Cedar City sits at 5,846 feet in southern Utah’s high desert, right where the red rock country meets the mountains. It is one of the rare basecamps that puts you within an hour of two national parks. Bryce Canyon is about 80 miles east, Zion is about 60 miles south, and Cedar Breaks National Monument is 30 minutes up the mountain. Brian Head Ski Resort is even closer. Every summer the Utah Shakespeare Festival fills the town with live theater and visitors from around the world.
That mix of national parks and culture is exactly why so many travelers compare campgrounds here before they book. Your options run a wide range, from full-hookup resorts on Main Street with a pool and walking-distance dining, to electric-only state park sites near a warm-water lake, to rustic vault-toilet campgrounds up in the Dixie National Forest. The right choice depends on whether you are towing a big rig, chasing dark skies and trout, or basing in town to hit Bryce and Zion on alternating days. Here is how the best campgrounds near Cedar City stack up, and where each one fits.
Choosing the Right Campground Near Cedar City
Campgrounds near Cedar City fall into three broad camps, and the best one for you depends on what you are after. In-town full-service resorts give you full hookups, a pool, cabins, laundry, and walking-distance dining, which is the practical pick if you are using Cedar City as a national-park basecamp and want comfort between hikes. State park campgrounds like Quail Creek trade hookups for water recreation: electric sites, a dump station, and a warm-water reservoir for swimming and boating. National forest campgrounds up Highway 14 toward Duck Creek and Cedar Breaks go fully rustic, with vault toilets, no hookups, and high-elevation pine forest at 8,000-plus feet. If you are towing a big rig or traveling with family in summer heat, the in-town resort wins on hookups and the pool. If you want quiet, cool nights and you are tent camping or in a self-contained rig, the forest campgrounds are hard to beat.
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Cedar City RV Resort by RJourney
Cedar City RV Resort sits right on Main Street on the north end of town, close enough to walk to dinner and central enough to use as a base camp for half of southern Utah’s national parks. The Utah Shakespeare Festival is on Southern Utah University’s campus a short drive away. Zion is 60 miles south, Bryce Canyon is 80 miles east, and Brian Head Ski Resort is 30 minutes up Highway 143. It is the only campground in Cedar City with a swimming pool, which earns its keep when summer afternoon temps push past 90 degrees. Full hookups, cabins, tent sites, a fenced dog park, and an on-site restaurant set it apart from the rustic state park and forest options nearby. General Manager Maria Chauser was named RJourney’s GM of the Year, and her team keeps the property clean and welcoming.
Sites & Hookups
Full hookup RV sites include water, sewer, and electric with 30-amp and 50-amp service. Pull-through sites accommodate big rigs, so you can roll in without backing into a tight spot, and the resort is big-rig friendly across the board. Tent sites are available for lighter travelers, and cabins (1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and deluxe) handle guests traveling without a rig. That range of site types is what sets a full-service campground apart from the area’s state parks and forest campgrounds, which lean rustic. Monthly RV rates at $650 attract traveling nurses, construction crews, and remote workers who want a season in southern Utah without breaking the budget. Propane and firewood are sold on-site, and WiFi covers the property. GPS warning: do not exit at Kanarraville. Use Exit 57 from the south or Exit 62 from the north off I-15. There is also a dip at the resort entrance, so drive slowly and enter at an angle.
What's On-Site
Cedar City RV Resort is the only campground in Cedar City with a swimming pool, and that single fact explains a lot of the summer reviews. When afternoon temperatures push past 90 degrees in July and August, the pool earns its keep. Beyond the pool, the amenity list runs deeper than any state park or forest campground in the area: a fenced dog park, a playground for kids, a covered pavilion, recently upgraded laundry, a coffee cart on site, an on-site restaurant, WiFi throughout the property, and on-site propane and firewood sales. Outdoor games like cornhole and horseshoes round out the social side. Long-term residents and traveling workers describe a park that runs cleanly and welcomes them by name, and Maria Chauser was named RJourney’s GM of the Year.
What Guests Say
Cedar City RV Resort holds a 4.2-star rating across roughly 1,005 Google reviews. The themes that come up most often: cleanliness, staff, and friendly service. Guests passing through on a national-parks trip mention the central Main Street location and the walking-distance dining. Long-term residents and traveling workers talk about the team knowing them by name and a steady, well-run operation. The pool gets a separate mention in almost every summer review, since it is the only one in town. Negative-theme clusters point to pet-friendly policy specifics, shaded sites, and bathhouse condition, none deal-breakers in volume.
Other Campgrounds Near Cedar City
Cedar City RV Resort is the only in-town option with full hookups and a pool, but the surrounding national forest and state parks offer rustic alternatives worth comparing. Availability and policies change, so call ahead.
Quail Creek State Park
A warm-water reservoir in red rock canyon country. The campground has electric hookup sites and basic tent spots, and water temps stay warm enough for swimming well into October. If you want lake recreation alongside your camping trip, Quail Creek delivers. No full hookups. Visit website.
Day Trips from Cedar City
Quail Creek State Park, about 35 miles south near Hurricane, is the closest warm-water swimming and boating option, with a reservoir that holds summer temperatures well into October. Duck Creek and the lakes along Highway 14 in the Dixie National Forest add high-elevation fishing within an easy drive of the resort.
Bryce Canyon National Park is about 80 miles east (1.5 hours), a series of natural amphitheaters filled with thousands of red, orange, and white hoodoos; the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden trails make a 3-mile loop that takes about two hours. Zion National Park is about 60 miles south (1 hour), with Angels Landing, the Narrows, and the Emerald Pools, plus the quieter Kolob Canyons section only 40 minutes from Cedar City. Cedar Breaks National Monument sits 23 miles east at over 10,000 feet, a 3-mile-wide amphitheater that rivals Bryce in color and holds International Dark Sky Park status.
Brian Head Resort is about 30 minutes from Cedar City, Utah’s highest-elevation ski resort at 11,307 feet, with winter skiing and summer mountain biking across the Giant Steps trail system’s 100-plus miles of singletrack. Cedar Canyon and Duck Creek along Highway 14 climb into the Dixie National Forest at 8,000-plus feet, a different world from the valley floor, with aspen and spruce, vault-toilet campgrounds, and fall color drives.
Seasonal Guide for Camping Near Cedar City
Summer (June through August)
Peak season with the Shakespeare Festival in full swing and warm weather for national park hiking. Valley afternoons regularly hit the mid-90s, so the pool earns its keep and strenuous hikes are best done early. Cedar Breaks and Brian Head stay cool at elevation. Popular Shakespeare shows sell out weeks ahead; book online before your trip.
Fall (September through October)
Cooler temps, fall color in the mountains, and smaller crowds. Cedar Breaks stays accessible through mid-October, the Sheep Heritage Festival runs in October, and the Highway 14 drive peaks for color. One of the best windows for combining park trips with comfortable camping.
Winter (November through March)
Brian Head ski season drives the traffic, and the resort makes a workable ski base 30 minutes down the mountain at $650/month for long-term sites. Valley nights drop below freezing, so winterize for high-desert cold. The pool closes, but the parks and dark skies stay open.
Spring (April through May)
Shoulder season with mild days and cool nights. Zion and Bryce trails reopen fully, the Shakespeare Festival ramps up in late May, and crowds stay lighter than summer. Cedar Breaks opens late May depending on snow. A strong window for park hiking before the heat.
Practical Tips for Camping Near Cedar City
Big rigs and families do best at the in-town full-hookup resort. Tent campers and self-contained rigs chasing cool nights should look up Highway 14 to the forest campgrounds. Lake lovers head to Quail Creek.
Cedar City sits at 5,846 feet, with day trips to Cedar Breaks (10,000-plus) and Brian Head (11,000-plus). Stay hydrated, especially coming from sea level.
Maria's top recommendation: the monument holds International Dark Sky Park status, and stargazing from 10,000 feet is some of the best in Utah.
July and August afternoons regularly hit the mid-90s in the valley. Plan strenuous hikes early and save the pool for afternoons.
Popular shows sell out weeks in advance during peak summer. Book online before your trip if you want specific performances.
Use Exit 57 from the south or Exit 62 from the north off I-15; do not exit at Kanarraville. There is a noticeable dip at the resort entrance, so take it slow with a long rig.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Cedar City, UT?
Cedar City RV Resort is the top-rated in-town option, with full hookups, the only pool in town, cabins, and tent sites on Main Street. For rustic alternatives, Quail Creek State Park (35 miles south) offers reservoir camping with electric sites, and the Dixie National Forest campgrounds along Highway 14 offer cool, high-elevation tent and self-contained camping.
Which campground near Cedar City is closest to Bryce Canyon and Zion?
Cedar City RV Resort is the most central basecamp. Bryce Canyon is about 80 miles east (roughly 1.5 hours) and Zion’s main entrance near Springdale is about 60 miles south (1 hour). Kolob Canyons, Zion’s quieter section, is only about 20 miles south off I-15.
What types of camping are available at Cedar City RV Resort?
Full hookup RV sites (30/50 amp), tent sites, and cabins. The cabins come in 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and deluxe configurations, with monthly rentals under $700. Nightly RV rates start at $40. Call (435) 767-0318 for current availability.
Does any campground in Cedar City have a swimming pool?
Cedar City RV Resort is the only campground in town with a swimming pool. It is a popular spot during summer afternoons when valley temperatures push into the 90s. The nearby state parks and forest campgrounds do not have pools.
When is the best time for camping near Cedar City?
May through October offers the best conditions. Summer is peak season with the Shakespeare Festival and warm weather for national park hiking. September and October bring cooler temps, fall color in the mountains, and smaller crowds. Cedar Breaks is only accessible late May through mid-October.
Is Cedar City RV Resort pet-friendly?
Yes. The resort has a fenced on-site dog park, and pets are welcome at RV and tent sites with no fee. Select designated cabins are pet-friendly with a $25 fee. Service animals are welcome everywhere at all times.
Book Your Campsite Near Cedar City
Cedar City RV Resort by RJourney puts you on Main Street with full hookups, the only pool in town, a dog park, cabins, tent sites, and an on-site restaurant. Bryce Canyon is 1.5 hours east, Zion is an hour south, Cedar Breaks is 30 minutes up the mountain, and the Shakespeare Festival is right down the road. Rates start at $40/night.
See all site types, rates, and live availability on the Cedar City RV Resort page.
Reserve Your Site (435) 767-0318