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Best Tent Camping near Dutch John, UT

545 Reviews

Public lands surrounding Dutch John, Utah offer diverse tent camping options, from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. Forest Service Road 13 Dispersed Camping provides primitive tent campsites with basic stone fire rings and flat tent pads among partial tree cover. Green River Float-In Campsites offer tent-only camping accessible by boat, hike, or vehicle, with sites positioned along the 125-mile stretch of the Green River. Little Mountain Dispersed Camp, just north in Wyoming, features tent camping with panoramic views and sheltered sites for protection from strong winds.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have minimal amenities, requiring self-sufficiency from visitors. Sites typically feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with varying levels of grading. Forest Road 13 has a rough, cobble-based access road that can be challenging for low-clearance vehicles but manageable in dry conditions. Campers should bring all necessary water, as no potable sources exist at most locations. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with some sites requiring fire pans that meet specific regulations. The Forest Service enforces a 14-16 day stay limit at dispersed camping areas. Vault toilets are available at some established campgrounds but absent at most primitive sites.

Tent campers frequently report exceptional solitude and dark night skies. One visitor to Rainbow Park Campground noted, "There was no one here and no one for miles. Great view of the Milky Way. Totally silent." At Forest Road 13, a camper described finding "tons of flat ground for tents, a big healthy stone firepit, and plenty of wood around to harvest." Sites along Forest Road 838 offer stream-side camping with "very few campers in the area, all quiet and respectful." During summer months, higher elevations provide relief from heat, though strong winds can affect exposed sites. Wildlife sightings, including deer and elk, are common throughout the region's backcountry tent camping areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Dutch John, Utah (31)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dutch John, UT

13 Photos of 31 Dutch John Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Dutch John, UT

545 Reviews of 31 Dutch John Campgrounds

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2024

    Lodgepole At Flaming Gorge — Ashley National Forest

    Nice CG

    CG is a long hwy #191 just outside of Flaming Gorge Recreation Area. 35 total sites, 22 are reservable. Vault toilets and dumpsters available. RV dump open but no water in CG or at RV dump. Sites are $23/$11.50 senior. Managed by a contractor, camp host onsite. Only neg is close to hwy so traffic noise. Cell signal is not known. 10 miles from Dutch John and the water and boat ramps

  • Amanda M.
    Aug. 3, 2018

    Green River Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

    Green River Campground - Dino Nat’l Monument

    Green River Campground is located inside Dinosaur National Monument - on the ‘Quarry side’ of the park, in Utah. It is a short drive from the vistitors center and quarry, and is next to the Green River.

    BEWARE: We trusted Siri's directions, and she steered us in the wrong direction - she sent us across the Colorado border and to the ‘Canyon side’ of the park. We saw a sign reading DNM, and passed a visitors center, so we figured we were in the right place - we should have stopped at the visitors center, we may have saved ourselves from getting a little lost. After driving 15 miles or so we came to a stopping point - you needed a 4 wheel drive vehicle to continue down a couple of the roads. There was a sign post with a map, but the Green River Campground was nowhere to be seen. Since we didn’t have 4WD we figured the campground was not accessible through the roads within the park, so we had to backtrack back to highway 40 towards Utah to the Quarry side. Lesson learned - follow the directions on the park's website, NOT SIRI!

    If you have an easy-up or some sort of shade canopy, I highly suggest bringing it with you when you are camping in this part of Utah! As stadard for the area, most of the campsites do not have much in the way of shade. We camped this past July, and it was extremely hot for most of the day and well into the evening. There were a couple sparse trees in our site, but they did not provide any shade. We tried to rig up a shade canopy with an extra tarp, but there wasn't much to tie it to, nor did we have much rope.

    Warning: The area does have black bears, but there were no bear bins in the campground, so you have to lock all of your food and toiletries in the car at night. There are bear-proof dumpsters for trash and recycling though. I was once told by a ranger in Yosemite NP that bears can recognize coolers when peering into car windows - he suggested putting put a towel and gear over your coolers when keeping them in the car overnight in bear territory.

    The bathrooms were clean - no showers are available, though.

    There were not any water spigets around by the sites, but there was a faucet outside the rest rooms for dish washing and water bottles.

    The fire pit had a very nice cooking grate - we always bring a small collapsable grate in case the fire ring doesn’t have one, but no need to use it this time!

    It got very windy during the day, and after coming back from a hike we found our tent blown over, despite having staked it down. Stake your tents down well!

    We only saw one scorpion in our site for the two nights we stayed - one crawled up by the fire ring and hung out with us next to the camp fire. He was small. I would still suggest always zipping up your tent completely every time you open and close it, and to check your shoes if you leave them outside!

    Some sites in Green River are "riverside," but are not directly next to the river - perhaps 30 yards away. We walked down to the river - we did not see any true trails to the river, but we didn't take the time to look around. The river and surrounding moutainous region was beautiful, and the cold water was a great way to cool off after a hike in the heat.

    I was able to get some cell service down in the campground, but it was definitely better up near the visitors center.

    Green River Campground is a great basecamp for those wishing to explore Dinosaur National Monument! Bring lots of water - it is HOT in the summer! We chose to get up early to hike and beat the heat - afterwards we packed up lunch and drove over to Josie Morris cabin. The Josie Morris cabin is an interesting historical site - what one women accomplished out in the middle of nowhere was impressive! Josie planted a lot of trees on her land, so there is a nice shady lawn with picnic benches and a view - it was the perfect lunch spot! The petroglyphs around the park are a must see, as is the quarry exhibit hall!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $18/night

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: NO

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grates: Yes

    Shade: Limited!

    Cell Service: Limited

    Animals Bins/Food Lockers: NO

    Trash: Yes

  • Amanda B.
    Sep. 22, 2016

    Canyon Rim

    A fun backpack in to the Canyon Rim Campground, Flaming Gorge, UT.

    We did a small backpacking trip from the Greendale Overlook on highway 40 to the Canyon Rim campground for the night. The hike was beautiful, crossing creeks and surrounded by ponderosa pines. It's about 4.5 miles one way.
    Canyon Rim Campground is beautiful, also surrounded by ponderosa and aspen, and with a beautiful overlook of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. There are specific sites for tent camping, and plenty of RV spots. Each spot has tables and fire rings. There are vault toilets.
    Our only complaint is that all of the water to the campground was shut off! No signs warning that there was no water available. This was actually awful as we had backpacked in with our dogs (who at this point were very thirsty), and brought dehydrated food that required water to make. Luckily, Red Canyon Lodge is located about a mile away. We were able to hike over and buy water. 16 small bottles of water for like 45 dollars...not ideal.

  • B
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Mustang Ridge Campground

    Unexpected Treat

    Our site was a pull-thru that accommodated our 32 ft truck/trailer combo with just enough space for an additional vehicle.  The pull-thru was nearly level.   The site provided enough space for a tent nicely nestled among the trees. A picnic table and fire ring were on site.  Well maintained vault toilets and a potable water spigot were a short distance from the site.  Numerous trees provided some shelter from the wind and made the site private.  A few steps toward the back of the site offered a gorgeous view of the reservoir.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Green River Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

    Tucked in along the Green River

    We spent one night on July 19th, 2018. 

    This campground is located within Dinosaur National Monument right on the Green River. The sites were open and average but it was all dry camping. This would normally be fine but the temperatures were >100 degrees and it was too hot to really enjoy. The rest rooms were functional but had no showers or towels/dryers. They have wood for sale if you want a campfire. The water was comfortably cool with a small rocked in area for little people to play in the water. 

    It sits at the bottom of the hill right on the river so once the sun drops, the campground is in shade which dropped our temperature by a good 20 degrees. There were nice clean pads for tents, fire rings and wood picnic tables.

    I recommend this park for cooler temperatures.

  • Jeff K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Split Mountain Group Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

    GROUP CAMPSITES

    SEPTEMBER 2020 This campsite is in the first few miles of Dinosaur National Monument along the Green River. It has 4 campsites but each campsite has three turnout parking areas that accommodate about 9-10 cars. The sites are $40 each and can be reserved online. I estimated each group site was about a football field of space. Each site has three fire rings and about 6 picnic tables. Each site is separated into 3 different sites. Most people who reserve online do not realize how much space they have even when they are here. There are public bathrooms with indoor plumbing including a sink, urinal, and toilet. There is clean running water available. No shower. There is a second bathroom under construction (we never heard noise from the construction). The two of us were traveling in one van and found the Green River campground (the other campground in DNM) was packed with people, and the sites too close together. So we bit the bullet and paid $40 for a group site here. It was such a large amount of space we wound up letting other travelers stay the night in the other two spaces in our site. Even with others “in our site” we still had about 10 times more space then if we stayed in the Green River Campground. The next three nights this campground was reserved. We asked another camper if we could stay one of their 3 spaces and they were more than happy to share the abundance of space. The night sky was magical. Lots of kids in this campground. Dogs allowed on leash. Walking distance to trails. Walking distance to a boat ramp where lot of rafters take off. A couple of miles from the DNM Quarry. Don’t miss the trails up to Hog Canyon and Box Canyon, trail head is at Josie Miller Cabin. Easy trails for all ages. Box canyon was incredible.

  • TRI-CROSS F.
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Deer Run Campground

    Showers and flushing toilets

    This is the best campground in the area that we have found due to the hot showers and flushing toilets and great camp host. Bathrooms have lights, running water and electric plug-ins with vault toilets at sime points. Most sites have shade, and there are water points for drinking water throughout camp. There isn't any electric, water or sewer hookups and no wifi available. There are trash dumpsters close to the restrooms.

  • Cortney M.
    Jun. 21, 2017

    Red Fleet State Park Campground

    Paddle Fest 2017

    Red Fleet Holds its annual Paddle Fest every year around this time. Because camping space is very limited our friends and family went and waited in line bright and early to get spots. At Paddle Fest they shut down the lake to all motorized water craft. This allows for kayakers, paddle boards, canoes, and swimmers to be in the water safely. They set up a giant slip n slide on the boat dock and bring in vendors where you'd normally park after launching boats. They also set up a concert stage and have fireworks at night. Red fleet has 2 bathroom facilities. Tent and RV camp sites with no hookups. They have a fish cleaning station for your daily catches. There is a large area with grass, covered picnic tables, fire pits, and bbq's. Each RV site comes with a tent site on that grass. RV sites are very close together so if someones running a generator you will be hearing it. Fishing is off and on as they killed out the lake a couple years ago and replanted smaller fish into it.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Firehole Canyon Campground

    Off the Beaten Path

    In the off the beaten path category, Firehole Canyon, in southwestern WY, definitely qualifies.  Just getting there, from nearly anywhere, is an adventure in itself. With about 45 miles between the campground and the closest town, campers should come prepared with everything they need. 

    The sites have very unique set ups, that we’ve never seen anywhere else, and that’s saying something cause we’ve camped all over this continent. Each campsite shares a paved parking area with its neighbor and the picnic/ fire ring shelter serves each campsite to one side or the other. Each site gets its own privacy but with all the space within this vast campground it feels just a bit strange to cluster pairs of sites in this way. However, it makes the perfect choice for groups needing more than one space! 

    The bathrooms are old, but clean, and the showers were wicked hot with plenty of pressure.   There are no electrical hook-ups, so bring your solar panels because there is plenty of sun to be had.  

    The Green River which creates the reservoir is the perfect locations for recreational paddlers, boaters and anglers. Walking the lakeshore or hiking the ATV two-tracks in the area are good ways to spend an afternoon not spent on the water.

Guide to Dutch John

Primitive tent campsites near Dutch John, Utah range across both forested and open terrain at elevations between 5,900-8,000 feet. The region receives approximately 16 inches of precipitation annually, creating semi-arid conditions with sparse vegetation at lower elevations. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F during days, dropping to 45-55°F at night, while strong winds frequently affect exposed camping areas throughout the year.

What to do

Streamside camping access: Forest Road 838 provides tent campers with stream access sites. Tom E. noted, "We found a spot next to a stream on forest road 838. Very few campers in the area, all quiet and respectful. Road was rough, no problem for our Subaru Forester. Lots of hiking available in the area."

Boating connections: Green River Float-In Campsites offer staging points for multi-day river adventures. Beau B. explains, "Dispersed camping on the 125 mile stretch of the Green river from Green River, UT to the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers at Spanish Bottom... Stillwater and Labyrinth Canyons are a marvel. Take your time and hop from site to site getting some hikes in."

Wildlife observation: Little Mountain Dispersed Camp provides opportunities for wildlife viewing. Jacinda C. reports, "Elk, Bear, Deer, and cows are around. Lots of places to explore and there are never many people around so I can let my dogs off the leash which is really nice."

What campers like

Solitude and privacy: Tent campers consistently highlight the lack of crowds. At Forest Service Road 217 Dispersed, Rebecca S. shared, "I'm here in October and though chilly it's gorgeous! There are a lot of hunters here with their four wheels but no one has bothered me. Be warned though you definitely will hear the gunshots of them hunting in the forest below."

Astronomical viewing: Clear skies and minimal light pollution create prime stargazing conditions. Christopher H. visiting Little Mountain Dispersed Camp commented, "Great views from the top, but we chose a more sheltered site due to the strong chilly wind. Beautiful sunset and sunrise."

Flat terrain for setup: Many areas feature naturally level ground ideal for tent placement. At Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping, one camper noted, "The camp sites are spacious and each one is far enough from each other that peace and quietness was never an issue. There are some sites with fire pits and lots is dead wood that can be used."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access roads require careful navigation. According to Greg L., "FS road #13 has large diameter cobble base and makes for a bumpy road. There are much better dispersed sites across the hwy on FS roads #839 and #838 for RVs and TTs. I would not go up this road with a trailer unless you had a turnaround open."

Cell service limitations: Mobile coverage varies significantly by location and carrier. At Forest Road 13, one camper reported, "Spotty Verizon and ATT service but still managed to be able to text and call as needed."

Fire regulations: Requirements change seasonally with strict containment rules. A Green River Float-In Campsites user explained, "Fires (when allowed) need to be in a fire pan that meets NPS specs. No water so you will need to bring with you."

Seasonal closures: Some established sites undergo periodic maintenance. A visitor to Red Springs Group Campground noted, "As of June 2021. Closed for reconstruction. Use Lodgepole CG close by instead. If open it would be a nice small shaded CG and rate more stars."

Tips for camping with families

Protected site selection: Seek wind-sheltered locations for more comfortable family camping. Jeff A. at Little Mountain Dispersed Camp advised, "I came in from the SW side of Little Mountain and couldn't make it to the top in my AWD Highlander, but there were plenty of flat spots to make camp. It was a tad buggy but overall it was 👍."

Stream proximity considerations: Campsites near water features offer activities but require additional safety awareness. A visitor to Forest Road 13 mentioned, "We followed the other reviewers advice and went with #838. There are tons of dispersed camping options in Ashley National Forest."

Road accessibility planning: Assess vehicle limitations before arrival, especially with children. One camper at Forest Service Road 13 Dispersed Camping shared, "The road is bumpy but it's nothing a regular passenger car shouldn't be able to handle."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger vehicles: Choose locations with adequate turnaround space. Greg L. recommended, "FS roads #839 and #838 for RVs and TTs" instead of more difficult roads like Forest Service Road 13.

Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at most dispersed sites. A camper noted, "This area is best suited to overlander tent and truck camper types. FS notes 16 day limit."

Seasonal road challenges: Plan for changing conditions affecting access. Christopher H. observed at Little Mountain, "Road could be done in a minivan when dry, but might get tricky when wet."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dutch John, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dutch John, UT is Utah Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

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