Best Campgrounds near Garrison, UT
Camping options near Garrison, Utah primarily consist of established campgrounds and dispersed sites centered around Great Basin National Park. The region includes several well-maintained camping areas like Baker Creek Campground, Wheeler Peak Campground, and Upper Lehman Creek Campground within park boundaries. For visitors seeking full hookups, Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park and Great Basin Desert Camping & RV provide accommodations for tent campers, RVs, and cabin stays. Dispersed camping opportunities exist on nearby BLM land, with Gravel Pit BLM site offering a free alternative approximately 5 miles from the park entrance.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, particularly on access routes to more remote camping areas. Snake Creek Road, which leads to several group campsites including Monkey Rock, has limitations for larger vehicles. "Road is not for RVs or trailers. Just after you enter the park on Snake Creek Road a sign clearly indicated no RVs or trailers past the road's first pull out," noted one camper. Most developed campgrounds in Great Basin National Park operate seasonally, typically from April or May through October, with higher elevation sites like Wheeler Peak (open June to October) having shorter seasons due to snow. Campers should arrive prepared with sufficient supplies as services in Baker and Garrison are limited, with the nearest gas and provisions often 15+ minutes away.
Several visitors highlight the area's stargazing opportunities and quiet atmosphere as primary draws. Great Basin National Park and surrounding public lands are known for exceptionally dark night skies. While campgrounds within the park provide amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, most lack hookups or showers. According to a visitor at one of the dispersed sites, "A big flat gravel lot - found based on a dispersed camping map provided by the national park." Camping areas outside park boundaries vary widely in quality and facilities. Campers note that many sites are dusty with limited shade, but proximity to park attractions like Lehman Caves makes them practical base camps. Water availability is inconsistent throughout the region, with many primitive sites requiring campers to bring their own water supplies.
