Best Glamping near Aurora, UT

Castle Rock campground in Fishlake National forest is one of two campgrounds that serve Utah's Fremont Indian State Park, with both administration and reservations handled through the Utah State Park system. When I visited it was both very clean and very well maintained. Despite being close to the interstate, it is far enough up a side canyon that you do not hear the traffic on the road. It feels like being much further from civilization.

There are 44 camp sites available, many alongside the creek that flows through the campground. About 2/3 are reservable, the rest are available daily as FCFS. Two have teepees for those lacking a tent. Several are double sites for larger groups, and there are a variety of pull through vs in/out options.

There is available potable water at several locations around the campground, and two restroom facilities - a full flush unit near the center of the grounds, and a double pit at the south end of the loop.

Every site has a fire pit, an elevated grill, and a picnic table.

There is an access road from the campground to the Paiute ATV trail. For hikers, the south end of the campground is the north origin of the Joe Lott Trail that heads into the Fishlake National Forest. The facilities of Fremont Indian State Park are about 1/2 mile away, on the opposite side of I-70, and include a small museum of Fremont life, and a variety of improved and unimproved trails leading to many rock art sites.

We spent a fun day exploring Cedar Breaks National Monument. However, we lost track of time, the sun was setting and we had not chosen a place to camp. 

Campground Review of Fremont Indian State Park:

We searched on TheDyrt app for nearby campgrounds and found Fremont Indian State Park. We drove down the mountain and around another mountain and found the campground. It was totally dark by the time that we arrived and so we quickly parked and set up our campervan to sleep. 

A gentleman emerged from the shadows and approached our site. It seemed a little sketchy at first. However, he ended up being friendly and inquired if we’d like to join him and his friends around their campfire. After we prepared our campervan and cleaned up a bit, we dropped by the campfire. It turns out the party included some park staff and researchers. One lady was researching dark skies and one gentleman was researching astral alignment with ancient rock art. They shared about their research and showed us some of their amazing photos of the night sky. A warm way to end the day.

The next morning, we woke up to snow on the ground and the nearby mountaintops. Having learned from our new friends that the park contained some pretty significant rock art, we decided that we should check it out. We hiked on a couple of the trails and discovered quite a few of the rock art pieces created by the Fremont Indians. There's an easy trail that is located adjacent to the park office. There are other trails that run along the river. It is amazing that so much of the rock art was in such good condition.

The campsites provide the basics like a parking space, picnic table, electrical & water hookup and firepit/grill. The restrooms were conveniently located close to our campsite and were clean. There are showers behind the restrooms. During the winter the showers may be closed. The campground is somewhat small, but is surrounded by beautiful mountains and bluffs. The staff were super friendly and helpful.

For more info: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/fremont-indian/

Product Review of Travelers Autobarn Campervans:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a Travelers Autobarn Kuga Campervan. 

For more info: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com

The best thing about traveling in a campervan is the ease, flexibility, and ability to make detours if needed. 

We picked up our Kuga Campervan in Las Vegas. The Travelers Autobarn office is just west of the the main strip and easy to find. We arrived early in the day to begin the registration process and campervan orientation. The process was quick and easy. The Kuga Campervan is a hightop van conversion with couches, a table, two beds, propane stove, sink, water, kitchen, interior lights, fan, window shades and solar power. We also had the free living package which included kitchen pots, pans, utensils, cups and accessories. It also included sleeping bags, sheets, pillows and towels. The package pretty much made it super easy to get in the van and go. 

The Travelers Autobarn staff member was super friendly and provided an orientation of the basic operation of the campervan. The campervan drives like a normal van, but learning about the camper functions was helpful. 

We had charted a route around Utah and Arizona visiting a number of towns, parks, roadside attractions and hot springs. The day that we started a weather system passed through which made the temperatures drop in the northern part of our route. We simply flipped our route to avoid the cold weather and traveled the southern route first. By the time that we circled north the weather had warmed up and it was perfect weather for exploring. Traveling in a campervan made it super easy to be flexible with our route and schedule. 

On our seven day trip we visited Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Horseshoe Bend National Monument. Monument Valley National Park, Arches National Park, Mystic Hotsprings, Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Meadow Hotsprings, Valley of Fire State Park and Fremont Indian State Park. 

If we were not traveling in a campervan it is unlikely that we would have had the flexibility to camp anytime and anywhere. We would have never found and stayed at Fremont Indian State Park. It ended up being a gem of a park and a great overall experience. This campervan camping adventure opened up my mind to new opportunities and travels. So much fun!

For more info: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com

Nice little spot right off the highway. The man at the front was very welcoming, guiding everyone to their spot. Was able to book a res after closing hours which is always nice to be spontaneous. The place had everything we needed which was truly just a spot to sleep and bathrooms were very clean so I give 5 stars

Great little place for a quick over night. We’d stay longer next trip.

Very clean and staff was very friendly! Seems to be a lot to do in the area.

Really quiet, convenient and quite pretty place to stop overnight. We stayed in site 33 which was great because we didn't have to unhook our tow vehicle and you have no one looking in your front windshield. Sites are reasonably spaced and the host was nice and helpful. Will definitely stop here again.

Great location if you ATV or just need a night along Interstate 15.  We were just traveling through but had some truck trouble.  The owners were so great and flexible as we were changing our nights daily.  I can't say enough about how kind and accommodating they were.   Showers, bathrooms, laundry and common areas were spotless.

We would definitely stay there again.

This, as a KOA Journey, is a great place to stay “along the way.” Spaces are level and have a nice, grassy area between sites with a picnic bench & fire pit. The surrounding area is scenic with cows in pasture and a mountain backdrop. We only stayed a single night and did not use any amenities. WiFi was very weak but the hookups are in good condition. We really appreciated the grounds with trees and grass. The staff we encountered were very friendly. Fillmore has some neat gems to scout out. The freeway is close by so access is a cinch, but the grounds are far enough away to be void of any road noise. When we arrived, the wind was consistently 45+ mph.... not sure if this is an extraordinary occurrence but the map says wind picks up frequently and to store your things. Multiple gas stations nearby with excellent prices. Lots of ATV/OHV paths around the area. A single night allowed for us to explore a little and feel rested. Would definitely return!

Dont let first glance or reviews of run down facilities deter you, unless your a germaphobe. We have been to many hot springs in various levels of improvement or natural state, and these are a gem. Sure some upgrades and improvements could be made, but well worth the cost. Great water, unique tubs built into the side of springs, crazy painted buses or old cabins to stay in. If your looking for different, fun, and awesome- this is a great place to check out. Off the beaten path, nothing much in town but one drive in diner plus a few shops. And such helps the feeling of the whole experience. Cant hear the interstate or traffic, views a plenty, ducks, geese and some stunning peacocks running around. It was a great experience and cant wait to go back!