Camping in Southern Utah
Southern Utah includes iconic red-rock landscapes, one of the country’s largest human-made lakes, high altitude forests and Utah's Mighty 5® national parks. Just driving to your destination is a treat. Top spots for camping include:
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Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
You’ll find more than 1.2 million acres to explore in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, with opportunities for both land- and water-based recreation. It’s home to Lake Powell, the second largest human-made lake in the United States and one of the premier boating destinations in the world. Stretching from the beginning of the Grand Canyon at Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, the area is graced with scenic views, unique geology and evidence of 10,000 years of human history. Choose from a variety of campgrounds in the area, as well as primitive camping surrounding most of the lake.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
This vast region that takes up a big part of south central Utah is known for its colorful sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons and endless slickrock. Among its many treasures are prehistoric village sites and abandoned old Western movie sets. It encompasses more than one million acres of public land, and one of the best ways to see it is via The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12. Primitive camping is extensive, but those looking for campgrounds should consider Kodachrome State Park and Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.
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Moab
Located in southeastern Utah just outside of Arches National Park, Moab has become one of the top adventure towns in the world, known for its mountain biking, hiking and off-road riding. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees 26 campgrounds in and around Moab, most of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s plenty of primitive camping in the region, and you can even find glamping for those who don’t want to rough it.
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San Rafael Swell
This unique geographic formation in southeastern Utah has been formed over thousands of years into an assembly of canyons, buttresses and plateaus. The dome-shaped mass of stone measures about 75 miles by 40 miles, and it’s intersected by Interstate 70. Most of the campsites are north of the Interstate and are considered part of Utah’s Castle Country. You’ll find excellent hiking, mountain biking and ATV riding in the area. Make sure to visit the Wedge Overlook, one of the best vistas in the state, which overlooks the San Rafael River as it flows through the “Little Grand Canyon.”
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St. George
This town in the southwestern corner of the state sits just south of the Red Cliffs National Recreation Area and a short drive to Zion National Park. It features beautiful red-rock mesas and a wide variety of trails to explore. You’ll find lots of camping spots surrounding the well-developed town, including Snow Canyon State Park, known for its Zion-esque beauty. Fishing, rock climbing, canyoneering, hiking, mountain biking and ATV riding are all world-class here, and campers have easy access to all of it.
Camp at Utah’s National Parks
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Arches National Park Camping
An otherworldly landscape of stunning red sandstone provides the perfect backdrop for a camping adventure.
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Bryce Canyon National Park Camping
Unforgettable camping among hoodoos, slot canyons and starry night skies.
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Canyonlands National Park Camping
Desert landscapes by day and stunning starry skies by night make camping in this park an unforgettable experience.
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Capitol Reef National Park Camping
Set up camp inside the park, or find a site at one of the many charming nearby basecamps.
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Zion National Park Camping
Home to established campgrounds and dozens of backcountry sites, Zion makes camping accessible to everyone from RVers to hardcore backpackers.
Camping in Northern Utah
The geography of Northern Utah is quite different from the south, but it's also filled with incredible camping. Some highlights include:
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Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is actually a peninsula that juts out into the Great Salt Lake just west of Salt Lake City. There, Antelope Island State Park features four different campgrounds to explore: Bridger Bay, White Rock, Lakeside and Ladyfinger. Ladyfinger is a hike-in spot about 100 yards from the parking lot, while the other three are open for RVs and car camping. You’ll find flush toilets at Bridger Bay, the rest have pit toilets. The island is well known for its wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in the country.
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Bear Lake State Park
Another unique Utah gem, Bear Lake is a 20-mile long natural lake, with the northern half located in Idaho and the southern half in Utah. The incredible turquoise color, which comes from calcium carbonate deposits, led to its nickname as the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” It’s also a prime spot for watersports and hiking in the nearby mountains. Campers will find that Bear Lake State Park serves as a great basecamp to explore it all.
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Big Cottonwood Canyon
The Spruces and Redman campgrounds in Big Cottonwood Canyon are two great options near Salt Lake City. Both offer excellent access to hiking, mountain biking and fishing. While RV camping is permitted at both, there are no electrical, water or sewage hookups. All of the sites offer campfire rings and picnic tables, and visitors have access to flush toilets and drinking water. Spruces also has charcoal grills at each site, and the campground features a baseball field, volleyball court and horseshoe pit. Redman — located next to the Solitude Ski Resort at an elevation of 8,300 feet — is a smaller, less crowded camping option. Because Big Cottonwood Canyon is part of the Salt Lake City watershed, no pets are permitted at either campground.
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Dinosaur National Monument
The name says it all about this area in northeastern Utah that’s known for its abundance of fossils. Located on the border of Utah and Colorado, the national monument is filled with hiking trails and scenic drives to see the rugged, one-of-a-kind terrain. Tour the dinosaur quarry to get an up-close look at the fossils. But you can also spend time biking and whitewater river running. You’ll find six different campgrounds here, with more than 120 sites.
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Flaming Gorge
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area features some of the best water sports in the state. The Flaming Gorge Reservoir covers more than 42,000 acres, and the 70-degree water temperature in the summer makes it the perfect spot for water skiing, wakeboarding and jet skiing. It’s also become an increasingly popular spot for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Anglers will find some of the country’s best fishing here and on the Green River for several miles beyond the dam. The recreation area is home to 43 different campgrounds and more than 700 individual campsites.
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Little Cottonwood Canyon
While Salt Lake City is known for its urban amenities, you can still find plenty of excellent camping within a short drive. The Albion Basin Campground in Little Cottonwood Canyon (near the Alta Ski Area) offers excellent access to hiking, fishing, mountain biking and rock climbing. Check out the stunning wildflowers in late July and August. Snowbird Resort, located just a few miles away from Albion Basin, offers scenic tram rides, zip lines and an Alpine slide to enjoy — plus lift-accessed mountain bike trails.
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Uinta Mountains
This is one of the few U.S. mountain ranges that runs east to west, and it’s famous for its top-notch backpacking. You’ll find massive stands of pines leading to alpine basins and cirques. Small lakes generously dot the backcountry, and fishing in the High Uintas is lightning fast at times for those willing to venture into the backcountry. There are more than 500 lakes in this alpine mountain range that are managed for fishing. Climbing Kings Peak (the highest in Utah at 13,534 feet) and Bald Mountain (at 11,947 feet) are both popular alpine routes. You’ll find endless camping opportunities in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, including cabins, campgrounds and dispersed camping.
Winter Camping
As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, planning a winter camping trip may sound daunting, but a little extra preparation goes a long way and pays off in the form of finding solace in the desert landscape.
Discover More
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3 Hikes That Showcase the Raw, Dramatic Beauty of the High Uintas Wilderness
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5 Places You Can Try Glamorous Camping in Utah
Experience the fun and adventure of camping without the grime.
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A First-ever Camping Trip on BLM Lands
As a new resident of the western United States, I’ve discovered the gift of recreating on public lands. Though daunting at first, after researching and waiting too long, the time finally felt right to try camping on BLM lands in Utah’s dinosaur country. There is no shame in trying something new.
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Backpacking: Start 'Em Early
Follow a father and his seven-year-old daughter on her first-ever backpacking trip at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.
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Enjoying the Simple Pleasures of Lake Life on Palisade Reservoir
Utah’s beautiful Palisade Reservoir is an oasis of serene water in the central part of the state, a perfect getaway for paddling, fishing, swimming and camping.
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Field Notes: Backpacking With Children
Author Tim Sullivan shares his tips and tricks on backpacking with his young children.
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Finding Strength and Inspiration Deep in the Utah Desert
How a series of hiking and camping trips in Utah’s parks and wilderness put Elisabeth Brentano on a transformative journey from urbanite to nature lover.
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High, Lonesome Wilderness
Cindi and Zach Grant are making a life and a living out of the backcountry. Follow the author, who loads up his backpack and join the Grants and their Norweigan elkhound in the Uinta Mountains to pursue solitude, extended moments of introspection, cutthroat trout and the Milky Way.
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How to Backcountry Camp Responsibly
Four tips on how to camp more thoughtfully and responsibly in Utah's backcountry.
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How to Camp on Utah’s BLM Lands
Read these insights and tips gathered from a novice’s first-ever camping trip on BLM and public lands to gain the confidence you need to recreate happily and respectfully on Utah’s public lands.
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How to Take a Kayak & Camping Trip at Yuba State Park
Pristine sandy beaches, warm water temperatures all summer long and serene mountain views make Yuba State Park an appealing destination for campers and kayakers in sunny Central Utah.
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The Freedom of Wild Places
Clutching my hat with both hands, the wind roared and whipped by as I stood atop a rugged red rock formation, gazing out into the vastness of The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.
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Utah’s Scenery Offers A Backdrop for Inclusive Family Camping
While Utah is known for its amazing outdoors, it also has resources that ensure that families and individuals of all abilities can access these places.
