The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest pushes right up against Oakley on the east side of Kamas Valley, giving this Summit County town solid access to dispersed and developed camping without driving far. Oakley's dispersed camping options spread across forest roads with no reservation and no fees, though most require a high-clearance vehicle once you're off the main paved routes. Developed campgrounds in the area have vault toilets and fire rings; water is limited at many sites, so confirm before arriving.
Summit County gets significant snow from November through April, and higher-elevation sites may not open until late May or June depending on snowpack. Park City dispersed sites are worth checking if Oakley-area forest roads are still closed in spring.
$35 - $50 / night
"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."
$35 / night
"Rockport State park in Utah, at the Crandall Cove sites. Sites are well kept, the reservoir is really low. Hiking is nice. Bike trails are well kept."
"We always pick a spot near the water and each spot seems to be a good distance away from where others are camping - which is nice."
$28 / night
"Clean area, plenty of activities to do close by, far enough away from civilization to make the trip worth it."
"There are some good hiking trails near by. The lake is walking distance and is not crowded. Lots of wildlife to enjoy and to be on the look out for."
$50 - $300 / night
"Really fun place in Utah. This was my dogs favorite campground so far. They have so much room to walk, and plenty of wildlife around to keep them interested."
"The reason for lower rating is the proximity to the highway."
$29 - $327 / 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"
$30 - $129 / night
"Located in beautiful Heber City, Utah. We felt at home as soon as we arrived and were greeted by a nice man on a golf cart who lead us to where we’d be staying."
"He was helpful and provided wonderful advice for the rest of our trip in Utah (Moab). The sites are a bit close, but the campground was quiet and clean. Our girls enjoyed the pool and hot tub."
$28 - $56 / night
"Both campgrounds do have walk-up sites available and can be paid for with cash only. Sites are $21 per night."
"Site#27 is an inside site, so no access to any of the rivers. It has 3 spaces for medium to small tents. Our large tent did not quite fit, so we didn't pull it to it's full width."
$22 / night
"I really do feel this is one of the most beautiful places in Utah. It was so beautiful when I visited it. It felt like you were staying in the middle of a great valley."
"Having grown up near here, I love going back to camp at this site. It had flushing toilets, a fill station, and a dump station."
$45 - $90 / night
"There is access to potable water right outside the yurt. You do have to walk about 500 yards to the yurt from the parking space, but the privacy is worth it."
"Close to fishing pond, play area for kids, beautiful golf courses, hikes, Midway/Heber cities, fishing rivers and beautiful drives up the mountains for more exploring."
$40 - $300 / night
"We have always loved our stay at Echo Campground in Utah. The sites are very clean and the camp hosts are very accommodating. We will stay here again"
"The sites are all pathed and we did not need to do any leveling in site #9. You can hear semi truck going along I-80 but they are in the distance."
GuideEasy check in process. Fire pit is awesome with plenty of room for wood. All spots were flat enough for the rooftop tent. My spot was 59 and had the most slope. Showers/bathrooms are a short walk away. Showers do take a minute to warm up. Play ground and lake access for all visitors
TravelerI am comparing this campground to Valley View RV park in Layton since we were there for a week before we stayed here- there is a stark difference for the exact same price. The sites at Sun Outdoors are extremely tight, the grounds themselves are not nearly as well maintained- dog park while bigger is just stone and not well maintained- smaller dog park mostly weeds.
ScoutTried to stay here a few days ago and of course it was after hours so online is the only way to check in. However when I tried to pay for my $27 tent spot the final cost ended up being almost $70 and no way to see the charges as to why!!! Highly disappointed and won’t be back.
ScoutHost: Justin was great. When we arrived he was walking around and checking the sites for any fallen trees because there’s a storm that brought in 50mph winds. He also gave us an update on the weather and what t expect. Campground: Cottonwood was great. The best part was the vault toilets. They were clean and did not smell AT ALL. Shout out to the camp host. There are two toilets and one of them the door does not lock. Hopefully that’s fixed by the time you arrive. Sites are spaced out nicely. Camp site C016: Was perfect, with more than enough room for our 9x14 10 person tent. There was a trail that led straight to the river about 30 yards away. The site is close to the entrance of the park so you will hear vehicles coming in and out. It wasn’t bad at all just the occasional diesel trucks and loud exhaust. The flagpole that’s located by the guard station did make a loud metal on metal tapping sound but didn’t bother us much. Overall experience: It was great experience, aside from the storm that rolled through(not the parks fault) if tent camping is your jam, stop worrying and book this place. Blessed travels my friend.
TravelerCleanest vault toilets. Nice trees area right by the water and a short walk to bridal veil falls. Tactic noise in the morning was louder than I’d expected. If you are in a tent site 6 has a little path down to the creek, otherwise it’s just a couple feet of plants and then you are there.
GuideBeautiful view of the great salt lake. Very few camp sites for RVs. Looks like there are some long termers. It is a marina. But as for a beautiful sunset... awesome. You can walk down to the waters edge. Was a walk in site for this stay. 20 mins to any restaurants.
ScoutWe pulled in and were a bit nervous because it’s off the freeway and we thought it be would be loud BUT it was actually surprisingly not. The grounds are very well kept & the staff was amazing! We stayed for 2 nights & would stay again if we were in the area.
GuideLocated just inside east gate. Visitors are required to get a pass prior to entry. Camp is adjacent to a park and a busy road. Bathrooms were adequate. We dry camped on a gravel lot. No frills but absolutely adequate and located just off the interstate.
GuideWe generally like this area, because it's one of the few spots in northern Utah that can accommodate our 36' motorhome. The downsides are that the roads are really rutted, so take it very slow and make sure that your rig can make it into a spot and, most importantly, OUT of the spot. As mentioned in other reviews, there's broken glass and ammunition scattered over all of the campsites, but they're big, and every site has a view of the beautiful lake and surrounding mountains. It gets down into the low 30s at night during the spring, so be sure to be prepared for cold nights. It's late May when I'm writing this, and it's JUST NOW getting out of the 30s at night and into the 40s. Daytime temps are pretty mild during the spring, at 65-80 degrees every day. I recommend this spot if you don't mind being in what's basically a free RV park (with much better spacing - most spots are at least 20-30 feet apart), because it gets so busy here. Also, a Provo Sheriff's deputy knocked on everyone's door on our second day there to ask how long they'd/we'd been there, and then, after 12 days, we moved to another nearby spot up the road, and on our second day here, he knocked on our door again to ask questions about our stay. We're rule-followers, and he was very professional and nice, but if you don't like getting "the knock," this may not be the place for you, as he seems to go through the sites regularly. All in all, I'd recommend this place, as it's mostly peaceful, even being as busy as it is.
Nestled in Summit County at elevations around 6,500 feet, Oakley serves as a gateway to both high alpine recreation and lower-elevation reservoir activities. Seasonal temperature swings in the area are significant, with summer highs reaching the 90s and overnight lows often dropping below 40°F even during summer months. Water levels at reservoirs near Oakley fluctuate dramatically throughout the season, affecting shoreline camping and water recreation options.
Fishing at Smith-Morehouse Reservoir: The fishing can be excellent with the right timing and equipment. At Smith-Morehouse Campground, visitors report catching fish regularly. "Fished all night with a couple drinks, caught a couple and even cooked them right up at camp!" notes Shariah T., who visited early in the season when snow was still on the ground.
Paddling on no-wake waters: The smaller reservoirs limit motorized boats, creating ideal conditions for paddlers. "The reservoir is small, but beautiful, and we love the fact that motorized boats are not allowed, which helps keep the noise factor down," according to Erin H. who visited Ledgefork. Many campers recommend bringing inflatable kayaks to access deeper waters where fishing is better.
Winter recreation options: Unlike many mountain areas, some campgrounds remain accessible during winter months. "You can even snowmobile on the roads up here in the winter," mentions Brendan A. about the Pine Creek Campground area, making this region one of the few near Salt Lake City with viable winter camping options.
Proximity to Salt Lake City: Many campsites offer a wilderness experience despite being remarkably close to urban areas. Spruces Campground impresses visitors with 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," explains Jenny W.
Seasonal wildlife viewing: The region hosts diverse wildlife throughout the year. "Peaceful wildlife, like deer," notes KelTroy E. at Smith-Morehouse. Sean R. adds that Yellow Pine Campground has "hiking trails, and fishing. The whole area smells like butterscotch and vanilla due to the Pondarosa Pines."
Mixed forest environments: The campgrounds feature diverse tree coverage offering varied camping experiences. At Yellow Pine Campground, "the trees are very thick, so from many camp sites, you can't see the adjacent one," according to David F., making it one of the best places to camp near Oakley, Utah for those seeking privacy.
Early reservations essential: Campgrounds fill extremely quickly, particularly during summer months. "Ledgefork is one of those areas you better get a reservation for early in the season. They book up quick, but there's a reason for it!" warns Derek E. Sites with water access are especially competitive.
Water availability varies: Many campgrounds have inconsistent water access. "The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because they still haven't fixed the water and you have to bring in your own," notes Shad G. about their third visit to Ledgefork Campground. Plan to bring more water than you think you'll need.
Insect conditions: Mosquitoes can be intense, particularly at dusk. "During the day and ESPECIALLY in the evening, the mosquitoes are pretty intense throughout the whole summer," warns Jen G. at Soapstone Campground, who recommends "bugspray and citronella candles" and observed many campers using "screen tents over their picnic tables."
Bear safety requirements: Bears are present in the area, requiring proper food storage. "This is bear country, so the signs say...Just be aware," mentions KelTroy E., noting that many campgrounds lack bear vaults, requiring campers to store food securely in vehicles.
Consider pool amenities: For families who want swimming options beyond cold mountain lakes, several developed campgrounds offer heated pools. At Echo Island RV Resort, "They had a small pond for kids to fish in, two swimming pools and two hot tubs, very clean and modern facilities," notes Carlee G., making it ideal for mixed-age groups.
Best timing for insects: Early July tends to have the highest concentration of biting flies and mosquitoes. "We came up for a couple of July 4ths and were astonished at how many horseflies there were all of the sudden," shares Brendan A., recommending Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends instead when "It feels wonderful up there then!"
Noise considerations: Road noise affects certain campgrounds significantly. At Jordanelle State Park, visitors report varied experiences with noise levels. One camper mentioned, "Great place close to SLC and park city and for the most part it was surprisingly quiet, tho that could be a fluke as it got busier during the day."
Site angle challenges: Many older campgrounds were not designed for modern RVs. James J. notes that at Pine Creek Campground, "My 30' TT was perched with some effort on top of a pull-through that was a mound rather than flat. Unlevel and narrow asphalt sites." Measure your rig carefully before booking.
Water pressure cautions: Excessive water pressure at some sites requires regulation equipment. At Jordanelle State Park, Trevor S. advises, "Be careful hooking up your RV to water. Very high pressure."
Road access limitations: Roads to some campgrounds may pose challenges for larger rigs. "Road is tight. Our 26ft trailer was a little hard to navigate within the campground," notes Shoot Fish Life about Smith-Morehouse, making advance planning essential for the best places to camp near Oakley with larger RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Oakley Campground?
The camping options near Oakley offer various amenities depending on your needs. Pine Creek Campground in nearby Wasatch Mountain State Park provides traditional camping with narrow loop roads and asphalt sites, though they may not accommodate larger RVs well. For those seeking more amenities, Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City offers full hookups, concrete pads, an adult-only section for peace and quiet, and a welcoming atmosphere with staff that greets you upon arrival. Both locations provide access to beautiful mountain scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Where is Oakley Campground located in Utah?
Oakley is a small town located in Summit County, Utah, in the beautiful Kamas Valley. While there isn't a specific "Oakley Campground," the area offers several excellent camping options. Ledgefork - Jordanelle State Park is located near Oakley, sitting on the south side of Smith and Morehouse Reservoir in the Uinta National Forest, about 20 minutes from town. For those seeking camping in the broader Oakley area, Yellow Pine Campground (Ut) is another nearby option in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, offering easy access from Kamas which neighbors Oakley.
Are there photos available of Oakley Campground before booking?
Yes, photos of camping areas near Oakley are readily available online before booking. The Dyrt camping platform offers extensive photo galleries of nearby campgrounds like Lilly Lake Campground and Rock Cliff Area Campground, allowing you to preview the sites before your trip. These visual resources help you assess the surroundings, campsite layouts, and amenities. Additionally, many campgrounds in the area have their own websites or are featured on recreation.gov with photo galleries. User-submitted photos on these platforms provide authentic views of the camping experience from multiple perspectives and seasons.
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