Best Campgrounds near Fairview, UT
The Manti-La Sal National Forest surrounds Fairview, Utah, providing a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities at varying elevations. Pleasant Creek RV Resort offers full hookups for RVs and cabins just outside town, while more rustic options like Gooseberry Creek and Gooseberry Reservoir campgrounds provide basic amenities in forested settings. Lake Canyon Recreation Area, approximately 15 miles east of Fairview, features tent and RV sites near fishing waters. Maple Canyon, known for its conglomerate rock climbing opportunities, provides primitive camping with vault toilets. The region supports both developed facilities with reservable sites and undeveloped areas where visitors can camp with minimal infrastructure.
Road conditions vary significantly based on elevation and season, with many forest roads becoming impassable during winter months. As one camper noted, "It's a really steep canyon to pull a trailer up from the Fairview side so make sure your truck has the power and you watch the temperature. We overheated on the way up but we did make it after a 45 minute cool down period." The camping season typically runs from late May through October, with higher elevation sites opening later due to snowpack. Summer temperatures remain moderate at higher elevations, with cool nights even in July and August. Cell service is generally reliable near town but becomes spotty in canyon areas. Most forest campgrounds have vault toilets but limited or no drinking water, requiring visitors to bring their own supplies.
Mountain views and reservoir access rank among the most appreciated features in camper reviews. Skyline Drive, accessible from Fairview, provides numerous dispersed camping opportunities with panoramic vistas. According to visitors, "Once you get to the top there are plenty of great options with outstanding views. July day temps in the low 80s. Nights were refreshing." Fishing opportunities abound at nearby reservoirs including Huntington (also known as Mammoth) and Cleveland. Many campgrounds accommodate both tents and smaller RVs, though some forest roads present challenges for larger rigs. Families particularly enjoy the shaded sites at Pleasant Creek RV Resort, which one reviewer described as "well maintained and clean with lots of trees for shade." Weekends during summer months see higher visitation, especially at established campgrounds.
