RV Road Trip to Kodachrome Basin State Park
Towering sandpipes, fewer crowds, and campsites with full-hookups make Kodachrome Basin a standout stop on a road trip from Las Vegas.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Utah’s Kodachrome Basin State Park features 67 towering stone spires and multi-colored sandstone layers, typical of the region’s red rock. It’s worth a visit for its beauty alone, but we love that it’s less crowded, cooler, and has full-hookup RV campsites that nearby national parks can’t match.
It’s a nice addition to a 7-day road trip from Las Vegas that loops through Zion and Bryce Canyon.
7-Day Itinerary from Las Vegas
Here’s how Kodachrome fits into a week-long loop from Las Vegas. The total driving distance is 630 miles:
Day 1: Las Vegas to Zion National Park (~2.5 hours). Set up camp, spend the afternoon and evening in park.
Day 2: Full day in Zion. Hiking, photography, touring the Visitor Center.
Day 3: Zion to Kodachrome Basin (~2.5 hours). Settle into campsite, explore the park.
Day 4: Full day in Kodachrome Basin. Hiking, photography, 3D archery, horseback riding.
Day 5: Day trip to Bryce Canyon (24 miles each way). Return to camp.
Day 6: Morning at Grosvenor Arch (10 miles). Afternoon scenic drive on Highway 12 or hiking trails.
Day 7: Return to Las Vegas (~4.5 hours).
Where to Camp at Kodachrome Basin
Above Basin Campground // Ken Lund, CC BY 2.0
Kodachrome has three campgrounds, described below. Reservations open on a four-month rolling basis through ReserveAmerica (example: June 10 reservations open on Feb. 10) and summer weekends fill quickly. Check-in at each campground is 3pm and check-out is noon.
For RVs with hookup needs, Basin Campground is the best choice.
Basin Campground
This is the go-to campground for RVs with paved sites and nice facilities. Campers rave about the rainfall showerheads and plenty of hot water.
Hiking trails start right from the campground, and the sites are surrounded by the park’s colorful rock formations.
Distance to Visitor Center: ~1 mile
Hookups: Full hookups (water, sewer, electric) on 15 sites; standard sites have no hookups
Fees: $45/night full hookup, $35/night standard
Max RV Length: No official limit, though some sites are tighter than others. Check individual site details on ReserveAmerica.
Open: March 1–December 1
Amenities: Flush toilets, hot showers, laundromat, dump station, firewood to buy
Arch Campground
A smaller, quieter campground with a rustic feel and good spacing between sites. Campers like sites 48-52, which are back-ins facing the rocks.
Arch is popular with astrophotographers because fewer trees block the night sky.
Distance to visitor center: ~1/2 miles
Hookups: Water and electric (no sewer)
Fees: $45/night
Max RV Length: 35 feet
Open: Year-round, weather permitting
Amenities: Vault toilet, fire rings, picnic tables. Use showers and dump station at Basin Campground.
Bryce View Campground
The most primitive campground, but you get views of Bryce Canyon’s pink ledges in the distance. Sites feel private with trees and bushes between them, and most are pull-throughs. Best for smaller rigs, like the Winnebago Revel.
Distance to Visitor Center: 1.5 miles
Hookups: None
Fees: $35/night
Max RV Length: 20 feet
Open: Year-round, weather permitting
Amenities: Vault toilet, water tap, fire rings, picnic tables. Use showers and dump station at Basin Campground.
Good to know: Generator hours are 12–4pm in all campgrounds. Plan ahead for your air conditioning or charging needs. Each site allows a maximum of 2 vehicles, with a $16/night fee for the second. Two camping units on a single site are not allowed.
What to Do in Kodachrome Basin
“Angel’s Palace, Kodachrome Basin, Utah” // Fabio Achilli, CC BY 2.0
Take a Walk or Hike
Most visitors come to see Kodachrome Basin’s sandpipes, and hiking is the best way to get up close. These unusual geological formations are found almost nowhere else on Earth.
Trails range from short walks to longer loops, and most trailheads are near Basin Campground:
Panorama Trail (3–6 miles): A relatively flat loop featuring the highest concentration of sandpipes. If you have time, take the spur to Cool Cave, a huge, shaded natural amphitheater tucked into the rock.
Angel’s Palace Trail (1.5 miles): If you only have time for one hike, this is it. It’s a bit of a climb, but it takes you up onto a red-rock plateau for the best views of the sandpipes and the surrounding basin.
Penny Press Geocache Challenge
For a unique souvenir, participate in the park’s Penny Press Geocache Challenge. There are four different smashed penny designs available in the gift shop, and the park has hidden four corresponding geocaches at Cool Cave, Shakespeare Trail, Grand Parade, and Angel’s Palace.
See if you can find them all while you explore the trails.
Go Mountain Biking
The Panorama and Big Bear Geyser trails are the two routes open to cyclists in the park. You will experience a mix of grippy slickrock and sandy stretches that wind through the heart of the sandpipes.
Note that from Easter through mid-October, mountain bikers share a one-mile section of the Panorama Trail with hikers and stagecoach tours.
Visit Grosvenor Arch
“Grosvenor Arch” // James Watt, CC BY 2.0
This double arch is 10 miles down the unpaved Cottonwood Canyon Road, southeast of the park in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It stands 152 feet high with distinctive yellow and pink-speckled sandstone.
The paved 0.25-mile trail to the base is wheelchair accessible, and there's no fee. Fewer people come here than to the national parks, so you may have it to yourself. The road is passable for passenger vehicles but can be impassable when wet.
Take a Horseback Ride
Red Canyon Trail Rides operates guided horseback tours within the park.
Try 3D Archery
The park has a 13-target 3D archery course with animal targets scattered through the landscape. Bring your own bow or rent equipment at the visitor center.
Play Disc Golf and Lawn Games
An 18-hole disc golf course winds through the rock formations. You can rent discs at the visitor center or grab other outdoor games like corn hole, giant Jenga, bocce ball, and ladder toss to play at your campsite.
Photograph the Sandpipes
The combination of red and white sandstone, blue skies, and unusual rock formations makes this one of the most photogenic state parks in Utah. Sunrise and sunset light on the sandpipes is particularly good.
Best Time to Visit
Fall is the best time to see Kodachrome Basin because crowds are smaller and temperatures are cooler. Here’s a seasonal breakdown:
Spring (April–early June): Pleasant days, cold nights (can drop to 20°F), and fewer crowds. Wind is common and April can bring snow.
Summer (late June–early September): Hot and busy. Afternoon thunderstorms can bring flash flooding, so plan hikes for morning.
Fall (late September–October): The sweet spot. Highs around 75°F, crowds thin after Labor Day.
Winter (November–March): Below freezing days, sub-zero nights, and possible heavy snow. Basin Campground closes December 1–March 1.
Planning Your Kodachrome Basin Trip
Day Use Fee: $10 per vehicle (up to 8 people). Utah residents 62+ pay $5 per vehicle.
Visitor Center Hours: 8am–6pm daily. The park has a laundromat, which is useful for week-long trips.
Visitor Center Food: You can now grab a quick bite inside the visitor center. They serve hot dogs, nachos, and hand-scooped ice cream along with coffee, tea, and slushies.
Getting There: Navigate to the Kodachrome Basin State Park Visitor Center instead of your campground for accurate directions.
Location: The park address is 2905 S. Kodachrome State Park Road, Cannonville, UT 84718. The phone number is 435-679-8562.
WiFi: There’s no cell service anywhere in the park. Free WiFi is available in the visitor center parking lot.
Ready to book your RV for this trip? Blacksford’s Las Vegas fleet puts you 2.5 hours from Zion and 4.5 hours from Kodachrome Basin, with well-maintained RVs ready for Utah’s scenic highways.