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Best Tent Camping near Capitol Reef National Park

789 Reviews

Camping near Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is worth the drive to the state’s south-central desert. Located a few miles away from Torrey, UT, the nearby campgrounds are the perfect place to stay before spending a day or more exploring all of the natural wonders in the park. It’s also some of the best camping in the state with campsites designed to accommodate single campers, groups or RVs. Spend the day marveling at the stunning rock formations that include pristine white sandstone domes like the Capitol Dome the park is named for, as well as Hickman Bridge, the Chimney Rock pillar and the thousand-year-old Fremont Petroglyphs.

Map showing campgrounds near Capitol Reef National Park, UtahExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Capitol Reef National Park (24)

    1. Fremont River Dispersed Site

    3 Reviews
    Torrey, UT
    10 miles

    "Right outside of capitol reef national park. Camping right on the water, plenty of room & some privacy."

    "Nice sandy area for my tent with a little fire ring someone had made with rocks. No other amenities."

    2. Burr Trail Rd Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Boulder, UT
    22 miles
    Website

    "Found a great spot with a bit of a trail right from our site. Pack it out. No services. Great hiking from ATV trails, lots of dispersed sites with shade and privacy. Beauty all around you!"

    "The location is close to the road but we found a beautiful spot surrounded by incredible views. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there were only two other jeeps far away from us."

    3. Horse Canyon Camping

    1 Review
    Boulder, UT
    17 miles

    "No cell or trash. Pack it in, pack it out. We found the site mostly clean other than a piece of TP under a rock and a used paper towel in the fire pit."

    4. Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping - Grand Staircase Nat Mon

    17 Reviews
    Escalante, UT
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 644-4300

    "In the beginning of March during the week I was the only one around. I would agree that there aren’t many spots available on this road; I counted like 6-8ish spots."

    "After staying in a couple National Park campgrounds on our Utah trip this was a great surprise of seclusion :) It was well maintained and just an all around great experience."

    5. Oak Creek Reservoir

    Be the first to review!
    Boulder, UT
    10 miles
    Website

    6. Mcmillan Spring Campground

    1 Review
    Eggnog, UT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 542-3461

    "Private area next to the Henry Mountains with good hiking and camping. Very private and excellent star gazing."

    7. Durffey Mesa

    2 Reviews
    Boulder, UT
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 644-4300

    "Just below two big rock formations and beside a dry creek bed."

    "Good location to have a few group camp next to small Butte.  I think the location on the map is off slightly.  Our cords were 37.84858,-111.37018."

    8. Elkhorn Recreation Site

    2 Reviews
    Fremont, UT
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 836-2800

    "This is a really nice campground it is primitive with some out houses and picnic tables. You are in the quackies and in the trees. It is higher elevation so make sure you bring your coat."

    9. Horse Canyon

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    Boulder, UT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 644-4300

    10. Hells Backbone / 153 (large site)

    1 Review
    Boulder, UT
    26 miles

    "There’s plenty of space and nice trees. Even though Escalante was hot, it was nice up here."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Capitol Reef National Park

11 Photos of 24 Capitol Reef National Park Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Capitol Reef National Park

789 Reviews of 24 Capitol Reef National Park Campgrounds

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2022

    South Temple Wash Campground

    Pleasantly surprised

    Stayed here during memorial day weekend and wasn’t sure if I would find a spot but upon arriving around 7 PM, there were several spots available and if you keep driving down the dirt road, you can find many other dispersed sites to stay at. Even though it was quite busy with large groups, around 10 PM, everyone settled down and it was a quiet peaceful night. Beautiful views and plenty of areas to walk around. About 15 minutes from Capitol Reef National Park. Free and clean vault toilets.

  • Scott O.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Sunglow Campground

    Sunglow

    Beautiful place. It is about a 15-20 minute drive from Capitol Reef National Park. Bad: Tent sites are small. Depending on the site, you will have to put your tent on the gravel spots for cars. Not many sites. I imagine on a spring/summer weekend it will fill up. Not lots of shade, but some juniper trees. Good: Flush toilets where a pleasant surprise. Great scenery. Kids wanted to explore all over. The red rock cliffs are pretty. It is close to town if you need something, but at camp it doesn’t feel close to town. We got there at 2 pm on a Thursday in July and only one spot had been claimed.

  • CC C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 25, 2022

    Overlook Point Dispersed Site

    Great pull off for the night.

    Amazing vista point to look down into capitol reef national park or Torrey. Close to town with great cell signal. Close to National Park. Sadly lots of broken glass close to the entrance, so watch it when you drive in. Pack it in, pack it out people. The further you go in the better the sites get, some with decent wind protection.

  • Sara S.
    Jun. 21, 2016

    Fruita Campground — Capitol Reef National Park

    beautiful field walk-in

    We stayed at one of the walk in tent sites where were in a large field. The area is very neat with an orchard, wildlife, and beautiful scenery. The sites were not overly secluded, but the park seemed quiet enough for the amount of people there. Capitol Reef National Park seemed less busy than the other Utah National Parks and we really enjoyed our hiking adventures in the park as well as the camping opportunities.

  • 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.

  • Scott O.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Thousand Lakes RV Park

    Outside Torrey

    We got a tent site. The tent sites are all gravel with a table and water. The good: Location close to Capitol Reef National Park. We used it as a base camp for hiking in the national park. Has water, table, fire pit, and wind break. The small swimming pool was loved by the kids The grassy park area was nice. The views. Red cliffs and Thousand Lakes Mountain to the north and Boulder Mountain to the south. The bad: Not enough trees. There are several small very pruned Cottonwood trees, but it is not a shady place. Small spaces. Like most RV parks, you are very close to your neighbors. Everyone near us was quite and kind though. There is no grass for the tent sites. You put your tent in gravel. About the only grass is very small pieces for the RVs and the grassy park area.

  • DL M.
    Oct. 1, 2024

    Dispersed Campsite Near Capital Reef National Park

    Open country, mountain views sparch shrubs, BLM near capitol reef boundary

    Beautiful mountain view, open location a couple of miles off the Notom Bullfrog road. Didn't see a soul.  Road is easy going.  Near to Pleasant Creek. Rock fire ring.  Other sites are dispersed around. Very close to the Capitol Reef National park boundary. 5535 feet elevation. No cell service.

  • Alicia F.
    Apr. 27, 2020

    Fruita Campground — Capitol Reef National Park

    Unique and Beautiful

    The Fruita Campground is open year-round, and is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park. This campground is one of the most unique ones I’ve stayed at. The orchard 🏕 onsite for picking fruit is so cool! 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. You don’t have cell service but, maybe that’s your thing? Not having to worry about email can be a plus. There are bathrooms but, unfortunately no showers. Definitely, a great stop while visiting all of the National parks in Utah.

    The 71-site Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef. Reservations are available March 1- October 31.

    Each site has a picnic table and firepit and/or above ground grill, but no individual water, sewage, or electrical hookups.

    There is a RV dump and potable water fill station near the entrance to Loops A and B.

    The nightly fee is $20.00 ($10.00 for Golden Age/Senior Pass holders.

  • E
    Apr. 17, 2019

    Canyons of Escalante RV Park

    Beautiful backpacking trip

    Did an awesome 3 day hike of the hurricane wash. Hiked in, set up camp, explored further, slept first night. Left our tents and gear and did a day pack hike totalling 16 miles down and back up the canyon. Third day was back out. It was amazing...other than the extreme leave no trace rules (ALL waste carried out).

Guide to Capitol Reef National Park

Tent camping near Capitol Reef National Park in Utah offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning landscapes and enjoy the great outdoors. With various options available, campers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and explore the natural beauty of the region.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy breathtaking views and solitude at Burr Trail Rd Dispersed Camping, where you can hike and explore the surrounding canyons.
  • Experience the thrill of ATV riding and hiking at Durffey Mesa, which offers a variety of trails right from your campsite.
  • Camp alongside the Fremont River at Fremont River Dispersed Site, perfect for fishing and enjoying the water.

Some prices for tent camping are free

Explore these specific local attractions

  • Discover the stunning landscapes and hiking opportunities at Elkhorn Recreation Site, nestled in the trees and perfect for star gazing.
  • Visit the scenic Mcmillan Spring Campground, which provides access to the Henry Mountains and excellent hiking trails.
  • Experience the unique terrain and views at Steep Creek Bench, a great spot for those looking to escape into nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Capitol Reef National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Capitol Reef National Park is Fremont River Dispersed Site with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Capitol Reef National Park?

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Capitol Reef National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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