10 Unbelievable Places to Go Camping in Utah (+ Tips!)

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Utah is a stunningly beautiful state that offers some of the best camping in the country! With its red rock canyons, towering mountains, and sprawling deserts, Utah has something for everyone when it comes to outdoor adventures.

From cozy campgrounds with all your amenities to remote backcountry spots where you’ll have complete solitude, there are plenty of great places to go camping in Utah.

We’ve selected our top favorite spots for your next Utah camping trip. So pack up your tent or RV and get ready to explore all that this amazing state has to offer!

Best places to go camping in Utah (Goblin Valley)
Best places to go camping in Utah (Goblin Valley)

Best Places to Go Camping in Utah

1. Zion National Park

Located in southwest Utah, Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks in the state and offers some incredible camping opportunities.

With its dramatic canyons, soaring cliffs, and towering peaks, this is one of our favorite spots to explore by day and retreat to at night.

There are several campgrounds located inside the park that offer both RV and tent camping.

Camping in Zion National Park
Camping in Zion National Park

South Campground: Located deep in the heart of Zion, this campground offers both tent and RV camping sites, as well as restrooms and a dump station.

This is also an ideal spot for stargazing at night!

Watchman Campground: Close to the Visitor Center and many popular attractions like The Narrows and Angel’s Landing, this campground features both tent and RV sites with electric hookups available.

There are no full hookup sites at this campground.

Zion National Park is one of the best Utah camping spots!
Zion National Park is one of the best Utah camping spots!

Lava Point Campground: If you’re looking for something more remote, head up to Lava Point for some breathtaking views of the canyon walls from your campsite!

Only primitive camping is allowed here, so be sure to come prepared with all your necessities.

There’s no running water or electricity available in this area, and no vehicles longer than 19 feet are allowed into the campground.

Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort: For a more luxurious camping experience close to Zion National Park, check out these private campgrounds, which offer full hookup sites with Wi-Fi access that comes complete with fire pits and picnic tables perfect for relaxing after a long day exploring the park!

2. Bryce Canyon National Park

Situated in the high desert of southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is a wonderland of colorful hoodoos, spires, and other fascinating rock formations.

The park has several campgrounds offering a variety of amenities, from flush toilets to full hookups for RVs.

North Campground: This campground is located right near the entrance to the park, making it a great base camp for exploring Bryce Canyon.

There are several sites with picnic tables and fire rings, bathrooms, and a dump station.

Camping at the Sunset Campground in Bryce Canyon
Camping at the Sunset Campground in Bryce Canyon

Sunset Campground: A bit further away from the main entrance, Sunset Campground is the perfect spot for a more remote experience of the park.

This campground offers a variety of different sites, including some with electric hookups and others that are available for tent camping only.

Ruby’s Inn Campground & RV Park: Located just outside the park boundaries in nearby Bryce Canyon City.

This campground has many camping options, from full hookups to tent sites.

3. Sand Hollow State Park

Situated near St. George, Sand Hollow State Park has some of the best camping in the entire state.

With its beautiful red rock formations and stunning lake views, it’s easy to see why this spot is so popular with campers.

The camping areas are being expanded, and you may find some people camping along the lake but be careful because people do get stuck.

Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow State Park

Sandpit Campground: Located close to the park’s main beach area, this campground offers sites for both RVs and tents.

They do not have any hookups, but they do have potable water.

4. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Located in southern Utah, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park offers some stunning views of the area’s natural beauty.

With its petrified wood and sweeping desert landscapes, it’s a great place to come for a camping trip that feels truly remote.

Wide Hollow Campground Escalante is a nice campground that will get you close to Escalante Petrified Forest State Park and the Wide Hollow Reservoir.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

They have all your needed amenities, with hot showers and restrooms.

They do offer sites with hookups, but they do not offer full hookup sites.

The reservoir is a great place to swim and cool off on a hot summer day.

5. Goblin Valley State Park

One of the most unique spots in Utah (and in the entire United States!), Goblin Valley State Park is like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

With its thousands of hoodoos and sandstone formations, it’s sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

The park is not overly large, but they do have a campground with both RV and tent sites available.

Camping in Goblin Valley State Park
Camping in Goblin Valley State Park

Temple Mountain Campground is close to the park, and it’s surrounded by thousands of hoodoos and formations.

The campground is located at the intersection of Temple Mountain and Behind the Reef Road.

It has parking for large RVs as well as fire rings, so make sure you bring your campfire starter.

The campground is a first come, first serve campground, and it is currently free. You will need to be mostly self-sustained to camp here.

Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley Campground is a popular destination for campers who want to explore the unique and other-worldly hoodoos of Goblin Valley State Park.

The campground offers standard sites and can fit a variety of RVs but won’t fit RVs that are super big.

With its scenic views of the surrounding desert and easy access being the only campground inside the park, this is a great spot for campers looking for a unique experience.

6. Dead Horse Point State Park

Located near Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park offers incredible views of the surrounding canyonlands.

With its red rock cliffs and deep canyons, it’s a great place to come for a peaceful camping experience.

Dead Horse Point Campground: This campground offers sites with electric hookups, as well as bathrooms and showers.

Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park

It’s also close to the park’s main attractions, such as the Visitor Center and Dead Horse Point Overlook.

The campground overlooks the Canyonlands National Park and is 2,000 feet above the Colorado River.

The views from the park are amazing, with lots of outdoor adventures close by.

7. Capital Reef National Park

Situated in south-central Utah, Capitol Reef National Park offers stunning natural beauty and some of the best rock climbing in the state.

With its red sandstone cliffs and towering monoliths, it’s a great place to go for a camping trip.

There are lots of great hiking trails like Sulfur Creek, where you can hike alongside the river as well as in the river for 5.8 miles.

Fruita Campground: This is the only campground located inside the park with 71 different site options.

Fruit trees in Capital Reef National Park
Fruit trees in Capital Reef National Park

The campground has bathrooms, fire rings, and potable water. It’s close to the park’s main attractions, such as the Visitor Center and Fruita Historic District.

There are also a number of hiking trails you can take advantage of while you’re here.

The campground does not offer hook-ups, but if you need medical devices plugged in, they do have hookups for required medical devices.

Make sure you stop at The Gifford Homestead and purchase one of their delicious pies to eat.

7. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Situated in the northeast corner of Utah, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the state as well as plenty of other outdoor activities.

There are several campgrounds inside the recreation area that offer great camping opportunities.

Lucerne Campground: This campground offers views of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and is close to many popular fishing spots.

The campground offers sites with electric hookups, as well as showers and bathrooms are available.

Most of the sites are suitable for RVs, but there are also sites that can accommodate tents.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Fishing equipment rentals and boat tours are available within walking distance from the campground.

This is the best campground for being close to the Lucerne Marina.

Mustang Ridge Campground: This campground is located on the north side of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and offers views of the mountains.

The campground offers primitive sites, as well as flush and vault toilets, drinking water, and showers.

Fishing opportunities here are abundant, so make sure to bring your fishing gear with you when you come.

This is also the perfect spot for watching wildlife, and there are plenty of trails in the area to explore.

8. Bear Lake

Located on the Utah-Idaho border, this state park offers stunning views of beautiful Bear Lake.

With its turquoise waters and white sand beaches, it’s a great place to come for a camping trip that feels like paradise.

The lake is huge and is great for fishing as well as watersports.

There are many rental shops around the lake if you don’t have a boat or jet skis.

Bear Lake in Utah
Bear Lake in Utah

Bear Lake State Park, Utah: This campground offers a wide variety of sites for camping.

There are sites with full hookups, and the campground also has bathrooms and showers to make your stay more comfortable.

The lake is just a short walk away from the campground, so you can enjoy lots of swimming, kayaking, and fishing opportunities.

While you are in the area, if you are looking for something a little different to do, make sure to visit the Pickleville Playhouse.

9. Arches National Park

Arches National Park is one of the best parks in Utah and is known for its stunning natural sandstone arches.

This park is home to over 2,000 arches, many of which are breathtakingly beautiful.

Visitors can also explore other interesting rock formations and take part in a variety of outdoor activities or ranger-led hikes.

Camping in Arches National Park
Camping in Arches National Park

The Devil’s Garden Campground is the only campground inside Arches National Park and offers a great camping experience.

By staying inside Arches National Park, you will easily be able to experience the park’s beauty throughout the day and night without the need to participate in the park’s reservation system.

The campground is surrounded by beautiful scenery with arches just a short walk from the campground.

10. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is located in southeastern Utah and offers stunning views of canyons, mesas, and buttes that were formed by the Colorado River.

Visitors come to this park to explore its incredible landscapes, meander through desert trails, trek over ancient rock formations, and view petroglyphs.

It is the largest national park in Utah and one of its most underrated.

There are many great things to do in Canyonlands National Park, so make sure to plan a visit to the area.

Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park

Camping is available throughout the park, but they are situated as tent sites with minimal amenities.

The Island in the Sky District has several campgrounds offering a few different amenities and campground sizes.

Many of the campsites are primitive campsites.

These campgrounds include Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground, The Needles Campground, and many campgrounds along the White Rim Road that require camping permits from the Visitors Center.

These are just some of the fantastic places to camp in Utah.

With its stunning landscapes, incredible sights, and plenty of outdoor activities, it is easy to see why this state attracts so many visitors each year.

Camping in Canyonlands National Park
Camping in Canyonlands National Park

No matter what type of camping experience you’re looking for, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Many visitors explore these great areas, and you will, too, as you get out and explore the great outdoors throughout the state of Utah.

Did we miss any of the best places to go camping in Utah?

Let us know your favorite Utah camping spots in the comments!

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Are you looking for the best places to go camping in Utah? This Utah camping guide discusses some of the most iconic (and beautiful!) ... and details about each! | Tent Utah | Utah tenting | Utah glamping | Utah campsites | Where to camp in Utah | Campsites in Utah | Camping Arches National Park | Camping Capitol Reef | Camping Bryce Canyon | Camping Zion National Park | Camping Canyonlands

 

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