Cottonwood Campground
Great stay
Plenty of sites during the week! Cooled off in the evening so didn’t need AC. Clean vault toilet! 35 mile scenic drive and lots of hiking trails!
254 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lehi sits in northern Utah County at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley, with camping access to the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the foothills east of town and developed campgrounds in American Fork Canyon. The canyon has several Forest Service campgrounds with vault toilets and defined sites, as well as dispersed options on forest roads at higher elevation. Sites in the canyon book quickly from May through September and most require reservations through recreation.gov 1-3 months out for weekends. BLM camping close to American Fork covers the free, no-reservation sites on public land in that corridor, which is accessible without a fee but requires full self-sufficiency.
Developed sites in the canyon run roughly $20-25 per night. Water is available at most developed campgrounds during the summer season; dispersed sites have none. Higher forest roads close with snow, typically by November, and some don't reopen until late May or June depending on the year. RV access into the canyon narrows for larger rigs on the upper roads, so check site length limits before booking.
Lehi's dispersed camping covers the broader picture of no-fee options in north Utah County for those comparing cost and access across the corridor. Don't count on cell service past the lower canyon campgrounds.
"Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area."
"Utah is such an amazing place to visit for the outdoors. My family and I come here once a year because we love hiking and being in the outdoors."
from $27 - $355 / night
Check Availability"This campground was nestled in the middle of Lehi Utah and it was a great place for us to swing in for one night."
"This is a great place to camp within the city of Lehi. It is close to the water and in the hot summer it is a fun spot for a night get away. Big camp sites for trailers or tents and nice bathrooms."
from $25 - $175 / night
Check Availability"This is a great spot to pitch a tent close to the creek or take your RV. If you are planning on camping on the weekend plan on a crowd because it is so close to AF."
"We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks."
from $27 - $227 / night
Check Availability"The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. "
"A clean, nice, convenient getaway just under 15 minutes outside the city. This served as a great stop for our road trip where we were able to camp 10-steps away from the river, and it was ."
"Lakeside was our home for 3 nights while we were in town for Provo’s annual Colonial Festival."
"You're super close to amenities and anything you could want to see in town, as well as Utah Lake."
from $31 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Very easy access public land right on Utah Lake. Packed gravel and dirt road going in is lumpy from use but smooths out a bit farther in. Side roads to sites are anyones guess."
"Directions brought us right to the location. Road was rough into the sites and were hard to determine specific sites. Ended up pulling into edge of field. Definitely a good quiet night's sleep"
"Gorgeous view across the lake. Quiet. Electricity worked well. Extremely clean. Camp hosts were nowhere to be found and another rig had claimed the end lake-adjacent site I paid for."
"This my 3 stay here at Utah Lake state park. 2x in July and now in September. I’m a single female traveler."
from $50 - $100 / night
Check Availability"It was quiet, tucked away from anyone. Didn't really see anyone for the three days we are there. Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds! "
"We had site 11 close to the bathroom and in a flat, sunny clearing surrounded by trees. You could hear the nearby road a bit and see the mountains a little bit."
from $29 - $215 / night
Check Availability"I love how it is near a river. You can hear it at night. It's so nice to get to a cool area out of the hot valley and into the cool scenic back country of Utah county."
"While there are many campgrounds in Utah that rival it, this one is special because it's such a short drive after work."
from $27 - $204 / night
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Plenty of sites during the week! Cooled off in the evening so didn’t need AC. Clean vault toilet! 35 mile scenic drive and lots of hiking trails!
We had a wonderful time! It was cooler up behind Timp than in the valley. Our site was shaded all day. The camp host, Sarah, was amazing! She went above and beyond for everyone! We were there from Sunday to Friday and the camp ground was quiet and peaceful! Our 20 foot trailer fit very nicely. Only drawback was no drinking water. We had to have bottled water for everything. We were sorry to have to leave!
Got a first come first serve sight late in the day. 6:00pm many sights available. The vault toilets are clean and well taken care of. Site 11 nice and shady. Close to the creek.
I didn't realize that this is also a family fun park when I reserved the site. It is all an extra fee, but you will get a discount if you're camping. 50 amp Sites are asphalt and the rest are dirt and grass. Sites are a little tight but they did try to leave spaces between if possible.
This is a good stop over place. It has a pool, store and some outside games. No shade at all and no space between sites but the staff is excellent
Lots of spots for any size rigs, closer to the water the bugs can be crazy, lots of trash left around, we were here 10 months ago same trash still here. Be wonderfully if it was cleaned up.
So far very pleasant. Right in the road but you can park and walk in to at least one campsite. There are dirt bikers coming down the trail. I didn't walk far beyond the one site with campfire spit and stones. A little trash has been left , but if you want ease of access and ability to walk back to camp, plus a place ten miles or so from supplies in Orem, this is very nice. Despite traffic and early morning athletes I did sleep well. And it's easier access than the unpaved Widow's peak dispersed - still paved roads here. However after a few days I realized that people think of this place as a local dump site and will steal anything not nailed down. My cat was stolen as well. People throw trash in the tree area and leave bizarre objects behind . If you drive away some one will take your parking spot and stay all night. Bikers and joggers pass constantly plus loud cars. My car was covered in Saran wrap by drunk people. You can go further up the trail and it might be nicer but due to hundreds of people per day hiking through your stuff will be stolen. All in all nice nature but creepy.
came in pretty late so had to look around in the morning, but i drove on the trail for about 20 minuites and i came across 3 sites, im sure you can find more as you go up but i didnt check. the best one in my opinion is the second one that overlooks the mountains. the only cons i have to this place is there were lots of wasps, definitely come later in the summer if you have a problem with bugs. The road up was not bad at all, it was paved up until the last few miles, some parts are bumpy but i think a 2WD could get through the trail with little to no problems. not sure if id recommend bringing a trailer though.
Was passing through so only stayed for a night. The sites next to the river were gorgeous, but there were only a handful and they were occupied. The sounds from the creek were lovely, but you could equally hear the sounds of the highway. A permit is required to camp, all of the sites down the road are the same though. No cell phone service. Very peaceful though.
Seasonal camping options near Lehi, Utah range from secluded tent sites at higher elevations to RV-friendly campgrounds with full amenities. Most mountain campgrounds in the area operate between May and October, with elevations ranging from 4,500 feet at valley locations to over 7,000 feet in American Fork Canyon. Winter camping is limited to lower elevation sites, while summer temperatures typically range from 50-90°F depending on elevation.
Hiking access from camp: Little Mill campground provides immediate access to the Timpanogos Cave National Monument trail system. "I love the scenery. You can get to Donut Falls from the camp ground which is awesome," notes a visitor about nearby Spruces Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer creek or lake access for anglers. "Great relaxing family time, fishing on river close, close to tribble fork and silver lakes," reports a camper at Little Mill.
Water recreation: Multiple reservoirs near Granite Flat accommodate non-motorized watercraft. "The water was cool and there were tons of people there with paddle boards, canoos, tents, and dogs," describes one visitor about the nearby reservoirs.
Mountain biking: Trails accessible from several campgrounds accommodate riders of various skill levels. "We were able to wake up and get on the trail and hike up to the glacier and camp," shares a Timpooneke visitor about the area's trail network.
Morning views: Many campsites offer sunrise views of the Wasatch Range. "Stunning sunrise—perfect views of Mt. Timp," notes a camper at Willow Park Campground, referring to Mount Timpanogos.
Privacy variations: Site privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. "Our site was very quiet and secluded. There are two reservoirs close by in Tibble Fork and Silverlake flat that are both beautiful," reports a camper at Granite Flat.
Natural soundscapes: Several campgrounds feature natural water sounds. "You could hear the river and we had a great time," describes a Little Mill camper, while another notes, "It has the smell of pine trees, a babbling brook, and it is just down the road from Timpanogos Cave National Monument."
Urban convenience: Some campgrounds balance natural settings with city proximity. "An inexpensive stay in town near great places like Silicon Slopes, Thanksgiving Point, Utah Lake, Traverse Mountain and centered between Salt Lake and Provo," explains a camper about Willow Park.
Seasonal considerations: Mountain campgrounds have limited operating windows. "Book EARLY! This campsite is always full. Great small reservoirs nearby for fishing, or canoeing- no motor sports allowed," advises a Granite Flat visitor.
Bug concerns: Insects can be problematic, especially at lakeside locations. "The only downside was that this year there were an obscene amount of mosquitoes," warns a Granite Flat camper, while another notes, "The mosquitoes here are terrible. I came here early on a holiday to get a good spot and was ambushed by swarms of mosquitoes."
Water restrictions: Some watershed areas have strict usage rules. "The nearby creek is pretty, but you cannot so much as wade in it without facing prosecution and a $1500 fine," cautions a visitor at Tanners Flat.
Reservation requirements: Most developed campgrounds require advance booking. "I checked in late may and every weekend until September was already booked," reports a Granite Flat visitor.
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide dedicated play areas. "It has a playground, sand volleyball, boat launch as you're near the Jordan River," notes a Willow Park visitor.
Safety considerations: Some areas have terrain challenges for young children. "The campsite was not flat, and had quite a few large rocks," reports a Granite Flat visitor about tent placement.
Family-friendly trails: Multiple short hiking options exist for younger campers. "This is a really easy-access campground so it's great for little kids. Beautiful canyon, lots of spots, and just a great time!" suggests a Timpooneke camper.
Evening activities: Wildlife viewing opportunities abound near several campgrounds. "I have almost always seen moose and deer in the camp ground and the kids love to catch fish in the stream," shares a Spruces visitor.
Site selection: RV sites vary significantly in size and amenities. "Spot 10 was great for our 33ft rig," notes a visitor to Little Mill, while another adds, "The RV sites are pretty close together, but there are spaces with shade trees."
Utility availability: Hookup options range from none to full service. "No amenities such as electric sewer or water," cautions a Willow Park camper, while a Lakeside RV Campground visitor notes, "Full hook-up site was surprisingly spacious with green space in-between and trees for shade."
Access constraints: Some campgrounds have limited access for larger vehicles. "Make sure you get camped and in because they lock the gate coming into campground at 11PM and you have to hike in," warns a Granite Flat visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find camping near Lehi with lake access?
Yes, several campgrounds near Lehi offer excellent lake access. Payson Lakes is about 45 minutes from Lehi and provides a family-friendly lake environment perfect for fishing, swimming, and kayaking (motorized boats aren't allowed). The lake is particularly great for children and beginners to fish. Miner's Canyon Dispersed offers beautiful lakeside camping, though be prepared for potentially less-than-pristine conditions at some sites. For a more developed experience, Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park provides clean facilities with full hook-ups for RVs and beautiful lake views in a recently renovated setting.
What are the best campgrounds near Lehi, Utah?
Lehi offers several excellent camping options within easy driving distance. Willow Park Campground is nestled right in the city of Lehi with spacious sites for trailers or tents and clean bathrooms. It's perfect for a convenient overnight stay or a quick getaway. For those seeking nearby natural settings, Little Mill is a great spot close to American Fork Canyon where you can pitch a tent near a creek or park an RV. It's particularly popular on weekends due to its proximity to town. Other solid options include Cascade Springs Dispersed Site with panoramic mountain views and Pine Creek Campground in Wasatch Mountain State Park, though the latter has narrower sites better suited for smaller camping setups.
Are there any RV parks or campgrounds with full amenities near Lehi?
Yes, Lehi has excellent options for RV campers seeking full amenities. Mountain Valley RV Resort offers comprehensive facilities catering specifically to RV travelers with full hookups and modern amenities. For a state park option with full services, Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park was recently renovated from a tent-only site to an RV campground with full hook-ups, clean facilities, and great views. If you're willing to drive a bit further, Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon is big-rig friendly with water and toilet facilities. Most developed campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer season.
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