Southern Utah by Campervan
Why Utah?
My desire to visit Utah was almost entirely inspired by people I follow on Instragram. I follow three different people – a family friend, a college friend, and a vanlifer I found online by happenstance – who live in Utah and travel extensively throughout the state, and they all happen to be extraordinary photographers. With each picture they posted, I found myself aching to be there among the mountains in the desert. In 2018, we finally planned a week-long vacation to southern Utah… and it was everything I imagined it to be, and more!
Instagram Inspiration
Before I get into details, here are the Instagram accounts I mentioned above, in case you too want to get hooked on Utah’s beauty. Stunning photos and beautiful writing galore.
- @torgoddessoftunder
- @kalin.stewart
- @briannamadia
Using Escape Campervans
We had really enjoyed our Escape Campervan rental when we drove the California coast, so we booked the Maverick van again for our southern Utah trip. We flew in and out of Las Vegas, where Escape has a depot about 2 miles from the strip (we walked from Harrah’s to the depot, but we would advise getting a ride as it took about 30 minutes and was HOT in June). Escape has tons of beautifully painted vans, yet both of our trips with them we have been assigned to ones that are far from my preferred style. In Vegas, we were given an emoji van. Once we got set up, we followed the route below, hitting Valley of Fire, then Bryce, then Zion.
Camping Options
BLM Land
The Bureau of Land Management owns over 247 million acres of land, mostly out west. While BLM land contains campsites and RV’s parks, it is also free to boondock (or dry camp) on almost all of the land. We loved our spot on Sheep Bridge Road outside of Zion (pictured below). One perk of this accomodation style (or lack thereof) is that you have total control over how far away you stay from other people. Just be sure to follow the Leave No Trace policies so everyone after you can enjoy the pristine land as well.
National Forests
Like BLM land, boondocking is allowed and free within most National Forests. We found a shaded spot down a long, winding road, overlooking a canyon at Tom’s Best Spring in the Dixie National Forest (pictured below). This is a really convenient location for anyone visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, and the forest is just west of the park. Similar to camping on BLM land, this style generally provides as much privacy as you want.
National Park Campgrounds
South Campground (where we stayed) and Watchman Campground are both run by Zion National Park, and they offer many perks. Most importantly, stunning views all around. But they are also super convenient, with a shuttle stop just feet in one direction and a lovely creek for playing and swimming in another. The downside would be that they’re packed in fairly tight, so if privacy is your most important factor then maybe look elsewhere. South Campground sites (pictured below) are $20 per night and can only be booked 14 days in advance. Watchman are $20 for camping, $30 for electric, and can be booked 6 months in advance.
State Park Campgrounds
Even more prevalent than National Parks are State Parks, and they too can provide you with some exceptionally cool places to camp. When we planned to visit Valley of Fire State Park, we didn’t even think to look into campsites there, figuring we would boondock somewhere nearby. But as soon as we pulled up to the gates, saw the beauty of the park, and noticed a nearly empty camping area, we wanted to stay put (picture below does not do it justice). Camping was $20 per night with restrooms on-site (extra $10 for RV hook-up). They cannot be booked ahead of time, but with 72 sites it’s hard to imagine them ever be full.
Takeaways, Tips, and Reflections
I absolutely loved every minute of this trip. As we were leaving Zion on our last day, I was already aching to return. I actually immediately started looking up the average temperature in February because I knew that was the next time we had a few days off that weren’t already planned. I would encourage EVERYONE to visit southern Utah and see the gorgeous landscapes for yourself. If you do plan to go, here are some suggestions from our visit.
- Valley of Fire State Park is worth the detour. The place is truly majestic. Even if you don’t want to hike there, or don’t have time to, just driving the road through the park will make you question whether you’re still on planet Earth.
- Don’t try to do all 5 National Parks in Utah in one go (unless you have an extended amount of time). This might just be our travel preference, but we feel like moving slow and soaking up each park is the way to go. We did Valley of Fire, Bryce, and Zion over 8 days and still felt like that was too much. I would love to return to Zion for a full week.
- Speaking of Zion, our best tip there would be to explore the trails that aren’t listed on the official park map. There are endless acres of land to be hiked beyond where the shuttle takes you, so do some research and avoid the crowds. Of course you should always stick to paths meant for hiking to both keep yourself safe and preserve the nature around you. Bonus: there are also many swimming holes not listed on the park maps!
- Wear sunscreen and a hat. I know, this seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Bryce Canyon especially has lengthy hikes that rarely offer shade, so pack accordingly
- Schedule unscheduled time. In other words, build in time to move slow, stop at roadside attractions, or stumble upon unexpected recreation areas. One place we happened upon and loved was Red Cliffs Recreation Area. But be warned: the swimming hole is often dry in the summer months.