Green River camping areas sit at approximately 4,000 feet elevation where the desert landscape experiences temperature swings of up to 40 degrees between day and night. The region's geology features sandstone formations and proximity to the Green River creates diverse camping options from state parks to dispersed sites on former military land. Campgrounds in this area typically have little natural shade, making portable shelters essential during summer months.
What to do
River access for fishing: Green River State Park Campground provides boat access to the Green River where visitors can fish from the riverfront park. The park features a pier that's suitable for fishing and provides a safe area for dogs to play. "The river front park and pier are good for fishing and a safe place to let the dogs play (though we kept ours on leash as the river is rather wide and faster in the middle)," notes Jennifer C.
Mountain biking nearby: For those wanting to combine camping with mountain biking, the Sovereign Lands dispersed camping area offers excellent trail access. "Close to town so we could go get our 5% beers on tap (or real beer to go) and some great food at both Moab and Proper, and close to most of the MTB trails we were there for. In fact, at the end of this road is the KlonZo trail network," reports one camper.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location of dispersed camping areas provides excellent night sky viewing. BLM 144 Dispersed camping area offers wide open spaces with minimal light pollution. "Great spot, good view...quite a few places to stay at, most of which are quite flat," writes Calder P., who appreciated the stargazing conditions despite noting "some noise from highway but not much."
What campers like
Quiet camping options: Despite being near transportation routes, several campgrounds offer surprisingly quiet sites. "The campground was pretty, bathrooms were clean and the staff was very helpful. The campground is in a little town just off I-70. I'm a female solo traveler and I felt safe while I was there," writes Lindsay M. about Green River State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Green River maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. Shady Acres RV Park receives positive comments about maintenance. "Our site was easy to find, had good hook ups, and was easy access. The showers and bathrooms were clean," reports one camper, while another adds, "The bathrooms and camp sites were clean and well maintained."
Convenience for overnight stops: Campgrounds near Green River serve as strategic overnight locations for travelers crossing Utah. Love's RV Hookup provides practical accommodations for quick stays. "Great one night stand. Love's is on each side of the road. On the west side are 8 RV hookup sites you can pay for, but we're self contained. Park anywhere outside of normal parking where you're out of the way and stay the night," writes David.
What you should know
Limited shade available: Most camping areas around Green River have minimal tree coverage. "Not much shade and a whole lot of red dirt," notes Stacie H. about Devil's Garden Campground, adding that "the best part about this simple campground is that hiking paths to several arches are a convenient walk from camp."
Weather considerations: Temperature fluctuations in the desert require proper planning. Expect cool mornings and hot afternoons, particularly in summer. Wind can also be a factor at more exposed sites like Athena Slabs, where one camper noted "it can get Dusty when the wind picks up since there is no shade or shelter of any kind."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. Green River KOA often reaches capacity, but checking for cancellations can be worthwhile. A camper advises: "We got to our site at 11:30pm, called ahead of time right as the office was about to close to let them know we were gonna be late. The staff was phenomenal. They told us everything and left us a map and everything we needed for our site."
Tips for camping with families
Pet-friendly considerations: Many campgrounds welcome pets but have specific regulations. At BLM 144 Dispersed camping, one visitor reported, "Good spots not to busy, lots of spaces and quite accept for the highway noise. Not far from arches or canyon lands either." This makes it suitable for families traveling with pets who need space to spread out.
Budget options: Free dispersed camping is available for families watching costs. "This is a free, dispersed camping on BLM land. There are porta potties along the road, which was great for someone like me who sleeps in the back of their SUV," writes Dale about Utahraptor State Park Campground, adding that "Verizon signal was good."
Safety factors: When camping with children, choose established campgrounds with proper facilities. "The grounds have clean bathrooms and accessible water. Each campsite has at least 1 picnic table as well and a fire pit (I believe)," notes Katie M. about Green River State Park, adding that while there was "the sound of a train going by" it "likely couldn't be heard from all of the camp sites."
Tips from RVers
Level sites availability: RV campers report generally flat parking areas at most Green River area campgrounds. At iCamp Green River, one RVer noted: "The campsites are OK, nothing fancy. It is near the highway and railroad so expect some noise from that. The bathrooms are very clean and showers seem to be included."
Hookup options: Multiple campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs of various sizes. At Shady Acres RV Park, campers report "spots with full hookups" and note that "the sites have a lot of room." One visitor mentioned, "40 spaces and a group site. The bathroom and showers are clean. There are 30 and 50 amp hookups, water, and a dump station."
Road conditions: When accessing dispersed camping, road quality varies significantly. For Athena Slabs at Green River, Greg L. advises: "Use caution as there is rebar sticking up from the ground here and there, and there was a sharp steel plate near where we parked." Another camper adds that "no slabs" remain at the site and visitors should "drive very carefully."
