. The views are incredible, and there’s so much to explore. It’s the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy some quality time with nature.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your camping gear and head to Bryce Canyon National Park!