Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area

Virgin River flowing next to the Lower Loop
ADA Site 94
Sheltered Site with the Paiute Mountains
North Restroom
Inside of the flush toilet restrooms

Featured amenities

River Access River Access

Available sites

25 total sites

About Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area

The Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area is located along Interstate 15 approximately 20 mi southwest of St. George, Utah and approximately 20 mi northeast of Mesquite, Nevada. It's accessed from the Cedar Pocket Exit (mile post 18). The overnight-use fee is $8 per site per night and the day-use fee is $2 per vehicle. Overnight use is limited to 14-night stays. The recreation area currently has 25 of the best sites only available through recreation.gov reservations. The remaining 83 sites are first come, first serve (FF) payable by using the Scan and Pay feature on the recreation.gov app. Please come prepared by either making a reservation here before arrival OR having the recreation.gov app installed with login setup to pay onsite with the scan and pay option. 

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Birding

Birding

Year-round
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Oct 1 to Nov 30

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

River Access River Access
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

25 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 103, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 13, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 19, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 20, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 24, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 25, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 28, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 34, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 36, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 38, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 46, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 62, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 65, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 69, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 70, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 71, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 72, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 73, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 74, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 89, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 92, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 93, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 94, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 96, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 97, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade

Reviews (328)

What Guests Are Saying

The Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area offers a beautiful and well-maintained campground with clean facilities and stunning views, making it a great stop for travelers. Many appreciate the easy access to the river and hiking trails, as well as the reasonable pricing. However, some issues were noted, including outdated signage, limited water access for RVs, and occasional noise from the highway. Overall, it provides a peaceful, scenic experience, especially in cooler seasons.

Review Summary

4.3
328 reviews
5
53.7%
176
4
30.8%
101
3
7.9%
26
2
4.6%
15
1
3.0%
10

Gail S

March 6, 2024

4

It was just an evening stop over for is on our way home to Montana.

Roger M

Verified

March 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: Upper Loop

4

Beautiful

Darryl E

Verified

March 13, 2024 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: Upper Loop

5

What a beautiful place!

Patricia D

Verified

March 21, 2024 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: Upper Loop

3

This is a cash free campground, QR codes to pay. But… there is no cell service. WTF? Also flush toilets but no water for campers. WTF? Views were great.

Nikolas T

Verified

March 24, 2024 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: Upper Loop

4

Pull through site was a little tight for our 24 ft trailer+ Tow vehicle. Otherwise paved sites are nice and mostly flat. Hike to the river was a bonus. View of surrounding area delightful. Little noise from interstate did not bother us on upper loop. Great stopover on the way to Zion.

William G

Verified

March 27, 2024 • Stayed at: 69, Loop: Upper Loop

4

Nice area. Level paved spots with good space between sites. No Cellular service and no hookups. Boondocking at it's best.

Maura K

March 28, 2024

4

Absolutely spectacular campground. The views are phenomenal. This site was a bit close to the one next door but still fantastic. Fire ring and picnic table with a perfect sunset view. Only complaint was that the women's bathroom was filthy and straight up disgusting, with lots of food in the sink, mud (I hope it was mud) on the floor, and no toilet paper. Perhaps there were no camp hosts on duty? Aside from that, though, it was truly a phenomenal place and we would definitely camp here again. I appreciate the fact that there was only a $1 registration fee for this one. The for-profit contractors who run Recreation.gov should not be able to charge more than that. Thank you BLM for their work in making this amazing campground available.

Catherine N

Verified

March 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 69, Loop: Upper Loop

5

Loved it so much we extended our stay.

Mary Beth A

April 1, 2024

2

Very little hiking in the area. Windy. Only a single toilet in the bathroom. FFFS sites are tiny - only large enough for a camper van or a tent. You MUST reserve in advance to get one of the larger pull through sites. Good for an overnight, but not worth staying any longer.

Gregg S

April 5, 2024

5

Excellent campground with nice views. Some highway noise, but not enough to bother our sleep. Bathrooms could have been a bit cleaner. Good cell service. Would definitely come back.

Location & Directions for Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area

X624+67, Littlefield, AZ 86432 United States

Elevation: 692 ft

Getting There

Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area is located along Interstate 15 approximately 20 mi southwest of St. George, Utah and approximately 20 mi northeast of Mesquite, Nevada. The recreation area is at the Cedar Pocket Exit (Mile Post 18).

Nearest town

Littlefield, AZ - 10 mi

About 12 min to downtown

Highway access

Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area is accessible via Interstate 15, located at the Cedar Pocket Exit (Mile Post 18), approximately 20 miles southwest of St. George, Utah and 20 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 19, 2026

Message us

Need help?

Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Message us

Replies within minutes

Explore Littlefield, AZ

Population: 70

Nearby larger city

St. George, UT

Approx. 16 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,857 ft

Bureau of Land Management Logo
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management