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Camping

Established Camping

Simpson Springs Campground

Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Our facility is experiencing a temporary water outage. Please bring all the water youll need for your visit, including drinking water.

Starting October 14, 2024, construction will begin to expand the campground. Please expect increased noise and traffic near the Northwest side.

Simpson Springs Campground, near Tooele, Utah, offers a unique camping experience in the heart of the west desert. With its wide-open spaces and stunning views, it’s a fantastic place for those who appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape.

The campground features clean pit toilets and seasonal drinking water, making it a comfortable choice for campers. Each site comes equipped with a fire pit and picnic table, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars. As one visitor noted, “If you like the open desert, this place is gorgeous,” and many have enjoyed the breathtaking sunsets that paint the sky in vibrant colors.

For adventure seekers, Simpson Springs is steeped in history, being a former Pony Express station. Nearby, you can explore the remnants of this historic route or even catch a glimpse of wild mustangs roaming the area. Just be mindful of the local wildlife, as some campers have reported seeing rattlesnakes, though they’re not a common sight near the campsites.

Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking your RV, Simpson Springs Campground provides a rustic yet beautiful setting for your outdoor getaway. With its serene atmosphere and proximity to unique geological features, it’s a great base for exploring the surrounding desert.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Salt Lake Field Office

Overview

Notice of Construction at Simpson Springs Campground Start: October 15, 2024 Anticipated completion: December 2024 Simpson Springs is getting a new group site! Over the course of the next 3 months construction crews will be building a new shade structure, 7 tent pads, and a new parking area to facilitate large group camping. Construction will extend into the main access road-- please anticipate delays accessing the campground. We appreciate your patience while construction crews are at work. Reach out to the BLM Salt Lake Field Office with any questions. The campground is situated on the eastern edge of Utah's West Desert near the historic Simpson Springs station on the Pony Express National Historic Trail. Simpson Springs was the site of a significant Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in the late 1930s and early 1940s, just prior to the establishment of the US Army Dugway Proving Grounds during World War II.

Recreation

Hiking, picnicking, OHV riding, mountian biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, scenic backcountry byway, Pony Express National Historic Trail.

Natural Features

Campground is along the Pony Express National Historic Trail.

Nearby Attractions

Historic Pony Express National Historic Trail site and visitor interpretation.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (801) 320-8300.

Fee Info

Year round $15.00 per site

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Location

Simpson Springs Campground is located in Utah

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-80, take exit 199 (Tooele) and travel south on Highway 36 for approximately 40 miles. Turn right onto the Pony Express Road and travel for approximately 25 miles. The campground is approximately 12 miles south of Dugway, Utah, on the Pony Express Road.

Coordinates

41.021964 N
112.47178 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 17, 2024

Long drive on dirt roads, great for solitude high desert

Spot#1 Good shade and privacy clean bathrooms. Sheep dogs came through with herd of sheep (make SURE you have your dogs secured so they're not attacked by herding dogs). Beautiful open views of Utah west desert

Site1
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by UT801 , October 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by UT801 , October 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by UT801 , October 17, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 24, 2023

Wide Open Spaces at Simpson Springs

You don't find many places that are as open as Simpson Springs.  The camp features pit toilets that at the campsite were very clean (not as much at the ones down by the main road - but not terrible).  Seasonally water is available, it wasn't as of 4/16/23.  Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.  If you like the open desert, this place is gorgeous.  Not far from topaz mines and the geode beds.  You can occasionally see the Army practicing out in the distance which is pretty cool as well.  We use Xfinity Mobile which is on the Verizon network and had no cell service at the campground.  You can get cell service closer to Dugway (north of the campground).

Site12
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Scott , April 24, 2023
Reviewed May. 28, 2022

Great Site

We were the only campers when we stayed. Clean bathroom. Great sites with tent pad, fire ring and picnic table. Drinking water from well. This was a stop on the pony express and there are ruins nearby. A band of mustangs sometimes frequents the spring across the road. Be aware there are rattle snakes. Saw one at the pump but none near our campsite.

Month of VisitMay
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Michelle B., May 28, 2022
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Michelle B., May 28, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jan. 29, 2022

Probably great for OHV's.

This campground was very rough to get to in my Versa, and not a very good payoff upon arrival. Bathrooms were pretty gross. Views were nice enough. Not much to do, the only trail I found was closed. Lots of bugs. There was drinkable water, which was nice, and literally no one around.

Site06
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Anna Z., January 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Anna Z., January 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Anna Z., January 29, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 14, 2021

Wide expanses and dramatic sunsets

Campground has trees. Upper loop sites are bigger and more spread out, which is nice. Spots 1-11 must be reserved online. The rest are first come first serve. There is some dust that floats up from cars and ATVs on main dirt road below. Site I stayed in was very clean, and pit toilet room clean too, with TP. Very nice visit. Nice concrete fire pit. There are a lot of little side roads to camp on nearby if you don't want to be in a campground.

  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Flo B., April 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Flo B., April 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Flo B., April 14, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 8, 2021

Beautiful Sunsets

Good campground with vault toilets and water spouts. Sites are uneven so if you have an RV expect to use your leveling blocks. We enjoyed the solid fire pits and picnic tables.

Reviewed Nov. 6, 2020

Definitely off the Beaten Path

Off of the Pony Express road, this campground really isn't visible until you are parked in it.  There is not a lot of tree cover and there is a lot of dust. It's dispersed camping with only 3-4 spots.  The pictures that are posted are exactly what it looks like.

Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2020

.

Very rustic and beautiful scenery. Water is available seasonally and pit toilets were clean. Sun sets are amazing.

  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Terry S., October 15, 2020
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Terry S., October 15, 2020
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Terry S., October 15, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2020

Beautiful campground in the west desert

Campground is clean, many of the sites have shade. Portable water available May-Oct. the views are stunning... wild horses, antelopes. You could hear coyotes howl through the night... campsite was clean

  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Teresa T., June 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Teresa T., June 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Teresa T., June 30, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed May. 20, 2019

On your way to Dugway

Stayed here with a group of Scouts on our way to Dugway to look for Geodes. They have nice big spots. Lots of cedar trees. Lots of history and amazing sun sets. This is a great place to pitch a tent or take a trailer.

This is the West desert and it can get hot in the summer months. It is a great place to go in Spring and Fall.

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2018

What? A campground in the desert?

It constantly surprises people that there is a campground here. It can be brutely hot during the summer, but the rest of the year, it's a nice place to camp if you are exploring the desert. There is actually a spring here, which used to be readily available, but now it's mostly not available (it's plumbed into taps now). This place has a tremendous amount of history, first it was a station on the Pony Express route, then it was a large CCC project camp, complete with swimming pool, and now it sits on the Pony Express byway, and also is within easy view of the Dugway Proving Grounds, where, if you're lucky, you'll get to see some A10s attacking the hundreds of targets within the proving grounds.

  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Michael J., July 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Michael J., July 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Simpson Springs Campground by Michael J., July 31, 2018
  • (11) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Simpson Springs Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Simpson Springs Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Simpson Springs Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Simpson Springs Campground does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Simpson Springs Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Simpson Springs Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Simpson Springs Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Simpson Springs Campground?

    There are 23 campsites at Simpson Springs Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts