Looking for the best campgrounds near Hanksville, UT? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Hanksville. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
The campground at Goblin Valley State Park consists of 25 sites and two yurts. Goblin Valley camping is divided into ten walk-in tent pads, fourteen RV spaces, and one group site able to accommodate up to 35 people. Showers and flush toilets, as well as a communal water and dump station are all available free of charge. All sites contain a picnic table, metal fire ring, and shade shelter.
Cowboys searching for cattle first discovered secluded Goblin Valley. Then in the late 1920s, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite ferry, and two companions were searching for an alternative route between Green River and Caineville. They came to a vantage point about a mile west of Goblin Valley and were awed by what they saw, five buttes and a valley of strange-shaped rock formations surrounded by a wall of eroded cliffs.
In 1949, Chaffin returned to the area he called Mushroom Valley. He spent several days exploring the mysterious valley and photographing its scores of intricately eroded creatures. The area was acquired by the state of Utah and in 1964 was officially designated a state park.
Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins.
Bedrock is exposed because of the thin soil and lack of vegetation. When rain does fall, there are few plant roots and little soil to capture and hold the water, which quickly disappears, in muddy streams without penetrating the bedrock.
Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles (160 km). The Fruita Campground has 71 sites. 65 sites are reservable from March 1 to October 31. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are used as administrative sites. Sites 14, 24, and 63 are accessible sites with electrical hookups. Beginning August 1, 2023 generators are only allowed in loop C. There are no first come first serve sites during peak season.
Walk to historic inscriptions on the Capitol Gorge Trail and stroll the Goosenecks Trail or longer trails such as Cohab Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Cassidy Arch. Check out our Trail Guide to explore your options.Enjoy the geology and view the Fremont Culture Petroglyphs along Hwy 24. In addition, the Scenic Drive will introduce you to the fascinating cultural and geological history of Capitol Reef National Park. The drive includes a portion of the original road through the Waterpocket Fold. The road passes through parts of the Fruita Historic District and follows the western faces of the Waterpocket Fold, and spur roads allow exploration into beautiful Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Check at the Visitor Center for a current schedule of interpretive programs, which may include geology talks, Fremont culture talks, evening programs, star gazing, moonwalks, and geology hikes. Stop in at Ripple Rock Nature Center to experience interactive exhibits, games, activities, and free educational programs.__ Wander through the historic Fruita Orchards and pick fresh fruit when in season. The orchards contain approximately 3,100 trees including cherry, apricot, peach, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, almond, and walnut. Discover Mormon pioneer history at the historic Gifford Homestead store and museum.
Walk to historic inscriptions on the Capitol Gorge Trail and stroll the Goosenecks Trail or longer trails such as Cohab Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Cassidy Arch. Check out our Trail Guide to explore your options.Enjoy the geology and view the Fremont Culture Petroglyphs along Hwy 24. In addition, the Scenic Drive will introduce you to the fascinating cultural and geological history of Capitol Reef National Park. The drive includes a portion of the original road through the Waterpocket Fold. The road passes through parts of the Fruita Historic District and follows the western faces of the Waterpocket Fold, and spur roads allow exploration into beautiful Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Check at the Visitor Center for a current schedule of interpretive programs, which may include geology talks, Fremont culture talks, evening programs, star gazing, moonwalks, and geology hikes. Stop in at Ripple Rock Nature Center to experience interactive exhibits, games, activities, and free educational programs.__ Wander through the historic Fruita Orchards and pick fresh fruit when in season. The orchards contain approximately 3,100 trees including cherry, apricot, peach, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, almond, and walnut. Discover Mormon pioneer history at the historic Gifford Homestead store and museum.
The Fruita Campground area is located one mile south of the visitor center and is often described as an oasis within the desert. Fruita Campground is a semi-shaded, grassy campground and is located in the Fruita Historic District of the park.
For facility specific information, please call (435) 425-3791.
The Fruita campground is adjacent to the Fremont River and is a short walk from the group site, amphitheater, picnic areas, hiking trails, the historic Gifford house and orchards.
$25 / night
Wonderland RV Park is the perfect spot to hang your hat while you explore Capitol Reef National Park, after all, we've been welcoming guests to the wonders of Southern Utah since 1934.
We're located at the junction of Scenic Byway 24 and All American Highway 12 – just three miles away from Capitol Reef. We provide outstanding amenities to ensure that your stay is both comfortable and convenient. Come stay with us, and discover why we're Capitol Reef's Best RV Park. So welcome to Southern Utah. Welcome to Wonderland.
$20 - $65 / night
Lower Bowns Campground is located on the east side of Boulder Mountain on the shore of Lower Bowns Reservoir at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring local trails.
Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, hunting and riding the Rosebud ATV Trail. Lower Bowns Reservoir offers boating, canoeing and fishing for rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout.
Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, hunting and riding the Rosebud ATV Trail. Lower Bowns Reservoir offers boating, canoeing and fishing for rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout.
The campground is sparsely forested with pinyon pines and juniper, which offer only limited shade. Boulder Mountain lies to the west of the site, and Capitol Reef National Park's Waterpocket Fold and the Henry Mountains lie to the east.
Capitol Reef National Park is just 45 minutes from the campground. This unique park offers excellent hiking trails, historic sites and breathtaking scenery. Sightseeing along Utah Highway 12, a National Scenic Byway, is very popular. Travelers visit from every corner of the world to gaze upon stunning red rock canyons and desert landscapes.
$75 / night
Sunglow Campground is located in a scenic red rock box canyon just 2 miles from Bicknell, Utah. Visitors enjoy exploring local trails and day-tripping to Capitol Reef National Park.
Many miles of trails for hiking, biking and off-road vehicles are in the area. The Great Western Trail passes nearby.
Many miles of trails for hiking, biking and off-road vehicles are in the area. The Great Western Trail passes nearby.
The canyon sits at an elevation of 7,200 feet. Cottonwoods and junipers provide very limited shade. Sagebrush and summer wildflowers dot the landscape.
For facility specific information, please call (877) 444-6777.
The Ke Bullock Waterfowl Management Area is nearby, just south of Bicknell, with wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities.Capitol Reef National Park is approximately 20 miles away, offering excellent hiking trails, historic sites, scenic driving and breathtaking scenery.Sightseeing along Utah Highway 12, a National Scenic Byway, is very popular. Travelers visit from every corner of the world to gaze upon stunning red rock canyons and desert landscapes.
$55 / night
Campground. This is a favorite for campers. There is trout fishing nearby at Lower Bowns Reservoir and Lower Pleasant Creek. RVs over 25 feet long are not advised.__ Water will be turned off at threat of first frost.__ Campground closes 10/15/20 or threat of__first frost.
We had to back out of the "pull through" site because there wasn't clearance to pull forward with our 30ft 5th wheel. The double sites are wide and spacious but all the sites seem to be short. The owner upgraded us to a double site since in a single there would have been no space for our truck. Check in is at noon but no one is in the office until 3 so you have to text to get your site number. Very quick response on the text though.
Well maintained, clean washroom Excellent WiFi!! Close to Capitol Reef NP
This is a great little park with beautiful views and lots to do in the area. There is a restaurant on site, small park for the kids, basketball court and dog walk area. The sites are very close no privacy. There are two styles ld cabins. They sell wood and propane by the tank they do not fill tanks.
We stayed in May 2023 and we were given a site all the way to the back. The view was pretty, the site was level, but when all the large RVs returned for the night, our electricity browned out and we couldn't run our AC. Our power also cut out during the night. The response from the management was, lets just say - unhelpful. Otherwise, it's a good location, the grounds are nicely maintained, the bathroom/showers were old, but they worked and had hot water. Unfortunately for us, we needed electricity for a CPAP, and our RV was 95 degrees inside, so for us, this campground gets two thumbs down.
I stayed at the campground for one night. As with all Utah State Parks we have stayed the place was clean and well maintained. I am so impressed with Utah State Parks.
Though we tend to prefer a more low-key experience, GBSP camping is beautiful and the sites are well taken care of. If you're fortunate enough, snag a site adjacent the sweet rocks. Level sites w shades at the picnic tables. The bathroom has running hot and cold water, and there are showers available. Expensive, but the fee includes entry to the state park.
General: Small campground with 24 sites, and two yurts. Sites are designated as RV or tent with the main difference being that the tent sites have multiple vehicle pads right next to each other. We did see some vans in the tent sites and in November, that was not a problem. All camping is dry camping. Each site has a covered picnic table with side shelters, not needed when we were there in November but a necessity in the warmer months, and a fire pit.
Site Quality: All camper pads are paved and level. Some were pull-thru and others back-in. The ones on the exterior of the loop have the best views IMO.
Bathhouse: (automatic) flush toilets, two sinks, paper towels, and soap. There were showers but they were closed for the season as of November 6.
Activities: There are three valleys filled with hoodoos. No distinct trails so you can wander freely among the hoodoos. Several moderately challenging hiking trails, including one directly from the campground (Entrada). We did the Caramel Canyon Loop which included several scrambles in narrow canyons (but doable for two seniors – 65 and 71 years old in good physical shape). There are also designated biking trails and horseback riding is allowed in the Red Canyon Primitive area.
We were last here 35 years ago, but it was so much fun to explore the area again. Utah State Parks are getting pricey (not the only expensive state) but this one is worth it IMO. It is a photographer's dream!
Wonderland was a great place to stay to visit Capitol Reef National Park. Only a few miles to the entrance. Park was clean and the town of Torrey was small but great. Our site was #5. Good amount of space but you are still close to your neighbors. FHUs, restrooms, showers, and laundry available. Apple trees are scattered throughout the campground. We ate dinner at a great food truck Capitol Burger in Torrey.
Fall colours in all their splendour, deer at our fence, stroll to the Gifford house for pies and souvenirs…couldn’t have hoped for more!
3 nights in Yurt 1. Coolest yurt location of any we’ve stayed in previously. Beautiful canyon. Heater worked well. There are a couple electrical receptacles. BBQ works well. Fire pit and picnic table are great. The park office has ice and firewood. Everything was great about our stay, EXCEPT… mice. The yurt management should either let guests know this in advance, or set some traps and take care of the problem. Make sure and only store food in mice proof containers, otherwise they will infiltrate.
Setting is simple, nice and clean. Staff was extremely helpful. Located on Highway 24. This is a dark sky community, so it was hard to see the signage, but worth the trouble. Nice enough Mexican restaurant next-door.
Absolutely wonderful experience staying at this campground. Tucked away at the bottom of the canyon, under age old trees, it is very quiet (i believe it prohibits generators) and yet lively. NP has a lot of programs for all ages, the bathrooms are clean and heated, and the people were very respectful of each other. I fell asleep under the sky full of giant stars to the music of the flowing waters of Fremont river. This was probably as close to how the Pioneers experienced this oasis when they came upon it, as one can get.
Great facility. Many options for hiking, off road FWD.
Also darkest point in US for star gazing. No lights visible for 10 miles.
The Goblins absolutely amazing
Affordable, clean and friendly campground.
Great Campsites! Calf Creek is close. The well manicured sites are on the left, somehow east to miss if not watching. I pulled a 25ft tongue pull trailer with a half ton but be careful, go slow! The long road down isn’t easy with heavy loads, the road is narrow. We had our daughter ride a bike ahead of us before we pulled out of ravine to hold off or warn oncoming traffic. We thought it was wise to put it in 4WD high but transmission in low, to grind out of the washboard roads and steep grades, it was a good idea.
This is a wonderful campground next door to some of the prettiest hikes Capitol Reef has to offer. However, our site (B40) did not seem appropriate for tent camping. There is no tent pad, the area surrounding the parking bay is not leveled, and it has no grass or gravel, only red dirt which turns into mud very quickly. Additionally, the site is downhill from the surrounding sites so any amount of rain will turn the site (including the blacktop) into a mud bath. At the same time, it must be a good RV camping spot as the bay is huge with lots of shade during most of the day.
Only 24 sites makes this one of the hardest campgrounds in Utah to book. If you’re lucky enough to get in then you are going to love Goblin Valley. All of the sites come equipped with a shade structure, picnic table & fire ring. Best sites are on the out side of the loop, with the cliffs right behind you. No hook ups, but the is potable water & dump station. Small visitor center/store offers a few essentials. Very hot & windy when we were there in June. Dark skies offer amazing star gazing. Clean bathrooms and free, private showers.
I enjoyed camping here, but there were a lot of people close together. What I loved: picking fruit in the orchard, ranger talks and flush toilets. What I didn't love: setting up a tent in 30 mph winds, blowing dirt, close range neighbors who feel the need to shout all their words from 6 am to 11 pm. If you want that National Park experience, this is a great place, but should you be unlucky enough to land next to an obnoxious group there is no buffer.
This campground is small but there seemed to be plenty of space between sites. It felt quite private and was such a nice sanctuary from the National Park crowds. I reserved site two. It was quite nice with room for one tent. Some sites were much larger, while others were pretty small and probably better for van campers. Get there early enough and you should have some options. Flush toilets and water were a nice benefit.
great views, very close to the CRNP visitors center, fantastic pie, and insanely close deer. would for sure come back
Perfect size park with full hookups for RVs as well as cabins for rent. Very clean, and has bathrooms with showers. Easy access to Capital Reef National Park. Would definitively come again.
Nice spot for a night, was surprised it didn’t get full in a saturday night in early may. cows from a nearby feedlot are fairly vocal nonstop. what looks like a vault toilet turns out to have a flush toilet and sink! cool rocks.
Just like the title says, the bathrooms and showers were very nice and even though the sites were close, there were privacy fences put up. Only problem was the place said it was open and when we tried to go in the office it was closed. Just stayed there for one night and it was around $30, a little pricey but we didn’t have any where else to crash. It was a solid place. Probably better for glamping purposes.
Hook up, good amenities, close to the national park. We had a nice grassy site between cabins. Overall a good RV park.
As promised, clean and great little spot near Capitol reef national Park. Absolutely recommend if you need hook ups about the only downfall I’ve noticed is the shower pressures a little late but that’s first world. This is a great place.
What a nice Park to spend some time in the fascinating area of Capitol Reef NP and Great Escalante NP! Beautiful spots with a perfect view, clean and comfortable restrooms/showers and cute cabins to rent, if you didn’t plan on sleeping in your Van/RV. We were lucky to get Spot 12, a pull through hook-up slot. Thanks for having us, we are happy to come back to the super friendly hosts and this cozy park!
Camp Hosts are super laid back and helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hanksville, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hanksville, UT is Goblin Valley State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hanksville, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Hanksville, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
