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Top 10+ Utah Campgrounds

9,528 Reviews

Utah's camping landscape stretches from developed RV parks to remote backcountry sites, encompassing destinations like Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Arches. Major campgrounds such as Watchman, South, and Devils Garden provide established camping with varying amenity levels, while dispersed options like Tom Best Spring Road in Dixie National Forest offer free, primitive alternatives. The region includes both tent and RV sites, with some locations featuring cabin accommodations and glamping options. National park campgrounds typically provide toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables, while national forest dispersed camping offers solitude with minimal amenities.

Road conditions across Utah camping areas vary significantly by location and season, with some dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles for access. Campgrounds like those in Zion National Park operate year-round, while Devils Garden in Arches closes seasonally from November through February. Many national park campgrounds require reservations months in advance, particularly during the peak summer season. Elevation differences create varied climate conditions, with higher-elevation sites experiencing cooler temperatures even in summer. Flash flooding can impact low-lying areas and wash out access roads unexpectedly. "The area is absolutely beautiful but we drive a ford escape and couldn't get very far on the road as it was very eroded! Lucky if you have a higher clearance vehicle," noted one camper about Henrieville Creek in Grand Staircase.

Campers report varying experiences with privacy and solitude depending on location choice. Dispersed sites generally offer more seclusion, while established campgrounds provide consistent amenities but less isolation. National park campgrounds fill quickly during peak season, with visitors recommending early reservations. One visitor described their experience at a Forest Service dispersed site: "Great off grid spot, nice tracks off the main gravel road you can park up at. Clear spots with plenty of pine cones and firewood lying around." Cell service remains spotty throughout much of Utah's backcountry, with better coverage near towns and highways. Mixed-use campgrounds offering both RV hookups and tent sites present compromise options between amenities and natural setting, particularly along major travel corridors near national parks.

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Best Camping Sites in Utah (1,691)

    1. Westside Campground — Sand Hollow State Park

    569 Reviews
    Hurricane, UT
    +1 (435) 680-0715

    $50 / night

    "It’s fun of all sorts, kayaking, lake beach, boating, cliff jumping, bbq, off-roading everywhere!!! And the beauty that surrounds is unreal!!"

    "It’s always a family favorite when we go to Southern Utah"

    2. Watchman Campground — Zion National Park

    245 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3837

    $35 - $130 / night

    "Sites were typical National Park, small and close together but well positioned.  We had close access to a modern restroom that was clean and well maintained.  "

    "Watchman is conveniently located within walking distance of the Zion National Park south entrance. The camp sites are shaded with trees and red gravel/sand ground structure."

    3. Devils Garden Campground — Arches National Park

    95 Reviews
    Moab, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 719-2299

    $25 - $250 / night

    "This campground is surrounded by tall majestic rocks high in the Utah desert. Well located to visit several National parks. Toilets and water scattered around this large site."

    "Depending on how far you want to walk, there is access to several of the park's arches right from the campsite. Beware of Ravens!"

    4. South Campground — Zion National Park

    91 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3256

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Perfect location just a short walk away from the visitors center where you catch the shuttle into the park, or exit to catch the shuttle to Springdale. Clean bathrooms. No shade at site 125."

    "The drive in from the Eastern entrance is simply incredible and full of epic photo ops. Zion reminds me of Yosemite Valley in some ways."

    5. Fruita Campground — Capitol Reef National Park

    88 Reviews
    Torrey, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 425-4172

    $25 / night

    "One of our favorite campgrounds in southern Utah nestled in the Capitol Reef National Park."

    "There are lots of trees and shade and after driving through the desert it’s crazy to find this oasis tucked back behind these big beautiful rocks 🏜. The sites are a good size and comfortable."

    6. Zion Canyon Campground

    92 Reviews
    Springdale, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 772-3237

    "Lovely spot with a river running along one side, but only people with river spots have access to it! Conveniently within the nice town of Springdale and very close to park entrance."

    "The location is definitely a highlight, it’s just a short walk to the park entrance, which made getting in and out of Zion really convenient. "

    7. Rubys Inn RV Park and Campground

    79 Reviews
    Fern Ridge Lake, OR
    Website
    +1 (435) 834-5341

    "Campground Review Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground Definitely the closest campground outside of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah with all the amenities (absolutely positively everything) and even"

    "Our camper was nestled in the trees with a hill behind the camper, where we could also explore."

    8. North Campground — Bryce Canyon National Park

    78 Reviews
    Tropic, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 834-5322

    $30 / night

    "The sites are tucked into cozy piney woods that belies the massive red, rocky hoodoos just a few yards away in the amphitheater. "

    "I was only able to spend a short time here on my Utah National Park road trip this year but I really fell in love with this place."

    9. Zion River Resort

    75 Reviews
    Virgin, UT
    Website
    +1 (888) 822-8594

    "At the site we were on there was a creek behind us which we loved and so did our dogs! Friendly neighbors! Beautiful place. Located close to Zion park. A lot of off road adventures near by"

    "The park is 10minutes away from Zion National Park and about 2hrs from Bryce Canyon. The park is adjacent to the Virgin River. Walking path to the river is great for kids."

    10. Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest

    71 Reviews
    Tropic, UT
    Website
    +1 (435) 865-3700

    "Lots of great trails close by and super close to the park entrance - all for FREE! Couldn’t ask for more!"

    "Physically cooler than other Utah spots due to the trees. Could even set up a hammock if you wanted. Wifi (Verizon) was decent. Easy road in."

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Recent Camping Photos in Utah

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Recent Reviews in Utah

9528 Reviews of 1691 Utah Campgrounds

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2025

    Hurricane Cliffs BLM dispersed #49-53

    2 nights in November

    20 minutes from the entrance to Zion. Plenty of gas stations Ang grocery stores in ST George. Plenty of campsites with fire rings. Light pollution from highway and town is not great but still great stars at night. Road is a big rough getting in.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2025

    Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA

    Great location, but it Smells like fish?

    This is in a GREAT location, and was perfect for a one-night stay on the road. I imagine it would also be great for a visit to the nearby Park. Main Street is 1 mile away, and has many restaurants and shops. Bathrooms were clean. Inexplicably, however, the park smelled like fish: like the leftovers from a fish-centric farmer’s market, or like someone had been cleaning fish all over the park.

  • Adam O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 24, 2025

    Split Rock Bay Backcountry Campsites — Antelope Island State Park

    Incredible, with some caveats

    Disclaimer, this was my first backpacking trip, and my first solo camping experience.

    The first thing I’ll note is that I could not find a map that showed exactly where on the split rock loop trail the sites were. The maps you get at the gate do not show it. You just have to start hiking and hope you see it. That eventually led to the main issue I had with the campsite, more on that later.

    I have 37lbs on my back, partly because it’s November and I want to make sure I’m warm, and partly because I’m toting in 5.5L of water since there is no water source.

    I begin hiking and eventually I see another backpacker coming the other way. I say “did you camp?” He says no, he was going to stay the night, but there’s a herd of Bison that are currently crossing the trail and he didn’t want to wait. As I’m coming up on the spot he’s talking about, I catch the end of the herd moving south and I’m able to pass them with minimal wait time.

    I continue hiking, up to the split rock bay loop, where conveniently there is a sign that points toward the campground. Yay! By this time I’ve seen a huge herd of Bison (50 or more individuals), a big buck, 20 or so other deer, and with the fog and haziness, some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. Quite incredible.

    I find the tent site #3 (my watch says exactly 4.5 miles from the car) and set up my tent. During this time, I’m hearing some weird grunting sounds in the distance, I pop my head out of the tent and look west toward the lake shore. And there’s the herd of Bison I encountered before who crossed the trail. They went west around elephant rock, and I went east. I beat them by about 20 to 30 minutes. At this time I record a video with my phone and state “hope they aren’t coming over here”.

    I’m filling my sleeping pad with a mini pump and when I’m done I pop my head out of the tent. They had, in fact, started coming over here. They were quite close. In sort of a panic, I grab some essentials, zip up the tent, and head for the rocks on the hills and wait them out.

    Unfortunately I didn’t grab my Garmin or my warm clothes, and it is taking them forever to get past the tent site. The sun starts getting low and I’m getting cold. The Bison sometimes get curious about my tent and approach it, but never do anything. I have my Apple watch and it has an SOS feature, I thought about using it, but eventually they pass and I can get back to set up.

    So, this is where knowing exactly where the campsite was in relation to everything else would have been useful. I would have seen the direction they were going and possibly known that they would be crossing right into the camp area, and I probably would have made some slightly different choices.

    They (the Bison) stopped for the night in split rock canyon, so I could hear them all night while in my tent. It was always difficult to tell if they were getting closer or farther away, so the night was a bit sleepless.

    Also, though the weather says the temperature is 40F, the higher humidity and breeze from the lake can make it feel a lot colder. I did have some chilly moments with a 20F comfort rated bag and a 5.4R value pad. In the morning, condensation was everywhere.

    The next morning had a “dense fog” warning in effect, which made for some more awesome scenery.

    I broke camp and started back to the car at around 8AM. I decided to take a detour out to Elephant Rock to see if I could see the camp site from up there. This added another 3 miles to the track back, so 7.5 miles total. As I’m coming around the corner at the top to the spot where I’d be able to see the sites, I encounter a lone Bison bull just chilling up there on the trail, no other animals in sight. So, I couldn’t actually get to the spot to see over, but the view was amazing and it was fun to see a Bison in a spot it felt like he shouldn’t be able to get to.

    As I turn around, the “dense fog” warning becomes a reality, and it suddenly gets much much colder. Makes for some amazing visuals way up there.

    Overall, it was a very awe inspiring and fun trip, with some interesting bits. I do think they should better mark the spots on the map just so people can plan better, especially if there’s going to be massive herds of Bison cruising through camp at any point.

    tl;dr: pack warmer than you think (if you’re going to go in the later months) and watch out for Bison. Incredible views and wildlife encounters make it all worth it.

  • Jonathan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 23, 2025

    Goosenecks State Park Campground

    Camping on the edge of a great view.

    Half the camp spots are right on the edge of the drop off to see the Gooseneck with the river. Great sunrise and sunset. You can just see (tiny) Monument Valley in the distance. Be aware, it can be windy. It is also a Dark Sky site and has aamazing star watching. Picnic table, and fire ring at each site. Location has free wifi from state park.

  • Cathy H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2025

    Utahraptor State Park Campground

    Nice, but not as secluded as I'd like.

    I tent camped for about 10 days. I liked my camping spot....I just didn't like that the park service workers or whatever they're called keep on driving by my site like every 45 minutes it seemed. Wish I choose a site farther back. Other than that it was nice. I was there on the aurora borealis.... some of my pictures are super red because of that. Loved seeing the red dirt/sand. I was at a primitive site....so no water or anything. My Verizon cell service was 4g about 1-2 bars. The town of Moab is about a 15 minute drive. Oh and if you go to Moab go to Tacotime ....it's a food truck and the crispy meat burrito 🌯 is really good.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    White Sand Hideaway

    Secluded gorgeous spot

    Right off the road, gravel, huge boulders, stream. Secluded

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    Cross Canyon Camp

    Had to call the police

    Stayed here and someone tried to break into our car. Very cool.

  • Ray N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    BLM Site next to Salt Flats

    Bonneville speed camping

    Enjoy a day on the flats and an evening with the stars! This slightly elevated area has lots of room and an exellent view of the heavens and stars, “ vast&clear”

  • Barbara R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2025

    Watchman Campground — Zion National Park

    Beautiful campground with amenities

    Watchman's facilities are wonderful and the views cannot be beat. Amenities are close by with small grocery store and eateries and rentals for e-bikes and outdoor needs.

Guide to Utah

Camping in Utah offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're into dispersed camping or prefer established campgrounds, there's something for everyone.

What to do

  • Explore the Outdoors: Utah is known for its breathtaking scenery. At Wedge Overlook, one reviewer said, “The views are breathtaking and we enjoyed a site right on the canyon edge.”
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Payson Lakes, are great for fishing. A visitor noted, “It is a fantastic place to bring your kids for fishing.”
  • Hiking: Trails abound in Utah. One camper at Diamond Fork mentioned, “There are plenty of areas to do dispersed camping up diamond fork. With a bonus of being able to hike to some of the better hot springs close to salt lake.”

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful landscapes. A review for Sheep Creek Dispersed Camping Area highlighted, “There are some pretty mountain views.”
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer plenty of room. One camper at Castle Gate RV Park said, “Large sites with plenty of room between sites.”
  • Family-Friendly Amenities: Campgrounds like Fillmore KOA have great facilities. A visitor shared, “The pool and jacuzzi, little bit of shade. The grass is nice and well maintained.”

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Wedge Overlook, have minimal facilities. One reviewer pointed out, “No developed fee CG, NO WATER, no dumpsters.”
  • Crowds: Popular spots can get busy. A camper at Sheep Creek Dispersed Camping Area noted, “The dispersed camping area pretty much fills up overnight.”
  • Road Conditions: Access can be tricky. A visitor at Diamond Fork mentioned, “High clearance with all wheel or 4-wheel drive recommended until the snow melts.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities. One parent at Castle Gate RV Park said, “Our kids enjoyed their time at the playground and splash pad.”
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have fishing gear or hiking plans. A camper at Payson Lakes said, “It’s a beautiful spot with lots of hiking and shade.”
  • Check Weather Conditions: Be prepared for changing weather. A family at Yuba Campground mentioned, “We arrived during a snow storm, off season camping was first come first serve.”

Tips from RVers

  • Look for Big Rig Friendly Spots: Many campgrounds cater to larger RVs. A reviewer at Castle Gate RV Park noted, “This RV park was such a great stop along our road trip.”
  • Check for Hookups: Ensure your campground has the necessary hookups. One RV traveler at Mystic Hot Springs appreciated, “Full hookup for EV charge was great!”
  • Be Mindful of Road Noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy. A visitor at Richfield KOA mentioned, “I-15 noise. Tent campers a good set of noise canceling ear buds will take care of it.”

Camping in Utah can be a fantastic experience with the right preparation and knowledge. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Utah for scenic views?

Utah offers spectacular scenic camping experiences throughout the state. Goblin Valley State Park Campground provides access to a bizarre landscape of unique rock formations resembling goblins, perfect for photographers and nature lovers. Kodachrome Basin State Park features campsites surrounded by stunning red rock cliffs and colorful mountains, with easy access to Bryce Canyon National Park. Other notable options include Devil's Garden in Arches National Park for stargazing and rock formations, Capitol Reef's Fruita Campground for fruit orchards against red rock backdrops, and Monument Valley KOA for iconic desert vistas. The best scenic campgrounds typically require reservations well in advance during peak season (April-October).

When is the ideal time to go camping in Utah based on weather and crowds?

The ideal camping season in Utah runs from late spring (May) to early fall (October), with specific timing depending on your destination's elevation. Oasis Campground — Yuba State Park offers excellent early season camping when state parks open in spring, with beautiful lake views and fewer crowds. For summer camping, higher elevation sites like Navajo Lake Campground in Dixie National Forest provide cooler temperatures. Southern Utah desert regions are best in spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) when temperatures are moderate. Northern Utah mountain campgrounds typically open later (June) and close earlier (September) due to snow. To avoid crowds, consider weekday visits and shoulder seasons, especially around popular national parks where summer crowds can be intense.

Where can I find free dispersed camping areas in Utah?

Utah offers abundant free dispersed camping opportunities on public lands. Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry provides free dispersed camping with no amenities near Utah Lake. This area is popular for off-road vehicles with established fire rings in common camping spots. Tom Best Spring Road FR117 in Dixie National Forest offers free dispersed camping with big-rig access. Additional dispersed camping can be found throughout Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands near Moab, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and surrounding national forests. Remember to pack out all trash, bring sufficient water, and follow fire regulations. Most dispersed sites require self-containment with no facilities, and camping is typically limited to 14 days in the same location.

Do I need permits for camping in Utah's national parks and public lands?

Permit requirements vary across Utah's public lands. At national parks like Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, developed campgrounds require reservations which effectively serve as your permit. Most can be booked through recreation.gov up to six months in advance. Backcountry camping in national parks always requires wilderness permits, which have limited availability and should be reserved early. For state parks like Pine Creek Campground — Wasatch Mountain State Park, reservations are typically required and serve as your permit. BLM and Forest Service dispersed camping generally doesn't require permits, but specific high-use areas may have registration systems. Always check official websites before your trip, as permit systems change seasonally and may have different requirements during fire restrictions.

Keep Exploring

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