Best Campgrounds near North Salt Lake, UT

Camping options surrounding North Salt Lake include both established campgrounds and dispersed sites within reasonable driving distance. The area features several RV-focused facilities like Pony Express RV Resort, which provides full hookups, alongside more rustic options such as Bountiful Peak Campground in the nearby mountains. Accommodations range from tent camping to RV sites with full amenities, with several properties offering cabin rentals. Most developed campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though mountain facilities typically operate seasonally from late spring through early fall.

Road conditions and campground availability vary significantly by elevation and season throughout the North Salt Lake region. Higher elevation campgrounds like Bountiful Peak typically operate from June through September, while valley locations maintain year-round access. "I like to go to fish. There are a lot of catfish and white bass. Some walleye. The kids like to swim though the water is a little muddy in some parts," noted one visitor about Utah Lake State Park. Cell service is generally reliable at developed campgrounds near the city but becomes spotty in mountainous areas. Many campground options require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when facilities near water features reach capacity quickly.

The proximity to both urban amenities and natural landscapes distinguishes camping areas around North Salt Lake. Antelope Island State Park, approximately 30 minutes northwest, receives high ratings for its wildlife viewing opportunities with bison, antelope, and numerous bird species. A camper commented that "One of our favorite state parks in Utah is only ~45 minutes away from Salt Lake City!" Riverside locations along the Jordan River provide walking and biking trails with mountain views. Campgrounds in the Wasatch Mountains east of North Salt Lake offer cooler temperatures and forest settings during summer months when valley temperatures rise. Noise levels vary considerably, with interstate-adjacent properties experiencing traffic sounds while mountain campgrounds provide more secluded environments. Most developed campgrounds in the region include standard amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water.

Best Camping Sites Near North Salt Lake, Utah (197)

    1. Salt Lake City KOA

    42 Reviews
    Salt Lake City, UT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 328-0224

    $50 - $189 / night

    "I had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night at Salt Lake City KOA!"

    "But there is an amazing Mexican restaurant right next to the campground."

    2. Pony Express RV Resort

    15 Reviews
    North Salt Lake, UT
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (801) 355-1550

    "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."

    3. Bridger Bay Campground — Antelope Island State Park

    50 Reviews
    Hooper, UT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 773-2941

    $20 - $200 / night

    "One of our favorite state parks in Utah is only~45 minutes away from Salt Lake City! There are bison, antelope, deer, and many other animals that call this island home."

    "By far one of my favorite stops through Utah ❤️ absolutely breathtaking views, along with scenic routes to see wildlife such as the bison."

    4. Bountiful Peak Campground

    12 Reviews
    Centerville, UT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    $15 - $98 / night

    "The sites have plenty of room, tons of shade and easy access to bathrooms."

    "They are a little close to each other but nice and clean."

    5. Spruces - Big Cottonwood

    33 Reviews
    Mounthaven, UT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    $29 - $346 / night

    "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"

    6. Lagoon RV Park & Campground

    6 Reviews
    Farmington, UT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 451-8000

    "We stayed during the Halloween Fright weekend and from Wednesday to Friday at around 2pm, we were about the only ones there. Then the place exploded with campers and by 7pm the place was full."

    7. Cherry Hill Campground

    7 Reviews
    Fruit Heights, UT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 451-5379

    "This was great for my bf and I because we were driving so late and couldn’t find an open camp ground. This place was open and it was easy to find a spot with no light and quiet."

    8. Bountiful B Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Bountiful, UT
    7 miles

    "We found a spot that was more of a hill, which made it neat to get around, but the site was LITTERED with spent ammo, broken glass and broken pieces of clay pigeons."

    "There's 4 fire rings around the coords, probably only 3 actual camp sites. The one fire has trails going all around it. If you continue up the mountain, there's more sites at the top."

    9. Sun Outdoors North Salt Lake

    2 Reviews
    North Salt Lake, UT
    1 mile

    "Friendly staff great location Offer daily, weekly and monthly rates."

    10. Tanners Flat

    19 Reviews
    Snowbird, UT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    $29 - $217 / night

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near North Salt Lake, UT

1239 Reviews of 197 North Salt Lake Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Anderson Cove (uinta-wasatch-cache National Forest, Ut)

    No bang for your buck

    I wish I read the reviews better before stopping here. It’s $38 a night. That gets you a spot on a paved pad, no hook ups. There are shade trees but they don’t offer privacy. Only out house/pit toilets, the one near my spot was dirty. The campground is on a busy road so lots of noise there. I don’t need to stay here again.

  • Sary W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Flight Park State Recreation Area

    Good price

    Instructions for the campsite are a bit confusing. Don’t pay for a site until you get here even if you book online. There are limited spots. People camping around are nice and say hello.

    We camped on a Friday night and it was full when we arrived around 6pm but we snagged the last spot available. Otherwise I would have camped down the road in a dirt patch anyway.

  • Cyrena P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping

    Bugs & More Bugs

    So many bugs it was awful, the mosquitoes ate us and our dogs even with bug repellents. The area was pretty flat it looked like on the left, but we had to go to the right as the left was full when we arrived. It was fairly quiet though at night since you’re very spread out from each other which is nice. My young son loved the nearby spring, it was very mushy but not horrible in some spots!

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Squaw Peak Road Dispersed

    A hard way to the Top

    We fought hard to get to the spot. Up to Hood Campground, the road was a normal, winding road. Really great. After that, however, a stretch began that was really only suitable for 4WDs. Rocks, deep ruts, etc. We managed it with the 2WD, but we had to give it our all. There aren't many spots. The spot we found was right on the mountain in the forest, but it wasn't worth the effort. We still enjoyed the night very much. We didn't have an internet connection with T-Online. Apparently, the spot serves the locals as a picnic destination, love nest, or even wedding photo spot until sunset. We had a bit of everything that evening ;)

  • Jeff R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Miner's Canyon Dispersed

    Beautiful spot but trash everywhere

    Great views of the lake and surrounding mountains, but has trash, broken glass and junk everywhere.

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Heber Ranger Station

    Parking Lot Camping

    You can stay at this ranger station up to 14 days. Heber city has a lot to offer. There was a large trash can available but the ranger station was closed due to electrical problems so I don’t know if they allow you to use the bathrooms inside.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Bountiful B Dispersed

    Popular re recreation area with good camping

    There's 4 fire rings around the coords, probably only 3 actual camp sites. The one fire has trails going all around it. If you continue up the mountain, there's more sites at the top. This whole area seems to be a local atv, dirt bike, mountain bike, and shooting area. Definitely lots of people shooting guns into gulleys during the day. Everybody seemed friendly though. The road up takes about 25 or 30 minutes to get to the coords. Its a bit rough but if you have awd or 4wd its no problem. Great views on the way up and down. I have Verizon and had coverage off and on, its enough to send texts but not much more.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Miner's Canyon Dispersed

    Many Sites of Varying Sizes

    Very easy access public land right on Utah Lake. Packed gravel and dirt road going in is lumpy from use but smooths out a bit farther in. Side roads to sites are anyones guess. Some are pretty reasonable, others are like mine fields. Suggest you park on the road and walk in. Many sites are “pull-throughs” so one entrance can be better than the other. Some great spots up the hill but you’ll need high clearance and 4wd. Bugs weren’t bad on this warm mid-September day. Some trash but I’ve been to more formal places with more trash than this. Access to the lake and lots of space to hike. Nice view of lights from the Provo side of the lake at night.

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Fivemile Pass OHV

    Amazing Night Sky

    This place is pretty amazing with beautiful views of the sunrise, sunset and stars. Lots of ORV trails for the off road enthusiasts. Problem…SO MANY FLIES. They don’t bite or sting but you could not be outside for very long before they were in everyone’s drinks and personal space! By sunset they were gone so watching the stars was enjoyable. I just wished we could have spent more time outside during our time at camp. We did discover someone had dumped all their garbage close by so that might have been part of the problem🤷‍♀️.


Guide to North Salt Lake

Dispersed camping areas surround North Salt Lake, Utah, with elevations ranging from 4,300 feet in the valley to over 9,000 feet in the nearby Wasatch Mountains. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 90°F in July and winter lows reaching 20°F in January. Camping spots near North Salt Lake vary significantly in terrain from urban-adjacent RV parks to more remote forest service land requiring high-clearance vehicles.

What to do

Mountain biking access: The Pony Express RV Resort connects to local trails. "Paved 80 mile bike trail along Jordan River. Giant chessboard. Nice pool area," notes reviewer janet H.

Hiking with wildlife viewing: Experience diverse terrain and animal sightings at Bridger Bay Campground. "The bison are free grazing all around and a few came right up to our campground in the early morning! There is a ranch on the far side of the island (Fielding Garr Ranch) which is adorable and definitely worth a visit," writes Steven M.

Winter recreation: Several camping locations remain open year-round for cold-weather activities. "We traveled to Utah from California for our annual Christmas camping adventure. This was our first spot, and it was a wonderful place to start. We don't have to worry about the bugs, being it's December," notes Susan R. about Bridger Bay.

What campers like

Convenient urban proximity: Salt Lake City KOA provides camping minutes from downtown. "If you are traveling in an RV and wish to stay parked, there is public transit to city-center and amenities a couple blocks away," reports TMB in their review.

Mountain escape: Many campers appreciate Spruces Campground for its accessibility. "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 office the next day," notes reviewer Jenny W.

Fall colors viewing: Camp during autumn for spectacular foliage displays. "September/early October gives cooler temperatures and less crowds, and we got to see some lovely fall colors. The camp hosts were excellent as well," writes Sara M. about Tanners Flat Campground.

What you should know

Site availability varies by season: Higher elevation campgrounds operate limited schedules. "I called the Forest Service and they said it open July 1st 2020. The sites have plenty of room, tons of shade and easy access to bathrooms," notes Wyatt S. about Bountiful Peak Campground.

Insect conditions: Several campgrounds report seasonal bug issues. "But honestly, it's hard to walk or bike because the bugs are so bad. I don't just mean the odd bite, I mean coated in biting gnats as soon as you go outside your vehicle," reports @57overlander C. about Bridger Bay.

Noise levels: Urban-adjacent camping includes city sounds. "Be warned, if is NOT quiet - there are multiple trains/sirens/large semis blowing by all night. It was about $75 for a single night, but our original spot fell through and they were able to accommodate us last minute," notes North Idaho N. about Salt Lake City KOA.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Cherry Hill Campground offers water recreation. "Beautiful, shady spots to camp. Family noises from sunup to sundown. Water park is priced separately, but access is seamless. VERY busy weekends; weekdays were a delight," advises Kathy S.

Free recreation: Look for campgrounds with built-in activities. "Great clubhouse with pool table, foosball, large TV, comfy chairs, guest kitchen area. Complimentary coffee, tea and fresh made cookies," writes janet H. about Pony Express RV Resort.

Watershed restrictions: Little Cottonwood Canyon has water protection rules. "The nearby creek is pretty, but you cannot so much as wade in it without facing prosecution and a $1500 fine," cautions Jason H. about Tanners Flat.

Tips from RVers

RV pad types: Lagoon RV Park & Campground offers various site surfaces. "If you're coming here, I recommend paying for the longer pull-through sites - you'll get a paved pad, your own electrical box on the side where your hookups are, and slightly more space to spread out," suggests G.F.

Winter RV camping: Several campgrounds accommodate cold-weather RV stays. "Good place to plug in at night between ski days," notes Terry G. about Salt Lake City KOA.

Site spacing: RV parks vary in site density. "Like others have said…if you want space to spread out this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a place that is convenient, full hook up, level concrete pads, subdivision desperate house wife's camping addition this is the place to be!" explains Cole A. about Pony Express RV Resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available in North Salt Lake for weekend trips?

For weekend trips from North Salt Lake, several excellent options are available. Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park offers clean facilities with full hookups for RVs and beautiful views. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry provides free dispersed camping with established fire rings and easy to moderate hiking, though you'll need to bring your own water. Other weekend-friendly options include Lagoon RV Park & Campground in Farmington for family fun, and Sun Outdoors North Salt Lake for convenience. For those willing to drive a bit further, Echo Island RV Resort and Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City both offer excellent amenities for weekend getaways.

Where are the best camping spots near North Salt Lake?

North Salt Lake offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Bridger Bay Campground — Antelope Island State Park is just 45 minutes away and features wildlife including bison, antelope, and deer, plus stunning sunset views across the mud flats. For those seeking water recreation, Anderson Cove provides a peaceful escape from the city with beach access and abundant bathrooms. Other solid options include Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon for forest camping, and Cherry Hill Campground in Kaysville for family-friendly amenities. Adventurous campers might enjoy Bountiful B Dispersed for free camping with more primitive conditions. Most sites within an hour of North Salt Lake offer varied terrain from lakeside views to mountain forests.

What camping is available near North Salt Lake, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, North Salt Lake, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 197 campgrounds and RV parks near North Salt Lake, UT and 38 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near North Salt Lake, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near North Salt Lake, UT is Salt Lake City KOA with a 3.7-star rating from 42 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near North Salt Lake, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 38 free dispersed camping spots near North Salt Lake, UT.