Utah’s Best Camping Spots Before Summer Ends

Utah’s Best Camping Spots Before Summer Ends

August 5, 2021

Utah has become one of the top travel destinations for outdoor adventures, imagine if these amazing activities were right in your own backyard! Your idea of a perfect camping trip depends on your personal point of view. To some it might be a remote site in the wilderness of Zion National Park, with no amenities and few other campers. To another it might be a put-in with an RV hookup, or running water, showers, and flush toilets. 

Looking for a camping/climbing getaway? Climb world renowned cliffs at Zion National Park or the Rock Canyon East in Provo during your camping trips. Utah is also home to amazing lakes and rivers that offer a variety of water sport activities like boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, rafting, and house-boating. Nothing beats a Utah summer camping trip full of the water activities that you’ve been dreaming of. You could spend a lifetime exploring all the outdoor recreation that Utah has to offer but we put together a list of suggestions for Utah’s best camping spots to visit before summer ends!

Summer Camping Spots in Southern Utah

Lone Rock Beach Campground - Lake Powell
Utah's Best Camping SpotsPhoto Credit: One Cool Thing Every Weekend

Drive your car right onto the beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Powell just twelve miles north of Page, Utah. There is a $10 entrance fee to get onto the beach, which can get a little busy during summer, but it seems like you can almost always find a nice spot to call your own.

Snow Canyon State Park and Campground - St George
Photo By: Reserve America

Set against a stunning backdrop of towering sandstone cliffs in red and white, and peaks and valleys of jumbled black lava rock interspersed with serpentine sandy washes, this campground is sure to impress. Enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and photography in this area while camping.

Gunlock State Park Campground 
Photo By: Hike St. George

This small lakeside campground has only a handful of primitive sites and is one of the most scenic in the area. Although this park is just a little more than 30 minutes from St. George, it feels worlds away. The peaceful lake and shallow beach is great for swimming with water toys, paddle boards, kayaks, and boats.

Quail Creek State Park
Photo By: Greater Zion

Experience quiet waterside camping overlooking the Quail Creek Reservoir, one of the less discovered campgrounds in this area. Bring your fishing gear, kayaks, paddleboard and other watercraft or pack your hiking books and enjoy the nearby hiking and mountain biking trails. This campground only has 23 sites, be sure tobook in advance to reserve your spot!

Grandstaff Campground - Moab
Utah's Best Camping SpotsPhoto Credit: Grand Canyon Trust

This riverside camping is designed for tent only, which is a first come first serve basis. The campsites offer incredible views of the massive red rocks of Arches National Park and the Colorado River. Located near mountain biking and hiking trails there is something to keep everyone entertained.

Watchman Campground - Zion
Photo By: Hike St. George

This place is an ideal place to stay if you are looking to visit Zion National Park. Located near the south entrance of the park, hikers will be pleased to find you can access three trails directly from the campground facility. Soak in the tall sandstone cliffs that glow red and orange during sunrise and sunset each day!

Lava Point Campground - Zion
Photo By: Zion National Park via Twitter

This first come, first serve campground with six primitive campsites is sure to delight any camper looking to get away from the crowds. It offers pit toilets and trash cans but don’t forget to bring your own water! Not only is this campground free but it offers golden valley views galore accompanied by never ending aspen trees.

North Campground - Bryce Canyon
Photo By: The Dyrt

North Campground is located in the mesmerizing Bryce Canyon National Park known for its grand vistas, high plateaus and colorful rock spires. Campers can explore several interconnected hiking trails, the Bryce Canyon Amphitheatre, countless stars or even a full moon guided hike to explore the park at night. 

Cathedral Valley Campground - Capitol Reef
Photo By: Bikepacking.com

Wake up or watch the sunset overlooking the entire Cathedral Valley This exceptionally unique campground is isolated but the views are almost too beautiful to describe. 4WD or vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended for this rugged region but be sure to check weather prior to hitting the road. Don’t forget your water for these primitive campsites!

Fruita Campground - Capitol Reef
Photo By: PlanetWare

Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. The Fruita Campground has 71 sites, 65 of which are reservation-required during peak season (3/1 - 10/31).

Devils Garden Campground - Arches 
Photo By: Dirt In My Shoes

This campground is located deep within the heart of the Arches National Park near Moab. Situated among natural sandstone arches and fins, Utah Junipers, Pinyon Pines, and a variety of desert wildflowers make this campground a treasure all year round. Campers can experience hiking, road biking, mountain biking, rafting, and scenic driving routes nearby.

Summer Camping Spots in Northern Utah

Box Elder Campground
Photo By: Hipcamp

This campground is a scenic spot close to the Mantua Reservoir making it the perfect place to cool down on warm summer days. If you’re not looking to fish, boat, or kayak, hit the trails for some beautiful views or observe the local wildlife who call this dense forest home. This area also offers horseback riding facilities and ample photography opportunities while being close to town.

North Fork Campground
Photo By: Utah.com

This camping and outdoor gem has a plethora of activities to keep your family busy all year round but makes for the perfect summer destination. Check out the ropes course, hiking trails, mountain bike courses, equestrian trails, volleyball poles and horseshoe pits. When the sun goes down, find a good seat to star-gaze at an internationally recognized dark sky park.

Monte Cristo Campground
Photo By: American Land & Leisure

Located at 9,000 feet in elevation, this campground is at the highest elevation in the Ogden District just 30 miles east of Huntsville. Campsites are surrounded by spruce and douglas fir trees offering campers some privacy and wonderful scented mountain air. Explore the local trails on foot, bike, horseback, or with an off-road vehicle. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and autumn leaves show off their beauty come turn of the seasons.

Willard Bay Campgrounds

Photo By: Utah State Parks

This state park is home to three campgrounds and two marinas where you can camp under tall cottonwood trees, observe local wildlife, and spend the day on the water. Boat, swim, water ski, and fish on the warm waters of Willard Bay. Anglers will be pleased with the fishing opportunities at this campground!

South Fork Campground 
Photo By: Campground Views

This scenic campground is situated among cottonwoods and willows, if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of the occasional moose and deer wandering through. Campers love this area for its hiking trails and mountain biking trails along with great river access for fishing, swimming, and tubing down the South Fork Ogden River.

Bridger Bay Campground
Photo By: Utah State Parks

Camp out with the free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, antelope and more at this Antelope Island State Park campground. Make sure to dip your toes in the Great Salt Lake and take a hike on one of the island’s many trails to get a great view of the lake from above. Capers can enjoy sailing, biking, saltwater bathing, bird watching, photography, wildlife viewing and touring Fielding Garr Ranch historical site.

Bountiful Peak Campground
Photo Credit: Uncle Fjester on beantrailer.com

This beautiful campground is set in an alpine basin high in the Wasatch Mountains at an elevation of 7,500 feet. Explore the trails surrounding the campground on foot, bike, or off-road vehicles for views of the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch wilderness. A mixed forest of conifer and aspen covers the area, providing partial shade and pretty autumn colors. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant.

Experience Utah!

Utah's Best Camping Spots

Although we barely scratched the surface on Utah's most beautiful and adventure-ridden camping spots we covered a range to get you out there before summer ends! Camping is one of the greatest amenities that comes with living in the Beehive state! If you are looking for more family friendly activities, events happening in Utah, or for some around-the-house tips check out the rest of our blog! Looking to relocate to Utah and need some assistance finding a home, we are here to help. Please begin by filling out the form below or calling 435-228-4702.

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