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Unlike most Salt Lake Valley suburbs, Millcreek sits immediately against the mouth of Millcreek Canyon, which means actual camping terrain starts a short drive from the valley floor. Developed campgrounds in the canyon have defined sites, vault toilets, and some sites with fire rings. Millcreek's tent camping options draw from those canyon campgrounds along with some Wasatch-adjacent sites.
The canyon road has a fee for day use but no gate blocking overnight camping access. No-reservation camping close to Salt Lake City gives a broader picture of the dispersed options on national forest land for anyone in the metro area who wants to skip the developed campground system.
"The Salt Lake City KOA Holiday manages to pull it off perfectly. This campground is absolutely huge, serving as a massive, welcoming hub for travelers right in the heart of Utah's capital."
"I had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night at Salt Lake City KOA!"
from $50 - $189 / night
Check Availability"Bathrooms always close by, no showers. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. If you’re lucky, you can get a site close to the creek. Nice, cool nights in the summer."
"Right up Big Cottonwood Canyon, this campground has the advantage of being up the canyon so you feel far away from the city, but close enough that you could go on a work night and still make it to the"
from $29 - $327 / night
Check Availability"Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area."
"Utah is such an amazing place to visit for the outdoors. My family and I come here once a year because we love hiking and being in the outdoors."
from $27 - $355 / night
Check Availability"It was quiet, tucked away from anyone. Didn't really see anyone for the three days we are there. Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds! "
"We had site 11 close to the bathroom and in a flat, sunny clearing surrounded by trees. You could hear the nearby road a bit and see the mountains a little bit."
from $29 - $215 / night
Check Availability"Convenient location right off the highway with full hook ups and nice paved sites. Dog areas, playground, games, and a pool."
"These sites a so close to each other. We only stop here to stay the night. WiFi is ok-phone hotspot is better.
Staff is great."
"This is super close to my favorite mountain bike ride in Northern Utah - The Wasatch Crest Trail. As you can tell in the pictures, this area is very lush and rich with pine trees."
"The campsites are clean, the bathrooms are exceptionally clean with flushing toilets, you are a walk or hike away from Brighton and immersed in some of the most beautiful mountains around."
from $29 - $215 / night
Check Availability"Millcreek is a great escape from the city."
"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."
"This isn't the prettiest lake. It is nice and big, but since it is one of the closest to Utah Valley and Salt Lake Valley, it gets a lot of traffic."
"We stayed at the "McHenry" campground in a spot right next to a creek. The traffic noise was a bit prevalent during the day because it's close to the highway. Great tent pad."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks."
"The site we stayed at had many trees around to hang hammocks and also eat and picnic in the shade. There are brand new camp fires in all sites."
from $27 - $227 / night
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TravelerPros: Lake front Quiet days and quiet nights Nice breeze 15 mins to gas station/ town Cell service (2 bars at&t) Lots of campsites
Cons: Nails in the campsite/ road ( humans!!!! ) Some random litter here and there
Ive been here for maybe a week. Its refreshing to be near water. Too bad I dont swim in lakes. The lake water looks blue from afar but up close it’s dark and merky. :(
ScoutThis was a great place to spend our Fourth of July. Full hook ups a nice pool, smaller park, but well kept and plenty of shade. And the staff is amazing.
RangerWhen you are traveling through a major metropolitan area, finding an RV park that is both highly accessible and comfortable can be a challenge. The Salt Lake City KOA Holiday manages to pull it off perfectly. This campground is absolutely huge, serving as a massive, welcoming hub for travelers right in the heart of Utah's capital.
Location and Accessibility
If you are looking for prime convenience in the Salt Lake Valley, this location is incredibly hard to beat.
Highway Access: The park is situated perfectly right off Interstate 80, Interstate 15, and Redwood Road. You won't have to navigate miles of confusing city streets to park your rig.
City Proximity: It is exceptionally close to both downtown Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City International Airport. Whether you want to explore Temple Square or just need a practical, easy layover, the location is ideal.
Provisions: There is a Maverik gas station only a couple of blocks away—perfect for fueling up large RVs and grabbing ice or road snacks without any hassle.
Campground Vibe and Amenities
Despite being an urban campground, it offers a relaxing atmosphere that makes you want to hang out and enjoy the outdoors.
The Grounds: The property features beautiful mature trees that provide excellent, much-needed shade across the sites. We felt very safe and secure throughout our entire stay. Have to be flexible with your Starlink dish location. Our ladder mount was right under a nice shade tree. So our dish hung out on our picnic table.
Amenities: It features a really nice, well-maintained swimming pool that is perfect for unwinding after a long day of driving or exploring the city.
The"Maze" of Sites: Because the park is so massive, taking an evening stroll through the winding maze of sites became one of our favorite nightly activities.
The Hitched4fun Verdict
One of the best parts about staying at a park this large is getting to see all the different RVs and unique campsite setups. No two campers are exactly the same, yet we all share the same passion for traveling side-by-side. The Salt Lake City KOA Holiday really highlights why the RVing community is the absolute best. Great location, solid amenities, and wonderful people make this a top-tier urban stop.
Rating: Highly Recommended by the entire Hitched4fun.com crew!
TravelerI've been camping here since I was a little girl and it's always been one of my favorite places in the world. I love how high up and difficult it is to get up there. Bugs weren't too bad this year, everything was clean and well maintained. We stayed in loop B and the host was amazing
ScoutBeautiful site, not a ton of room to camp if you’re in a rooftop tent, just a gravel parking lot. But down in the field is gorgeous. No tables or chairs so be aware of that. We had a bear encounter up at the gravel spot so DO NOT leave any food out or leave anything with a scent near where you are camping and bring bear spray! There are no bear boxes so keep that in mind as well (leaving trash in your car is not good enough for those who don’t know).
TravelerA lot of Dispersed camping off the road, the beginning fills up with RVs pretty quick but if you are willing to go up the road for a while you will be rewarded with beautiful spots and quiet serene nature. High clearance is recommended, but with careful driving, anyone can get up the road. Some spots require 4x4, and those are some of the best.
GuideAn area with many (20?) dispersed sites on a gently sloping meadow. We found a site tucked in the aspens above. Only drawback is the occasional atv
TravelerAbsolutely gorgeous! While I did end up meeting some other people up there and there was a bit of traffic, it was the whole place to myself and absolutely stunning! There’s a couple of fire pits to choose from with the biggest one being in the center of camp. I got up there in my Subaru, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend a Prius going up. Very pretty and only downside is that there were a lot of wasps. I’m not sure if that’s seasonally or what, but I did stay in my tent because there were so many and all the time. I would come back here!
No bathrooms, no running water, just beautiful views of Mother Nature
ScoutWorst experience , my slide out wouldn't go in because a boat broke causing it to go off track in addition, breaking my gear teeth, I reported it to front office and they charged me for 3 extra days. I did not use Total rip off an extremely rude money hungry , hostile environment would not recommend
Millcreek Canyon is located in the Wasatch Range just east of Salt Lake City at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet. The area serves as a watershed for Salt Lake Valley and features multiple hiking trails that connect to a broader network spanning several adjacent canyons. Winter access for camping is often restricted due to snow accumulation from November through May, with full camping operations typically starting in July.
Hiking to Donut Falls: From Spruces Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon, access the popular Donut Falls trail just minutes from your campsite. "I have almost always seen moose and deer in the camp ground and the kids love to catch fish in the stream. There are some great hikes not far from camp, Doughnut falls is very close and you are just a short drive from Silver Lake," notes a visitor to Spruces Campground.
Paddle boarding at Tibble Fork: American Fork Canyon offers water recreation opportunities at reservoirs near Granite Flat Campground. "The area and scenery were gorgeous! The water was cool and there were tons of people there with paddle boards, canoos, tents, and dogs," reports one camper. The reservoir prohibits motorized watercraft, making it ideal for calm water activities.
Mountain biking trails: The foothills around Millcreek provide extensive mountain biking opportunities. For overnight camping with excellent trail access, consider sites in nearby canyons. The Wasatch Crest Trail is accessible from several nearby campgrounds and offers technical rides with significant elevation changes.
Clean facilities: Tanners Flat Campground in Little Cottonwood Canyon maintains well-kept amenities. "I booked a double site here for the first time, and they are beautiful. I enjoyed the location, the space, and my whole family did as well! There was some garbage in the fire pit when we arrived, but other than that it was fantastic. Soap and water with flushing toilets, etc," writes one reviewer.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings offer prime wildlife watching opportunities around campgrounds in the area. "Redman campground was a nice place. We camped next to a small stream which added nice background noise. We enjoyed a campfire and some s'mores," shares a visitor to Redman Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Quick getaways from the city: The proximity to Salt Lake City makes these areas perfect for overnight camping without extensive travel. One camper at Little Mill notes, "We live in the Valley but need a getaway for a weekend and this was perfect. Not only was it less than 20 min from our house we felt as if we were lost in the wilderness. We went on many different hikes right from the campground and a few others not far away."
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds near Millcreek fill quickly during summer. "Be aware that this campsite reservations for the weekend fill up quick. I checked in late May and every weekend until September was already booked," advises a camper at Granite Flat.
Water access restrictions: Due to watershed protection, access to water bodies is strictly controlled. A camper at Little Mill cautions, "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."
No dogs allowed in some canyons: While Millcreek Canyon permits dogs, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons do not. "We had planned to camp here but dogs are not allowed. This campground looked like an awesome spot. Location is right off the hwy close to Solitude and trails. Old growth trees surround the spacious campsites," notes a visitor about Redman Campground.
Look for shaded sites: Summer temperatures can reach the 90s during July and August. "I love the scenery. You can get to donut falls from the camp ground which is awesome. Sites are mostly private. Some more so than others. Drive the loop. It's breathtaking especially in the fall. My only complaint is there are no dogs allowed and a few sites not enough shade trees over the site," advises a Spruces Campground visitor.
Choose campgrounds with nearby attractions: Multiple recreation options keep children engaged. A visitor to Hailstone Campground at Jordanelle State Park shares: "This is a simple site to get to. It's only an hour from Salt Lake City and provides awesome picnic areas! Fun for the whole family; kids, seniors, pets, etc! The fishing is really good too. We catch something every time we go."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds near roads experience traffic noise that might disturb light sleepers. "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," cautions a Little Mill camper.
Limited hookups available: Most national forest campgrounds near Millcreek offer minimal or no hookups. For full services, consider RV parks like Salt Lake City KOA. "Solid KOA campground with all the amenities you would expect including a pool and spa. Location of the campground is near the downtown area, with that you get all the noise of the city; traffic, sirens, and train horns," notes one visitor.
Narrow canyon roads: Large RVs may find access challenging on some routes. "This campground has pull-through areas for people towing camping trailers, but not much for those that want to set up a full-size tent and lounge around outside," reports a camper at Tanners Flat.
Consider elevation for larger vehicles: Higher elevation campgrounds often have steeper grades that challenge larger RVs. Several campgrounds in Big Cottonwood Canyon sit above 8,000 feet, requiring good engine cooling systems when climbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Millcreek Camping areas?
Millcreek Canyon offers minimal amenities as it's primarily backcountry camping. At Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts, you'll find established trails, some premade fire pits at common camping spots, and day-use areas with picnic facilities. The canyon has a small river where kids can play and visitors can float in tubes during warmer months. For those seeking more amenities, Rock Cliff Area Campground at nearby Jordanelle State Park offers full RV hookups and modern facilities. Remember that in Millcreek's backcountry areas, you must carry in all supplies including water, and pack out all trash to preserve the natural environment.
Where is Millcreek Campground located and how do I get there?
Millcreek Canyon is located just east of Salt Lake City, Utah. To get there, you'll need to drive to the entrance of Millcreek Canyon Dispersed Camping, which requires a small entrance fee per vehicle. This fee helps maintain the canyon's trails and facilities. The canyon offers backcountry camping with multiple access points via hiking trails. Popular routes include the Mt. Aire trail, which has dispersed camping spots about 1/3 mile up the trail. Remember that all camping in Millcreek is backcountry/dispersed, requiring you to hike in with your gear. The hike can be moderately difficult, especially when carrying overnight equipment, but the scenic views make it worthwhile.
Do I need reservations for camping at Millcreek?
No formal reservations are required for dispersed camping in Millcreek Canyon, as it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. However, there are specific regulations to follow: you must camp at least 1/2 mile from the road and 200 feet from developed areas and water sources. The Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry area follows similar dispersed camping rules. For a more structured experience with guaranteed spots, consider Pine Creek Campground at Wasatch Mountain State Park, which does require reservations. Remember that Millcreek Canyon charges an entrance fee per vehicle, so bring cash or a payment method for the toll booth when you arrive.
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