Lava Point Campground

A primitive campsite with a fire ring, picnic table, and bear box.

Lava Point is Zion's high-country campground: six primitive, tent-only sites perched at 7,890 feet off Kolob Terrace Road, about 80 minutes from the South Entrance. This is real dry camping - pit toilets and trash cans, but no running water, so you haul in every gallon yourself. The trade-off is a quiet, reservation-only camp that runs much cooler than the canyon floor, typically open May through September as weather allows. If your family likes doing things the simple, self-reliant way, this is the spot.

Quick facts

Reservation System: Recreation.gov - reservations required, no first-come, first-served sites
Reservation Window: Bookable up to 14 days in advance - reserve before your trip, cell service is limited in the park
Reservation Tips: Reservations open just 14 days in advance and are required - no first-come, first-served sites exist here. Set a reminder, book the moment your dates open, and confirm before you drive up since cell service is limited in the park.
Season Dates: Typically May through September, open as weather allows; closed when snow covers the road (snow closure listed October 1 through late May)

Reservations & season

Reservation System: Recreation.gov - reservations required, no first-come, first-served sites
Reservation Window: Bookable up to 14 days in advance - reserve before your trip, cell service is limited in the park
Reservation Tips: Reservations open just 14 days in advance and are required - no first-come, first-served sites exist here. Set a reminder, book the moment your dates open, and confirm before you drive up since cell service is limited in the park.
Season Dates: Typically May through September, open as weather allows; closed when snow covers the road (snow closure listed October 1 through late May)
Fills Up Speed: With only 6 reservable sites and a 14-day booking window, spots go quickly - book the day your window opens
Per Night Cost: $25.00 per night, tent-only campsite

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total: 6
Site Types: Tent only - 6 primitive tent sites
Site Type Breakdown: 6 tent-only sites; 0 RV, 0 group, 0 walk/boat-to
RV Max Length: No RVs, campers, or trailers allowed; vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted
Group Sites Available: 0
Group Site Capacity: No group sites - 0 group sites listed
Hookups: Dry camping only - 0 electrical hookups, no water
Site Features: Furnished fire grates at each site, trash cans (seasonal), food storage lockers (seasonal), pit toilets nearby
Site Privacy: Only 6 primitive sites in the whole campground, so you won't be packed in shoulder to shoulder

Facilities

Bathroom Types: Pit/vault toilets (seasonal) - proper outhouse setup, no flush toilets
Showers Available: None - no showers on site; plan a wipes-or-solar-shower cleanup routine
Potable Water: No water at the campground - bring your own jugs, and pack more than you think you need
Dump Station: No dump station
Trash Service: Trash cans provided (seasonal)
Camp Store: No camp store - no ice or firewood for sale on site
Firewood Availability: No firewood sold on site; wood gathering is prohibited in the park - purchase wood in nearby communities, and don't move firewood long distances
Cell Service: No reliable cell service - signal may occasionally appear depending on carrier; download offline maps first
Nearby Facilities: More services are available in Virgin, Utah, over 20 miles away; the park's mailing address is in Springdale

Access

Road Type: Unpaved roads - all vehicles OK in good weather
Road Conditions: Kolob Terrace Road for roughly 20 miles, then Lava Point Road for 1.4 miles; unpaved access roads are fine for most vehicles in good weather
Vehicle Restrictions: Vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted on the road to the campground; no RVs, campers, or trailers
Clearance Needed: Standard clearance - all vehicles OK on the unpaved access roads in good weather
Gate Hours: Open all day during the season; check-in typically after 12:00 pm, check-out by 11:00 am
Distance From Entrance: About 80 minutes' drive from the South Entrance of Zion Canyon; 25 miles (45 minutes) north of Virgin via Kolob Terrace Road
Nearest Gas Services: More services are available in Virgin, Utah, over 20 miles away - fuel up and buy ice before the climb
Elevation: 7,890 feet
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible - the campground and its trails have no accessible campsites due to the natural landscape and weather; accessible camping is available at Watchman Campground
ADA Accessible Sites: None - Lava Point Campground and its trails are not wheelchair accessible; accessible camping is available at Watchman Campground by the Zion Canyon Visitor Center

Rules & safety

Food Storage Requirements: All food and waste must be properly stored or disposed of; food storage lockers are available seasonally
Fire Restrictions: Fires only in the furnished grates at each site; seasonal fire restrictions are common - check with a ranger or camp host; no fires when restrictions are in place; only common fuels like firewood or charcoal; never leave a fire unattended
Generator Hours: Generators may only run 8 am - 10 am and 6 pm - 8 pm
Quiet Hours: 10:00 pm to 8:00 am
Alcohol Permitted: 0

What it is like

Onsite Activities: Lava Point Overlook is close by; camp life here is the simple kind - campfires in the furnished grates and quiet high-country evenings
Noise Level: Remote, reservation-only camp far from the main canyon - expect quiet, especially during posted quiet hours (10 pm - 8 am)
Best Time To Visit: May through September, the only window the campground is open - it runs much cooler than the canyon, so mid-summer is comfortable up here
Vibe Check: Primitive high-country camp, the opposite of a packed canyon campground: six sites, no hookups, no store, no cell signal. Expect quiet nights, cool air at 7,890 feet, and a seasonal camp host. If you need showers and a camp store, book Watchman instead.
Camp Here If Skip If: CAMP HERE IF: you want quiet, cool, primitive tent camping away from the canyon crowds, and you're comfortable hauling your own water. SKIP IF: you have an RV or trailer, a vehicle over 19 feet, or need showers, hookups, running water, or wheelchair-accessible sites - Watchman Campground covers those needs.
Tips Advice: - Bring all your water in jugs - there is none on site. - Reserve exactly 14 days out; there are only 6 sites and no walk-ups. - Book before you leave home - cell service is limited in the park. - Buy firewood in nearby communities; gathering wood in the park is prohibited. - Pack warm layers - nights at 7,890 feet run much colder than the canyon. - Keep your rig under 19 feet or you can't drive the access road. - Fuel up and grab ice in Virgin - services are over 20 miles away.

More details

Park Area: Kolob Terrace
Sites Tent Only: 6
Family Friendly Notes: Fine for self-sufficient families who camp simple: no water, pit toilets, and no store, so kids' snacks, drinks, and gear ride in with you. The cooler temperatures make summer nights easier on little campers.
Amphitheater: No amphitheater
Nearby Attractions: Lava Point Overlook nearby; Zion Canyon's South Entrance is about an 80-minute drive; the town of Virgin is over 20 miles away
Terrain Type: High-country terrain at 7,890 feet above sea level, almost 5,000 feet higher than the South Entrance at Springdale
Temperature Ranges: Day and night temperatures may differ by over 30F; at almost 5,000 feet above the South Entrance, it is usually much cooler at Lava Point than in other parts of Zion - pack warm layers for night
Snow Season: Snow closure typically runs from October into late May; the campground opens when the road is cleared of snow
Setup Strategy: Tent-only, so no leveling blocks or hookups to worry about. The approach is roughly 20 miles of Kolob Terrace Road plus 1.4 miles on Lava Point Road, with unpaved sections that most vehicles handle fine in good weather. Keep the vehicle under 19 feet - longer rigs are not permitted on the road. Check-in is typically after 12:00 pm.
Bath Laundry Recon: Pit/vault toilets (seasonal) and that's it - no showers, no laundry. Plan a wipes-and-basin cleanup routine and hit real facilities in town; more services are in Virgin, over 20 miles away.
Review Summary: Campers treat Lava Point as the quiet alternative to Zion Canyon's busy campgrounds: six primitive sites, cool nights at elevation, and none of the crowds. The trade is self-sufficiency - no water, no showers, no store - which is exactly what fans of the place like about it.

Location

Frequently asked questions

Is Lava Point Campground worth the long drive from Zion Canyon?

If quiet and cool air matter to you, yes. It's about 80 minutes from the South Entrance, but you trade the canyon crowds for six primitive sites at 7,890 feet where nights run much cooler than the valley.

Can I bring my RV or trailer to Lava Point?

No. RVs, campers, and trailers are not allowed, and vehicles longer than 19 feet are not permitted on the road to the campground. This is tent camping only.

Is there drinking water at the campground?

No. There is no running water on site, only pit toilets and trash cans. Bring all your water in jugs - and pack extra, since the nearest services are in Virgin, over 20 miles away.

Do I need a reservation, or can I just show up?

You need a reservation. All 6 sites are reservation-only on Recreation.gov, bookable up to 14 days in advance, and there are no first-come, first-served sites. Book before your trip - cell service is limited in the park.

How much does it cost to camp at Lava Point?

A tent-only campsite is $25.00 per night. There are 6 primitive sites, each with a furnished fire grate.

Can I have a campfire?

Yes, in the furnished grates at each site - but seasonal fire restrictions are common, so check with a ranger or camp host first. Wood gathering is prohibited in the park, so buy firewood in nearby communities.

When is the campground open?

Typically May through September, as weather allows. The campground opens once the road is cleared of snow, and the posted snow closure runs from October into late May.