Best Glamping near Vernal, UT

Steinaker State Park Campground and Vernal/Dinosaurland KOA house upscale glamping accommodations near the Dinosaur National Monument region. At Steinaker, the lakeside yurt known as "Dippy Cabin" features mini-fridge, microwave, full-size bunk beds, and a private porch with grill—all with panoramic reservoir views. The Dinosaurland KOA offers distinctive tipis and "woody tents" alongside traditional glamping cabins, each with access to the camp's swimming pool, mini-golf course, and covered patio areas. Both locations provide picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to dinosaur attractions while maintaining clean facilities with hot showers. According to a recent visitor, "We spent 3 nights at Dippy Cabin and what a fantastic place! Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave. Full size bunk beds, porch, and grill. Absolutely fantastic."

Just 15 minutes from the famous Dinosaur National Monument, these glamping sites serve as ideal basecamps for exploring prehistoric wonders. The Dinosaurland KOA features exceptional family-friendly amenities including a jump pad, bike rentals, swimming pool, and a large grassy field perfect for outdoor games. Steinaker State Park connects directly to nature trails circling the reservoir, with the nearby Moonshine Arch accessible via a moderate .8-mile hike from the campground. Both locations remain open seasonally, with Dinosaurland KOA operating from April through October and Steinaker maintaining year-round accessibility. A visitor noted, "This campground is only a few blocks from downtown Vernal, but out of town enough for a rural feel. Some highway noise, but quiets down by nightfall. This campground had a good feel to it."

Best Glamping Sites Near Vernal, Utah (18)

    1. Steinaker State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Vernal, UT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 789-4432

    $20 - $150 / night

    "Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave. Full size bunk beds, porch, and grill. Absolutely fantastic."

    "This is a great recreation area close to the town of Vernal, about 5 miles out. There is a lake for fishing, swimming and water sports. There is a nice beach with pavilions and picnic sites."

    2. Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA

    11 Reviews
    Vernal, UT
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (435) 789-2148

    $29 - $72 / night

    "This campground is only a few blocks from downtown Vernal, but out of town enough for a rural feel. Some highway noise, but quiets down by nightfall. This campground had a good feel to it IMO."

    "Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table and chairs. Bathrooms were clean, water was hot."

    3. Iron Springs Group Campground - Ashley National Forest

    4 Reviews
    Flaming Gorge, UT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 789-1181

    $25 / night

    "The camp limit is 16 days and we pull our campers around this huge area when required. Circle Camp as we have named it is a popular site and your lucky to score it anytime during the summer months."

    "Nice large area in the trees on edge of a large open meadow grassy area. Signs note only two group areas but one in center seems to have all the shade and the tables."

    4. East Park Campground - Ashley National Forest

    5 Reviews
    Ashley National Forest, UT
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 789-1181

    "Camping spots are to close to each other. Bathrooms located in the campground and by the boat dock are kept clean. Short walk to the lake. Great fishing!"

    "Campground Review: East Park is a great campground located right next to the lake. They have several bathroom facilities. Graveled road and sites available for RV or tents."

    5. Echo Park Campground Group Site — Dinosaur National Monument

    11 Reviews
    Dinosaur, CO
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 781-7759

    $12 - $25 / night

    "I had reserved a camping spot near the river with plenty of shade. It was an excellent choice (learned my lesson on shade in Sand Dunes). The spot was clean, but a little close to the road."

    "Situated where the Green and Yampa rivers merge, you are surrounded by amazing cliffs with the main feature being Streamboat Rock. Campsites are very nice and clean."

    6. Utah Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping

    7 Reviews
    Ashley National Forest, UT
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 789-1181

    "It was definitely worth the drive down because it loops us back up to I-80 on the western side of the gorge."

    "This was one of my favorite finds during my trip through Utah earlier this summer. We were checking out Flaming Gorge and, predictably, all the campgrounds were booked full."

    8. Cedar Springs Campground

    11 Reviews
    Flaming Gorge, UT
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 889-3000

    $42 - $82 / night

    "We had 6 tents set up and there was still lots of room."

    "Nice modern campground, close to Marina and boat ramp area. However..NO WATER as is 6-2021. Vault toilets available and dumpsters."

    9. Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA

    10 Reviews
    Manila, UT
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 784-3184

    "This KOA was a welcome stop after the long hot time we had in the Arches area. "

    "Laundry was $2 wash and 1.50 dry. Super nice people own. They charge $15 to dump if boondocking nearby. Water is .40c/gallon. They do close middle of Oct for the winter."

    10. Sheep Creek Bay Boat Ramp and Campground

    5 Reviews
    Manila, UT
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 784-3445

    "Close to the boat ramp, easy access. When we are with my elderly family who need to be stable we stay here. If we are just us and the kids and dogs we go stay at Dutch John."

    "It our favorite spot in the lake!!! Somewhat protected from the storms and it’s a very quiet place!!!"

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Glamping Reviews near Vernal, UT

112 Reviews of 18 Vernal Campgrounds


  • Brad B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 17, 2019

    Cedar Springs Campground

    Fun place to stay close to Flaming Gorge/Green River.

    We stayed here on a scout camp out for a couple of days we stayed in a group sight # 10 and it had 2 picnic tables and offered lots of room. We had 6 tents set up and there was still lots of room. There was plenty of parking we had at one time 2 cars a big van and my truck and drift boat and had no trouble with parking in the double spot.  We were right next to the camp host and next to the bathrooms with running water and hot showers.

    The campground is a short walk or drive to the marina. We caught lots of fish and crawfish from the shore at the marina and the kids all had fun.

    The camp sight has lots of Cider trees, and pine trees and amazing views. Amazing sunset and sunrises as well. There is running water for RV and lots of room. It wasn't full in June and there were still lots of places to camp.

    This is in a great location if you are going fishing in the Green river or on Flaming Gorge. We were only 10 minutes to the put in of the A section and within walking distant to the marina for Flaming Gorge. We did the free dam tour it is a must see if in the area. You are only a couple of minutes drive to Flaming Gorge Lodge if need a hot meal or fishing equipment they have a great fly shop, store, and cafe. If you forget any food items like ketchup they sell everything at good pricey. Plus it's a great place to get more ice and a coke.

    Fire pits with a nice heavy grill on them. We used it to cook steaks and they were excellent. Also helpful when we cooked crawfish one night. The camp host sells firewood if needed. I was able to try out my new Grubsticks and made some awesome s'mores #grubstick, #Ilovemynewgrubsticks, #bestsmoresever.

  • Cynthia K.
    Jun. 28, 2022

    Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA

    Close to area atrractions

       This campground is only a few blocks from downtown Vernal, but out of town enough for a rural feel. Some highway noise, but quiets down by nightfall. This campground had a good feel to it IMO. Not super large, but almost all the sites were pull through. I requested a spot by the bathroom/shower building & we got a patio site. Very nice site with a propane grill provided. 

       There are 3 bathroom/showers in the campground. One in the office building, one by the pool & one by the tent section. Bathrooms were clean. I used the laundry room without issues. 

       They had a couple of tipis, a woody tent (don't know what that is). 15 tent sites & cabins. The RV sites were basic KOA.- in a row & kind of close. We had no issues with WIFI. Staff was courteous& they had a lot of area information. I especially liked the day trips that were numbered. We camped at Vernal/ Dinosaurland KOA Holiday in a Travel Trailer.

  • Ana P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 17, 2023

    Steinaker State Park Campground

    Dippy Cabin

    Wow! We spent 3 nights at Dippy Cabin and what a fantastic place! Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave. Full size bunk beds, porch, and grill. Absolutely fantastic.

  • Tammy H.
    Sep. 27, 2016

    Steinaker State Park Campground

    Close to town

    This is a great recreation area close to the town of Vernal, about 5 miles out. There is a lake for fishing, swimming and water sports. There is a nice beach with pavilions and picnic sites. The campground has full hook up spots, Electrical, a cabin you can rent and tent sites. There is a great group site that gives you access to the water and has a covered pavilion. There are many walking trails and atv trails accessible from this campground.

  • tThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2021

    Steinaker State Park Campground

    Windy

    Beautiful area and lake! Close to the town of vernal. 20 miles outside dinosaur National monument. Staff helpful. Bathrooms clean, nice shower areas! Not sure whether it was usual to have so much wind in the area, but good thing our tent was well secured! Had to stow test of the gear in the car so it wouldn’t blow away! Most beautiful sunset ever! Great campsite!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA

    Immaculately maintained oasis

    We stayed here one night on July 20, 2018.  

    This KOA was a welcome stop after the long hot time we had in the Arches area. After going over an 8500 foot pass and stopping in the close by town of Rangely, UT (visiting the town museum), we arrived.  The park was pretty full but the atmosphere was welcoming and calm. The folks who run the KOA are both friendly and attentive.  They helped spot us into our back-in trailer site and our kids visited with their dog while we got the rundown on their facilities. We visited at the height of the season and there were 20 plus kids in the play areas at all times, but the sound did not carry which was nice. The pool is expertly maintained and located right next to the laundry room (handy). The showers were excellent and again, clean and well maintained like the rest of the facilities. The small store has just about anything and everything you could need including RV/trailer repair parts.

    This is the first time we stayed at a KOA but will use them again after this great experience on the road.

  • E
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA

    Gorgeous site, lovely host

    The scenery was lovely. Able to pull into the tent site with our Ford E150 no problems, basically no one else in the tent portion of the site (mostly in the RV section). Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table and chairs. Bathrooms were clean, water was hot.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2021

    Lucerne Campground - Ashley National Forest

    Large developed CG

    Largest developed CG on westside of flaming gorge. Several loops for TTs/TVs and tent campers. Electric hookups sites also. Water, trash, restrooms, showers. Lots of staff maintenance activity around. Not my style of camping but families will like it and RVs that need electric will like it. $31 electric sites, $22 no electric sites. Water, trash restrooms, showers.

  • Mark The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Stateline Cove Campground

    Great Stay!

    We are here at the end of Sept/early Oct 2025 in a 35 ft 5th wheel. We have this place pretty much to ourselves. The "campground" closed mid Sept. During that time it is $21 per night/$10.50 with senior pass. Once it closes it basically becomes boondicking sites and there is no charge. Host was still here packing up and he confirmed this for us. During season, they have several pit toilets and dumpsters. Currently the pit toilets are locked and dumpsters have been removed. There is a KOA down the road with dump ($115), water (.40c/gallon) and laundry. There are no set sites. A sandy road around the area with areas to pull off. Several picnic tables and some fire pits. No camping right on the water but plenty of "sites" with water views. Antelope passing thru throughout the day. Beautiful sunrises and we had a beautiful double rainbow reflecting off both the water and miuntains. Drive here is beautiful as well as the Sheep Creek Scenic Byway. Loved our stay here and will be back.


Guide to Vernal

Camping opportunities near Vernal, Utah range from forested mountain sites at 7,000+ feet elevation to high desert settings with minimal shade. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F during day and drop below 50°F at night. The Ashley National Forest surrounds much of the region, offering both established campgrounds and dispersed options with varying levels of facilities and accessibility.

What to do

Shoreline exploration at East Park Campground: Located on the shores of East Park Reservoir, the campground provides direct lake access with a boat ramp for water activities. "Nice little campground. Camping spots are to close to each other. Bathrooms located in the campground and by the boat dock are kept clean. Short walk to the lake. Great fishing," notes a visitor to East Park Campground.

Discover historic geological formations: The Echo Park area features dramatic cliff formations where two major rivers converge. "The campground was very quiet. Only 3 other sites occupied when we visited in late June. Beautiful cliffs surround one side and the river with amazing views of steamboat rock are on the other," writes a camper at Echo Park Campground.

Explore mountain trails: Forest Service roads throughout Ashley National Forest offer access to numerous hiking paths. "Ice cave, grizzly ridge, brush creek cave, the old copper mines all in the area. Highly recommended for any adventurer," reports a visitor to Iron Springs Group Campground.

What campers like

Reservoir views: Many campsites provide direct sightlines to water features. One reviewer at Steinaker State Park Campground notes: "Steinaker State Park and Campground is located about five miles north of Vernal, UT. The campground is beautiful, and the campsites vary between desert vegetation, large shady cottonwoods, and sandy beaches."

Clean facilities: Despite remote locations, many campgrounds maintain well-serviced restrooms. A camper at Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA reported: "The facility is very nice and clean. The staff is super friendly."

Family-oriented recreation areas: Several glamping locations near Vernal offer organized activities. "We just had spent a week in Colorado, we chose this camp ground as a stop over on the way home. When we got here the staff was amazing! The place was clean and the amenities were awesome, so awesome we ended up staying here longer than one night so we could enjoy a movie in the park, explore the end of dinosaur days, and relax in this quiet KOA."

What you should know

Weather fluctuations: Mountain settings can experience rapid temperature changes and unexpected conditions. Pack accordingly for both hot days and cold nights.

Road conditions: Many camping areas require travel on unpaved roads. A camper at Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping warns: "FS road #13 has large diameter cobble base and makes for a bumpy road. There are much better dispersed sites across the hwy on FS roads #839 and #838 for RVs and TTs."

Insect activity: Certain locations experience heavy mosquito presence during summer months. "Title says it all. Gorgeous location along creek surrounded by awesome cliffs. But we had to leave because we literally couldn't escape the mosquitos," notes a visitor to Echo Park Campground.

Water availability: Not all campgrounds provide drinking water. "Nice CG, paved FS rd all the way except last 1/2 mile of gravel from FS rd #20. CG has 20 camp sites, no reservations. $10 nite, vault toilets but NO water or garbage," reports a camper about East Park.

Tips for camping with families

Group accommodations: Reservable group sites accommodate larger family gatherings. "Nice large area in the trees on edge of a large open meadow grassy area. Signs note only two group areas but one in center seems to have all the shade and the tables," says a visitor to Iron Springs Group Campground.

Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer specialized facilities for children. According to one camper at Vernal/Dinosaurland KOA, "What I liked about this campground were all the activity options they gave you, unlike some other KOA's I've stayed at. There was a small but functional K-9 park, a kids park, a swimming pool, a jump pad, and they had bike/3 wheeler rentals, and a mini golf coarse."

Alternative glamping options close to Vernal: For families seeking glamping experiences, several options exist. "We rented the group site for Mothers Day weekend, very clean and nice, close to town...had a blast on paddle boards and kayaks," notes a Steinaker State Park visitor.

Tips from RVers

Unlevel sites: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. "Most sites are best for smaller rigs, tent trailers and tents. There were only 4-5 sites that would accommodate our 26' trailer. Because the campground is on the side of a hill, sites are pretty unlevel, but we were able to adapt," comments a visitor to Cedar Springs Campground.

Limited hookups: Full-service sites are concentrated at specific campgrounds. "Spent one night here. The staff was really friendly and it's a very well maintained camp. The showers and bathrooms were spotless, and the dumpsters were very convenient. I ended up at a full hookup spot that cost $50 a night. I believe there are $30 options available as well."

Dump station access: Not all campgrounds provide on-site sanitary dumping. "Upon arrival the campground was about half full, but no water was on yet, the dump station was closed, the camp host had set up, but was not present and the vault toilet cleaning logs said baths had not been cleaned for 6 days," reports a Cedar Springs camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Vernal, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Vernal, UT is Steinaker State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Vernal, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Vernal, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.