NPS · Zion National Park · Springdale, UT

Lava Point Campground

Lava Point is a primitive campground, typically open May through September, as weather allows. Situated at 7890 feet (2405 m) above sea level, it is off the Kolob Terrace Road, 25 miles (40 km) or 45 minutes north of the town of Virgin. It takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to drive to the campground from the South Entrance of Zion Canyon.

More like this: reservable in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · dark sky in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Breathtaking view of rolling forests and Zion's steep canyon walls in the distance.Lava Point CampgroundLava Point CampgroundA panoramic view from Lava Point Lookout showing peaks and mesas.
Photos courtesy of NPS, NPS Photo · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups6
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 19 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

6 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
2Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
3Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
4Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
5Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
6Back-in19GravelNo / –6 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length19 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesReservations must be made in advance through Recreation.gov or their reservation line at 1-877-444-6777. Cell coverage is limited and there will be no opportunity to secure a reservation or make payment on site. Each site is $25 per night.
Dark skyInside Zion National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park

Lava Point is a primitive and dry campground. There is no potable water on site so campers must bring their own. There are no electrical hookups or outlets on site. Each campsite has a trash receptacle, picnic table, and fire ring. Restroom facilities consist of pit toilets.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lava Point Campground40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 1.99 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowFebruary: 2.06 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowMarch: 2.01 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowApril: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.23 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.18 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 1.64 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 42.1°F averageFebruary: 45.6°F averageMarch: 52.4°F averageApril: 58.4°F averageMay: 68.0°F averageJune: 78.8°F averageJuly: 84.9°F averageAugust: 83.3°F averageSeptember: 76.0°F averageOctober: 63.4°F averageNovember: 50.6°F averageDecember: 40.9°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Zion NP, 12 miles from the campground at 4,038 feet, station USC00429717 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Lava Point Campground can be reached by taking the Kolob Terrace Rd. for 25 miles (40 km) north of the town of Virgin, UT. Turn right on Lava Point Rd. and follow for a short distance to the signed campground entrance.

Nearest townSpringdale, Utah
Coordinates37.3839° N, 113.0328° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Due to the remote nature of the campground reservation modifications are the responsibility of the camper.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Lake Piles Rx

    18 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗13.1 mi
Outdoor gearZion Outdoor ↗13.6 mi
RV sales & serviceGander RV ↗20.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Lava Point Campground is approximately a 1 hour and 20 minute drive from the South Entrance of Zion National Park in Springdale, UT. In between the campground and the South Entrance there are several trailheads providing access to Zion Wilderness. Lava Point Campground is also just a few miles South of Kolob Reservoir which provides fishing and water recreation opportunities.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Zion Wilderness.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Lava Point Campground is situated at 7,890 ft. (2405 m) above sea level providing cooler temperatures for campers during southern Utah's hot summers. Pine and Aspen trees create shade and protect campsites from wind on gustier days. A short distance from the campground entrance is Lava Point Overlook where campers can take in breathtaking panoramic views to the South towards Zion Canyon.

Recreation

Barney's Trail leaves from the campground and provides access to Lava Point Overlook and the West Rim Trail. The campground is also excellent for wildlife watching and stargazing.

Guidebooks for Zion National Park

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Fodor's In Focus Zion National Park
    2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Landscape Photographer's Guide to Zion National Park
    Anthony Jones, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Easy Day Hikes Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
    Erik Molvar, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Lava Point Campground?

Sites at Lava Point Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Lava Point Campground?

Reservations must be made in advance through Recreation.gov or their reservation line at 1-877-444-6777. Cell coverage is limited and there will be no opportunity to secure a reservation or make payment on site. Each site is $25 per night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Lava Point Campground?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Lava Point Campground have?

6 sites, including 6 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Lava Point Campground?

The longest site here provides 19 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Lava Point Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lava Point Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Lava Point Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is Lava Point Campground good for stargazing?

Yes. Lava Point Campground sits inside Zion National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

Is there cell service at Lava Point Campground?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Lava Point Campground?

Barney's Trail leaves from the campground and provides access to Lava Point Overlook and the West Rim Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Lava Point Campground?

Springdale, Utah. Lava Point Campground is approximately a 1 hour and 20 minute drive from the South Entrance of Zion National Park in Springdale, UT.

Source: Getting there

What if Lava Point Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are South Campground (12.9 mi), Watchman Campground (13.1 mi), and Deer Haven (14.8 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby