Camping options near Dutch John, Utah extend beyond RV parks to include state parks, forest service sites, and marinas. Located at an elevation of 6,200 feet near the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the area experiences hot summers with temperatures reaching 90°F and cold winters dropping below freezing. The region sits at the junction of high desert terrain and mountain forests, creating distinctive camping conditions with limited shade at many sites.
What to do
Kayaking to dinosaur tracks: At Red Fleet State Park Campground, visitors can rent kayaks to paddle to visible dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone. "Our absolute favorite part of this campground is the ability to rent kayaks and kayak over to see the dinosaur footprints. This was our first time seeing anything of the like, and it absolutely blew our minds," notes one camper.
Hiking forest trails: Pine Forest RV Park offers access to formal trails leading to local attractions. "The pasture area has formal trails that lead through the national forest to the Firefighters Memorial one direction and a Flaming Gorge overlook the other direction," shares a visitor who found these accessible hiking options directly from the campground.
Swimming and water sports: The reservoir provides numerous swimming opportunities. At Red Fleet State Park, "They had a waterslide down the boat ramp and water trampoline that aren't normally there. This year they have added a hammock rack to the campground that holds 9 hammocks," mentions a reviewer who attended their annual paddlefest event.
What campers like
Convenient lake access: Sheep Creek Bay Boat Ramp and Campground places RVers right beside the water. "If you are in an RV with a boat and enjoy blacktop camping, this is the place to be. Close to the boat ramp, easy access," notes one reviewer who appreciates the location for family trips.
Protected camping areas: Some sites offer natural protection from weather conditions. A longtime visitor to Sheep Creek Bay comments, "My family has been camping here for 29 years! It our favorite spot in the lake! Somewhat protected from the storms and it's a very quiet place!"
Recreational amenities: Outlaw Trail RV Park features multiple recreation options. "This place was awesome. Play set, tons of grass, sand volleyball, tether ball, picnic/grilling areas. Laundry and bathroom/shower very clean," writes a satisfied camper about the family-friendly facilities.
What you should know
Varying campground layouts: RV sites near Dutch John, Utah range from spacious to compact. At Fossil Valley RV Park, "The sites are level, gravel and shaded, but close together (maybe 8')," mentions a reviewer, noting the trade-off between shade and space.
Limited amenities at some locations: Sheep Creek Bay offers minimal facilities. "This camp area is sectioned off of the very large sheep creek bay boat ramp parking. There are just 4-5 spots on blacktop for TTs and RVs, one tiny spot for a lone tenter. No shade and big toy hauler TTs seem to hog the area. $13/$6.50 senior, NO WATER no cell signal," reports one camper.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate seasonally. "Closed Down Mid October but I boondocked anyway as the lone camper in a great spot with awesome views," shares a visitor to Buckboard Marina RV, indicating off-season opportunities for dispersed camping when facilities close.
Tips for camping with families
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds experience fluctuating noise levels. At Red Fleet State Park, "Due to the fact this is such a special and thus popular campsite, it can get fairly loud, especially at night when sound carries," warns a reviewer, though they note most campers respect quiet hours.
Look for shade structures: Heat protection is essential in summer. "My suggestions are to take some kind of extra shade. There are not a lot of trees for shade," advises a camper who stayed at Red Fleet State Park in August when temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees.
Bring entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer built-in activities. "They have a play set, tons of grass, sand volleyball, tether ball, picnic/grilling areas," mentions a reviewer at Outlaw Trail RV Park, highlighting amenities that keep children occupied.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At Pine Forest RV Park, "Our site was level but 56 next to us had to use levelers on their utilities side to level," notes a visitor, suggesting RVers should come prepared with leveling blocks.
Water quality considerations: Water taste varies significantly between locations. A visitor to Vernal RV Resort reports, "The biggest complaint that I had about the sites was the taste of the water. We had to buy bottled water because we couldn't stand the taste of the tap water even though it went through a filter."
Bring essential supplies: Limited shopping options affect provisioning strategies. "We were here at an unusual time of year so fair amount of vacancy, but still he let us stay until the late afternoon before deciding off we wanted to stay and pay for another night, which was awesome," shares a camper at Fossil Valley RV Park, appreciating the flexible check-out policy.
