Camping near Vernal, Utah offers access to both the Dinosaur National Monument and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area with elevations ranging from 4,800 to 9,000 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while winter brings snow, especially at higher elevations. Most campgrounds in the area have limited natural shade with juniper and cottonwood trees providing spotty coverage.
What to do
Dinosaur tracks hiking: Visit Red Fleet State Park Campground where a dedicated trail leads to preserved dinosaur footprints. "There is a beach area with a floating dock to swim out to. They rent kayaks, paddle boards and canoes... Numerous trails surround the park for hiking, including the Dinosaur track trail where you can actually see dinosaur tracks in the sandstone rock," explains Tammy H.
Kayak to fossil sites: Red Fleet State Park Campground offers unique water-based exploration opportunities. "Our absolute favorite part of this campground is the ability to rent kayaks and kayak over to see the dinosaur footprints. This was our first time seeing anything of the like, and it absolutely blew our minds! Do NOT miss doing this while visiting," recommends Angela G.
Riverside relaxation: Camp along the Green River at Dinosaur National Monument for water access and scenic views. "Beautiful site along the Green River within Dinosaur National Monument. There is a nice easy-moderate trail along the river from Loop A of the campground. Quiet with clean, basic bathrooms. Lots of cottonwood trees changing color now," notes Kim G.
What campers like
Proximity to attractions: Outlaw Trail RV Park offers convenient access to popular destinations. "This place was very nice. Awesome spot to stop and launch off on adventures into Dinosaurs national monument... Staff was very nice and accommodating and very quiet at night," shares Andrew C. Another camper adds it's "a 6 minute drive to the Quarry Visitor Center of Dinosaur National Monument."
Laundry facilities: Several campgrounds provide clean laundry services for longer stays. One camper at Outlaw Trail notes: "Clean, modern laundry. $2/wash and $2/40 min of dryer. Clean restrooms... Level gravel sites. Right outside visitor center for Dinosaur national monument."
Playground amenities: Outlaw Trail RV Park offers recreational facilities for families beyond basic camping. "This place was awesome. Play set, tons of grass, sand volleyball, tether ball, picnic/grilling areas. laundry and bathroom/shower very clean. And staff was great to work with," says Ammon L.
What you should know
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds have water that may require filtering or bringing your own. At Vernal RV Resort, one camper noted: "The biggest complaint that I had about the sites was the taste of the water. We had to buy bottled water because we couldn't stand the taste of the tap water even though it went through a filter."
Limited privacy between sites: At Fossil Valley RV Park, campers mention the tight spacing. A recent visitor noted, "The sites are level, gravel and shaded, but close together (maybe 8')." Another mentioned, "This RV Park has very nice big shade trees and lots of grass. If you get a space towards the back of the Park the road noise mentioned by others isn't an issue."
Weather considerations: Campgrounds around Vernal experience extreme temperature fluctuations. "Our visit was in August and temperatures were in the high 90's, maybe 100 degrees. That made things hot. The nights were great. Clear skies made looking at stars wonderful," reports one camper at Red Fleet State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Steinaker State Park Campground offers family-friendly water activities. "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," shares Tammy H.
Dark sky viewing: Bring telescopes or binoculars for stargazing at Green River Campground. "Beautiful dark sky area and the stars at night are awesome. At night you can hear the Green River-which is near by," mentions Myrna G.
Cabin alternatives: Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals for families wanting comfort without an RV. Steinaker State Park has "one cabin that they rent out that looks to be in great condition," while Vernal/Dinosaurland KOA features "a couple of tipis, a woody tent... 15 tent sites & cabins."
Tips from RVers
Spacing considerations: At Fossil Valley RV Park, one RVer noted, "This park is clean and well maintained with plenty of pull thru sites with room for all your tow vehicles. Full hookups with max 50 amp service and good Wi-Fi. Shady park with nice bathrooms/showers and close to stores and restaurants."
Cell service: Digital nomads will find varying connectivity at different rv parks in Vernal. At Pine Forest RV Park, a camper mentioned, "Water pressure was good, no OTA channels so we put out our satellite with no issues, above average WiFi and 3 bars on Verizon."
Shade importance: Summer heat makes tree cover valuable. At Vernal/Dinosaurland KOA, a camper advised: "Pretty typical KOA. Some shade. We were in an overflow site with dirt pad but most sites seemed to be gravel. Bring earplugs, lots of road noise at least in the front of the park."
