Best Tent Camping near Park City, UT

Backcountry tent camping areas surround Park City, Utah, with multiple dispersed camping options in the nearby canyons. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry offers tent campsites requiring campers to be at least half a mile from any road and 200 feet from developed areas and water sources. Silver Lake Backcountry provides another tent camping destination with beautiful alpine views, located approximately 40 minutes from Provo. Most sites require permits, which can be obtained from local ranger stations or land management offices. Kimball Campground offers reservable tent sites closer to trailheads, though these fill quickly during summer weekends.

Road conditions for accessing these tent campgrounds vary significantly by season. Silver Lake Backcountry requires four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance to navigate rutted dirt roads with water crossings. During spring runoff or after rainfall, these roads become significantly more challenging. Many primitive tent sites remain inaccessible until July due to snow at higher elevations. Most areas provide minimal facilities, with only a few locations offering vault toilets. Campers must pack out all trash and come prepared with water filtration systems. Free dispersed camping is available at several locations, including Mill Hollow, though a 14-day stay limit is typically enforced.

The higher elevation tent sites offer cooler temperatures during summer months, making for comfortable sleeping conditions even without air conditioning. Many backcountry areas provide exceptional access to hiking trails, with Red Pine Lake requiring a challenging hike in but rewarding campers with pristine alpine surroundings. Wildlife sightings are common near tent sites throughout the region. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the area around Silver Lake offers particularly scenic camping: "The views make the drive there worth it. The fall colors during the day and the stars during the night were spectacular." Tent campers should be prepared for limited privacy at popular sites, particularly during peak summer weekends when areas like Kimball Campground can fill completely by early Friday evening.

Best Tent Sites Near Park City, Utah (27)

    1. Silver Lake Backcountry

    8 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    11 miles

    "An amazing spot to drive to and spend the day or backpack in and spend a night or two.  Be warned you will need a 4wd vehicle if trying to go up the road after a rain storm. "

    "You can’t drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot. Camping anywhere along that road will give you gorgeous views, though!"

    2. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts

    8 Reviews
    Mounthaven, UT
    10 miles
    Website

    "You can backpack in and camp anywhere a 1/2 mile from any road like the other nearby canyons. Good trails to approach from are Church fork and Lambs Canyon Trailhead."

    "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."

    3. Red Pine Lake

    7 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road."

    "I was looking for a quick, one night out and back backpacking trip while visiting family in Utah this summer."

    4. Kimball Campground

    3 Reviews
    Mutual Dell, UT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 999-2103

    "It was just off the road and basically no privacy but I was just looking for a safe place to sleep and that’s what I got!"

    "These campground spots are hidden within trees up the dirt road just past Silver Lake flats on the dirt road. The dirt road gets rough and rocky, but is driveable."

    5. Lake Blanche Trail - Backcountry Camp

    1 Review
    Mounthaven, UT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "great hike to the lake!"

    7. closed

    1 Review
    Wanship, UT
    12 miles
    +1 (801) 513-1583

    $59 - $64 / night

    8. Dispersed Camping--Mill Hollow/Utah FR054

    9 Reviews
    Heber, UT
    23 miles

    "Our family really likes dispersed camping near Mill hollow reservoir. It’s very peaceful and scenic!"

    "Over Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I got away for a night and dispersed camp in the Unita National forest near the Mill Creek campground. "

    10. Shingle Creek ATV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Kamas, UT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 783-4338

    "Nice campsites near a creek. It is a little close to the highway but there wasn’t much traffic. The shingle creek trailhead was close and the hiking is beautiful."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Park City, UT

1253 Reviews of 27 Park City Campgrounds


  • Tom J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Spruces - Big Cottonwood

    Beautiful location

    Beautiful area and lots of first come first serve spots. Here late in the season so it was chilly but it is in the mountains! Winding road to get here from Park City but appears to be a shorter straight shot into Salt Lake City. Picnic tables and fire rings at each site right next to the parking site which works out well for a rooftop tent.

  • Tommy C.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    South Fork (UT)

    AWESOME spot

    Absolutely awesome spot. Hosts were really friendly. Stayed in my pop up camper for a night and there was tons of space for pop up and our site (A1) was the best in the campground, I think. It was secluded with tons of trees. Not all sites had a lot of tree cover. It wasn’t right off the river but it was still only a 30 second walk to the river. There were fire bans in Utah but because of the type of fire set up on concrete and built in fire places, we were able to have a fire all night which was awesome. Also my buddy is a professional singer and brought his guitar so I’m impartial. We had such a great time!!

  • Jeremy H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Fivemile Pass OHV

    Good for free camping

    Not much out here but you’ll likely see a hawk or a Golden Eagle. You will have to put up with crazy OHVers and drunk partiers in some spots but there are a lot of places to go with a few pit toilets spread about.

    This is the desert and there is no water so come prepared. Please leave no trace and clean up after yourself.

  • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Diamond Fork

    Very clean and super camp host!

    I really loved this campground! And I really love Diamond Fork Hotsprings! I can’t wait to visit again! We camped the Thursday after Labor bad and had the entire campground almost all to ourselves! On Labor Day weekend there wasn’t an empty campsite. Cost is $22 for a single site, $44 for a double. We arrived to camp around 7:30 and pitched our tent then headed up the road a few more miles to the parking area for Diamond Fork (5th water) Hot Springs. I recommend visiting the Hotspring at night in the summer to escape the overwhelming crowds. There were only a handful of people at the springs during our evening visit. The trail to the springs is about 2.4 miles in. We returned to camp around 1 AM and slept soundly in the still, quiet nature. You can hear the stream babble nearby. We slept in and as we were breaking down camp, Marc, the camp host stopped by to se how our visit was and if we needed anything. What a wonderful man! We chatted for quite a while about the area and he offered to give us a tour of the campground in his golf cart. This is a pretty leather campground! 3 separate loops. There are some hike in tent sites but they are set up for dual tents and are priced as such so they are $44 which is quite speedy for a pack in tent site. There is a well maintained nature trail the passes through the campground. There are educational kiosks along the trail. There are multiple restrooms throughout the campground. The 2 I used were very clean considering it was post holiday weekend.
    Each campsite had a fire ring, grill, and a picnic table. Tent sites all offered nice level areas for pitching your tent. You can purchase fire wood from the camp host. This is a great place and I can’t wait to return!

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Magpie Campground

    Got the job done

    We were road tripping through with no reservations. The whole South Fork area has many campgrounds. Magpie is the first and one of the smaller of the campgrounds as you drive up the canyon. We drove through all the campgrounds and didn’t find any hosts to talk with to find out if we could occupy a spot. We thought it would be ok but weren’t sure if we could stay in a spot that had a weekend reservation posted. Plus there was simultaneously not very much shade and lots of overgrown vegetation that made tent camping not very feasible. All the sites with actual river frontage were occupied and most folks had campers. This was especially true at South Fork, Lower Meadows, Upper Meadows & Perception Park campgrounds. We finally found a host at Willows campground who explained the process but we didn’t see any sites we liked there. Magpie actually had some shaded sites so we headed back down there. We grabbed a spot that had no obvious river access but good shade right next to the host site. It was pretty overgrown but had enough of a flat spot to set up our tent and a big concrete pad for the picnic table and huge fire ring. Midweek it was only half full. Campground is literally mere feet from the road. Lots of road noise. Bathrooms were good enough. The host when he finally came around was very nice. The adjacent site was vacant (a double site that cost more $$) and we were able to get to the river there. We stayed two nights mid week and it never filled up but all the sites had weekend reservations. There isn’t a lot of hiking but if you like river recreation or we saw lots of paddle boarders headed up to the reservoir. We drove up Monte Cristo which was still closed for the season but probably would have been more our style. Birding was good around the campground probably due to the river. Again, road noise was annoying but expected. Also note that the forest service’s website was out of date as far as all the campgrounds in this area being open.

  • Michael L.
    May. 30, 2021

    Lost Creek Campground

    Mountain Get Away

    Such a beautiful site with site #7 the best access to the lake. Easy in and space to set up camp. Site included fire ring/pit and picnic table.

    At nearly 10000 feet elevation, Temps were coll and air refreshing!

  • Jillian B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2022

    Willow Park Campground

    Campground near Provo

    This campground is ok, would expect a little more since you have to pay $25. In a nice little suburban neighborhood. Spots are close together and not much privacy, our site was along the back fence. Each site had fire pit and picnic table. There are two bathrooms, no showers and no electricity. It looks like there are a couple water fill up spigots but not potable.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2022

    Currant Creek

    Currant Creek Reservoir and Campground 2021

    Dirt road is washboard hell, but you are rewarded when you arrive to a clean and quiet campground stay. Plenty of trees, flowers and wildlife including hummingbirds, deer, sandhill cranes, moose, beaver, chipmunks, squirrels and fish. Water is cold, but plenty deep for fishing, boating, canoes and paddle boards.  Fishing was steady.  Be prepared to pay to launch your boat and empty your tanks at the dump station.

    This campground has reservation and first come first served sites. There is tent and trailer camping available. Loop B has group sites. There was no water available in the campground the last few times we were here. There are no hook ups-electric, water, sewer at this campground.

    There are restrooms in each loop of the campground. There is a quiet time enforced from 10 PM to 6 AM. No generators after 10 PM.

    Bring cash or check as they do not take credit cards on site.

    We will camp here again.


Guide to Park City

Dispersed tent camping around Park City, Utah offers rugged backcountry opportunities with unique seasonal access challenges. Most primitive sites sit between 8,000-10,000 feet elevation, resulting in significantly cooler overnight temperatures than the valley floor. Winter snowpack typically blocks access to higher elevation camping areas until late June, with some forest service roads remaining impassable until early July.

What to do

Hiking from camp: Red Pine Lake offers exceptional alpine hiking access with significant elevation gain. "I also hiked up to the upper red pine lake, which is a very steep climb. The trail is unmarked and nearly impossible to follow, so it requires some creativity and bushwacking/rock hopping to get up there," notes backpacker Justin C. at Red Pine Lake.

Trout fishing: Several alpine lakes near camping areas contain stocked trout. "Both lakes were loaded with large trout, but I didn't have a fishing rod, so all I could do was look at them this time," mentions a camper at Red Pine Lake. Silver Lake Backcountry provides another fishing option, with one visitor noting, "At the trailhead you have great acces to the lake and fishing."

Trail running: Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping serves as a hub for trail runners. "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," explains Sean H.

What campers like

Alpine lakes: Campers consistently mention the high-elevation lakes as highlights. "An amazing spot to drive to and spend the day or backpack in and spend a night or two," writes Alan B. about Silver Lake Backcountry. Another camper adds, "I backpacked up to Red Pine Lake and had a great time. The trail up is well kept and the lake itself is stunning."

Cooler temperatures: Higher elevation campsites provide relief from summer heat. "Great escape from the SLC Valley heat…a short 1.5 hour drive and temp drops 20 degrees from the valley," reports Belinda H. at Mill Hollow dispersed camping area.

Wildlife viewing: Animal sightings enhance the camping experience. "We even saw a moose about 30 feet from our campsite drinking from the creek," mentions Kristy M. at Shingle Creek. Another camper at Mill Hollow reports, "I've seen plenty of chipmunks and even had two elk run past my campsite."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access roads to many dispersed tent camping sites near Park City require appropriate vehicles. "You're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes," warns a camper about reaching remote areas. Another notes, "The main road in is fairly easy to navigate but if you venture off the main path you'll want a vehicle with clearance and possibly 4X4."

Permit requirements: "Millcreek is a great escape from the city. All the camping is backcountry so you can pick any trail and just make sure that you are 1/2 mile off the road and at least 200 ft from developed ares and water," explains Dan G. about Millcreek Canyon.

Seasonal limitations: "Warning - road is closed 3.5 miles into the park before where camping spots were indicated. No notice on when it would reopen," reports a recent visitor to Millcreek Canyon. Another notes, "Couldn't get much higher than the reservoir due to snow on the road."

Tips for camping with families

Accessible water play: Kelli R. recommends Millcreek Canyon for families: "We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time." The shallow stream areas provide safer water recreation for children than the deeper alpine lakes.

Shorter backpacking options: For families wanting to try overnight backpacking near Park City, Kimball Campground offers a moderate introduction. "The campsites are hidden but close together which I loved being a solo female traveler it made me feel so safe knowing people were on both sides of me," notes Bethany R.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: "We cherish the ability to camp like this so we always take out everything we brought in 'leave no trace,'" mentions a family at Mill Hollow dispersed camping. Another camper adds, "I've hiked and it's been great. I've seen plenty of chipmunks and even had two elk run past my campsite."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV access: Most tent camping sites near Park City prohibit RVs due to road conditions or regulations. Bethany R. notes about Kimball Campground: "The roads are really rough don't think you'll be able to do it without 4x4 or awd my Honda CR-V did great!!"

Primitive camping requirements: RVers planning tent camping trips should prepare for no hookups. "This is LNT(leave no trace) camping so be sure to pack out what you pack in. There are no amenities but you are along a water source so if you have a filter, you have water," explains Jenny R. about dispersed camping in the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Park City, UT is Silver Lake Backcountry with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Park City, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.