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Best Tent Camping near Manti, UT

332 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping options encircle Manti, Utah, with Willow Creek Road offering primitive tent sites at nearly 8,000 feet elevation. Fish Lake National Forest provides multiple tent camping areas, including both established and dispersed sites for backcountry enthusiasts. These locations range from 20-30 minutes from highways, offering accessible tent camping without developed amenities or facilities.

Most primitive tent sites require self-sufficient preparation as they lack basic services. Tent campers should carry ample water, waste disposal bags, and fire safety equipment. Willow Creek Road dispersed sites have level ground suitable for tent setups but no designated pads. The dirt access roads are generally passable for standard vehicles when dry, though some washboarding occurs on forest service roads. Fire rings exist at established sites, while dispersed areas may have user-created fire pits. Most primitive tent areas permit pets and allow alcohol, unlike some of the established campgrounds in the region.

Tent-specific sites throughout the area provide varying degrees of privacy and natural features. Areas around Fish Lake National Forest Campsite offer juniper trees providing partial shade for tent setups, while still allowing for stargazing from camp. Whiskey Creek Road dispersed sites provide elevated positions with better breeze circulation—beneficial for summer tent camping when valley heat intensifies. The higher elevation tent sites near Willow Creek Road offer cooler temperatures during summer months. A camper observed that Willow Creek Road provides "nice little spots to yourself" though weekend traffic increases substantially compared to weekdays. During spring and fall, tent campers should prepare for significant temperature variations between day and night, with proper sleeping bag ratings essential for comfort.

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Best Tent Sites Near Manti, Utah (33)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Manti, UT

7 Photos of 33 Manti Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Manti, UT

332 Reviews of 33 Manti Campgrounds

  • Sam D.
    Oct. 15, 2017

    Fishlake National Forest Oak Creek Rec Site

    Oak Creek campground

    Awesome campground at about 8,600’ elevation, has a couple small creeks running through, water and toilets on site as well. Each site has a metal fire ring (crucial for a campfire during burn bans), picnic table, grill, some sites had an extra fire ring and bench seats. It’s nestled on the mountainside surrounded by aspen forests and farm land. Plenty of wildlife in the area, watch for deer and cattle in the road. We had temps dip down into the teens overnight with a dusting of snow in late September, be sure to pack layers. Overall a perfect spot for tent camping, small campers max, no RV parking or hookups. Not too far from Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Highly recommend staying here and going to Grand Staircase for a hike in the slot canyons.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Goshen Road Dispersed Camping

    Pretty location

    Site is pretty dirty, some have never heard of leave no trace . It is 7 pm and still extremely hot not much shade up here at this location

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Paul Bunyon's Woodpile

    Easy to access, nice primitive sites

    Road was easy enough dry, imagine it would be tough after a storm.  There are a number of well dispersed sites, some with good wind protection, others less so.

  • Mary S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Joes Valley Reservoir

    The reservoir and OHV trails are the attractions ; don't expect quiet

    Joe's Valley Reservoir Campground is in the Manti-La Sal Forest about 22 miles off the main road (Route 10). The water and OHV trails outside the campground are what draw people here. 

    No campsites are close to the water, but you can find a path to the water from the campground and there are nice views from many sites. The marina and boat launch are past the campground entrance. This is not the type of place for a quiet camping experience, but I didn't expect that at a reservoir campground with nearby OHV trails. (Trail maps are on the back of the information board as you enter.)

    Sites 1 through 7 are the only non-reservation sites, but we had no problem on a Thursday afternoon choosing a site for one night among the reservable sites. Based on the reservation placards on the posts, the campground was filling up on Friday.

    Site notes:

    • Our site (23) was wide and deep and had lots of trees. We enjoyed the privacy as we couldn't see sites on either side, and we were far enough back that we couldn't see the site across the road.

    • As you enter, sites 7 up through the 20s have many tall trees. The other side of the campground is more open, and the trees are not as tall.

    • Double sites (D on the post, 17 out of 48 sites) cost $18 instead of $10. A double site has two picnic tables and a pad that is double in width. There are no discounts on double sites with a pass such as the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

    • Tenters, this doesn't look like the best place for tents, but people were managing to find relatively flat spots.

    • Pads on single sites for back in or pullthrough easily accommodate large trailers and fifth wheel campers. That translates to many generators which can be run from 6 am to 10 pm.

    • ATVs and larger OHVs are popular. People were riding the smaller ones on the campground loops...fast.

    This is a no frills Forest Service campground with vault toilets and drinking water. Be prepared to take your trash home because there are no dumpsters.

  • Russell W.
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Maple Hollow

    Beautiful spot

    Camped overnight. We had the whole place to ourselves. There are several fire ring/picnic table spots in the campground. Maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout. Beautiful fresh air. Plenty of shade. Two vault toilets for the whole camp area.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Aug. 31, 2015

    Millsite State Park Campground

    Nice Campground located on reservoir and mouth of Ferron Canyon

    We stayed here twice this summer and really liked it both times. All the tenting campsites are on the Millsite Reservoir but if you go higher than site number 17 you are a bit further from the water. The campground is open, so not totally private, but it was so quiet it didn't really matter. We went for a couple of hikes in the Ferron Canyon which you can walk to, and they have paddle boarding on the reservoir which we didn't have time to do. They don't have typical fire rings on the ground - they are up off the ground. See photo.

  • Ean P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Fish Lake National Forest Campsite

    Great Spot Just Don’t Camp Here Alone in a Tent

    Great spot for camping with a group. Quite a few spots accessible by car. A couple fireplaces here and there too. A fair amount of fallen pine and juniper wood there to use for building fires. Just remember to drown out your fires with water (there’s a sign).

    I do not recommend tent camping here solo though. This wasn’t my first time tent camping solo either. As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent. I managed to scare it off by hitting my car’s “panic button” on the keys. I then packed up immediately and left.

  • Sarah W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Maple Canyon

    A Climbers dream!!

    You are WALKING distance from sport climbs of all grades.

    Verizon service just outside the campground, where the pavement ends we parked at a turnout. We work out of our van and it was amazing to be 15 minutes from multiple crags for post work climbing.

    Quite primitive camping, but there are vault toilets and fire rings.

    If you are interested in geology, this place is worth at least a hike. Some canyons have pictographs too!

    We also have dogs, so the small creek (August was a dry time to be here) was nice for the to cool down in.

    Worth the visit for $10 a night.

  • Michael S.
    Jun. 24, 2024

    Twelve Mile Flat

    Total isolation......sort of.

    This is the place if you like being "off the grid". 18 miles of unpaved (and, for us, muddy) road to get to the campground. It's a 90-minute trek each way from the closest gas/food/retail, so be prepared. It's also a fairly aggressive grade up and down. Brakes and transmissions will need a chance to recover the climb/descent.

    Altitude is also a major factor. This is over 10,000 of elevation. Our lungs definitely felt it. While Salt Lake City was hitting 100 degrees, we were sleeping with three blankets at night as temps were in the low 40s/upper 30s.

    This campground is definitely not level. Outside of the group sites, most of the spots are sloped, and ours might have been the worst. We needed leveling blocks to lift our pop-up about 8 inches on the dedicated "pad" and there was no flat spot to set up any canopy or EZ Up. Our site did have plenty of shade with direct sun from about 8 am to noon.

    We did have a couple of issues that will deter us from coming back. First was the constant flow of ATVs/OHVs/vehicles coming into the campground to use the toilets and unused sites for lunch/dinner. Since there was no camp host on site, this felt a little abusive. There are several open sites along the road to the campground and more as you continue up Skyline Drive. I think everyone using them knows that this is basically a truck stop for them.

    The second issue we had was the moths. Having a pop-up, we understand that critters happen. But we must have had over 100 moths that found shelter under our flaps, in the roofline, and inside our camper. It added 45 minutes to our breakdown and pack up.

    Those issues, coupled with the long and rough road, make this place a one-and-done campground for us.

Guide to Manti

Tent camping options near Manti, Utah typically range from 7,000-8,500 feet in elevation, offering cooler alternatives to Utah's desert heat. Primitive camping areas include national forest dispersed sites and established campgrounds with varying amenities. Access typically requires travel on dirt roads that can become rutted during wet weather conditions, with most campsites located 5-10 miles from paved highways.

What to do

Explore hiking trails: Multiple camping areas near Manti connect to hiking networks, particularly in the Fishlake National Forest region. According to one camper at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite, "there was a spot on the left that would have had awesome sunset views," making it ideal for photography enthusiasts.

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide opportunities to spot deer, elk, and various bird species. A camper at Maple Hollow noted that "the view would distract anyone who was traveling on the dirt road," with open fields nearby where cattle sometimes graze.

Night sky observation: The elevation and distance from urban areas create excellent stargazing conditions. One visitor mentioned that "at night the stars where so beautiful while sitting around the campfire," making astronomical observation a popular activity during clear nights.

What campers like

Privacy and solitude: Most dispersed camping areas offer significant separation between sites. As one camper at Willow Creek Road explained, "This was a great site to stop and pitch my rooftop tent. Not too far up the canyon, and it was very quiet." Weekday visits typically provide greater isolation than weekends.

Natural shade coverage: Many forest sites feature juniper and pine trees that provide partial sun protection. A camper at Fish Lake National Forest described finding "a pull through and trees and was a bit more private," allowing for temperature management during summer months.

Accessibility without crowds: Despite being relatively accessible, many areas remain uncrowded. One visitor mentioned, "We pulled in after sunset to stop before going all the way north to SLC. The road was pretty doable in our truck, but it think it would be easy in a sedan too," indicating reasonable access for standard vehicles.

What you should know

Water availability: No running water exists at most dispersed sites. Pack sufficient water for drinking, cooking and washing. Even established campgrounds may have seasonal water shutoffs, as one camper at Maple Hollow reported: "Water supply is turned off at all water sites - unsure whether this is related to flood damage or something else."

Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality. A visitor described one approach: "5 mile rough gravel road for access. Could not find a site in the camp itself, but many pull off on the way up." Some roads experience seasonal closures during winter months or after heavy precipitation.

Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations can be extreme. At 8,000 feet elevation, summer daytime temperatures average 70-85°F but can drop below 45°F overnight. Spring and fall camping requires cold-weather gear as temperatures regularly drop below freezing during night hours.

Tips for camping with families

Established campgrounds for amenities: Families with young children may prefer sites with basic facilities. One visitor to Maple Hollow mentioned, "the bathrooms where nice as well even though they didn't flush they where nice and didn't have that smell that some of them do. The water was nice and cold which made washing your face exhilarating."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Manti, UT is Willow Creek Road - Dispersed Site with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Manti, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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