Capitol Reef National Park campgrounds and Torrey's surrounding camping options include both established facilities and dispersed camping areas. Located at 6,800 feet elevation, Torrey experiences desert climate conditions with significant temperature variations between day and night. Campers should prepare for summer highs that regularly exceed 90°F and nighttime lows that can drop below 50°F even in summer months.
What to do
Orchard exploration: Fruita Campground in Capitol Reef National Park provides direct access to the park's historic fruit orchards. "This campground offers absolutely beautiful surroundings. Our tent is currently surrounded by red rock structures on 3 sides, along with a horse stable, and a fruit orchard. This venue is surreal," notes Joseph G. about the Fruita Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Camp near grazing animals at local RV parks. "Small, well equipped with tidy, well adorned sites. Lots of shade. Pasture adjoining sites with bison, cows, and horses just feet from us," reports Brian B. about his stay at Wonderland RV Park.
Lake fishing: Set up at Lower Bowns for easy fishing access. "The lake is easy to fish with lots of hungry trout. The camp site is clean and the mountain air is amazing. Make sure you pack a pontoon boat with you. There is really good fishing only steps away from the campsite," advises Brad B.
What campers like
Private bathrooms: Capitol Reef RV Park provides individual bathroom facilities. "Everything is new. The private bathrooms and showers are great. Everything is spotless clean," reports R.E. about the Capitol Reef RV Park and Glamping.
Shade coverage: Fruita Campground offers natural cooling from trees. "This is one of our new favorite campgrounds! We stayed in loop C and there was plenty of shade to stay cool. There were also lots of people cooling off in the river that runs through the campground," shares Hattie R.
Stream sounds: Pleasant Creek Campground provides water features next to sites. "We were by the creek so we were able to listen to it which was awesome. Nice and clean!" says Allie S. about Lower Pleasant Creek Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during winter months. "Located in Torrey, Utah this RV park was a great place to stay when visiting Capitol Reef National Park. They're still open in the Winter, but we didn't find out they closed their showers and bathrooms until we were told upon arrival. They close 10/31," warns Carlyne F. about Sand Creek RV.
Site differences: Some campgrounds have limited tent spaces. "Tent sites are all gravel with a table and water. The good: Location close to Capitol Reef National Park. We used it as a base camp for hiking in the national park. Has water, table, fire pit, and wind break. The bad: Not enough trees," explains Scott O. about Thousand Lakes RV Park.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires caution. "The long road down isn't easy with heavy loads, the road is narrow. We had our daughter ride a bike ahead of us before we pulled out of ravine to hold off or warn oncoming traffic," advises Justin A. when discussing Lower Bowns.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation: Kids enjoy stream access at Fruita. "There were abundant mule deer that walked through the campsite. Bathrooms were clean and they also provided potable water and a dishwashing station. The campground also backs up to an orchard with a brook running through it. Lots to do in walking distance," shares Hattie R.
Campground facilities: Look for kid-friendly spaces. "There is a nice dog run on the premises as well as grass areas throughout. Clean facilities and friendly staff. A perfect stay for us while we visiting National Parks in the area," reports Pamela about Wonderland RV Park.
Quiet environment: Sunglow Campground provides peaceful settings away from crowds. "This campground is small but there seemed to be plenty of space between sites. It felt quite private and was such a nice sanctuary from the National Park crowds," notes Meghan M.
Tips from RVers
Electrical considerations: Power supply varies between campgrounds. "We stayed in May 2023 and we were given a site all the way to the back. The view was pretty, the site was level, but when all the large RVs returned for the night, our electricity browned out and we couldn't run our AC," warns Pam R. about her experience at Thousand Lakes RV Park.
Site selection: Look for perimeter sites for privacy and views. "The views of the canyons are incredible. Best sites are on the outside of the loop, with the cliffs right behind you. No hook ups, but there is potable water and dump station," advises Terry K. about Goblin Valley State Park Campground.
Hookup options: Evaluate needs before booking. "Small campground that is close to the park. The bathrooms are spotless and the staff friendly. You do get a bit of the road noise but it's not terrible. A must stay!" recommends Trina about Wonderland RV Park.
