Camping Near St. George: Where to Pitch a Tent
From red-rock state parks to a cool pine forest, everything within an hour. Where to camp near St. George, and how to beat the summer heat.
You do not have to go far to sleep under some of the best skies in the country. Within an hour of St. George there is everything from red-rock state-park campgrounds to a cool mountain forest. Here is where to pitch a tent.
Snow Canyon
The campground inside Snow Canyon State Park is the local gem: red-and-white sandstone right out your tent flap, clean sites, and trails from camp. It is popular and books up, especially spring and fall, so reserve early.
The reservoirs: Sand Hollow and Quail Creek
For camping with a swim, Sand Hollow and Quail Creek State Parks both have campgrounds on the water. Warm reservoirs, red-sand beaches, and boating or paddling steps from your site. Great in the shoulder seasons, hot and busy at the height of summer.
Red Cliffs
The Red Cliffs Recreation Area campground north of town is smaller and more low-key, tucked into red sandstone near good short hikes. A nice quieter option.
Escape the heat: Pine Valley
When the desert is an oven, head up to the Pine Valley Mountains. The Forest Service campgrounds up there sit in cool pines and meadows, 20-plus degrees cooler than the valley, the local summer move.
A few basics: most of these are state-park or Forest Service sites that take reservations, so book ahead in peak season, and in summer, higher and shadier is your friend.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you camp near St. George?
Snow Canyon State Park, the Sand Hollow and Quail Creek reservoirs, and the Red Cliffs Recreation Area all have campgrounds within about an hour. For cooler summer camping, the Pine Valley Mountains have Forest Service sites.
Do St. George campgrounds take reservations?
Yes. The state-park and Forest Service campgrounds take reservations and fill up in spring and fall, so book ahead, especially for Snow Canyon.