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Utah has stunning vistas, mountains, and an abundance of outdoor activities. With many wide-open spaces across the state, there are many attractive options for Utah camping.
You can explore Utah’s high mountains or roll across its deserts and into breathtaking canyons. Whatever your preference, Utah has something for anyone who loves the great outdoors.
With so much to see and do in Utah, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. There are many national and state parks and private campgrounds to choose from, so we’ve put together a detailed list of our 10 best places for Utah camping. Let’s start exploring!
Utah Is Perfect for Your Next Camping Adventure
Why is Utah perfect for your next camping adventure? Let us count the ways. Whether you love mountain biking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, trail riding, fishing, or any number of other outdoor activities, Utah has it all.
They also have an outrageous number of camping options. If you are in an RV, many different sites suit your travel style.
RV Camping Options in Utah
Utah has a wide range of RV campgrounds. There are numerous options, from National Parks and state park campgrounds to private campgrounds.
National Parks
Utah has the third most national parks in the country. There are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. All five parks are located in the southern part of the state, providing an expanse of rock formations, arches, and canyons.
In addition to the five national parks, Utah is also home to eight national monuments.
State Parks
While the national parks in Utah primarily feature rock, canyons, and desert-like terrain, Utah also has a treasure trove of state parks to enjoy. There are 43 state parks in total.
The Utah state parks have Native American ruins, dunes, more rock formations and canyons, desert vistas, wetlands, and wildlife areas.
Private Campgrounds
If national or state parks aren’t quite your speed, Utah also has a plethora of private campgrounds with easy access to the state’s outdoor adventures.
Can’t Miss Places for Utah Camping
Utah is known far and wide for its stunning national parks, but it is also an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Whether you want to explore the arches, canyons, and cliffs the state is famous for, or if you’re going to get out on your mountain bike or kayak, go river rafting, or go hiking, there is no end to unique places for Utah camping.
#1. Watchman Campground, Zion National Park
Address: UT-9 Springdale, UT 84767
About Watchman Campground: Operated by the National Park Service (NPS), the Watchman Campground is located next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. It is about one-quarter mile from the south entrance to the park and about one-half mile from Springdale.
The main attraction at Watchman is Zion, which is a massive 150,000-acre national park. It has stunning sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and excellent hiking options.
Included Amenities: All sites have a picnic table and access to a fire ring. There is a trash/recycling collection and a dump site year-round, as well as an amphitheater and access to potable water.
Know Before You Go: Only about half of Watchman’s sites offer electrical hook-ups. There are no full hook-up sites. Some sites are RV only, while others are tent camping only. RVs and trailers are limited to a maximum length of 40 feet. All campsites require reservations year-round.
The campground is open year-round, though portions are closed during December, January, and February. There are group campsites available from March through November.
#2. Southern Utah RV Resort, Washington
Address: 720 E Merit Way, Washington UT 84780
About Southern Utah RV Resort: Southern Utah RV Resort is northeast of St. George. It is a private campground with all the amenities you could want. Not only that, it is in the perfect location to have a comfortable base camp from which to explore the beauty that Southern Utah has to offer, including several national and state parks.
Included Amenities: Every site has Wi-Fi, sewer, water, and 50-amp hook-ups. There are also restrooms, showers, a laundry facility, and an off-leash dog area. Other resort amenities include fire pits, putting greens, picnic tables, a pavilion, a playground, corn hole games, pickleball courts, and basketball courts.
Know Before You Go: Southern Utah RV Park is located right off Interstate 15, convenient for you to go out and explore. It also means that you will be subject to freeway noise.
Propane fire pits are allowed, but no campfires. For those with fur babies, while the park is dog friendly, Southern Utah RV Resort says that Caucasian Ovcharkas, Pit Bulls, and Alaskan Malamutes are not allowed because of insurance purposes.
#3. North Campground, Bryce Canyon National Park
Address: Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764
About Bryce Canyon City: The NPS-operated North Campground near Bryce Canyon National Park is a top place to stay. It has easy access to the famous Fairyland Loop Trail and is close to Bryce Canyon City.
Three miles up the road from North Campground, Bryce Canyon City has a resort, several restaurants, a general store, and souvenir shops. It also has access to horseback rides, ATV tours, scenic flights, and a free shuttle into the park.
Included Amenities: There is trash and recycling collection year-round, but most other amenities are available seasonally during the summer months. Seasonal amenities include a camp store, wood and ice for purchase, a laundry, an amphitheater, a dumpsite, and potable water.
Know Before You Go: The campground is across the road from the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. There are specific loops for RVs separate from the tent camping loops. None of the sites have electrical, water, or sewer hook-ups, and the dumpsite is only available during the summer months. There is also no cell reception.
#4. Red Cliffs Campground, Hurricane
Address: Red Cliffs Campground, Hurricane, UT 84737
About Red Cliffs Campground: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) operates the Red Cliffs Campground. It is in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, known for visible dinosaur footprints in the sandstone, Native American ruins, and the Red Reef Trail, which follows Quail Creek. Quail Creek flows through the campground. The campground is close to Quail Creek State Park and Zion National Park.
Included Amenities: Red Cliffs has shade shelters, picnic tables, potable water, and grills. There are easily accessible hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as nearby trailheads for equestrians and their horse trailers.
Know Before You Go: The Red Cliffs Campground is open year-round and has 11 sites. Two sites are accessible for visitors with disabilities, and there are three pull-through sites. Stays are limited to 14 days. There is also no camping allowed on BLM land within one mile of the recreation area to protect the area’s natural resources and to minimize the impact on private property.
The campground requires reservations, which includes payment. There is no first-come, first-serve camping, and you cannot pay on site.
#5. Devils Garden Campground, Moab
Address: Arches Entrance Rd, Moab, UT 84532
About Devils Garden Campground: Devils Garden Campground is one of the most convenient ways to explore Arches National Park. It is deep inside the park in the red rock desert. Devils Garden is 18 miles north of the park entrance and 23 miles from Moab. It is a high desert environment surrounded by stunning red rock formations.
Included Amenities: Amenities at Devils Garden include drinking water, flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There are also several trailheads within walking distance of the campground.
Know Before You Go: Devils Garden is a first-come, first-serve campground from November 1 through February 28. During peak season, March 1 through October 31, reservations are required. The reservation includes access to Arches National Park, for which you would otherwise need a separate reservation if you weren’t staying at the campground.
There are no hook-ups, dump sites, and showers at Devils Garden. There are 51 sites. Campers are limited to 7 days in one month and no more than 14 days per year.
#6. The Needles Campground, Canyonlands National Park
Address: UT-211, Moab, UT 84532
About The Needles Campground: The Needles Campground is remote with no services and no cell signal. It is in the southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park. The Needles was named after the colorful Cedar Mesa Sandstone spires.
Included Amenities: There are flush toilets seasonally and vault toilets year-round, picnic tables, fire rings, trash and recycling collection, and an amphitheater. There is access to potable water available seasonally.
Know Before You Go: The Needles Campground consists of 26 sites and three group sites. You can reserve spots from spring through fall. The remainder of the year is first-come, first-serve. There is a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights.
There are no hookups and no dumpsites. It’s also important to know that the maximum RV or trailer length is 28 feet.
#7. Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins
Address: 1002 Snow Canyon Dr, Ivins, UT 84738
About Snow Canyon State Park: Snow Canyon State Park is 11 miles northwest of St. George. The campground is surrounded by ancient lava flows and red Navajo sandstone. There are numerous trails and dunes to explore by hiking, biking, or horseback.
Included Amenities: Amenities at Snow Canyon State Park include flushing toilets, showers, potable water, fire pits, grills, tables, and a visitors center.
Know Before You Go: Open year-round, Snow Canyon State Park comprises 32 sites, though only 14 have water and electric hook-ups. Four others have electricity only. There is a dump station available in the campground. The maximum stay is 14 nights in any 30 days.
#8. Castle Gate RV Park & Campground, Helper
Address: 1020 Spring Glen Rd, Helper UT 84526
About Castle Gate RV Park: Halfway between Salt Lake City and Moab, Castle Gate RV Park is a luxurious launchpad for all sorts of outdoor activities. The RV park is within walking distance of historic downtown Helper, Utah. It is surrounded by Book Cliffs mountains, the Price River, and Balance Rock. From the park, there is direct access to OHV, mountain bike, and hiking trails.
Included Amenities: All of Castel Gate’s RV sites are full hook-up with 30/50 amp electricity, water, sewer, free fiber-optic Wi-Fi, cable TV, picnic tables, and fire rings. There are also a few smoke-free sites that do not have fire rings. The campground has laundry facilities, a store, showers, a playground, a splash pad, and horseshoe pits.
Know Before You Go: Castle Gate has many options with its 105 sites. They have everything from tent sites and cabins to any type of RV site. Guests rave about the spacious size and level of the RV sites, which range from 50-60-foot back-ins to 70-100-foot pull-through sites, as well as wheelchair-friendly areas.
#9. Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef
Address: Camp Ground Rd, Torrey, UT 84775
About Fruita Campground: Fruita Campground is in Capitol Reef National Park. It is along the Fremont River and is surrounded by historic orchards, which were planted by settlers in the late 1800s.
Capitol Reef contains the majority of a 100-mile-long ridge of layered rock called the Waterpocket Fold. It also has many other fantastic rock features, such as domes, arches, cliffs, and slot canyons.
Included Amenities: Every site at Fruita Campground has a picnic table and a firepit or above-ground grill. There are no individual water, sewage, or electrical hook-ups, though there is an RV dump and a potable water filling station. There are restrooms with running water and flush toilets, but no showers.
Know Before You Go: Fruita Campground has 71 sites, none of which have RV hook-ups. The campground is first-come, first-serve from November 1 through February 28. All sites are by reservation only during the high season from March 1 through October 31. From March 1 through November 30, the length of stay is limited to 14 days. From December 1 through February 28, guests can stay up to 30 days at a time.
#10. Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City
Address: 2120 S US 40, Heber City UT 84032
About Mountain Valley RV Resort: Just south of Park City, Mountain Valley RV Resort is close to several Utah state parks. Set in the Rocky Mountains, the resort has numerous activities on-site. It is close to prime fishing, championship golf, two huge reservoirs, mountain biking and hiking trails, and scenic byways.
Included Amenities: The amenities at Mountain Valley include heated pools and hot tubs, a gathering facility, private bathrooms and showers, laundry facilities, basketball, pickleball, volleyball, a children’s playground, RV supplies, a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi.
There is also a Phase 2 area limited to guests 21 and older. It has a separate clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts, laundry, and exercise room.
Know Before You Go: Mountain Valley RV Resort has 193 full hook-up sites. There are 30-amp, 50-amp, and 100-amp sites available. All Phase 2 sites are 50-amp only (meaning a 30-amp rig would need an adapter) and are limited to folks over 21 years of age.
Mountain Valley RV Resort reserves the right to refuse any RVs management deems undesirable. According to their website, “Only well-kept RVs are allowed in the resort. RVs and vehicles older than the year 2000 must submit a photo for approval.”
Visit Utah on Your Next Trip
No matter how you like to travel, there is an option for excellent camping in Utah. Want to get away from the crowds and rough it? Want to be seated in the lap of luxury at an RV resort? Or do you want to find a spot that puts you close to all the fantastic wonders Utah has to offer?
Whatever you are looking for, there is a Utah camping option for you. And now you know what to expect wherever it is you want to go. So start planning that next grand adventure!
