Best Campgrounds near Manti, UT
Campgrounds around Manti, Utah include options ranging from developed state parks to free dispersed camping in nearby national forest land. Temple Hill Resort RV & Campground provides tent and RV sites within city limits, while Palisade State Park Campground, located about 10 miles south near Sterling, offers cabins and glamping facilities alongside traditional camping. Willow Creek Road and Jimmy's Fork provide free dispersed camping opportunities on public lands north of Manti. The campground options extend to nearby areas like Ephraim and include primitive sites in Manti-LaSal National Forest.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with many facilities closing between late October and May due to weather conditions at higher elevations. Manti Community Campground operates from May 30 to October 30, while Palisade State Park remains accessible year-round with full amenities. Forest roads to dispersed sites like Willow Creek can become impassable during winter months and after heavy rainfall. Visitors attempting to reach Lake Hill Campground or other forest sites should be prepared for bumpy access roads and potential wildlife encounters including skunks and chipmunks. As one camper noted about Manti-LaSal National Forest, "It was a really nice camp ground with a lot of off road trails. Cant swim in the lake because its really small but it has a lot of fish. A lot of cows and horses roaming freely."
The mixed-use campgrounds in the area cater to various camping preferences with differing amenity levels. According to feedback on The Dyrt, Palisade State Park receives high ratings for its lake access, recreational facilities and maintained bathrooms. "Great rec area including a playground. Bathrooms well maintained and pedal boat and other boat rentals. Plenty of fish to catch off the shore or in a boat," reports one visitor. Dispersed camping sites provide more solitude but lack amenities. Several campers highlight the privacy and quiet atmosphere of dispersed locations in the national forest. Willow Creek Road dispersed site was described as "a great site to stop and pitch my rooftop tent. Not too far up the canyon, and it was very quiet." Temple Hill Resort offers a middle ground with hook-ups but receives lower ratings due to dated facilities and proximity to neighbors, with sites described as crowded and close together.
