Steinaker State Park Campground houses upscale glamping accommodations with luxury yurts and canvas tents positioned along the shoreline five miles north of Vernal, offering some of the best glamping campsites in the area. This glamping destination offers a premium experience with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control systems in select units, plus convenient access to the lake for water activities. One guest shared, "Wow! We spent 3 nights at Dippy Cabin and what a fantastic place! Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave." The glamping sites feature private picnic areas with fire pits, grills, and scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Beyond the standard amenities, Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA provides additional glamping options with upgraded canvas tents and yurts that include furnished interiors, bedding, and nearby access to modern bathhouse facilities with showers and toilets.
Water-based adventures dominate the glamping experience at Steinaker State Park, where the warm swimming waters and sandy beaches create ideal conditions for paddleboarding, kayaking, and relaxed shoreline recreation. According to a camper, "We had a blast on paddle boards and kayaks" during their stay at the group site. The eco-friendly glamping locations serve as excellent basecamps for exploring nearby attractions including the Moonshine Arch hiking trail, mountain biking routes, and Dinosaur National Monument just 20 miles away. Summer visitors benefit from extended daylight hours for outdoor activities, while spring and fall offer more temperate conditions for hiking the Eagle Crest trail with panoramic views of the lake and valley. Most glamping accommodations remain available from May through September, with advance reservations strongly recommended for weekend stays and holiday periods when these unique outdoor lodging experiences fill quickly.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $150 / night
"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."
"Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table and chairs. Bathrooms were clean, water was hot."
from $29 - $72 / night
"Almost every spot along the river was taken, but once you were in your camp you could hardly tell neighbors were around."
from $10 / night
"From here we set off on the Swift Creek trail that ascends quickly. the Yellowstone trail however goes through a dense tunnel of forest for quite a few miles."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
"It looks as if theres a big lodge with cabins for sale that are all closed up right now and takes up one side of the lake. We got up there a lil bit lake about 4pm on a Friday and it was amazing!"
"Bathrooms were cleaned and maintained. We happened to go during mosquito season, but the views were with it. Beautiful place."
"Moon Lake Campground is a clean and modern campground on the shores of a beautiful high mountain lake. The spots can be a little close together, but they are well developed."
"Fun campground with plenty of spaces near Moon Lake. There are toilets, drinking water, fire pits, and even a lodge where you can buy supplies or rent a boat for the lake."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $32 / night
"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."
"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."
"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."
GuideNice place to stay. Very Clean. Gift shop and restaurant were also very clean. Fishing on the green river is always great. Also great access to the southern end of the Gorge. Wonderful area in the mountains. Campground was green grass and newly planted trees when we went.
TravelerWe went a bit further than the recommended spot, just to sight see but actually found a spot that is a campsite in summer, and is now open spots. We parked 200 feet from the edge of the water. The spot came with a fire pit and picnic table.
RangerWell-spaced sites in a spectacular setting. The campground was sparsely populated on a Monday in September, making it feel especially peaceful and spacious. Facilities were clean, and both sunset and sunrise were stunning. Pronghorns played in the nearby fields. Dark sky gave us the Milky Way. We loved it here and wished we could have stayed longer than one night. It also made a great base for exploring the Flaming Gorge area, including the phenomenal Red Canyon Overlook. Highly recommend.
LegendClean and well maintained. Friendly staff. A mile from downtown Vernal. Close to Ashley National Forest and Dinosaur National Monument.
ScoutUnfortunately, we were really disappointed with our experience at Lucerne Campground. We stayed for a 7-day trip, and by day two, the bathrooms had already run out of toilet paper. The bathrooms did not appear to be cleaned or maintained throughout our stay, and they eventually started to smell really bad. For a campground where guests are staying for multiple days, we expected the restroom facilities to at least be regularly stocked and cleaned. We also had an unpleasant interaction with the camp host, who we felt was not very respectful or welcoming. We love camping and understand that campground facilities are going to be basic, but basic cleanliness, stocked bathrooms, and respectful communication with guests should be expected. Unfortunately, based on our experience, we would not choose to stay here again.
LegendGreat spacious level sites. Good fishing. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained grounds.
LegendVery quiet and peaceful. Sites are spacious. Boat ramp and fishing. No swimming signs posted. Beautiful night skies.
RangerThis is a nice campground in desert like surroundings. There is a central bathrooms with individual shower rooms that are really clean. There are vault toilets scattered throughout. The space are mostly drive through, which is nice. This campground is close to all the main scenic routes and hikes.
GuidePrivate campsite at the end of I24 in the Flaming Gorge area. The road going in was hard packed and we had no problems. Even a small car could navigate this road. Only one campsite at the end of this road. It was the perfect site for us. Only had to vehicles come down the road and they only stayed a few minutes and then they moved onto another spot. Water was crystal clear and sunsets were spectacular!
Steinaker State Park Campground offers more than glamping near the water. Located in Ashley National Forest, this park provides a range of camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations at 5,520 feet elevation. During summer months, temperatures typically range between 75-95°F during the day, dropping to 45-60°F at night. The campground's 31 sites are positioned among desert vegetation and shady cottonwood trees, with varying degrees of privacy and access to the 820-acre reservoir.
Fishing opportunities: Steinaker Reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout and largemouth bass. "Fishing is so so but the water is warm enough to swim in during summer months. There is also a geocache hidden by the fish cleaning station, if you ask the rangers they can give you the coordinates," shares one camper at Steinaker State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: The Eagle Crest trail provides excellent views of Steinaker Lake and the surrounding valley. "Hike the Eagle Crest trail located at the large group site for beautiful views of the lake, and Vernal beyond. Make Steinaker your basecamp for the many mountain biking trails just up the highway," notes a visitor.
Nearby adventures: Visit the geological features around Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA which is approximately 45 miles north. "There are many walking trails and atv trails accessible from this campground," according to a local camper. Another visitor adds, "There's a nice lake and some amazing geological features just north of the park."
Privacy options: Some sites at Ashley National Forest Riverview Campground provide more seclusion than others. "We showed up Labor Day weekend. Almost every spot along the river was taken, but once you were in your camp you could hardly tell neighbors were around," reports one camper who appreciated the privacy despite full occupancy.
Clean facilities: Campground facilities are well-maintained throughout the area. At Steinaker State Park, visitors note "very pleasant cg around a smallish lake near Vernal, UT. Friendly manager of park," highlighting the "pit toilets but also has a flush toilet/4 shower building. And dump station."
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution allows for excellent stargazing. "The night sky was amazing, could see the whole milky way galaxy," writes a camper about Riverview Campground. "The toilets were really clean and well maintained."
Water availability varies: Not all campgrounds offer drinking water. At Utah Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping, there are no water facilities. "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," advises one camper.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds open from May through October. "This campground fills up fast during the summer weekends so keep that in mind and get up there early," warns a visitor about East Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Circle Camp as we have named it is a popular site and your lucky to score it anytime during the summer months," notes a regular at Iron Springs Group Campground.
Kid-friendly activities: The KOA in Vernal offers numerous activities for children. "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," shares a visitor at Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA.
Yurt camping options: For families seeking yurt camping near Whiterocks, Utah, several options are available. "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," mentions a camper about the facilities that include yurts and canvas tent options.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw 4 moose" within a few miles of Moon Lake Campground, reports one family. Another visitor adds, "We saw several deer throughout the day. There are a few hiking trails and they offer horse rides as well."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites with electrical, water and sewer connections are limited. "The campground has full hook up spots, Electrical, a cabin you can rent and tent sites," notes a camper at Steinaker State Park.
Road conditions: Many forest roads require careful navigation. "The road was pretty rough, some large divits and larger rocks on the road. I drive an outback so I just went slow and it was fine," shares a visitor about Forest Road 13.
Dump stations: Not all campgrounds provide dump facilities. "Laundry was $2 wash and 1.50 dry. Super nice people own. They charge $15 to dump if boondocking nearby. Water is .40c/gallon," reports a recent visitor at Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Whiterocks, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Whiterocks, UT is Steinaker State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 23 reviews.
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