Best Glamping near Bonanza, UT

   This campground is only a few blocks from downtown Vernal, but out of town enough for a rural feel. Some highway noise, but quiets down by nightfall. This campground had a good feel to it IMO. Not super large, but almost all the sites were pull through. I requested a spot by the bathroom/shower building & we got a patio site. Very nice site with a propane grill provided. 

   There are 3 bathroom/showers in the campground. One in the office building, one by the pool & one by the tent section. Bathrooms were clean. I used the laundry room without issues. 

   They had a couple of tipis, a woody tent (don't know what that is). 15 tent sites & cabins. The RV sites were basic KOA.- in a row & kind of close. We had no issues with WIFI. Staff was courteous& they had a lot of area information. I especially liked the day trips that were numbered. We camped at Vernal/ Dinosaurland KOA Holiday in a Travel Trailer.

This is a great lil campground although I feel like they tried to cram alot of campsites right on top of each other. All sites have picnic tables and firepits with a grill. Its kinda a dry vegetation in the park mostly sage brush and junipers, Some bigger shadier trees towards the lake but you better book those way in advance cause they fill up fast. They have small sites, tent sites, many large pull through sites, and even one small cabin. I did notice 3 bathroom facilities in spread throughout the park though and water spigots throughout. They have recently built a nature trail that runs from the side of the lake around to the front of it so thats a nice lil jont. They do also offer one group site that has a pavilion. This campground is not for anyone that doesnt like to be seen cause most likely you'll have a neighbor right next to you, above you, or below you.

Enough reviews don't mention mosquitos that I think it must just depend on the day you go. That said, I went with one of my best friends a few years ago and we tell the story of our experience at parties. I go on multi week long road trips and have camped all over the country. So believe me when I say the mosquitos here, depending on the day, are utterly out of control.

The drive was beautiful but as soon as we got out, we could tell something was wrong. We put on double layers of clothes, bug spray and bug bracelets, and stood in the smoke of the fire we started; the bugs could not care less. We gave up on setting up tents and ran into the car and about 50 mosquitos followed us inside in the second it took to open the doors. We spent at least an hour trying to smack them all, literally covering the walls of her car in blood. After attempting to sleep in the sweltering car that night, we headed out of there before the sun rose. After it all, more of our skin was covered in bug bites than not. I've never seen anything like it.

It seems like an amazing spot when it's not suffering a plague. I could never roll the dice and try again though.

First and foremost I’d recommend only cars and suvs with 4wd to make the trek down to this spot. The road here is not made for bigger camping rigs or anyone that’s lacking experience driving off-road.

With that said if you make out here you’ll find a smaller CG w/ toilets that area clean, water during warmer months, as well as Rangers/hosts nearby that make sure everything is up to snuff.

Depending on what time of year you go and which site you choose could determine if you get A. Roasted by the sun and heat with no shade or B. Destroyed by mosquitoes.

I’ve camped at hundreds of places and this spot is one of the worst I’ve been to as far as mosquitoes are concerned so prep yourself for that.

The location is great for hiking and exploring as well as having the river for some fun.

I will advise to be lion and bear aware down here also. During my hike with my son we came upon a Lion kill site (deer) and then on a later hike had clear fresh tracks of a lion so they’re definitely active here and if hiking the river it gets pretty desolate

Most sites are drive in but there are a couple walk in sites as well. It’s about 50/50 whether you’ll have shade or not at your site.

First come first serve which IMO is a bonus and it’s such a haul to get here that usually you’ll have at least one site opened. When we came through here we got the last site so maybe it’s getting more popular as of late.

Each site has the usual table and fire ring but please check fire restrictions prior to lighting one up as this is a dry area and we want to make sure we do our part to keep it here.

Also PACK OUT ALL TRASH 👌🏼