Best Tent Camping near Cleveland, UT

We just stopped for a night on a longer trip from Oregon to the midwest. This was a typical KOA in my opinion - pool, playground, showers, shop, full hookups, pull through sites, etc.

Tent camping area was pretty small, but close to the bathrooms and pool for kiddos.

We were only here for the night but it was VERY hot that afternoon (90 degrees) and without shade, it's hard to stay cool.

Showers and bathrooms were clean and staff was very nice. 10% discount at the restaurant next door if you mention you are staying here. Bonus for us as we did NOT want to try to make anything when it was 98 degrees out!

Campground is off the highway but we didn't hear any noise that night at all.

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.

Campground Review: Price Canyon Campground

I stayed at the Price Canyon campground on my way for a mountain biking weekend in Moab. This campground was at the top of Price Canyon but the access road was right off the highway. It is a single lane switchback road with the last quarter mile being easy dirt road so longer trailers may have a few challenges. It is a mixture of single and group sites all for the same price. There is a nature trail from the campsite (that is also accessible from the day use area) that takes you higher up the canyon. The hike was nice and I would recommend close toed shoes as the second half/ has a section that is pretty steep around large rocks/boulders, and loose dirt. I didn’t do the whole hike made it to the top of the ridge. There is also a picnic/overlook area not far from the campground that had great views of Price Canyon.

Pros:

• This campground was $8. Which is the cheapest campground I found (unless it was free dispersed).
• Tent sites were tucked back off the road and short walks from the parking spots which made them feel more private. You didn’t have to watch your neighbor the whole time. They are pretty standard with a metal fire ring and picnic table. My spot had a few options for tents but I used the larger (or more designated) one. There were sites for trailers/campers where the tables were closer to the parking spots.
• Typical Forest Service pit toilets that were clean and stocked.

Overall it was very peaceful and I will definitely be staying here again.

Cons:

• No water (or at least there was none when I visited). I visited in May and they hadn’t turned the pipes back on from being shut off for the winter freeze. So be prepared with your own water just in case.

*Lots of buzzing insects around. The bugs weren’t bad but you could hear the buzzing which was quite annoying.

• Tent sites are down short trails and not the flattest so if you have mobility issues it could be a challenge (but there were handicapped designated sites available).

Gear Review: Leatherman Signal Multi-tool

As a ranger for the Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear from our partners once in a while. I have had the privilege of testing out the Leatherman Signal Multi-tool. First off, this tool is the bomb! It has 19 different functions and will pretty much be the go-to tool for camping or outdoor adventure. It is quite large so not ideal for light weight backpacking but great for car camping or any activity where you are not super concerned about weight. For the most part, it lives in the glove compartment of my car so I will always have it for quick use.

Pros:

• Super versatile tool. With 19 different functions/abilities the odds of you being able to complete your task with just this one tool is super high. It has all your basics: knife, saw, pliers, bottle opener and some not so basic: flit/Firestarter, sharpening file, whistle, screwdriver heads, hammer (as well as a boat load of other things)
• The blades are really easy to access and also lock into place so you don’t have to destroy your fingertips getting the out or putting them away. I can flip out and in the knife with one hand.
• It comes with a belt carry case. I probably won’t wear it on my belt but the case does protect it (and the other stuff) in my glove compartment from banging around too much.
• It has become my go to tool for camping and general use because it lives in my car and is easily accessible.

Cons:

• It is a multi-tool so it may not work for all situations. Sometimes it may be a little too big or awkward to use where a more specific tool is what is needed. It is good at a lot of things but not amazing at one or two.
• It is a little bit and heavy so may not be the best backpacking tool but that is a very limited negative.

Summary: The Signal is one of the best multi-tools I have ever had and just having it with me whenever I am exploring outdoors makes me feel more secure in case something happens.

Called a few days ago for reservation, was very easy and a friendly voice on the phone. Same voice checked me in with a wonderful story of rescued cats as I'm traveling with my two cats. Found my site was perfect for my tent and my truck is right next to it. Lots of amenities, ready access to the Green River and tons more sight seeing. Come make this your launching pad for Utah's beauty

We stayed this weekend (early May 2021) at the Swinging Bridge South Campground and had a great time. The campground includes:

• Tent pads at every site
• Plenty of space to pull up in one's vehicle
• Accessible unisex pit toilet
• Picnic tables at every site
• Metal fire rings

The cost is $15 per night with a limit to 2 vehicles per site and up to 10 people per site, with half-price discounts for National Parks/Interagency Passes. There are neither trash receptacles on-site nor potable water, so plan to pack in/pack out.

This dog-friendly BLM campground made a great home base for adventuring in the Buckhorn Wash and Little Grand Canyon overlook area. There was minimal road noise at night, though you can hear neighboring campers since it's a fairly open campground. On our night it was rather windy so plan to bring strong tie-downs for your ground tent if you plan to use the tent pads.

Camped here with our tent while passing through on the way to TX. Peaceful and nice star views!

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.

Overall, it was a great place to camp.

A remote BLM CG (Swinging Bridge North) along the San Rafael River, in the San Rafael Swell, Utah. Never had an iota of cell signal here on any carrier in my previous times here.. But my SL-RV setup is doing the job. This area is about as wild as I get! 25 miles of gravel road to I 70 and no services till 30 miles east on I70 after that to Green River Utah.

Swinging Bridge North BLM CG is $15/7.50 senior. Only seven large sites with cottonwood tree shade. Lots of gravel road to get here. CG has vault toilets but no water, no dumpsters and NO cell signal.

We stopped here for a quick overnight on our way thru Utah.

The facilities are incredibly clean, some of the nicest flush toilets and single showers I've visited.

We stayed at site 3, which included electric and water hook ups. There is a dump station as well.

The campground host is super friendly. It is a nice quiet place right on the golf course. If my nose is correct, there is a hot spring nearby.

This is a perfect state park for families, or a quick stop thru Utah.

Tucked under a canopy of Cotton Wood trees and within sight of the stunning mountains into which the Green River cuts, this quaint little NPS campground is an oasis in the middle of the eastern Utah desert.  Like many NPS campgrounds, the sites are well spread out and can more easily accommodate tents and smaller campers than big rigs– but even they can find a few places to park. With pull-through and back-in sites, most folks can find something to accommodate their equipment. Keep in mind that there are no electrical hook-ups, so bring your solar panels and leave that generator at home so as to keep this place a true oasis!

The river provides a nice companion to the campground, and swimming is encouraged especially during the hotter months– careful of the current through. In the evening, the river banks host a nature lover’s evening show, which featured beavers and mule deer in addition to water fowl and humming birds while we were there. Along the river’s banks, a nice trail leads to the group camping area and canyon boat landing, giving excellent views of the river. 

The campsites were clean and level. The bathrooms were clean with flush toilets and fresh water. Mobile data connection was spotty at best in the campground, however the Visitor’s Center had 24/7 wifi which worked really well. 

Within 5 miles of the campsite, the park offers visitors the chance to explore the park at many different hikes between 15 minutes to 4 hours, but a stop at the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall is a must. With the remains of hundreds of specimens from the ancient past on display as they were first uncovered, you can literally spend hours learning about each species. The park rangers are veritable fonts of knowledge, easily distilling our collective knowledge about these amazing creatures. It’s an amazing learning experience for the whole family. 

The closest town is Vernal, UT, which has all the services that you might need, including some crazy dinosaur tourist kitsch.

We camped here in May, 2024,  on our way north, traveling through Utah.  What looked like a nice campground from the Utah State Park website was not a nice campground.  Firstly, the bathrooms were not clean. Second, this seems to be a hang-out for the locals in Huntington, especially the teens.  Third, what few trees there are, are half-dead from not being watered.  There is evidence that a lot have been cut down, probably because they died entirely.  It is a mystery that a state park, with a reservoir, does not water the grass and trees in the campground! Fourth, and most importantly, there is semi-truck traffic on the highway that borders the campground, about every 5-10 minutes, day and night, no exaggeration!  Drive a few hours northeast and camp at Green River State Park in Green River, UT.  That is truly a nice, park-like setting, away from the noise of I-70.

I usually stop here if when I'm heading north from Southeast Utah and want to break up my drive (I live in North Utah).  The camping spots are pretty decent.  They sit along the Green River and provide an awesome view.  If the spots are filled continue down the road and you can find other spots to setup temporary residence.  These spots may not sit along the river, but that's ok, in some areas you can still walk down to the river through the brush and enjoy the view.  Being able to camp in this canyon and take in the environment is definitely a good way to reset and appreciate life. 

You gotta visit.

Decided to camp here at dusk one night. We were headed North of Price to Kamas and the Mirror Lake Byway when we decided to cut a few driving hours off the day and pull in. Very pleased with our choice. Campground was all but empty so we took our pick of good sites. Vaults were clean and sites were spacious. Very quite and peaceful! The perfect tent spot!