Best Tent Camping near Aurora, UT

Tent campsites in the Fish Lake National Forest provide several dispersed camping options near Aurora, Utah. Popular areas include the Whiskey Creek Road dispersed sites and Willow Creek Road dispersed sites, both offering primitive tent camping with drive-in and walk-in access. These locations typically sit at elevations between 7,000-8,000 feet and provide campers with a more secluded experience away from developed campgrounds. Maple Hollow, located in Millard, offers an established tent campground with more amenities, open from May to October.

Most tent sites require campers to bring their own water, as drinking water is extremely limited in the area. Dirt roads accessing these campsites can become rutted or washboarded, though most remain passable for standard vehicles when dry. Fire rings are present at some established sites, while dispersed camping areas may have makeshift fire pits from previous visitors. Vault toilets are available at Maple Hollow but absent from most dispersed sites. During summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are common, and fire restrictions frequently apply during the dry season. Campers should practice proper food storage as wildlife is active in the area.

The dispersed camping areas provide excellent privacy for tent campers, with numerous pull-offs and small clearings among juniper and pine trees. Sites along Willow Creek Road offer particularly good shade and elevation, making them cooler than surrounding areas during hot summer months. Many tent campsites provide good access to mountain biking trails and hiking opportunities. Areas near the highway may experience some road noise, while sites further into the forest offer greater solitude. A recent review noted, "This spot worked out nicely. There was someone in the actual place of the coordinates, but we found a spot nearby." Based on reviews from The Dyrt, weekdays typically see fewer campers than weekends, and most sites can accommodate multiple tents with small setups.

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Best Tent Sites Near Aurora, Utah (23)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 23 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Aurora, UT

345 Reviews of 23 Aurora Campgrounds


  • R
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Cathedral Valley Campground — Capitol Reef National Park

    A small scenic campground at the north end of the Park

    This campground is situated at the north end of the Park at a high elevation. It's free and has picnic tables, fire rings and a vault toilet but no water. If you want to make a fire, you must bring your own firewood. There are excellent views of the valley below only a short walk from the campsites.

  • Bubble G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2024

    Castle Rock Campground — Fremont Indian State Park

    Great location, quiet, semi private

    The site we camped had a private walk to the little creek, fire ring and picnic table. Well built bathrooms and a garbage dump available for use. $5 for all you can carry in your arms in fire wood… felt private without anyone parked on either side but later people came and the noise went up a little, but overall cute camp. Got one of the first come first serve sites, payment in cash only $20 for the night (established site, no water, no electric, no sewer) Pets allowed-leashed.

  • Sam D.
    Oct. 15, 2017

    Fishlake National Forest Oak Creek Rec Site

    Oak Creek campground

    Awesome campground at about 8,600’ elevation, has a couple small creeks running through, water and toilets on site as well. Each site has a metal fire ring (crucial for a campfire during burn bans), picnic table, grill, some sites had an extra fire ring and bench seats. It’s nestled on the mountainside surrounded by aspen forests and farm land. Plenty of wildlife in the area, watch for deer and cattle in the road. We had temps dip down into the teens overnight with a dusting of snow in late September, be sure to pack layers. Overall a perfect spot for tent camping, small campers max, no RV parking or hookups. Not too far from Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Highly recommend staying here and going to Grand Staircase for a hike in the slot canyons.

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Forsyth Reservoir

    Quiet place to camp along Hwy 72

    We were there 10/11/2020 during hunting season It was around 20° the night we stayed. This is a free campground for hunters or for the few people traveling on highway 72. There was a clean vault toilet and rock fire rings but no water, garbage, or picnic table. There could be fishing there as we saw lots of fish jump.

    It is a scenic quiet place and the night skies are phenomenal. There is mouse infestation there as the first site we stopped at had dead mice everywhere. One got in our camper but we soon chased it out, The USFS person who cleaned the vault toilet confirmed this.

    I rated it 3 stars due to mouse problem otherwise it would be 4 stars.

    It opens in May but their website didn’t say which date. I am assuming this depends on the snow level at 8000’. It was still open when we camped in October.

  • Russell W.
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Maple Hollow

    Beautiful spot

    Camped overnight. We had the whole place to ourselves. There are several fire ring/picnic table spots in the campground. Maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout. Beautiful fresh air. Plenty of shade. Two vault toilets for the whole camp area.

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2019

    Sam Stowe Campground — Fremont Indian State Park

    Ranger Review: Travelers Autobarn Campervan at Fremont Indian State Park

    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

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Aug. 31, 2015

    Millsite State Park Campground

    Nice Campground located on reservoir and mouth of Ferron Canyon

    We stayed here twice this summer and really liked it both times. All the tenting campsites are on the Millsite Reservoir but if you go higher than site number 17 you are a bit further from the water. The campground is open, so not totally private, but it was so quiet it didn't really matter. We went for a couple of hikes in the Ferron Canyon which you can walk to, and they have paddle boarding on the reservoir which we didn't have time to do. They don't have typical fire rings on the ground - they are up off the ground. See photo.

  • Mary S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Joes Valley Reservoir

    The reservoir and OHV trails are the attractions ; don't expect quiet

    Joe's Valley Reservoir Campground is in the Manti-La Sal Forest about 22 miles off the main road (Route 10). The water and OHV trails outside the campground are what draw people here. 

    No campsites are close to the water, but you can find a path to the water from the campground and there are nice views from many sites. The marina and boat launch are past the campground entrance. This is not the type of place for a quiet camping experience, but I didn't expect that at a reservoir campground with nearby OHV trails. (Trail maps are on the back of the information board as you enter.)

    Sites 1 through 7 are the only non-reservation sites, but we had no problem on a Thursday afternoon choosing a site for one night among the reservable sites. Based on the reservation placards on the posts, the campground was filling up on Friday.

    Site notes:

    • Our site (23) was wide and deep and had lots of trees. We enjoyed the privacy as we couldn't see sites on either side, and we were far enough back that we couldn't see the site across the road.

    • As you enter, sites 7 up through the 20s have many tall trees. The other side of the campground is more open, and the trees are not as tall.

    • Double sites (D on the post, 17 out of 48 sites) cost $18 instead of $10. A double site has two picnic tables and a pad that is double in width. There are no discounts on double sites with a pass such as the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

    • Tenters, this doesn't look like the best place for tents, but people were managing to find relatively flat spots.

    • Pads on single sites for back in or pullthrough easily accommodate large trailers and fifth wheel campers. That translates to many generators which can be run from 6 am to 10 pm.

    • ATVs and larger OHVs are popular. People were riding the smaller ones on the campground loops...fast.

    This is a no frills Forest Service campground with vault toilets and drinking water. Be prepared to take your trash home because there are no dumpsters.

  • Ean P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Fish Lake National Forest Campsite

    Great Spot Just Don’t Camp Here Alone in a Tent

    Great spot for camping with a group. Quite a few spots accessible by car. A couple fireplaces here and there too. A fair amount of fallen pine and juniper wood there to use for building fires. Just remember to drown out your fires with water (there’s a sign).

    I do not recommend tent camping here solo though. This wasn’t my first time tent camping solo either. As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent. I managed to scare it off by hitting my car’s “panic button” on the keys. I then packed up immediately and left.


Guide to Aurora

Tent camping near Aurora, Utah offers convenient access to Fishlake National Forest dispersed sites at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 8,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 45-55°F at night. Fall camping season extends through mid-October when aspen groves display vibrant yellow and orange colors, though night temperatures can drop below freezing.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: Willow Creek Road area provides direct access to several mountain biking routes with varying difficulty levels. A camper notes, "This was a great site to stop and pitch my rooftop tent. Not too far up the canyon, and it was very quiet. It is RIGHT next to a mountain bike trail, so expect some early-morning bikers to be coming down" at Willow Creek Road - Dispersed Site.

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer opportunities to spot deer, elk, and various bird species. Bring binoculars for distant viewing. "We let the dog roam free around meadow. Further up are more sites but gets sandier and tighter," mentions a camper at Dispersed Sandy Lot when describing the open spaces.

Stargazing: The high elevation and minimal light pollution create excellent night sky viewing conditions. "Campsite I stayed at/the drive up is amazing during sunset," reports one visitor about Willow Creek Road, suggesting good open views for star observation after dark.

What campers like

Privacy and solitude: Many dispersed sites provide good separation from other campers. "This was a nice place to stop. Not far off the main roadway. Lots of shade. Open fields, so watch out for cows and cowpoo! I would camp here again. There was one other camper and it was very quiet," shares a visitor at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite.

Easy access with standard vehicles: Most sites remain accessible without specialized equipment when conditions are dry. "Super easy access for any car if roads are dry. Lots of places to get back in the junipers a lil and have a nice private place to sleep," notes a camper about Fish Lake National Forest Campsite.

Scenic variety: The region offers different landscape views from juniper forests to mountain vistas. A visitor to Whiskey Creek Road USFS Dispersed shared, "Camp was relatively flat, good trees for shade and elevated to allow for nice views and a breeze. Kids enjoyed exploring and climbing the small trees."

What you should know

Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife may approach campsites, especially at night. One camper at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite warned, "I do not recommend tent camping here solo though. As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent."

Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality depending on recent weather and maintenance. "Road is fine. A few ruts. Super quiet," reports a camper about Fish Lake National Forest Campsite, while another notes of Maple Hollow, "5 mile rough gravel road for access. Could not find a site in the camp itself, but many pull off on the way up."

Weekend crowds: Weekends see significantly more traffic than weekdays, especially during summer months. "We got there on a Sunday night and quite a bit of traffic heading out. I imagine the weekends are busy," observes a visitor to Willow Creek Road Dispersed Site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Aurora, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Aurora, UT is Fish Lake National Forest with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Aurora, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Aurora, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.