Camping options around South Salt Lake encompass established campgrounds, RV resorts, and dispersed sites within nearby canyons. The Salt Lake City KOA provides urban camping with full hookups and amenities including showers, toilets, and a pool, while mountain camping can be found at Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Tanners Flat in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Millcreek Canyon offers backcountry camping with more primitive facilities. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some locations like Pony Express RV Resort also offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.
Seasonal availability varies significantly throughout the region, with many mountain campgrounds operating only from May through October due to snow conditions. Spruces Campground typically opens in early June and closes by mid-September, while Tanners Flat operates from late May through mid-October. Year-round camping is limited primarily to lower-elevation RV parks and the Salt Lake City KOA. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. Several campgrounds require advance booking through recreation.gov or state park reservation systems. "The location is convenient when visiting Salt Lake City, but expect urban noise including trains, traffic, and airplanes," noted one KOA visitor.
The camping experience varies dramatically between urban and mountain locations in the Salt Lake area. City-adjacent sites provide convenience and amenities but come with urban noise and less privacy. A reviewer mentioned that the Salt Lake City KOA is "a well-cared-for campground with a playground for kids," though some visitors noted concerns about the surrounding neighborhood. Mountain campgrounds offer cooler temperatures and natural settings with access to hiking trails and scenic views. Granite Flat and Little Mill campgrounds near Provo provide more forest immersion with basic amenities like toilets and water. Elevation differences create significant temperature variations, making mountain campgrounds particularly appealing during summer heat. Several canyon campgrounds feature nearby streams or rivers, adding to their appeal despite more limited facilities compared to urban RV parks.
$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 - $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"
"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."
$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."
"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."
$29 - $215 / 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."
$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."
$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 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."
TravelerRaw land at the foot of the mountain, bring water. No tables, no amenities, quarry down the road. The road changes from old asphalt to rough gravel just past this site. There's lake nearby, but not here. Watch out for ants!
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.
ScoutFree to camp wherever but it’s out in a range area, trash is everywhere and the roads are quite rough. Wind is present and highway is nearby.
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.
TravelerFantastic BLM spot surrounded by the Great Salt Lake. No services but good internet service. Very quiet. Watch out for the cow patties. This area allows shooters so you may hear them. Suggestion is to not stray too far from the paved road.
ScoutDrove all the way out here and not allowed to park overnight
Camping sites near South Salt Lake, Utah offer access to both mountain and urban experiences, with elevations ranging from 4,300 feet in the valley to over 8,000 feet in nearby canyons. Temperature variations between mountain and valley locations can exceed 15°F, especially during summer months when canyon campgrounds provide natural cooling. Winter camping is limited primarily to RV resorts and lower-elevation facilities as mountain roads become impassable.
Hiking to Donut Falls: Just a short distance from Spruces - Big Cottonwood, this family-friendly trail leads to a unique waterfall formation. "Great one. Right by water but gets a heck of a lot of sun in the morning. Enjoyed my stay," notes Tom B. about camping at Spruces.
Winter snowshoeing: Some campgrounds remain accessible in winter months for the adventurous. "Wonderful winter wonder land you can snowshoe into in the winter and camp at!" describes Shilah M. about winter options at Spruces Campground.
Jordan River biking: Near Pony Express RV Resort, visitors can access an extensive paved trail system. "Paved 80 mile bike trail along Jordan River. Giant chessboard. Nice pool area," explains Janet H., highlighting additional recreational amenities.
Creek-side sites: Campers appreciate waterfront locations for natural cooling and ambient sound. "Tanners flat is a close trip up Little Cottonwood Canyon. NO Dogs allowed in the canyon- it is a watershed," notes Andrea P. about Tanners Flat.
Wildlife viewing: Many mountain campgrounds offer opportunities to observe native animals. "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," mentions one reviewer about Redman Campground.
Fishing access: Several campgrounds offer direct access to fishing spots. "We catch something every time we go," writes Derek E. about the fishing at Jordanelle State Park, while Pony Express RV Resort provides access to the Jordan River for urban fishing.
Seasonal road closures: Mountain campground access depends heavily on road conditions. "The surrounding area is full of closed roads making this spot inaccessible," warns Hannah P. about Granite Flat during early season.
No-dog zones: Several canyon campgrounds strictly prohibit pets due to watershed regulations. "We had planned to camp here but dogs are not allowed. This campground looked like an awesome spot," writes Natalie B. about Redman Campground.
Noise considerations: Urban campgrounds experience city noise while canyon sites can be quieter. "There are multiple trains/sirens/large semis blowing by all night," warns North Idaho N. about Salt Lake City KOA.
Reservation requirements: "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 campground.
Playground facilities: Certain campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. "A well-sized playground that's clean but overrun with unsupervised kids," notes Amy about Pony Express RV Resort.
Stream play options: Campgrounds with safe water access provide natural entertainment. "We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time," describes Kelli R. about Millcreek Canyon.
Multi-age activities: "We saw moose, went fishing, and even stopped for icecream at stone hass in the solitude village right up the street," shares Andy M. about Spruces Campground, highlighting varied activities for different interests.
Educational options: "Close to Timpanogos Cave trailhead," mentions Andrea P. about Little Mill campground, referencing the nearby national monument offering ranger-led cave tours appropriate for school-age children.
Site limitations: Many mountain campgrounds have restricted RV access. "It is very very busy and pretty tight quarters. If you're looking for a little more privacy from neighbors this may not be your best bet," cautions Sydney Z. about Granite Flat.
Full hookup options: Urban RV parks generally offer more services. "Pull throughs or back in on paved level sites. Picnic table. FHU. Sites typically close with grass area separating. No shade or privacy," details Janet H. about Pony Express RV Resort.
Off-season availability: "Good place to plug in at night between ski days," notes Terry G. about Salt Lake City KOA, highlighting its year-round operation for winter sports enthusiasts.
Low clearance routes: Some mountain campgrounds require careful navigation. "We stayed in HS site 100. Absolutely beautiful view and great access to park city. Showers were clean. Only downside was the dump station near us was pretty awful smells and the site was very unlevel," reports Scott B. about Hailstone - Jordanelle State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near South Salt Lake, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, South Salt Lake, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 229 campgrounds and RV parks near South Salt Lake, UT and 54 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near South Salt Lake, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Salt Lake, UT is Salt Lake City KOA Holiday with a 3.7-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near South Salt Lake, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 54 free dispersed camping spots near South Salt Lake, UT.
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