The suburban community of Taylorsville, Utah sits at a strategic junction for camping access, with options ranging from full-service RV resorts to mountain wilderness sites within an hour's drive. Salt Lake City KOA offers year-round camping with 180 sites just 15 minutes north, providing urban convenience with full hookups for RVs and tent sites. For those seeking natural settings, the nearby Wasatch Mountains contain several highly-rated campgrounds including Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Tanners Flat in Little Cottonwood Canyon, both operating seasonally from late spring through early fall. These mountain campgrounds provide a stark contrast to the valley floor, with cooler temperatures, forest cover, and proximity to hiking trails.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability in the Taylorsville region. Most mountain campgrounds operate from May through mid-October, with exact opening dates dependent on snowmelt conditions. As one camper noted at Tanners Flat, "It was chilly for sure, but it was so nice. It was quiet, tucked away from anyone. Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds." Reservations are essential during summer weekends, particularly for popular sites in the cottonwood canyons. Urban campgrounds like Pony Express RV Resort remain open year-round but fill quickly during special events. Fire restrictions commonly affect the area during mid-to-late summer, with bans often implemented in response to drought conditions.
Water access represents a key feature at many campgrounds near Taylorsville. Utah Lake State Park, approximately 20 minutes southwest, provides shoreline camping with fishing opportunities for catfish and white bass. According to one visitor, "Utah Lake State Park gets a lot of users both day and overnight. It is pretty close to population centers." Noise levels vary dramatically between locations, with urban sites experiencing traffic and train sounds while canyon campgrounds offer more seclusion. Campers seeking quiet should consider sites deeper in canyons or at higher elevations. Cell service remains reliable at valley locations but becomes spotty in mountain campgrounds. Many dispersed camping areas require high-clearance vehicles, with several reviewers noting challenging road conditions on forest service roads.
$50 - $189 / night
"I had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night at Salt Lake City KOA!"
"We wanted to explore Salt Lake City so decided to stay at this downtown KOA. It is a large and crowded RV park but right on a Transit line (UTA light rail Trax) and biking distance to downtown."
$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"
$28 - $358 / night
"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."
"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."
$29 - $215 / 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."
$25 - $175 / night
"This campground was nestled in the middle of Lehi Utah and it was a great place for us to swing in for one night."
"We were able to get a spot next to the Jordan River under a beautiful tree. We brought our 16ft camper and didn’t need to back it in or anything."
$28 - $229 / night
"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."
$29 - $217 / night
"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."
"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."
ScoutThis place is a little trashy, but beautiful scenery night 🌙 skies great for viewing little to no light pollution if picked place on top of hill you would see more of the city's nearby and more of the lake. Roads are very ruff, SUV/trucks to 4 wheel drive recommend.
ScoutIt’s a pretty rowdy spot you’re right in the middle of all the ohv that is happening. If you’re looking for something chill this ain’t it. Also the campsites were pretty littered with trash which is a big bummer.
ScoutGreat spot near SLC for dispersed camping. Plenty of flat areas for bigger rigs. 4x4 may be needed to access other areas. There are trees nearby for plenty of shade.
I didn’t notice any bugs on my visit. Beautiful skies at night. I’ll definitely be coming back!
GuideThe road in is a little rough. Some cell service. Pretty views. Camp spots are not too close together.
ScoutLoved this spot! Very affordable, great amenities.
TravelerWe winter camped here so we could ski. It’s a great location about 40-50 minutes to 6 resorts. It is in the city so not in the wilderness but all the sites have one tree and a patch of grass and a picnic table. There is a small off leash dog pen and a self dog wash. Also hot tub, showers, toilets that were clean. We did not use the hot tub or the laundry. The campground is well maintained. Our first site was slightly unleveled so we asked to switch and they accommodated that request. We did have to pay a little extra for that site. We stayed a total of 3 nights. We were going to stay longer but learned that you can’t have dogs in Cottonwood Canyon which meant we couldn’t ski at those resorts so we asked to get out of our reservation early and the KOA accommodated that as well.
TravelerThe yurt was a great experience during the winter. The entire campground was closed, except for the yurt and the couple cabins on site. It was super quiet. It had 2 electric fireplaces which kept the yurt nice and toasty. It has a bunk bed with queen size mattresses which were comfy. There was a refrigerator and microwave. 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. Rate was $75 per night during the week and $100 per night during the weekend. I will definitely be returning.
Scout3 stars as dry and dusty with no facilities, but a good place to stop for a night if passing thru or many nights if you're an ATVer.
We live near the area and if you take the dirt Soldier Pass road off highway 68 between Lake Utah and Cedar Fort, there a many many good and level dispersed sites. Lots of junipers once you climb in elevation. No houses within miles. The Utah County gun range is located ~1 mile off highway 68 on this road, but better camping spots are further on anyway. The main dirt road is county maintained and can be done by any car. As is the road up to the Lake Mountain summit for great views and additional sites.
There is a free formal BLM dispersed camping area off highway 68 a few miles north of Soldier Pass road. Zero facilities. There are campers on it year round. Spots on both sides of the highway. Look for signs. To me, these sites are kinda bleak, but have good lake views. Between late May and late Sept sites near the lake will experience Utah Lake midges. They're a love bug that live in the lake and emerge only to mate. They don't bite, but they do swarm. You'll experience fewer as you move away from the lake.
GuideWe had the campground loop all to ourselves in mid October. Sites have a gazebo with table means less stuff to unpack and setup. We just pulled out the tent and camp stove and that was it. Clean and maintained restrooms all close in tight loop. Firepit next to tables. The view is really great and birds are nearby as it seems to be a bird sanctuary. Easy to get to and not far from highway. Star show was good as well.
Taylorsville sits at approximately 4,300 feet elevation in the Salt Lake Valley, with camping options ranging from dispersed mountain sites to valley-based facilities. The region experiences wide temperature swings between summer and winter, with camping areas at higher elevations in surrounding mountains reaching 8,000-10,000 feet. Lower valley campgrounds remain accessible most of the year while mountain sites have strict seasonal limitations.
Snowshoe adventures: During winter months when most mountain campgrounds close, Spruces Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon transforms into a winter recreation area. "Wonderful winter wonder land you can snowshoe into in the winter and camp at! You can also stay here during the summer just be prepared to book a couple months in advance," notes Shilah M. about Spruces - Big Cottonwood.
Paddle sports at reservoirs: The American Fork Canyon area offers multiple non-motorized water recreation opportunities near camping areas. "We were able to paddle board which was a blast! I loves being so close and having access to so many beautiful hikes and Rick climbing. We were right next to a beautiful river and it was pretty quiet," writes Kaitlin R. about her experience at Granite Flat.
Urban biking: For campers staying at valley locations, extensive paved trails connect to camping areas. "Paved 80 mile bike trail along Jordan River. Giant chessboard. Nice pool area," reports Janet H. about amenities at Pony Express RV Resort. Willow Park Campground provides direct river access with "boat launch for non-motorized water crafts, bathrooms, and playgrounds."
Wildlife encounters: Higher-elevation campgrounds offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities not found in valley locations. "In addition to numerous deer, we had two moose munching away at the willow at the adjacent site," shares Outdoor T. about their stay at Redman Campground. The area hosts deer, moose, and smaller wildlife particularly in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Mountain stream access: Campers frequently mention the calming sounds of nearby water features as a highlight. "I just recently stayed at the Spruces. Loved it. Very peaceful. I stayed in campground #47. Right near the end of the loop before it goes into the peaceful forest section. Great one. Right by water," reports Tom B. Millcreek Canyon offers similar experiences with "areas of the river" where families can tube and play.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds near Taylorsville maintain high cleanliness standards even during peak season. "The campground is 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," notes Kristin H. about her experience at Redman Campground.
Strict reservation timelines: The most popular camping destinations around Taylorsville fill months in advance. "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," cautions Ash S. about Granite Flat.
Pet restrictions: Canyon camping areas have varying rules for pets due to watershed regulations. "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," notes Natalie B. about Redman Campground. Millcreek Canyon is one of the few that explicitly permits dogs on trails.
Site size limitations: Some campgrounds have physical constraints that limit RV sizes. "This campground is quiet and has abundant wildlife. It's better for small campers or tent campers as the driveways were not designed for big rigs," explains a reviewer about Redman Campground. Verify site dimensions before booking.
Entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer built-in activities for children beyond hiking trails. "There is a huge spot of grass that you can play sports or baseball on. Can't remember the site we had but there was a huge rock that was fun for the scouts to climb on," explains Brad B. about Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping.
Proximity to attractions: When choosing family-friendly camping near Taylorsville, consider locations near attractions. "This is really close to some really good hikes like Stewart Falls, and Tibble Fork reservoir just minutes for your camp site," shares Brad B. about Granite Flat. Little Mill Campground offers "access to Timpanogas Cave trailhead" nearby.
Year-round options: For families wanting to introduce children to winter camping, specific areas remain accessible. "We camped in campground #47. Right by water but gets a heck of a lot of sun in the morning," mentions Tom B. regarding Spruces, which also offers "snowshoe in in the winter" opportunities for more adventurous families with older children.
Urban RV parking: RV campers seeking full amenities have limited but solid options near Taylorsville. "Really nice RV resort near Interstate. Pull throughs or back in on paved level sites. Picnic table. FHU. Sites typically close with grass area separating. No shade or privacy. Narrow interior roads," reports Janet H. about Pony Express RV Resort, which features "nice bathhouses with private shower/toilets."
Site selection strategy: Experienced RVers recommend careful site selection based on rig size and needs. "We have a small 21' travel trailer and the pull through spots are perfect! Both my neighbors are permanent residents," notes Amy about Pony Express RV Resort, highlighting that urban RV parks often mix short-term visitors with long-term residents.
Off-season advantages: RV camping during shoulder seasons offers better availability. "Good place to plug in at night between ski days. Friendly helpful staff," explains Terry G. about Salt Lake City KOA, one of the few year-round options that remains open during winter for RVers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Taylorsville?
The Taylorsville area offers several nearby camping options. Pine Creek Campground — Wasatch Mountain State Park provides traditional camping with narrow loop roads and mature trees, though sites may be challenging for larger vehicles. For those seeking free dispersed camping, Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry offers primitive sites with established fire rings near Utah Lake. While the sites lack amenities and you must bring your own water, they provide accessible options for camping near Taylorsville.
What are the best spots for a camping trip around Taylorsville?
For scenic views and natural beauty, Cascade Springs Dispersed Site offers stunning panoramic vistas of Mt. Timpanogos and excellent off-road opportunities. Granite Flat is another excellent option, featuring quiet, spacious sites with stream access and proximity to two lakes. The tent-only sites provide shaded areas, fire pits with grill gates, and a peaceful forest setting. For a waterfront experience, Anderson Cove offers a perfect little oasis with idyllic beach access and stunning scenic drives to reach it.
Are there RV camping facilities in Taylorsville?
Yes, there are excellent RV facilities near Taylorsville. Mountain Valley RV Resort in nearby Heber City is highly rated, featuring an adult-only section for those seeking peace and quiet, concrete pads, and a welcoming atmosphere. Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park is a newer option with full hook-ups, clean facilities, and beautiful views. This campground was previously tent-only but has been renovated specifically for RVs. Both locations provide convenient access for RV campers visiting the Taylorsville area.
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