Best Tent Camping near Kaysville, UT

Tent camping near Kaysville, Utah provides access to diverse mountain and lakeside settings within the Wasatch Mountains. Cook Campsite offers walk-in tent sites just minutes from town, making it ideal for beginners wanting a taste of backcountry camping without venturing far. Split Rock Bay Backcountry Campsites at Antelope Island State Park provides tent-only areas with picnic tables and fire pits along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest offers more primitive tent camping options for those seeking solitude.

Most tent campgrounds in the Kaysville area require preparation for variable conditions. Cook Campsite features hike-in access requiring a short walk to reach tent sites. At Split Rock Bay, campers must hike approximately a quarter mile from parking areas to reach designated tent camping zones. Basic amenities like vault toilets are available at established sites, but potable water is limited. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in dispersed camping areas. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Wasatch Mountains, with cool nights even during summer months, requiring appropriate gear for tent campers.

Backcountry tent camping in this region offers unique experiences with alpine views and wildlife viewing opportunities. The tent-only sites at Split Rock Bay provide excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. According to reviews, Cook Campsite serves as "a great place to give my 5-year-old a taste of backpacking" despite some areas having excessive litter. Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo provides more isolation but can experience strong winds, with one camper noting it "can get quite blustery" with limited fire opportunities during certain conditions. For tent campers seeking established sites with some amenities, Port Ramp Marina near Eden offers tent camping with excellent winter views when the lake freezes over, making it popular among winter outdoor enthusiasts.

Best Tent Sites Near Kaysville, Utah (22)

    1. Cook Campsite

    1 Review
    Fruit Heights, UT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 544-1788

    "Aside from the excessive litter in a few places, This was a great place to give my 5 year old a taste of backpacking."

    2. Split Rock Bay Backcountry Campsites — Antelope Island State Park

    3 Reviews
    Syracuse, UT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 773-2941

    $20 / night

    "Good hiking trails with great views and lots if animals to see."

    3. Port Ramp Marina

    2 Reviews
    Huntsville, UT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 625-5112

    $650 / night

    "Not only is it more beautiful (IMO) in the winter, but it gets loads of snow for snow sports, and it is right next to Powder Mountain and Snow Basin!"

    "Beautiful lake, nice beaches, but only if you go in the late summer or fall."

    4. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts

    8 Reviews
    Mounthaven, UT
    27 miles
    Website

    "You can backpack in and camp anywhere a 1/2 mile from any road like the other nearby canyons. Good trails to approach from are Church fork and Lambs Canyon Trailhead."

    "Millcreek Canyon is home to some wonderful trails that can be accessed by foot or bike. Although the canyon offers many hiking trails, the main use of the trails seems to be for trail running."

    5. Hobble

    1 Review
    Huntsville, UT
    23 miles

    6. Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo

    8 Reviews
    Eden, UT
    36 miles

    "Two nice boondocking spots just a short drive on a tight dirt road off the highway. The campsite on the right is bigger, the one on the left is very small."

    7. closed

    1 Review
    Wanship, UT
    28 miles
    +1 (801) 513-1583

    $59 - $64 / night

    8. Red Pine Lake

    7 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road."

    "wonderful place to backpack up to during the week. can access 3 different beautiful lakes from this drainage and 2 beautiful peaks!"

    9. Silver Lake Backcountry

    8 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    38 miles

    "An amazing spot to drive to and spend the day or backpack in and spend a night or two.  Be warned you will need a 4wd vehicle if trying to go up the road after a rain storm. "

    "You can’t drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot. Camping anywhere along that road will give you gorgeous views, though!"

    10. Lake Blanche Trail - Backcountry Camp

    1 Review
    Mounthaven, UT
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "great hike to the lake!"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Kaysville, UT

944 Reviews of 22 Kaysville Campgrounds


  • Tommy C.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    South Fork (UT)

    AWESOME spot

    Absolutely awesome spot. Hosts were really friendly. Stayed in my pop up camper for a night and there was tons of space for pop up and our site (A1) was the best in the campground, I think. It was secluded with tons of trees. Not all sites had a lot of tree cover. It wasn’t right off the river but it was still only a 30 second walk to the river. There were fire bans in Utah but because of the type of fire set up on concrete and built in fire places, we were able to have a fire all night which was awesome. Also my buddy is a professional singer and brought his guitar so I’m impartial. We had such a great time!!

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Magpie Campground

    Got the job done

    We were road tripping through with no reservations. The whole South Fork area has many campgrounds. Magpie is the first and one of the smaller of the campgrounds as you drive up the canyon. We drove through all the campgrounds and didn’t find any hosts to talk with to find out if we could occupy a spot. We thought it would be ok but weren’t sure if we could stay in a spot that had a weekend reservation posted. Plus there was simultaneously not very much shade and lots of overgrown vegetation that made tent camping not very feasible. All the sites with actual river frontage were occupied and most folks had campers. This was especially true at South Fork, Lower Meadows, Upper Meadows & Perception Park campgrounds. We finally found a host at Willows campground who explained the process but we didn’t see any sites we liked there. Magpie actually had some shaded sites so we headed back down there. We grabbed a spot that had no obvious river access but good shade right next to the host site. It was pretty overgrown but had enough of a flat spot to set up our tent and a big concrete pad for the picnic table and huge fire ring. Midweek it was only half full. Campground is literally mere feet from the road. Lots of road noise. Bathrooms were good enough. The host when he finally came around was very nice. The adjacent site was vacant (a double site that cost more $$) and we were able to get to the river there. We stayed two nights mid week and it never filled up but all the sites had weekend reservations. There isn’t a lot of hiking but if you like river recreation or we saw lots of paddle boarders headed up to the reservoir. We drove up Monte Cristo which was still closed for the season but probably would have been more our style. Birding was good around the campground probably due to the river. Again, road noise was annoying but expected. Also note that the forest service’s website was out of date as far as all the campgrounds in this area being open.

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

    Lower Narrows Campground

    Beautiful Creek Access w/ Expert Level Climbing Routes a Stones Throw Away

    Let me start off by saying the other review for this CG is about 250 miles off target.  The Narrows CG the other person is talking about is located in Zion National Park near St. George/Springville in southern Utah.  There are no soaring sandstone walls here!  There are however amazing overhanging water sculpted limestone cliffs that contain some of the hardest climbing that the west desert of Utah has to offer!  There are a decent amount of routes on either side of the road with the majority of the routes being near the Upper Narrows CG. 

    This CG is setup in much the same way as the Upper.  There are metal fire rings and picnic tables at each of the campsites with a vault toilet within a couple minutes walk from any of the sites.  There are only 3 sites and there are no water or trash facilities so bring all you need and then pack it all out!  The creek offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer and would probably be decent fishing as well.  I only saw a couple trout while wandering around but I'm sure there are more!

  • Jillian B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2022

    Willow Park Campground

    Campground near Provo

    This campground is ok, would expect a little more since you have to pay $25. In a nice little suburban neighborhood. Spots are close together and not much privacy, our site was along the back fence. Each site had fire pit and picnic table. There are two bathrooms, no showers and no electricity. It looks like there are a couple water fill up spigots but not potable.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2019

    South Fork (UT)

    Big Campground by the Creek!

    This campground much like the others in this canyon is situated along the banks of the South Fork of the Ogden River.  Before you get to Causey Reservoir and Weber Memorial Park, this is the biggest campground you'll encounter.  There are 35 single sites @23$ and 8 double sites @46$.  Some campsites are reservable and some are walk in sites.  A picnic table and metal fire ring is at each site along with vault toilets and drinking water scattered throughout the campground.  The campsites in the teens seemed to be the closest to the creek

    As for activities to do in the area, there are plenty of options!  Right by most of the campsites you can fly fish or set off on a tubing adventure down the Ogden River!  It is required that you have a life jacket before setting off.  If you're looking for bigger accumulations of water you can either head back down canyon to the huge Pineview Reservoir or head up canyon to the steep walled Causey Reservoir!

  • Mary S.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Tanners Flat

    Good location for exploring Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake City

    You really need to know this: No dogs are allowed because this campground is in the Salt Lake City watershed.

    And this: As inviting as the water running through the campground may look, you are not allowed to swim, wade or wash in it.

    One more thing: Gate closes at 10 pm although that didn't stop some partiers at the next site in from us. They partied and left around 11 or so. There was no payment tag on the post. The exit is open but has tire shredders if you enter over them.

    A pleasant surprise at a Forest Service campground: 10 lbs of ice for $2! (There was also the usual bundle of firewood for $6.)

    An unpleasant surprise: Old, dirty bathrooms. I've seen cleaner vault toilets elsewhere than these flush toilets.

    There is no water for now (July 2018) in bathroom sinks or at spigots. The host said something about a pipe issue and water needing to be tested. That covers the amenities other than dumpsters.

    What about the sites? We arrived on a Sunday morning when the host was putting up signs indictating which sites were reserved. We had 3 possible sites among 1 through 19 and grabbed #9, a pull through site with a buffer between the road in the parking/small RV area.

    Sites in the other area (higher numbers) were becoming available, but that area's host said many of the sites were only appropriate for tents.

    Our site #9: There are a few steps down to the picnic table, fire ring and grill plus a separate area to the left for a tent. See photos.

    General site info:

    • Some sites have a concrete pad for the picnic table, etc.

    • Many sites have an area for the tent that is away from the picnic table and concealed from the road.

  • A
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Echo Island RV Resort

    Perfect for an overnight stay

    Nicely managed campground, good website, efficient reservation process. Management very helpful and friendly. The campsites are nicely spaced, good tree cover, green well kept lawn at all sites. Gravel slots, picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Good park design for the back up sites to get a large trailer situated no problem. Seems like a large and very nice pool, although I did not us those facilities. Bath and restrooms clean and plenty of them for the size of the campground.

  • Myrna G.
    May. 19, 2020

    Little Mill

    Beautiful Campground

    Just returned from an overnight stay at Little Mill with amazing American Fork Creek right beside my sites The campground is clean, no water, trash or electric and vault toilets. The camp host were so friendly gave us suggestions on where to hike in the area. My only reason this campground didn’t get 5 stars is due to the horrible road noise. I seriously thought I was at a truck stop off the interstate. Honking and racing cars until 3am just ruined it. If noise doesn’t bother you head on over.

  • Gracie W.
    Jun. 13, 2023

    Twin Coves — Rockport State Park

    Nice Campground

    Campground was clean and had vault toilets. Water spicket was available but no showers (I believe there were only showers at the entrance of the park). Be aware that there are tons of bugs here, an overwhelming amount. Pack your bug spray if you’re tent camping!! Amazing views of the lake, beautiful birds, and the weather was phenomenal. Happy trails!


Guide to Kaysville

Tent camping near Kaysville, Utah provides access to diverse topography ranging from 4,300 to over 9,500 feet in elevation within a 30-mile radius. The region experiences wide temperature fluctuations, with average summer nighttime temperatures dropping to 45-50°F even when daytime temperatures reach 85-90°F. Most backcountry camping sites require water filtration systems, as natural water sources need treatment before consumption.

What to do

Hiking with views: At Red Pine Lake, campers access stunning alpine terrain via a moderately difficult 3-4 mile trail. "I also hiked up to the upper red pine lake, which is a very steep climb. The trail is unmarked and nearly impossible to follow (at least for a first-timer), so it requires some creativity and bushwacking/rock hopping to get up there," notes Justin C.

Fishing opportunities: Many lakes in the region offer fishing for trout species. Both upper and lower Red Pine Lakes contain large trout populations, though swimming is prohibited as these lakes serve as drinking water reservoirs.

Wildlife viewing: Millcreek Canyon provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities during overnight stays. According to Alan B., "Everytime we come here we also see moose and deer. Best time is definitely fall."

Winter recreation: For cold-weather camping enthusiasts, winter access provides unique experiences. The Port Ramp Marina area offers "a fantastic spot to go in the winter... The lake will freeze over enough to walk on or fish on. There were plenty of people ice fishing when we went," reports Brendan A.

What campers like

Alpine views: Many campsites feature mountain panoramas. At Silver Lake Backcountry, "To the south you have a fantastic view of the Timpanogos Massif looming over the lake. To the west you'll see Box Elder Peak and to the north is Dry Canyon and the Alpine Ridge," explains Alan B.

Solitude on weekdays: Most camping areas experience lower usage midweek. One camper at Red Pine Lake observed that "during the week is the best time to camp as it's likely you'll be the only overnight camper."

Accessible adventure: Short hiking distances to backcountry sites make overnight trips manageable for many experience levels. Chloe B. notes that Red Pine Lake worked well for her first backpacking trip in a decade, stating it was "Peaceful camping even on a Saturday night!"

Fall colors: Autumn camping provides spectacular foliage displays. According to Ethan H., "the fall colors during the day and the stars during the night were spectacular!" at Silver Lake.

What you should know

Fire restrictions: Many camping areas prohibit fires year-round or seasonally. Red Pine Lake prohibits fires entirely due to watershed regulations. According to Derek E., "No fires or pets are allowed given that Little Cottonwood Canyon is considered Watershed. So plan on cooking with a backpacking stove/cooker."

Limited access roads: Some campsites require specific vehicles. For Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo, Locoty C. notes "the road up ain't bad at all," but Brian C. advises that the area is "Not for large RVs. Our 17 ft trailer with 4x4 was tricky to get into the spot because the loop was so small."

Weather variations: Alpine areas experience rapid weather changes and significant wind. One camper at Monte Cristo noted "it can get quite blustery" at higher elevations.

Seasonal limitations: Several campgrounds have restricted seasons. Sharon H. warns about Millcreek Canyon: "Warning - road is closed 3.5 miles into the park before where camping spots were indicated. No notice on when it would reopen."

Minimum distances: Regulations often require specific distances from features. At Millcreek Canyon, campers must be "1/2 mile off the road and at least 200 ft from developed areas and water" according to Dan G.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Cook Campsite provides walk-in tent sites with minimal hiking required, making it accessible for children. Adam Z. shares, "This was a great place to give my 5 year old a taste of backpacking."

Water activities: Several camping areas offer kid-friendly water access. Kelli R. from Millcreek Canyon recommends: "We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time."

Wildlife education: Family campers often encounter wildlife, creating learning opportunities. Ryan noted that Split Rock Bay has "Good hiking trails with great views and lots of animals to see."

Preparation for temperature swings: Families should pack appropriate clothing layers, as nighttime temperatures drop significantly, often 30-40°F below daytime highs.

Tips from RVers

4WD requirements: Several camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. Michelle B. explains that Silver Lake area is "only accessible by 4 wheel drive. Must cross a creek with 12"-18" of water at least once and up to 4 times depending on which camp site you choose."

Site size limitations: Most dispersed camping spots accommodate smaller rigs only. At Hobble, site sizes are limited, but Becky J. still found it to be a "Great campsite I will definitely come back."

Early arrival recommended: Popular dispersed camping areas fill quickly, especially on weekends. Bryce R. advises: "If you leave on Friday plan to get there by 3 at the latest. Spots fill quick."

Seasonal road closures: Mountain roads often close seasonally, affecting RV access. Many areas around Monte Cristo and Millcreek Canyon have winter closures or reduced access during spring runoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kaysville, UT is Cook Campsite with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Kaysville, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Kaysville, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.