Best Tent Camping near Willard, UT

Dispersed tent camping dominates the landscape near Willard, Utah, with several free primitive options within a 30-minute drive. Monte Cristo dispersed camping area offers tent sites with fire rings and no facilities, requiring campers to pack in water and pack out waste. Curtis Creek and Arbs Basin provides similar primitive tent camping experiences, with both areas located in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest where permits are required for overnight stays.

Most tent sites in this region feature unimproved surfaces with minimal site preparation. Dispersed camping areas lack amenities such as toilets, potable water, or garbage service. Campers must bring all necessary water, practice proper waste disposal, and check current fire restrictions, which change seasonally. The Hobble campground offers more formal tent sites with picnic tables and vault toilets, though drinking water is not available. Sites at higher elevations may remain inaccessible until late spring due to snow conditions, with mid-summer through early fall providing the most reliable access.

Tent campers frequent these areas for their seclusion and natural settings away from developed facilities. The dispersed sites offer more privacy than established campgrounds, with adequate space between neighboring campsites. Fall visitors experience colorful foliage, particularly at Monte Cristo where aspen trees create scenic surroundings. Wildlife sightings are common, and most areas provide access to hiking trails. Early arrival on weekends is essential during peak summer months, as the most desirable tent sites fill quickly. One camper noted, "There are tons of free sites all up and down the main road. The only problem is it gets busy - if you leave on Friday plan to get there by 3 at the latest as spots fill quick."

Best Tent Sites Near Willard, Utah (15)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Willard, UT

558 Reviews of 15 Willard Campgrounds


  • Pat S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2019

    Sunrise Campground

    Good campground, easily accessable

    Sunrise CG is located right of hwy 89 about 10 minutes west of Garden City.  The CG sits above Bear Lake. The sites are pretty spacious, heavily wooded with good shade. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each site. There are 27 sites available. There are no hooks or dump stations. There a vault toilets and no showers. there is drinking wager available. This CG can accommodate walk in tent camping to RVs. You can reserve some sites on rec.gov. 

    This was a good stop that was convenient on the way through northern Utah. The camp host was awesome and funny.

  • Tommy C.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    South Fork (UT)

    AWESOME spot

    Absolutely awesome spot. Hosts were really friendly. Stayed in my pop up camper for a night and there was tons of space for pop up and our site (A1) was the best in the campground, I think. It was secluded with tons of trees. Not all sites had a lot of tree cover. It wasn’t right off the river but it was still only a 30 second walk to the river. There were fire bans in Utah but because of the type of fire set up on concrete and built in fire places, we were able to have a fire all night which was awesome. Also my buddy is a professional singer and brought his guitar so I’m impartial. We had such a great time!!

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Magpie Campground

    Got the job done

    We were road tripping through with no reservations. The whole South Fork area has many campgrounds. Magpie is the first and one of the smaller of the campgrounds as you drive up the canyon. We drove through all the campgrounds and didn’t find any hosts to talk with to find out if we could occupy a spot. We thought it would be ok but weren’t sure if we could stay in a spot that had a weekend reservation posted. Plus there was simultaneously not very much shade and lots of overgrown vegetation that made tent camping not very feasible. All the sites with actual river frontage were occupied and most folks had campers. This was especially true at South Fork, Lower Meadows, Upper Meadows & Perception Park campgrounds. We finally found a host at Willows campground who explained the process but we didn’t see any sites we liked there. Magpie actually had some shaded sites so we headed back down there. We grabbed a spot that had no obvious river access but good shade right next to the host site. It was pretty overgrown but had enough of a flat spot to set up our tent and a big concrete pad for the picnic table and huge fire ring. Midweek it was only half full. Campground is literally mere feet from the road. Lots of road noise. Bathrooms were good enough. The host when he finally came around was very nice. The adjacent site was vacant (a double site that cost more $$) and we were able to get to the river there. We stayed two nights mid week and it never filled up but all the sites had weekend reservations. There isn’t a lot of hiking but if you like river recreation or we saw lots of paddle boarders headed up to the reservoir. We drove up Monte Cristo which was still closed for the season but probably would have been more our style. Birding was good around the campground probably due to the river. Again, road noise was annoying but expected. Also note that the forest service’s website was out of date as far as all the campgrounds in this area being open.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Wood Camp Campground (Ut) — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

    First come, first serve!

    Great area and very clean. The noise from the road isn't very noticeable as you sit along a beautiful creek. It's super relaxing and very afforable! 

    Vault toilets, no water but lots of shade. Each site has a picnic table, tent, and fire pits. Dumpster available when leaving the campground. I would consider this campground more on the primitive side of things.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2019

    South Fork (UT)

    Big Campground by the Creek!

    This campground much like the others in this canyon is situated along the banks of the South Fork of the Ogden River.  Before you get to Causey Reservoir and Weber Memorial Park, this is the biggest campground you'll encounter.  There are 35 single sites @23$ and 8 double sites @46$.  Some campsites are reservable and some are walk in sites.  A picnic table and metal fire ring is at each site along with vault toilets and drinking water scattered throughout the campground.  The campsites in the teens seemed to be the closest to the creek

    As for activities to do in the area, there are plenty of options!  Right by most of the campsites you can fly fish or set off on a tubing adventure down the Ogden River!  It is required that you have a life jacket before setting off.  If you're looking for bigger accumulations of water you can either head back down canyon to the huge Pineview Reservoir or head up canyon to the steep walled Causey Reservoir!

  • A
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Echo Island RV Resort

    Perfect for an overnight stay

    Nicely managed campground, good website, efficient reservation process. Management very helpful and friendly. The campsites are nicely spaced, good tree cover, green well kept lawn at all sites. Gravel slots, picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Good park design for the back up sites to get a large trailer situated no problem. Seems like a large and very nice pool, although I did not us those facilities. Bath and restrooms clean and plenty of them for the size of the campground.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2019

    Botts Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

    Nice Little CG close tothe Creek but also the Highway

    Is the 2nd campground heading up canyon and is also the smallest campground in the canyon.  While this is the smallest campground in the canyon half of the sites in this little loop are really close to the road and therefore have a lot of noise associated with that.  The ones closer to the river, however, are great and have tent spots nestled away right next to the river.  there are 5 single sites and 1 double site with picnic tables, fire rings, and prep/serving tables at each site.  There is also drinking water and 2 vault toilets at the entrance to the campground.

    For close recreation Pineview and Causey Reservoir are about equal distance and offer great respite from the sun with different experiences to explore!  At the mountain, cliff lined Causey Reservoir, kayaking and deep water free climbing are popular activities.  While at the larger Pineview Reservoir boating and water sports along with relaxing on the beach are more common activities, due to the gentle slopes of the reservoir.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Lower Meadows Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

    Great Sites with Space between neighbors

    While a little bit larger than its Upper Meadows twin it still sits on the south side of the river away from the road and therefore offers a bit of natural tranquility.  The campground is about half the size of the Perception Park Compound but will hold maybe 1/6 of the people so you'll have lots of distance between your neighbors.  You can choose from 17 single sites or 6 double sites @ 23$ and 46$ respectively.  Like the other campgrounds in the canyon the amenities are fairly primitive with fire rings and picnic tables at each site with drinking water spigots and vault toilets scattered throughout the playground.

    For fun things to do in the area there is Causey Reservoir which is only a few miles up canyon!  It is a wonderful spot to kayak, canoe, or SUP around and also to access the cliffs for some deep water solo climbing!

  • Mk A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Anderson Cove (uinta-wasatch-cache National Forest, Ut)

    Noisy.

    Super noisy both nights I stayed, literally people were kicked out both days for noise issues. Road noise from the walk in site I was at. Super pretty and close to the city. But not worth it if you like sleeping. No showers limited access to water


Guide to Willard

Tent camping near Willard, Utah offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With stunning landscapes and numerous activities, these campgrounds cater to all types of campers.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $250

  • Camping at Ladyfinger Campground — Antelope Island State Park costs around $20, which includes the entrance fee to the park.
  • The Green Canyon Yurt offers a unique experience for $250 per night, accommodating up to 12 guests with amenities for a cozy stay.
  • For a free option, check out dispersed camping near Monte Cristo, where you can enjoy beautiful views without any fees.

Local attractions to enhance your camping experience

  • Visit the nearby Powder Mountain ski area, just a short drive from Port Ramp Marina, perfect for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
  • Take a scenic drive to Antelope Island State Park, where Ladyfinger Campground provides access to stunning sunsets and unique wildlife encounters.
  • Explore the hiking trails at Cache National Forest Bridger Campground, known for its spacious sites and proximity to beautiful natural scenery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Willard, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Willard, UT is Port Ramp Marina with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Willard, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Willard, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.