Located approximately 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, Tropic, Utah sits at an elevation of 6,250 feet in the heart of the Grand Staircase-Escalante region. The area experiences wide temperature fluctuations with summer days reaching 90°F while nights cool significantly, even dropping to freezing in spring and fall. Upscale camping options in Tropic provide varying levels of climate control to handle these temperature swings.
What to do
Fishing at local reservoirs: The Riverside Ranch offers opportunities for anglers to catch trout in the Sevier River. "Fishing in this little creek was great. Even though the creek was small there were some BIG trout!" notes a camper from The Riverside Ranch.
Visit Kodachrome Basin State Park: Located near dispersed camping areas, this less-crowded alternative to Bryce features unique sandstone formations. "Several campsites on SR410 very private, great views of Kodacrome Basin in Grande Staircase Escalante," reports a visitor to Rock Springs Bench.
Explore hiking trails: The region offers multiple trail systems beyond Bryce Canyon. "The campground hosts and staff were friendly and knowledgeable and suggested visits to other areas nearby," mentions a guest from Bryce Valley KOA who added, "Bring Your Hiking Boots!"
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites. "Campground has sites for all kinds of campers from tent/dry camping to huge sites for big rigs. Some are shaded and in the trees and some are open," according to a review from Rubys Inn RV Park and Campground.
Modern facilities: Clean restrooms and shower facilities rank high on campers' priority lists. "The facilities were very nice. They have a small camp store, coin-operated laundry, and clean bathrooms and showers," notes a reviewer at Ruby's Inn.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location offers minimal light pollution for astronomy enthusiasts. "At night it felt like you could see a million stars above," shares a guest from The Riverside Ranch, adding that their riverfront site (#12) provided "amazing views of the mountains."
What you should know
Temperature fluctuations: Prepare for significant day-to-night temperature changes. "We stayed in September and by the middle of the night it was about 20 degrees so bundle up!!" warns a camper from Ruby's Inn RV Park.
Limited availability: Many glamping facilities in Tropic operate seasonally. "The yurt is really hard to find, especially considering that we had some traffic behind us so we couldn't slow down too much as we looked for the driveway," explains a visitor to Bryce Canyon Yurt.
Weather impacts: Road conditions to dispersed sites can become hazardous during wet weather. "Dirt access road that can get impassable when it rains (and believe them when they say impassable!)," cautions a camper about Rock Springs Bench.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "There are a lot of activities for the kids or active adults (basketball, teether ball, corn hole, and swings)," recommends a visitor from The Riverside Ranch.
Kid-friendly shower facilities: Some campgrounds offer family-friendly bathroom setups. "The shower room is big with an area to hang clothes and another area to shower. This was very helpful with a three year old," explains a parent who stayed at Wide Hollow Campground.
Site selection: Request specific site types if traveling with children. "The tent sites in the upper portion are on different levels from neighboring sites, so you are separated from your neighbors, but they are close enough if camping with a large group," notes a guest from Bryce Valley KOA.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Check the placement of utilities before setting up. "The hookups on our sites were more to one end of the site and not so much in the middle of the site which was not a problem for any of us," mentions an RVer from Ruby's Inn.
Hose length for water: Some campgrounds require longer hoses than standard. "I needed three sewer hoses. I could not black tank flush. 25 ft hose too short," advises an RVer from Bryce Pioneer Village RV Park.
Site leveling: Research the terrain before booking specific sites. "The spaces were roomy and all of ours were pretty level," notes a group that stayed at Ruby's Inn RV Park, while another camper at Wide Hollow mentions, "some sites have a slope."
