Best Campgrounds near Junction, UT

The small town of Junction, Utah serves as a gateway to diverse camping experiences in central Utah's high plateau country. Piute State Park Campground, located within Junction's boundaries, provides year-round camping with basic amenities including tent and RV sites with picnic tables and vault toilets. Within a 30-mile radius, campers find additional options at Otter Creek State Park near Antimony, which offers full hookups, showers, and boat access to the reservoir. Junction RV Park in town caters primarily to recreational vehicles with electric, water, and sewer connections. The surrounding Fishlake National Forest contains several established campgrounds including Anderson Meadow and Little Reservoir, typically open from late spring through early fall depending on snow conditions and elevation.

Camping in this region requires preparation for variable mountain weather conditions. Temperatures at higher elevations can drop significantly at night, even during summer months when daytime highs reach the 80s. As one camper at Otter Creek noted, "The water was warm and smooth as glass for kayaking at sunrise, but we sank mid-calf in mud at the water's edge." Many forest service roads become impassable during spring runoff or after heavy rainfall. Cell service is limited throughout the area, particularly at dispersed sites and forest campgrounds. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds during summer weekends and holidays, while dispersed camping on public lands typically follows a 14-day stay limit.

Fishing opportunities represent a major draw for campers in the Junction area. Otter Creek Reservoir and nearby Piute Reservoir attract anglers seeking trout, bass and perch. Wildlife viewing is common, with campers reporting deer, waterfowl, and occasional cattle sharing the landscape. The night sky viewing conditions are exceptional due to minimal light pollution, making stargazing a popular activity. ATV enthusiasts appreciate the area's proximity to the Paiute Trail system, with several campgrounds offering direct trail access. Winter camping is limited primarily to Piute State Park and private RV parks, as forest roads and campgrounds typically close after the first significant snowfall.

Best Camping Sites Near Junction, Utah (259)

    1. Kents Lake Campground

    10 Reviews
    Beaver, UT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 438-2436

    $25 - $75 / night

    "This is a great campground with great views overlooking the lake. "

    "Nothing else around for a while, so pack plenty of supplies. Decent amount of privacy, but my neighbors were still pretty close I could hear them most of the time. Host was very friendly."

    2. Otter Creek State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Kingston, UT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 624-3268

    $30 - $250 / night

    "Beautiful location with lots to do, fishing obviously, tons off riding on close by trails."

    "There’s no toilets close by, it is primitive camping. There’s RV space but no hookups. Our dogs loved the area! The water is nice and clean."

    3. Little Cottonwood Campground

    15 Reviews
    Beaver, UT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 438-2436

    $25 / night

    "A small, (14 sites), well maintained campsite, just East of Beaver, Utah, that offers easy access to a number of small lakes and reservoirs. The camp host on this trip was very friendly and helpful."

    "Checked in at 8:30pm on a Monday during a cross country drive.  Host was gracious and suggested spot 12.  There  was plenty of availability even late eve (weekday).  All were good, quiet spots.  "

    4. Anderson Meadow Campground (fishlake Nf, Ut)

    6 Reviews
    Junction, UT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 438-2436

    $24 / night

    "Bit of a drive to get there, high clearance vehicle is ideal. Very peaceful and the lake is beautiful. The bathrooms were clean but smelling real rancid, so try for a site that’s not next to it."

    "Definitely recommend the drive up to camp. Short distance from Kent Lakes."

    5. Circleville RV Park & Kountry Store

    2 Reviews
    Junction, UT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 577-2437

    "Relatively quiet place, and clean, even with an event happening nearby, and the campground being packed."

    6. Piute State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Fishlake National Forest, UT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 624-3268

    $8 / night

    "Pick your camping location among the cottonwood trees or out in the open for full solar. No services other than pit toilets (which are still locked in early May). Quiet. Good birding."

    "Beautiful view of the lake and mountains."

    7. LeBaron Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    Junction, UT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 438-2436

    $15 / night

    "However they have so many different dispersed camping all around so not to fret you will find a place. The bathroom is spotless!!! It’s a vault toilet, nothing special but it’s clean."

    8. Junction RV Park

    1 Review
    Junction, UT
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 577-2744

    $25 / night

    9. Otter Creek, Tamerisk Point Rec Site

    3 Reviews
    Kingston, UT
    12 miles
    +1 (435) 896-1500

    "Beautiful lake in Piute County near Antimony Utah. Large, level spot less than 6 yards from the water. A few large trees provide nice shade. There was even a picnic table."

    "The coordinates are not correct, it s on the side of the lake, here are the one we used : 38.224007, -111.979199"

    10. Little Reservoir Campround — Fishlake National Forest

    5 Reviews
    Beaver, UT
    15 miles

    $24 / night

    "This campground is located right off a little lake, with spacious campgrounds. This is a first come first serve campsite, with no sink or showers."

    "However, it was beautiful and had running water as well as an outside house and a metal campfire pit and a picnic table"

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Recent Reviews near Junction, UT

1352 Reviews of 259 Junction Campgrounds


  • Polly A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Road to the Sun Ranch

    Astrid the Griff’s Oasis

    I’m Astrid, a Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon. I need lots of room to run and roam and chase sticks. I lived it here at the ranch racing around the pasture in the morning and evening golden light. And seeing the Bluebirds greet me every morning. My hoomans lived the full hookups a little piece of paradise with no neighbors. Great location to run me in National Forest and to hike Capital Reef while I went to a friendly doggie daycare in Torrey. 5 Star for Griff’s and their humans!!!🤩

  • johny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Cook’s Messa Trailhead Dispersed Camping Site 2

    Easy pile in spot

    Right off highway but a very short rocky road, be careful if in a car but should be okay. Good cellphone signal and close to the park and right outside town so from a location perspective ita an A+ for proximity. But this is a pile in spot. The main area here is not secluded its a large oval with some little branch offs, nothing is very defined. At night people juat pile in where they can fit and go to sleep. If you venture around and have 4x4 you might be able to find some better spots but dont try it in the dark. Its VERY dark out here. Overall no issues even with others very close by maybe I was lucky but on my night everyone just wanted a safe place to sleep and we all were respectful

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Thousand Lakes RV Park

    Clean with awesome scenery

    Nice campsite with great views of spectacular scenery. Clean toilets and showers. Friendly staff. Great location with easy access to Capitol Reef NP

  • Sarah J.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

    Very cool!

    Good for RVs or campers/travel trailers. I wouldn’t suggest tent camping as it gets pretty windy. We drove in a 30ft camper with a 2003 ford f250 and had no issues finding a spot. Google says Gap Rd is unpaved but that’s not the case for the main road in.

    Very nice views with cool trails to hike. Petroglyphs are easy to get to as they have them displayed as you come in. Very quiet, hardly any traffic noise other than any neighboring campers.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Tom's Best Spring Road Dixie National Forest

    Peaceful

    Great location around 10 miles to Bryce. Cell reception is great Verizon and Att. Nice bike path through red canyon and up to Bryce. Lots of dirt trails in the Dixie Forest. Pronghorn deer come every day morning and afternoon.

  • Ryan F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Mammoth Dispersed

    Too Small for the Amount of People that Go

    Mammoth Dispersed Campground offers a beautiful setting among tall pines, with plenty of shade, cool temperatures, and easy access to a peaceful stream (both day use area and overnight campsites with access). 

    The sites themselves are well maintained, and it’s clear that the USFS takes good care of the area despite how heavily it gets used. That said, the campground feels a little small for the amount of people who frequent it, especially on busy weekends. During our Labor Day trip, the area was crowded with ATV, UTV, and general vehicle traffic—many of them flying by campsites at high speeds with loud music, which made it hard to relax. 

    It’s also disappointing to see how many visitors don’t clean up after themselves. Trash left behind really takes away from the natural beauty of the forest. 

    On a positive note, the roads are in good condition. Despite some reviews suggesting that the northern route in from Panguitch is “sketchy,” we found in September 2025 that the road was well graded and easily driven. 

    All in all, this is a wonderful area that has so much potential for a perfect camping experience. Without the holiday crowds and careless visitors, I would not hesitate to rate Mammoth a solid 5 stars. As it stands, the beauty of the place and the effort put in by USFS are worth highlighting, but the heavy traffic and noise over Labor Day force me to give it 4 stars.

  • L
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Old Highway 89 Dispersed Riverside

    Multiple spots

    There’s multiple great spots, we were a bit further down the road. Love that you have access to the river. We had a nice calm night!

  • Jennifer N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Bryce Canyon National Park

    Love this spot!

    Sunset CG is a great spot! (a lot better than North CG - IMO) - I’ve camped here a few times now - clean, spacious sites create privacy - There’s almost always sites available - Great location! Don’t forget to head to Sunset point for Sunset!

  • Terry M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Singletree

    Wonderful place. Would go again.

    Just west of capitol reef. Very nice campground. Well definitely be going back to this area again.


Guide to Junction

Dispersed camping opportunities abound within Fishlake National Forest surrounding Junction, Utah, a region characterized by high plateau country between 6,000-9,000 feet elevation. The area's temperature can fluctuate dramatically, with summer days reaching 80°F while nights drop into the 40s even in July and August. Forest service roads accessing remote sites typically open by late May but conditions vary based on spring snowmelt.

What to do

Fishing at multiple reservoirs: Little Reservoir Campground offers excellent shoreline fishing, though experienced anglers recommend bringing float tubes for better access. As one visitor noted, "The reservoir is amazing! You can fish offshore, but it's best with a float tube" at Little Reservoir Campground.

Paddle sports on calm waters: Early mornings provide ideal conditions for kayaking at Otter Creek, Tamerisk Point Rec Site. A camper reported, "Went kayaking at sunrise, the water was warm and smooth as glass! Be careful finding the right area to put in your kayak." The lake hosts diverse wildlife including "ducks, gulls, geese, pelicans and more."

Wildlife viewing: The Junction area supports abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Visitors regularly report seeing "deer, waterfowl, and occasional cattle sharing the landscape." At Otter Creek, one camper "watched a deer stop by for a drink and a cow cross my camping spot."

What campers like

Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. At Little Cottonwood Campground, campers report "the stars are spectacular and you can see the Milky Way on a clear night." Sites are situated to maximize this experience.

Site privacy: Many campsites offer natural barriers between neighbors. A Little Cottonwood visitor noted, "I enjoyed all the natural greenery and shrubbery that grew in between the sites. I could not see our neighbors and it felt secluded."

Creek access: Several campgrounds feature water features that enhance the camping experience. One Little Cottonwood camper mentioned their site was "across from wheelchair path to creek (Beaver River). There was a nice bench where path met creek, great for sitting and enjoying morning coffee/fishing/relaxing."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to many of the best places to camp near Junction requires preparation for rough terrain. A camper at Kents Lake Campground advised, "I will warn you that the dirt road up to the campground is pretty steep and long so make sure you put it in a low gear and go slower to avoid overheating if you are pulling a heavy load."

Limited services: Most forest service campgrounds lack amenities like trash collection. A visitor to Little Reservoir noted it's a "pack in pack out site. Dumpster are located a couple miles down the road." Cell phone coverage is extremely limited, with one camper at Otter Creek reporting "pretty much no cell phone coverage."

Wildlife precautions: Small animals can be persistent around campsites. A Little Reservoir camper warned, "This site is full of squirrels, so hide food because they are fearless to jump right into your stuff" while another mentioned "chipmunks and little Squirellies are ready to eat your food and climb all over your table."

Tips for camping with families

Meadow exploration: Anderson Meadow Campground provides opportunities for children to explore natural areas. According to a regular visitor, "If you want to explore there is some great hiking to some hidden treasures among the trees."

Wildlife encounters: Families appreciate the chance to observe animals in their natural habitat. Anderson Meadow visitors report, "One time we even had a deer stroll through the campground not 20' from our site." The campground is in bear country, and fortunate campers might glimpse "a mother and her cubs strolling through the meadow."

Fishing for all abilities: Multiple campgrounds feature accessible fishing opportunities suitable for children. A Kents Lake visitor found it offers "Great fishing for all angler skills" while another noted the lake is "a nice, calm lake" making it appropriate for beginners.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Circleville RV Park & Kountry Store, RV sites are arranged for easy access. A visitor described it as "Good stop on our journey. Power worked well. Very quite place. Easy to get in and out. Back in space."

Camp hosts: Many campers mention the importance of friendly camp hosts. A Circleville RV camper noted, "The camp host was super nice, and personable. Relatively quiet place, and clean, even with an event happening nearby, and the campground being packed."

Electric reliability: During summer heat or winter cold, reliable hookups become essential. Most private RV parks in the area provide consistent service, with one camper reporting the power "worked well" even during peak usage times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Junction, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, Junction, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 259 campgrounds and RV parks near Junction, UT and 106 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Junction, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Junction, UT is Kents Lake Campground with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Junction, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 106 free dispersed camping spots near Junction, UT.

What parks are near Junction, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Junction, UT that allow camping, notably Fishlake National Forest and Dixie National Forest.