Campgrounds within a 45-mile radius of Draper offer alternatives to the more populated RV parks in Salt Lake Valley. The area sits where the Salt Lake and Utah valleys meet, with elevations ranging from 4,300 to 5,800 feet across nearby camping options. Summer temperatures average 80-90°F during the day, dropping to 50-65°F at night, while winter camping requires preparation for below-freezing conditions.
What to do
River activities: Access fishing and kayaking at Echo Island RV Resort in Coalville. "Beautiful setting on two small rivers with shade. Full hookups, spacious sites," notes one visitor, adding the campground is ideal for "bringing kayaks and float the river."
Basketball and pickleball courts: Stay active at Mountain Valley RV Resort which features multiple recreation areas. "They have an on-site RV wash available and allowed us to borrow an adaptor from them at no charge. We enjoyed an evening in their hot tub/spa. They also have a gorgeous fitness center with weights, a treadmill and elliptical available to all guests," according to Carlyne F.
Trail access: Find paved trails near Pony Express RV Resort with bikes available for guests. "Paved 80 mile bike trail along Jordan River. Giant chessboard. Nice pool area," writes Janet H., while another camper mentions "Easy access to the Jordan River Trail for running, biking, or sunset walks."
What campers like
Multiple pools and hot tubs: Mountain Valley RV Resort maintains separate recreation areas for different campers. "They have two pools (one limited to adults only), two dog parks (one large enough for big dogs to run and fetch), two sets of pickle ball courts and is spacious and level," explains Karla B.
Peaceful river views: Echo Island RV Resort offers natural sounds alongside amenities. "This is such a pretty and accommodating place to stay. They had a small pond for kids to fish in, two swimming pools and two hot tubs, very clean and modern facilities, well maintained campsites with fire pit," reports Carlee G.
Off-season value: Visit Lakeside RV Campground near Provo when crowds thin out. "I was an off season guest at this RV park in February. I was very impressed by the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness of the park including the restroom and campsites, and the amenities; market, water, electricity and Wi-Fi," shares Christine.
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Park City RV Resort has tiered camping areas with very different experiences. "The star rating of these grounds can really be variable based on where your spot is located. There are 4 tiers of spots (the grounds are literally tiered)... The third tier, the one in which we were, are PHU. Half these spots are all gravel and very, very close," explains Kristin S.
Highway noise impacts some parks: Several RV sites near Draper, Utah sit close to major roadways. At Park City RV Resort, "It's right off the highway, so access is easy and there's a Whole Foods, restaurants, gas and outlet shopping all less than a mile away." Echo Island has "Clean, paved shady sites with full hookups... The only reason I couldn't give 5 stars is due to the highway noise, but that made it convenient."
Reservation requirements change seasonally: Expect busier conditions during peak periods. At Pony Express RV Resort, "This is 30 amp ONLY (we had been told when we made our reservations that it was 50amp). Water is split between 2 RV's cutting water pressure down to below 20psi," reports one guest regarding utility discrepancies.
Tips for camping with families
Dedicated kid-friendly areas: Mountain Valley RV Resort offers age-separated facilities. "This is a great place for kids because there's plenty of space for them to ride bikes, play basketball, swim, and also a playground. There's a section that is for adults 21 and older where children are not allowed," notes Sheila B.
Consider school-year timing: Knotty Pine RV Resort provides quieter experiences outside peak seasons. "We are close to hiking and off-reading without the craziness off Mirror Lake Highway. Also, the kids love the pool and the basketball courts," writes Brant H.
Check playground supervision levels: At some parks, playground areas become community gathering spots. At Pony Express RV Resort, one visitor observed "The playground is clean, a good sized one, but overrun with unsupervised kids."
Tips from RVers
Site selection impacts experience: At Park City RV Resort, specific site locations determine quality. "There are 4 tiers of spots (the grounds are literally tiered), the top of which are reserved for newer, specific class vehicles. These spots have concrete pads and grass next to them and are available for ownership. The second tier still has full hookups but are gravel and have a bit nicer views."
Varied pad types affect comfort: Consider ground surfaces when booking RV sites near Draper, Utah. At Echo Island RV Resort, "Gravel slots, picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Good park design for the back up sites to get a large trailer situated no problem." This contrasts with Mountain Valley's concrete pads or the variable terrain at other parks.
