Best Tent Camping near Milford, UT

Tent camping near Milford, Utah provides access to several primitive tent sites nestled in the high-elevation landscapes of southwestern Utah. The area features established tent campgrounds like Rock Corral and Tushar Lakeside Campground, with the latter situated in the stunning Tushar Mountains approximately 40 miles east of Milford. Birch Creek Campground offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites, while trailhead camping options like Betenson Flat and South Fork provide backcountry tent camping access points for more adventurous campers seeking solitude.

Most tent campgrounds in the Milford region operate seasonally, with Tushar Lakeside open from May 28 to September 15 and City Creek Campground available from mid-May through mid-September. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with Tushar Lakeside providing picnic tables, toilets, and trash service but no hookups or showers. Birch Creek Campground features toilets and picnic tables but prohibits alcohol. According to reviews, the 4.5-mile access road to Birch Creek is "very good though dusty," but campers should note that "flat tent spots are uncommon." Wildlife awareness is essential, as one camper reported possible mountain lion activity in the area.

The Tushar Mountains provide a distinctive backdrop for tent camping experiences, with peaks reaching nearly 12,000 feet. Campers note that "the beauty of the Tushar mountains are unsurpassed by any other range in Utah" and that "temperatures are perfect for summer camping." This high elevation creates ideal conditions for summer tent camping when lower elevations become uncomfortably hot. Most primitive tent sites in the region lack amenities like running water, requiring campers to pack in their own supplies. Fire regulations vary by location, with fires permitted at Tushar Lakeside, Timid Springs, and City Creek campgrounds, but prohibited at South Fork and South Creek trailheads. The combination of accessible front-country tent sites and more remote backcountry options makes the Milford area suitable for various tent camping preferences and experience levels.

Best Tent Sites Near Milford, Utah (11)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Milford, UT

156 Reviews of 11 Milford Campgrounds


  • Bubble G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2024

    Castle Rock Campground — Fremont Indian State Park

    Great location, quiet, semi private

    The site we camped had a private walk to the little creek, fire ring and picnic table. Well built bathrooms and a garbage dump available for use. $5 for all you can carry in your arms in fire wood… felt private without anyone parked on either side but later people came and the noise went up a little, but overall cute camp. Got one of the first come first serve sites, payment in cash only $20 for the night (established site, no water, no electric, no sewer) Pets allowed-leashed.

  • I
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Little Cottonwood Campground

    Great Overnight stop car camping

    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.  Spot 12 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.  Spots had faucet, picnic table and level tent pad filled with pea gravel-bring good footprint/tarp.  It was quiet, and the creek noise was pleasant.  The road was very close, and you could hear the traffic, but it wasn't a bother (about 2-3cars/hour).  One very nice thing about this campground is the gravel covering all the picnic/firepit and frequented areas.  This completely eliminated the dust that typically gets on everything while camping.  There was shade from trees, but this was is a pretty tight canyon, so there are very few hours of direct sunlight anyway.  Host delivered wood.  Long trails leave right from campground.  No showers, clean vault toilets.

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2019

    Sam Stowe Campground — Fremont Indian State Park

    Ranger Review: Travelers Autobarn Campervan at Fremont Indian State Park

    We spent a fun day exploring Cedar Breaks National Monument. However, we lost track of time, the sun was setting and we had not chosen a place to camp. 

    Campground Review of Fremont Indian State Park:

    We searched on TheDyrt app for nearby campgrounds and found Fremont Indian State Park. We drove down the mountain and around another mountain and found the campground. It was totally dark by the time that we arrived and so we quickly parked and set up our campervan to sleep. 

    A gentleman emerged from the shadows and approached our site. It seemed a little sketchy at first. However, he ended up being friendly and inquired if we’d like to join him and his friends around their campfire. After we prepared our campervan and cleaned up a bit, we dropped by the campfire. It turns out the party included some park staff and researchers. One lady was researching dark skies and one gentleman was researching astral alignment with ancient rock art. They shared about their research and showed us some of their amazing photos of the night sky. A warm way to end the day.

    The next morning, we woke up to snow on the ground and the nearby mountaintops. Having learned from our new friends that the park contained some pretty significant rock art, we decided that we should check it out. We hiked on a couple of the trails and discovered quite a few of the rock art pieces created by the Fremont Indians. There's an easy trail that is located adjacent to the park office. There are other trails that run along the river. It is amazing that so much of the rock art was in such good condition.

    The campsites provide the basics like a parking space, picnic table, electrical & water hookup and firepit/grill. The restrooms were conveniently located close to our campsite and were clean. There are showers behind the restrooms. During the winter the showers may be closed. The campground is somewhat small, but is surrounded by beautiful mountains and bluffs. The staff were super friendly and helpful.

    For more info: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/fremont-indian/

    Product Review of Travelers Autobarn Campervans:

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a Travelers Autobarn Kuga Campervan. 

    For more info: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com

    The best thing about traveling in a campervan is the ease, flexibility, and ability to make detours if needed. 

    We picked up our Kuga Campervan in Las Vegas. The Travelers Autobarn office is just west of the the main strip and easy to find. We arrived early in the day to begin the registration process and campervan orientation. The process was quick and easy. The Kuga Campervan is a hightop van conversion with couches, a table, two beds, propane stove, sink, water, kitchen, interior lights, fan, window shades and solar power. We also had the free living package which included kitchen pots, pans, utensils, cups and accessories. It also included sleeping bags, sheets, pillows and towels. The package pretty much made it super easy to get in the van and go. 

    The Travelers Autobarn staff member was super friendly and provided an orientation of the basic operation of the campervan. The campervan drives like a normal van, but learning about the camper functions was helpful. 

    We had charted a route around Utah and Arizona visiting a number of towns, parks, roadside attractions and hot springs. The day that we started a weather system passed through which made the temperatures drop in the northern part of our route. We simply flipped our route to avoid the cold weather and traveled the southern route first. By the time that we circled north the weather had warmed up and it was perfect weather for exploring. Traveling in a campervan made it super easy to be flexible with our route and schedule. 

    On our seven day trip we visited Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Horseshoe Bend National Monument. Monument Valley National Park, Arches National Park, Mystic Hotsprings, Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Meadow Hotsprings, Valley of Fire State Park and Fremont Indian State Park. 

    If we were not traveling in a campervan it is unlikely that we would have had the flexibility to camp anytime and anywhere. We would have never found and stayed at Fremont Indian State Park. It ended up being a gem of a park and a great overall experience. This campervan camping adventure opened up my mind to new opportunities and travels. So much fun!

    For more info: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com

  • G
    Jul. 7, 2020

    Kents Lake Campground

    Lake front

    Beautiful location with endless summer mountain activities. Water taps and vault toilets, no hook ups. Mixed pull through, back in, and tent sites. Perfect for under 30' campers. The area has several lakes, ATV trails, hiking trails, and scenic drives. Lakes have trout, some allow small motorized boats.

  • Stoney K.
    Sep. 19, 2022

    Castle Rock Campground — Fremont Indian State Park

    Cozy and quiet.

    Tent camping at site 23. $20 for a tent site ($40 for a double site). Cool area to explore. Fire pit and a faucet with a bucket. Bathrooms close by. $5 for a bundle of wood. Nice little spot!

  • Erin K.
    Oct. 27, 2021

    Minersville Lake Park

    Lake Minersville Park

    We are late fall

    Campers and found staff to be friendly. We were one of three campers.  The public restrooms were exceptionally clean. We had a pull through site with electricity for $25. Lots of on leash dog walking available. We felt safe at this public campground for late night dog walking. We travel in a 22 foot TT. Dump station available. Water was still on in the park.

  • Eric P.
    Nov. 15, 2020

    Rocky Peak Campground

    I like the area

    The pre made camping areas are nice. Fire pit, picnic tables and the restrooms are close by...if that's what you call camping. Otherwise, there is a lot of areas to find a spot and pitch a tent. Do be aware of the off road trails and mountain bike trails.

  • Brittney  C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2020

    LeBaron Reservoir Campground

    Breath taking views

    Wow! Talk about about incredible... first of all there is not a camp host so make sure to reserve ahead of time or cross your fingers and hope it’s not a busy weekend. 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. The US forestry service comes through quite frequently and maintains the camp site and the bathrooms. You have a fire ring with attached grill, table and an additional table where we put our Coleman stove. Nice flat areas for tents and gorgeous trees surrounding. The lake is amazing and we caught trout all weekend. Power bait is the secret!!!! Take a walk and explore the gorgeous meadows and behind the damn a fast running stream where you most likely will bump into some cows and there babies. Fishlake National Forest is stunning and lebaron campgrounds is gorgeous. It’s a small camp ground about 13 sites. And you will always see cows which is neat for the kiddos. It’s a must to come here!!!

  • r
    Sep. 3, 2021

    Little Cottonwood Campground

    Stream, Stars, Lovely Hosts

    Hosts answered our many questions and offered help. Access to stream right across from our site. Potable water right at site. #12 offered privacy for the tent pad. Shaded picnic table. We visited other campgrounds and felt #12 at Little Cottonwood was the best.

    Only downside were flies and nowhere to hang a hammock at #12


Guide to Milford

Tent camping near Milford, Utah centers around primitive sites scattered throughout the Tushar Mountains and surrounding terrain, where elevations range from 5,000 to nearly 12,000 feet. Summer nights in the region typically cool to 40-50°F even when daytime temperatures reach 80-90°F, making proper insulation essential for overnight comfort. The terrain transitions from desert shrublands at lower elevations to alpine forests higher in the mountains.

What to do

Hiking access points: City Creek Campground serves as a gateway to several moderate hiking trails that connect with the Paiute ATV trail system. The campground provides drinking water and toilet facilities, making it a convenient base camp for day hiking excursions.

Mountain biking routes: Cricket Mountains One Day Ride area offers opportunities for both novice and experienced mountain bikers with routes ranging from 3-15 miles. The terrain features gradual elevation changes and wide tracks suitable for various skill levels.

Fishing spots: Adelaide Campground provides access to nearby streams where rainbow trout are commonly caught during spring and early summer. The campground features accessible toilet facilities and potable water, though anglers should verify seasonal water quality before consumption.

What campers like

Night sky viewing: Birch Creek Campground offers exceptional stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution. Visitors note the area's natural features despite some maintenance concerns. "The 4.5 mile road off the highway is very good though dusty. Creek is lovely. Sites vary in their condition but flat tent or van spots are uncommon," reports one camper.

Wildlife observation: South Creek (Upper) Trailhead camping area provides habitat for mule deer, foxes, and numerous bird species. The primitive sites require self-sufficiency but reward visitors with uninterrupted nature experiences.

Temperature conditions: Timid Springs offers comfortable summer camping conditions due to its elevation. The campground provides basic toilet facilities and allows pets, creating a family-friendly environment for tent campers seeking relief from summer heat in southwestern Utah.

What you should know

Water availability: Most tent sites near Milford require campers to bring all necessary water, with only City Creek and Adelaide campgrounds offering potable water sources. Water availability at these locations is typically limited to the May-September season.

Cell service variability: Cellular reception varies dramatically across the region, with higher elevation sites generally offering better connectivity. Betenson Flat Trailhead area receives surprisingly strong signals, with one camper rating their experience 5 stars.

Fire regulations: Campfire regulations differ between sites, with fires permitted at Timid Springs but prohibited at many trailhead camping areas. Restrictions typically increase during summer months when fire danger peaks.

Tips for camping with families

Safety planning: When camping with children at Birch Creek Campground, maintain awareness of wildlife. Local campers have noted possible mountain lion presence, suggesting families should "watch small pets closely" and keep children within sight, especially after dark.

Activity options: Rock Corral camping area provides natural climbing features suitable for supervised children. The flat areas surrounding primitive tent sites offer space for games and exploration away from vehicle traffic.

Temperature preparation: Vermillion Castle Campground experiences significant day-night temperature swings of 30-40 degrees. Families should pack layered clothing for children and extra blankets even during summer months.

Tips from RVers

Access considerations: Roads to many tent campgrounds near Milford present challenges for vehicles with low clearance. The access road to Birch Creek Campground is "very good though dusty," but many other forest roads require high-clearance vehicles with 4WD capability, especially after rain.

Site selection: At South Fork Trailhead, parking areas for tent access are limited in size and not suitable for trailers or large vehicles. Tent campers using vehicles should arrive early on summer weekends to secure suitable parking spots.

Generator etiquette: Most primitive camping areas near Milford prohibit generator use to preserve the natural soundscape. Campers requiring electricity should utilize portable solar options or select alternative campgrounds with designated generator hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Milford, UT is Rock Corral with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Milford, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.