Mountain Valley RV Resort
Feb Ski Trip
Loved this spot! Very affordable, great amenities.
Several good camping spots surround Provo, Utah, with options ranging from developed RV parks to more basic sites. Lakeside RV Campground sits near Utah Lake where campers can fish or take boats out on the water. The campground has full hookups that work well for people traveling in RVs. Zion and Arches National Parks make good side trips if you're camping in the area for several days. Weather varies dramatically by season - summers get hot while winter often brings snow to higher camps. Some mountain camping areas need vehicles with good clearance to reach them safely. Always check current road conditions and which trails are open before heading out. Fire rules change throughout the year, and some areas require permits, so research what's needed before your trip. During busy times, especially summer weekends, you'll want to book campsites ahead of time at the more popular places. A little planning makes camping around Provo much more enjoyable.
$31 - $48 / night
"We stopped here while passing through Provo, and this was such a convenient and peaceful spot to sleep in the city."
"Lakeside was our home for 3 nights while we were in town for Provo’s annual Colonial Festival."
"The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. "
"Close in to town, very pretty with Provo river next to it. Bike path and highway noise can be distracting."
$50 - $300 / night
"We stayed at the Springville/ Provo Utah KOA in September 2021. This is a full service KOA with nice FHU 50 amp pull-thru sites which were long, wide and level."
"Near the hwy but not next to. It’s a good place to stay and the monthly rates are fair."
$50 - $100 / night
"This is Utah's biggest fresh water lake. There are lots, and lot of bug so bring bug spray.
Awesome mountain views. Good fishing in the Provo river or lake fishing.""Gorgeous view across the lake. Quiet. Electricity worked well. Extremely clean. Camp hosts were nowhere to be found and another rig had claimed the end lake-adjacent site I paid for."
"Great view into Provo. Seemed like we had a fair bit of traffic on the road we stayed on and about 4 inches of snow."
"This site is deep past the meadows near square peak. You continue to follow the dirt road in and on your left is a small depression in the land with a fire pit and ample space for tents or hammocks."
$27 - $355 / 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."
$28 - $55 / night
"Really close to the Provo River for day activities."
"For only 25min from downtown provo, this is a wonderful place to go for a night. Super kind camp host and well maintained roads."
"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."
"Directions brought us right to the location. Road was rough into the sites and were hard to determine specific sites. Ended up pulling into edge of field. Definitely a good quiet night's sleep"
$27 - $227 / 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 lake is right up the road and a great place to swim and fish. There is a sliding rock for kids to climb and play on near the camp grounds. So many bike and walking trails."
$28 / night
"This campground is within 40 minutes of town, but feels like you are far away from your worries. There is a stream that runs thru it and a lot of trees that provide plenty of shade."
"This area, really all of American Fork Canyon is among the prettiest places in Utah Valley. Go! Camp! Hike Timp!"












Loved this spot! Very affordable, great amenities.
We 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.
The 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.
3 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.
We 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.
We stayed here in the summer of 2024 and placed it on our places to return to. We returned here in July 2025. The sites we were in was long and level. We loved sitting outside watching the numerous birds and chipmunks that were in the campground. The camp hosts were friendly and kept the campgrounds looking nice.
We took a wrong turn in the campground and ended up in an area with no hookups. But it was quiet and secluded and close to the water. The campsite was fairly level and there were clean restrooms.
The campsite was clean, the restrooms nice, and the hosts great. We didn’t have any hookups, but they weren’t needed. Great fishing and hiking opportunities.
This campground had power and water hookups, lots of spaces and restrooms available. It rained pretty hard while we were there, but it was still beautiful.
Dispersed camping near Provo, Utah offers accessible outdoor experiences within a 40-minute drive from urban areas. The region sits at the base of the Wasatch Mountains with elevations ranging from 4,500 feet near Utah Lake to over 7,000 feet in nearby canyons. Summer nights remain cool at higher elevations even when daytime temperatures exceed 90°F in the valley.
Explore mountain trails: Near Hope Campground, numerous hiking trails provide outdoor adventure without traveling far from town. "Great opportunities to hike all around," notes Marasha L., who appreciated the "gorgeous and easy" access to surrounding trails.
Fish in freshwater: Utah Lake State Park Campground offers both river and lake fishing options within minutes of campsites. One visitor mentioned "Good fishing in the Provo river or lake fishing," while noting the campground has "full hook ups and also spots for a tent."
Watch paragliders: From dispersed camping areas near Utah Lake, weekend recreation provides unexpected entertainment. At Miner's Canyon Dispersed, one camper reported "Watching the paragliders on the weekends is cool," while enjoying "gorgeous" views in mornings and evenings.
Privacy at higher elevations: For campers seeking seclusion, the mountain dispersed sites deliver. At Squaw Peak Road Dispersed, Spencer L. found a site "400-500 yards away from the next closest collection of camp sites" with "excellent privacy and a nice breeze that carries the smell of sage and mint through the area."
River sounds: Campers consistently mention the peaceful sound of flowing water at canyon campgrounds. At Little Mill, visitors appreciate the natural white noise: "You could hear the river and we had a great time," noted Melody F., while another camper valued "the sound of wind in the trees and the water flowing."
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds include features specifically for families. Nunns Park offers "a couple spots that were semi private" along with a river that "makes some beautiful yet subtle white noise," according to Helen A., who also noted "Lots of area on some of them though for multiple tents."
Bug awareness: Mosquitoes present a significant challenge at certain camping sites near Provo. At Utah Lake State Park, campers warn about insects: "There are lots, and lots of bug so bring bug spray," while another visitor colorfully described being "ambushed by swarms of mosquitoes" that are "ginormous."
Road conditions: Mountain access roads require appropriate vehicles at several dispersed camping areas. Thomas R. reported that past Hood Campground, "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."
Weekend popularity: Competition for sites intensifies Friday through Sunday, especially during summer. Juan G. noted about Squaw Peak Road that while "Perfect for tent camping and small trailers," the "spots are not big enough for bigger RVs and trailers."
Consider campground location: The proximity to urban areas makes certain campgrounds ideal for shorter trips with kids. At Nunns Park, Jonathan Y. explains it's "a great place to go if you don't have time to go look for a spot. It's a quick drive up Provo canyon."
Plan for noise factors: Some otherwise excellent family campgrounds have noise considerations. At Little Mill, one camper mentioned "horrible road noise. I seriously thought I was at a truck stop off the interstate. Honking and racing cars until 3am just ruined it."
Check water conditions: Water access varies significantly by location and season. At Miner's Canyon Dispersed, a recent visitor noted "The lake isn't safe to swim or drink from at this time due to algae," highlighting the importance of researching current conditions.
Site spacing varies: RV sites offer different levels of privacy depending on the campground. At Lakeside RV Campground, Erin A. reported "We stayed in a back in spot which was very spacious and we had a good distance from our neighbor," though others note sites can be close together.
Utility reliability: Water and electrical services fluctuate across campgrounds. At Utah Lake State Park, a camper mentioned paying "$50 to camp. Full hookups and dump station. Level pads, good space between sites," though they noted bathrooms were not well maintained.
Airport proximity: Noise considerations include air traffic at certain campgrounds. One RVer at Lakeside RV Campground pointed out "Only downside is you are directly next to the Provo airport which did get active around 6 am," an important consideration for light sleepers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Provo Canyon?
Nunns Park is a popular option in Provo Canyon, situated right next to the Provo River. It offers plenty of shade trees, fire pits, and easy access to the nearby bike path. Though the highway noise can be distracting, it's one of the closest campgrounds to Provo and is near the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. For a more secluded option, consider Granite Flat, which is accessible by driving through the canyon and offers reservable sites with amenities like water and toilets, while still maintaining that natural canyon experience.
Is camping available along the Provo River?
Lower Provo Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest offers camping directly along the Provo River in a beautiful forested setting. Another riverside option is Silver Lake Backcountry, located just 40-50 minutes from Provo with easy access to the water for activities like paddle boarding and kayaking. The Provo River corridor provides multiple camping opportunities where you can fall asleep to the sound of flowing water. Reservations are recommended for riverside sites, especially during peak summer months when fishing and water recreation are popular.
Can I camp with an RV near Provo?
Yes, Provo offers several excellent RV camping options. Willow Park Campground provides an inexpensive stay in town along the Jordan River Parkway, conveniently located between Salt Lake and Provo with easy access to Utah Lake and Thanksgiving Point. For dispersed camping options, Miners Canyon BLM offers free camping with magnificent views of the lake and mountains, plus twinkling city lights from Provo in the evening. Many RV sites in the area are big-rig friendly and some offer full hookups, making the Provo region very accommodating for RV travelers.
What amenities are available at Provo campgrounds?
Lakeside RV Campground offers excellent amenities including clean bathrooms, hot showers, and beautiful tree coverage providing ample shade. It's conveniently located just 12 minutes from downtown Provo. For a state park experience, Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park features full hook-ups for RVs in a clean, well-maintained setting with spectacular views. Many Provo area campgrounds provide basic amenities like toilets and fire pits, while established campgrounds often include drinking water, picnic tables, and garbage service.
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