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Best Tent Camping near Oak City, UT

208 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping dominates the Oak City, Utah area with several free Forest Service and BLM sites situated in the surrounding juniper-covered desert landscape. Fish Lake National Forest Campsite and Whiskey Creek Road dispersed camping areas provide accessible tent camping within 20 minutes of Highway 50, while established campgrounds like Maple Hollow offer more developed options for tent campers about 5 miles up a gravel road. These primitive tent sites require self-sufficiency but reward with solitude and scenic desert vistas.

Access roads to tent camping areas near Oak City vary significantly in quality. Most dispersed tent sites are reached via dirt or gravel roads that remain passable for standard vehicles in dry conditions, though some may become challenging after rain. Campers should bring all necessary water, as none of the dispersed tent areas offer drinking water facilities. Fire restrictions frequently apply during summer months, and while many sites have informal fire rings, formal amenities are minimal. According to reviews on The Dyrt, "Super easy access for any car if roads are dry. Lots of places to get back in the junipers a little and have a nice private place to sleep."

Tent campsites in this region provide excellent opportunities for stargazing due to minimal light pollution. The Whiskey Creek Road area offers elevated tent sites with good shade trees and natural breeze patterns beneficial for tent camping in hot summer months. Most dispersed tent areas remain uncrowded even during peak season, allowing campers to find secluded spots. Walk-in tent options exist for those willing to venture further from established roads, offering increased privacy and wilderness experience. The proximity to Interstate 15 makes these tent areas convenient stopping points for travelers, with one visitor noting "This wasn't where we planned to camp but got too tired to drive any further. We are in a Toyota Camry and just hammocking. This spot worked out nicely."

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Best Tent Sites Near Oak City, Utah (24)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Oak City, UT

2 Photos of 24 Oak City Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Oak City, UT

208 Reviews of 24 Oak City 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2023

    Maple Hollow

    Great for tents and campervans

    Much bigger climb than expected, so if towing a heavier trailer be aware. Gravel road is well maintained with minimal washboard.

    Looks like there was a flood in the past - destroyed site #1. Remaining 11 sites are nicely shaded among the trees. Limited space for small trailers/campers. Good for campervans or tent campers.

    Water supply is turned off at all water sites - unsure whether this is related to flood damage or something else.

    11 sites with nice fireplaces, fire rings and picnic tables/benches.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Maple Canyon

    Incredible Canyon!

    This was mom’s (me) first camping trip, ever! My son and I found this gem in late March (opening day 3/21) for FF (that’s first come first served). We didn’t realize it was still covered in snow. I drive a Subaru outback AWD and still needed to stop and put on the chains. But totally worth it! We parked in front of the campsite (which had a picnic table, fire pit, and grill), dug out a footprint for our tent in the snow, built a fire and had the place to ourselves. Though it got pretty cold my son had thought ahead and brought zero degree sleeping bags. Slept like a baby! The views and the coolness of the canyon were just incredible. We’ve tried to go back over a weekend in the later spring and summer, but it’s a rock climbers paradise and now you need reservations on the weekend. Will definitely go back in the fall and will plan ahead and reserve a spot. My son is an outdoor climber (I belay) and he’s looking forward to the climbs!

Guide to Oak City

Tent camping near Oak City, Utah, offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from well-reviewed campgrounds to unique dispersed sites, there's something for everyone.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

  • The Maple Hollow campground provides a great family-friendly atmosphere with no fees, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious campers.
  • At the Jericho Picnic & Camping Area, you can enjoy a fun-filled day of sand dune activities for a small vehicle fee, perfect for those looking to explore the area.
  • For a free option, the Dispersed Sandy Lot offers a peaceful retreat just a short drive from the interstate, ideal for a quick stopover.

Local attractions to explore while tent camping

  • The Fish Lake National Forest Campsite is a great base for hiking and exploring the stunning landscapes of the national forest.
  • The White Sands Campground is located near beautiful sand dunes, providing opportunities for fishing and hiking in a picturesque setting.
  • If you're looking for adventure, the Sand Mountain Campground is close to ATV trails and offers a thrilling experience for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tips for tent camping near Oak City

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Oak City, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Oak City, UT is Fish Lake National Forest Campsite with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Oak City, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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