Best Dispersed Camping near Vernal, UT
Multiple free dispersed camping areas surround Vernal, Utah, with McCoy Flats being the most developed BLM option. Located about 6 miles southwest of town via a paved but potholed road, this area offers wide-open camping with vault toilets but no water or trash service. The area primarily serves mountain bikers accessing the 46-mile trail network. As one visitor noted, "Wide open BLM area 3 miles from Hwy but paved (potholes!) into the trailhead. Vault toilet but no water, trash or designated campsites." Cell service is excellent throughout the area.
East of Vernal, additional BLM dispersed sites include areas northeast of town with sandy, open terrain suitable for larger vehicles. These primitive campsites provide basic overnight options with minimal amenities. Sites near the Green River Bridge tend to show evidence of heavy use, with one camper describing it as "a bit of a trashy area, glass, cans, shot shells, likely a weekend party spot." For more remote options, the high-clearance roads in Dinosaur National Monument's periphery offer scenic overlooks, though as a review mentioned, "The dirt road is a sandy entrenched two track with a high center so high clearance is advised." Most dispersed areas permit fires except during restriction periods, and stays are typically limited to 14 days.
