Camping sites near Hanna, Wyoming offer diverse terrain ranging from grassy lakeshores to high desert settings at elevations between 6,400-8,000 feet. The region's wind patterns create a challenging camping environment during spring months, particularly at exposed reservoir sites. Most campgrounds maintain facilities from late May through mid-October, with limited services during shoulder seasons.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The North Platte River flowing through Dugway Recreation Site provides excellent trout fishing access. "This tiny dispersed site is on the North Platte River with boat access and a few weedy, private sites spread out in this area tucked inside private property," notes a camper who visited but didn't stay overnight.
Visit hot springs: Take a short drive from camping areas into Saratoga to enjoy the public hot springs. When staying at Saratoga Lake Campground, campers recommend: "While you are here, go to Bella's for the most unexpectedly amazing Italian food and phenomenal wine list. Visit Hobo Hot Springs, the free hot springs in town."
Boating and water sports: Multiple reservoir-based camping locations provide boat launches for water recreation. "I love a place where I can just plug in the van and rest on road trips with a great view of water and quite enough to hear all the nature sounds. Great bird watching and pronghorn sightings," writes a visitor to Saratoga Lake Campground.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas near Hanna offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Dugway Campground, "as o pulled into my spot there was and antelope that hung out for about 30 minuets not 50 yards from me," reports one camper.
Night sky viewing: The region's minimal light pollution creates ideal stargazing conditions. At North Red Hills Area in Seminoe State Park, a visitor noted: "The night sky was breathtaking with clear viewing of Jupiter, Saturn, and their moons."
Quiet camping experience: Smaller, less developed sites offer solitude for those seeking peaceful environments. "This is a small family run campground. The owners were very friendly and helpful. The store has a cafe. I ordered the jalapeno popper burger. It was great. Breakfast was awesome," explains a visitor to Seminoe Boat Club.
What you should know
Wind considerations: Strong wind affects nearly all camping areas in the region. "Ehh it's alright. Next to the Platte river and some farms. Bring your bug spray, mosquitoes are relentless. Our poor dogs were getting bit all over," warns a visitor to Foote Public Access Area.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across the region. One camper at Dugway Recreation Site reported: "AT&T coverage is a spotty in this area without a booster, typically only 1-2 Bars of 3G service and up to 0.05 MB/s. With our weboost we were able to get 3-4 bars of LTE, with speeds up to 0.5 MB/s."
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes create significant challenges, particularly at riverside sites. "But damn there were a lot of mosquitoes. I don't mean like a few dozen or hundreds… I mean millions. It was like a horror movie with them covering the windows of our RV," reports a camper at Bow River Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. Western Hills Campground provides "a very simple playground, the mini golf is a great touch that is different than most campgrounds," according to a recent visitor.
Water safety planning: Lake and river camping areas require close supervision of children. At Saratoga Lake Campground, one visitor mentioned, "Beautiful views of the Rockies down in Colorado and the plains stretching out east, plus the nearby rock formations at Medicine Bow. Excellent area to get that backcountry experience just a few feet from your car."
Wildlife education opportunities: Multiple camping areas offer chances to observe diverse bird species. A camper at Dugway Recreation Site noted, "As others have mentioned, we have seen deer, bald eagles, ducks, pelicans and heard a band of coyotes that came rather close to camp one night."
Tips from RVers
Uneven terrain preparation: Many dispersed sites require careful leveling. At White Rock Canyon Dispersed Site, "We have a 36 ft fifthwheel. The road has washboard and is quite steep in places. The biggest issue was finding a place to turn around... No sites are level so bring your legos."
Dump station access: Limited facilities exist for waste disposal. Red Desert Rose Campground provides full services including "a sanitary-dump, sewer hookups, showers, toilets, trash removal and water hookups," making it suitable for longer stays.
Road condition awareness: Access to many sites requires careful navigation. For Dugway Campground, a reviewer warns, "The paved road on the back side of the Sinclare refinery leading up to it is pretty beat up, just be advised. Not a ton to do there unless you fish. We just wanted a nice out of the way place for an overnighter."