Best Tent Camping near Ibapah, UT

Tent camping is available in the Ibapah, Utah area, with options including the Pony Express Trail and Boyd Station area. This remote region offers dispersed camping opportunities along historic routes and near geological features. The Pony Express Trail provides primitive tent sites with no established facilities, while Kalamazoo Campground near Ely, Nevada is another option within driving distance for tent campers seeking more established grounds.

Sites are typically undeveloped with no drinking water, electric hookups, or sanitary facilities. Most areas feature dirt surfaces with minimal improvements and no designated tent pads. Campers should bring all necessary supplies, including water, food, and waste disposal equipment. The Pony Express Trail allows fires and permits alcohol consumption, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. High-clearance vehicles provide access to more remote tent camping locations, though some areas are accessible with standard vehicles via well-maintained dirt roads.

"Very well maintained roads out here, nobody around for miles, incredible history," noted one camper about the Pony Express Trail area. Tent campers frequently use this zone as a base for exploring abandoned mines, old cabins, and geological features. The area offers exceptional solitude with few other campers even during peak seasons. Nearby attractions include the Dugway Geode beds north of Boyd Station where campers can dig for large geodes, and Topaz Mountain to the south where topaz, aquamarine, and obsidian can be found. The western portion of the Pony Express Trail provides access to the Fish Springs bird preserve, a destination for wildlife observation. Walk-in tent locations can be found along many dirt roads throughout the region, offering primitive tent camping experiences with minimal impact.

Best Tent Sites Near Ibapah, Utah (2)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Ibapah, UT

22 Reviews of 2 Ibapah Campgrounds


  • Amanda M.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Wendover KOA

    Wendover KOA - Bonneville Salt Flats

    We stayed at the Bonneville KOA on a road trip from Southern California out to Colorado. Our original goal had been to drive from the SF Bay Area to SLC, UT (US Highway 80 is a very easy, straight shot drive from CA to UT, even for a 650 mile drive), but got a really late start and changed our target to the NV/UT boarder.

    The Wendover KOA is definitely a KOA designed for motorhomes and trailers - it’s BARREN - so not a place I would usually want to tent camp. All of the spaces are dirt lots, including the tent sites - no grass, no bushes, no (well, very few) trees, no privacy, no nothing. Again, this is not the environment I would normally want to camp in, but it worked just fine for a short stop between long stretches of driving when covering miles on a road trip.er

    This KOA campground would be great for RV users who want to visit the Casinos on the Nevada side of the NV/UT boarder, and for those spending time at the Bonneville Salt Flats for races or recreational fun.

    The facilities were clean - clean bathrooms, clean showers. There were fire pits and picnic benches in the camp sites, and WiFi was available on the campus.

    KOAs can be really great and convenient (if not full), considering we did not have a reservation ahead of time, and arrived fairly late, but were able to register through an iron ranger near the front office. If you need to find a place to camp in this area, and do NOT have a 4WD vehicle, I️ would suggest camping at the Wendover KOA instead of the nearby dispersed BLM sites located ON the salt flats. When researching where to stop for the night, we considered staying at the BLM campsites as they were FREE and camping out on the salt flats seemed like a cool idea. We decided against it because we didn’t know how my 2WD Honda CRV would fair on the salt, and because KOAs always have nice clean facilities to use.

    We got into a conversation with our neighbors about the salt flats (we had never seen them before). They seemed to think we made the correct choice by camping at the KOA rather than the on salt flats… they regularly take off-roading vehicles out to the salt flats, and have seen a dozen or so 2WD vehicles get stuck out on the flats. Apparently the long, vast salt flats are deceptive, and not always as flat as they appear. Also, they said that it can be very difficult to see pooled water while driving out on the salt, so a lot of people get stuck in deep puddles after rain.

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $26/night

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Water: Yes

    Showers: Yes (no coins needed)

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: NO

    Cell Service: Yes + WiFi

    Trash: Yes

    Animal Bins/Food Lockers: NO

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2019

    Wendover KOA

    Typical KOA but next to Other Worldly Salt Flats and Casinos!

    Is pretty typical for a KOA except for the location!  This KOA has all the usual amenities: playground, showers, flush toilets, RV hookups, a pool, and wifi.  Some convenievces can also be bought at the main registration cabin.  In addition to the usual RV sites there are also camping cabins and "tent" sites (which I do not recommend).  There are a couple of unique things about this KOA in that it has shuttles to the nearby casinos and is also a 5 minutes drive from the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats where numerous world speed records have been set.

  • Darrin L.
    Aug. 23, 2016

    Wendover KOA

    Nice KOA, close to casinos

    This is a nice KOA in a convenient location. I stayed there while attending the races at Bonneville Salt Flats. Unfortunately they got rained out but it was still a nice trip. The campground is tucked away behind all of the big Casinos, probably walking distance. The sites are large and spaced out so it felt pretty private. There is a pool, and showers so it's not exactly roughing it. I'd say it's a nice compromise if you don't feel like spending money on a hotel in that area.

  • Diane The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2022

    Wendover KOA

    Potable Water

    Only place in town U could find fresh potable water while in BLM land. Didn't dump, though available. Real nice lady had me pull into an open pull through spot. $5 filled me up. Easy in, easy out. Pay at office first.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2018

    Pony Express Trail includes: Boyd Station

    So many wonderful reasons to drive this route!

    This road which, is the old Pony Express Trail, is surrounded by many varied activities to keep you entertained for weeks. To the north of the road past Boyd Station is the Dugway Geode beds where large soft ball sized geodes can be dug up! South of here at Topaz Mountain you can find, you guessed it, topaz! There is also aquamarine and obsidian near the Topaz Mountain area.

    At the western end of the road is the Fish Springs bird preserve where numerous migratory birds take refuge from the desert heat. Dispersed camping can be found at both mineral collecting spots and on the many dirt roads. A 4wd high clearance vehicle isnt necessary but it opens up a lot more options!

  • Lauren N.
    Jul. 29, 2017

    Wendover KOA

    Private and clean

    We stayed for one night. The campground is close to the casinos, but still feels private and far away from the bustle of downtown. The facilities are nice and very clean. It is a nice option if you want to be close to the action, but not feel like you are in a casino.

  • L
    Oct. 24, 2021

    Wendover KOA

    Simple but nice!

    We arrived late at night and our host (Lucy) left us perfect info to find our site quickly in the dark. It was quite a surprise to wake up and see a pretty empty but lovely campground! Lucy was so kind to us and I wish we could have stayed longer! The Casinos are within walking distance but we did not feel unsafe. The campground is very large (but was empty in October) and we could tell it was very well taken care of! Cute store with a lot of nice souvenirs!

  • Wesley W.
    Jun. 16, 2021

    Wendover KOA

    RV stay was pleasant

    Nice staff on the desk, showers were clean, pool was open and cool. Site was clean and quiet. Easy access to Wendover

  • Jeff L.
    Oct. 15, 2020

    Wendover KOA

    Good but with no wifi

    Good utilities, nice facilities. Excellent access to salt flats and casinos. The park is gravel but there are a few grass patches. The dog park is gravel. Basketball and other recreation areas are good. Wifi was a nogo for everyone we met.


Guide to Ibapah

Tent camping near Ibapah, Utah, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes and rich history of the region. With a variety of well-reviewed spots, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect place to pitch their tents and explore.

Affordable options for tent camping

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Tent campers should check out the unique features

  • While camping at Kalamazoo, you’ll find essential amenities like toilets, making it a convenient choice for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ibapah, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ibapah, UT is Pony Express Trail includes: Boyd Station with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.