About Watchman Campground
Number of accommodations: 184
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
River Access
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Water Access
- River Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
184 Sites Available
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Site Details
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184 Sites Available
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Reviews (671)
What Guests Are Saying
Watchman Campground offers a stunning setting with well-maintained facilities and convenient access to Zion National Park and nearby amenities. Campers appreciated the clean bathrooms, beautiful views, and wildlife sightings, including deer and falcons. While some noted noise issues and the lack of showers, the overall experience is highly recommended for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and prime location.
What Guests Are Saying
Watchman Campground offers a stunning setting with well-maintained facilities and convenient access to Zion National Park and nearby amenities. Campers appreciated the clean bathrooms, beautiful views, and wildlife sightings, including deer and falcons. While some noted noise issues and the lack of showers, the overall experience is highly recommended for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and prime location.
Review Summary
Terre B
VerifiedFebruary 9, 2026 • Stayed at: B021, Loop: Loop B
Zion National Park has terrific clean campsites, dogs welcomed on leash, warm bathrooms and warm running water, what a treat! Deer walked right through camp every day, and we were blessed to see a pair of CALIFORNIA CONDORS in the park!
Took a great hike up to Emerald Pools, moderately strenuous, and the kids were scampering up the trail and rocks!
Lovely walk over to the village for hot coffee in the morning, a cold brew and lunch at Zion Canyon Brew Pub, and the wood fire roasted pizza at Onyx Pizzeria was simply AMAZING!
Kanab is a must visit, with a jeep tour to Peekaboo slotted canyon, ancient Indian cave markings, hidden lake, and a $5.00 vegetarian lunch at the extraordinary Best Friends Animal Sanctury.
Finally, a delightful cabin stay at the buffalo/horse ranch outside the east entrance of the park, Zion Mountain Ranch.
We topped off the trip with a drive to Bryce Canyon National Park; camped inside the park at the North campground in February, a chilling 28 degrees! Cannot say enough good things about camping at the National Parks; I will do it again soon!
Larry P
VerifiedFebruary 9, 2026 • Stayed at: B049, Loop: Loop B
I spent 2 weeks camping in a trailer at Watchman Campground. I stayed in the B loop and had a very nice stay there. The restroom was very clean my entire stay. The entire campground is kept clean too.
Julie D
VerifiedFebruary 7, 2026 • Stayed at: B048, Loop: Loop B
Beautiful campground between the river and bluffs. Excellent star viewing at night. Great facilities with electric hookups & flush toilets. Right inside the park, so no morning line to wait thru. Plenty of trails right at the campground, one that allows bikes & dogs, love that! Footbridge access to restaurants in Springdale. Overall fabulous location
Dan V
VerifiedFebruary 7, 2026 • Stayed at: A014, Loop: Loop A
The Watchman campground is in a perfect location for exploring the entire park over several days. This campground was located close enough to Bryce so we could do a day trip.
Brian M
VerifiedFebruary 7, 2026 • Stayed at: B022, Loop: Loop B
nice quit park this time of season. easy in and out.
John A
VerifiedFebruary 6, 2026 • Stayed at: B032, Loop: Loop B
Great site! Clean bathrooms! Incredible views right from the campground!
Richard W
VerifiedFebruary 6, 2026 • Stayed at: B038, Loop: Loop B
Excellent. Had to deal with noise from construction but small price to pay for the location and proximity to everything in Zion Park
Mayre Alyce A
VerifiedFebruary 5, 2026 • Stayed at: B007, Loop: Loop B
It’s always a pleasure staying at Watchman campground. The ranger and the camp hosts were very helpful. There was construction going, closing one bathroom but because there were not too many people there really was no impact.
Vanessa R
VerifiedFebruary 3, 2026 • Stayed at: B034, Loop: Loop B
This is a scenic campground with a convenient location to the park's shuttle system. But there is one huge drawback. Zion doesn't offer showers in either campground. Since the campsites are dry camping, it doesn't make sense to exclude showers from the campground bathrooms. The South campground is currently undergoing renovations, but there is still no mention of adding showers. This campground works best for shorter stays.
Emma K
VerifiedFebruary 2, 2026 • Stayed at: C006, Loop: Loop C
We stayed at site C006 on 8/15 on a cross country roadtrip and hiked the Narrows, which was incredible. The site was an easy walk to the shuttle/visitor center and the views are gorgeous. We stayed up all night stargazing, and it was some of the best stargazing we experienced across the country on this trip. We were visited by a family of friendly (and adorable) deer each morning that we had to shoo away from our food. There is no shade at this site and the heat was so intense in the afternoon that we had to give up on our plans of relaxing at our site after our hike and head into town instead. We did struggle a little to get our tent stakes in the ground and had to pile some rocks to help hold the corners in place. There is not a ton of privacy, although the site to the left was pretty far away and gave us some nice breathing room. A beautiful experience and I would feel lucky to camp here again!
Location Watchman Campground
Address:
S.R. 9
Springdale, UT, 84767
United States
From Las Vegas, St. George or other points south on Interstate 15: Travel north to Exit 16, towards Hurricane. Follow State Route 9 east for 12 miles (19 km) (to La Verkin and turn right to continue on State Route 9 towards Zion National Park. After passing through Springdale, arrive at South Entrance of Zion. Take the first right after the entrance station towards the Visitor Center. After passing the Visitor Center, you will enter Watchman Campground. Stop at campground kiosk for directions to your campsite.
From Salt Lake City, Interstate 70 or other points north on Interstate 15: Travel south to Exit 27, towards Toquerville. In 6.1 miles (15.5 km) turn left onto State Route 9 towards Zion National Park. After passing through Springdale, arrive at South Entrance. Take the first right after the entrance station towards the Visitor Center. After passing the Visitor Center, you will enter Watchman Campground. Stop at campground kiosk for directions to your campsite.
From Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, Kanab or other points south on U.S. 89: Travel north to State Route 9. Turn left and follow State Route 9 west for 13 miles (33 km) to the East Entrance of Zion National Park. Continue straight for 12 miles (19 km), then turn left at the sign for Watchman Campground and Visitor Center. Stop at campground kiosk for directions to your campsite.
From Bryce Canyon National Park, Panguitch or other points north on U.S. 89: Travel south to State Route 9. Turn right and follow State Route 9 west for 13 miles (33 km) to the East Entrance of Zion National Park. Continue straight for 12 miles (19 km), then turn left at the sign for Watchman Campground and Visitor Center. Stop at campground kiosk for directions to your campsite.
Watchman Campground is accessible via State Route 9, which connects to Interstate 15 at Exit 16 to the south and to U.S. 89 to the north.
Latitude & Longitude: 37.1986 / -112.986
Elevation: 1196 feet
Policies & Rules
General
- Photo ID: The primary occupant listed on the camping reservation must present a photo ID upon check-in at Zion National Park campgrounds. The name of the primary occupant cannot be changed once a reservation is made. This rule is in place due to the competitive nature of the location and to prevent visitors from re-selling their site.
- Entrance fee: Zion National Park collects a separate park entrance. You may pay this fee upon arrival or purchase in advance. The park also honors valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes (also known as interagency passes, e.g., Senior, 4th Grade, Military, etc.). Visit the park's Fees & Passes web page for details.
- Pass Discounts. Lifetime Passes (e.g., Senior, Access, Golden Age Senior and Golden Age Access) and Annual Senior passes may allow a 50% discount on camping. The pass must be present upon check-in with valid ID. The pass only allows a 50% discount on one site (group sites are not discounted).
- VEHICLE SIZE LIMITS. There are length, height and width limits for driving on Utah State Route 9 between the East Entrance and the campgrounds:• Length Limit: Single or combined vehicles over 50 ft. (15 m) long are prohibited from traveling through the park between the East Entrance and the campground. If your total length is greater than 50 ft., you must enter the park through the South Entrance near the town of Springdale.• Height Limit: Vehicles taller than 13 ft. (33 m) are prohibited from traveling through the park between the East Entrance and the campground.• Width Limit: Vehicles 7'10' (2.4 m) in width or 11'4' (3.4 m) in height or larger require one-lane traffic control through the Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel, located between the east entrance and the campground. Nearly all RVs, trailers, fifth-wheels, dual-wheel trucks and campers require a tunnel escort. Visitors requiring this service must purchase a $15 tunnel permit at the entrance station, valid for two trips through the tunnel for the same vehicle during a 7-day period. The Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel is open for over-sized vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT year-round. Visit the Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel web page operation hours.
- Generators are not allowed in the campground.
- No Shower or Laundry Facilities. These amenities are available in the town of Springdale.
- Hammocks: The use of hammocks and slacklines are prohibited.
- Campfires. Campfires are only allowed in designated fire rings. If it is especially dry or windy, Zion may not allow campfires in the fire rings, either. The park will post any fire restrictions on the Current Conditions page. Campers are responsible for understanding current fire restrictions. Do not leave fires unattended. Extinguish them with water until they are cool to the touch. Wood gathering is prohibited in the park.
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more. Gathering of firewood within Zion National Park is prohibited.
- To contact Watchman campground: please email comments/questions/late arrival information to zion_watchman_campground@nps.gov or call 435-772-3837.
- Food and garbage must be stored properly at all times. Food should be stored inside a vehicle or a lockable hard sided container. Garbage should be secured in the same way or be disposed of in the receptacles provided in the campground. Food is defined as food, drinks, toiletries, cosmetics, pet food and bowls, and any other scented items. Coolers, dirty stoves, grills, non-disposable tableware and cookware must be washed or stored in the same manner as food. Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
