Utah is a beautiful place to go camping all year round. It is home to the Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks, collectively known as the Mighty 5. However, no matter where you stay while camping in Utah, you can expect to find great views, fantastic hiking, exhilarating watersports, and awe-inspiring stargazing at night.
This article will take a deep dive to show you 11 of the top campgrounds in Utah that you’ve never heard of and what makes them special.
Top Campgrounds in Utah: 11 Hidden Gems
From peaceful mountain-dwelling campgrounds that close for the winter’s heavy snows to luxurious city-based campgrounds, here are the top 11 hidden gem campgrounds of Utah.
1. Spruces Campground
Situated midway up Big Cottonwood Canyon, Spruces Campground is tucked away amongst meandering streams, secret lakes, and beautiful rocky peaks. Large spruce and fir trees shade the camping grounds, giving you respite from the hot summer sun. Open from June 23 - September 24; Spruces Campground offers great outdoor activities. A particular highlight is fly fishing at Big Cottonwood Creek. While you can feel all the peace and tranquility of being in the mountain forest, you are still just a 30-minute drive away from Salt Lake City should you need to head into town.
All campsites come with picnic tables, grills, and campfire rings, and firewood can be purchased on-site. You’ll be cooking up some forest s’mores in no time. Spruces Campground has 81 sites, with the price starting at $27.60 per night for both RV and tents without an electric hookup.
2. Red Canyon Campground
Red Canyon Campground is beautifully set in a ponderosa pine forest, surrounded by awe-inspiring pink Claron limestone formations. Located next to Scenic Byway Utah State Highway 12, you are right next to an extensive trail system, perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and even rock climbing.
The campground is open from May to October, perfect for a summer or fall vacation. They have 37 campsites, all with picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and tent pads. Each campsite is $21, with a $9 charge for an extra vehicle. You can camp in a tent or an RV, and electric hookups are available.
3. Diamond Campground
The Diamond Campground in Utah sits among cottonwoods and willow trees, making for a lovely shady stay. Sitting at an elevation of 5,200 feet, the campground gives you stunning views of the surrounding red rock formations. The campground is just 15 miles from the historic town of Spanish Fork. Explore the old downtown or take a bike around the Provo Canyon trail and check out the stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains.
The campground is open from May 5 - October 15, with multiple campsite options available. A single site accommodating eight people starts at $24, going up to $168 for a group site that can hold 75 people. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at all sites, and picnic shelters are available on the less shady sites.
4. Upper Onion Creek Campground
At Upper Onion Creek Campground, you have stunning views of the Colorado River canyon and the surrounding red rock cliffs. But don’t just take in the amazing views- head down to the river for a guided rafting tour, or, if you’re an experienced rafter, make your own thrilling trip.
The season runs from March to November, and prices start at $20 per night. It’s important to note that you pay at the campsite with either cash or check only. Water and electric hookups aren’t available, but toilets are provided.
5. Goose Island Campground
Goose Island Campground offers riverside camping for RVs, tents, and trailers. Due to its relatively lower elevation, it doesn’t suffer as badly from the winter snow, and so this is the first campground on the list that is open all year round. The spring, summer, and fall seasons offer whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and hiking, while winter brings in skiing, snowboarding, and sledding, making it a perfect location for winter sports enthusiasts.
The campground has both group and individual sites, with prices starting at $20 for tents and $30 for RVs. Each site is equipped with fire grates and access to vault toilets.
6. Kings Bottom Campground
Campsites for Kings Bottom Campground are also located on the riverbank of the Colorado River. Situated between enormous canyon walls, this location gives a truly unique and unforgettable experience. In addition to all the watersports on the river, Kings Bottom is particularly popular for its access to 4x4 and ATV roads. It's also only 3 miles from the town of Moab, where you can book tours and rent sports equipment.
There are 21 campsites in total at this primitive campground. 11 are walk-in only tent sites, and the other 10 can accommodate only small RVs. Check that your vehicle will fit in the campsites before booking. Prices start at $20 for individual sites. Toilets are available, but water and hookups are not provided.
7. Bryce Zion Campground
Bryce Zion Campground is located in Glendale, Utah, making it the perfect jumping-off place to explore all the wonders of Southern Utah. The campground is aptly named as it sits equidistant between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, two of the Mighty 5 National Parks. Spend an unforgettably surreal day sandboarding and sledding down the breathtaking Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
Camping prices start at $45 for tents and $49 for RVs. This fee covers two people, with all other guests over the age of 9 adding an additional $3.50 per person. After an adventurous day on the dunes, come back and relax in the campground's swimming pool.
8. Bryce Canyon RV Resort
Based in Cannonville, Bryce Canyon RV Resort is close to some fantastic attractions. Start with a road trip on the scenic Highway 12 through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, enjoying amazing viewpoints and small towns to stop in for food and souvenirs. If you’re visiting in October, consider visiting the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival to learn more about the otherworldly stars you can see from the RV resort all year round.
Bryce Canyon RV Resort is full of amenities, particularly for families. They have many outdoor gathering places, a pavilion, a swimming pool, and a playground. They even have a dog park so the furry member of the family doesn't need to stay home. The open season is March 15 - November 30. Prices start at $31.37 for a tent site and $35.13 if you’re taking the RV.
9. Watchman Campground
If you’ve been dying to get to Zion National Park to see the beautiful hanging gardens and amazing canyon waterfalls, Watchman Campground, sitting right at the south entrance, is the perfect place to stay. You’ll get to explore the wonderfully diverse ecosystem of the park right on your doorstep. You're also right next to the town of Springdale, which hosts concerts, festivals, and parades throughout the year.
The campground is open year-round, offering 189 campsites, with tent sites starting at $20 and RV sites starting at $30. Toilets, drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables are all provided at each campsite.
10. Aspen Grove RV Park
When you stay at Aspen Grove RV Park in Tremonton, you have some of Northern Utah’s best attractions right on your doorstep. You have the Box Elder County Fairground just 0.1 miles away, Crystal Hotsprings 6 miles away, and traveling slightly further, you can go back in time to see the steam trains at the Golden Spike National History Park.
Aspen Grove RV Park offers pull-thru sites, back-in sites, and even luxury sites available on a monthly basis. Prices start from $48 in the low season, November 1 - March 31, but the park can be enjoyed year-round. Amenities at the park include electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, showers, and bathrooms.
11. Mountain Valley RV Resort
The Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City offers a truly luxurious stay for families with scenic views. The Heber Valley is packed full of activities to do. Spend your day learning fly fishing with a free induction class, take a hot-air balloon ride and sail over the mountains, or play a round of golf at one of the five award-winning golf courses. The events are plentiful too. You can visit the Wasatch County Fair, take the family to the demolition derby, or even cheer for cowboys at a rodeo.
The fun doesn’t stop when you get back to the campground. A heated swimming pool, pickleball court, basketball court, playground, and dog park will not allow you to be bored for a moment. Relaxing around one of the campfires in the evening will cap off a perfect day. The campground is open year-round, with prices starting at $53 for a 40-foot site.
Explore Utah’s Top Campgrounds with Cruise America
So, where is your next trip to Utah going to be? Whether you choose to stay near Bryce Canyon National Park, explore Capitol Reef National Park, or spend your vacation hiking in Arches National Park, you need the right RV to get you there.
Cruise America is the largest RV rental company in North America, with 132 locations nationwide. We have 50 years of experience renting custom RVs, so we know we have the right one for you. Get in touch today, and your vacation has already begun.
