Breathtaking scenery makes the state of Utah a beacon for the iconic American RV camping vacation. Whether you’re looking to explore slot canyons, fly fishing, hiking, biking, mountaineering, ATV riding or simply enjoying a campfire under the starry sky, you will find an unforgettable camping experience in Utah. The state offers more than 300 campgrounds, including those managed in national parks, state parks, the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Southern Utah features iconic red-rock landscapes, one of the country’s largest human-made lakes, high altitude forests and Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks. The geography of northern Utah is quite different from the south, but it’s also filled with incredible camping. General RV now has two Supercenters located in Utah, in the cities of Draper and South Weber. Both General RV dealerships offer full range of service, hundreds of RVs for sale and RV parts and accessories for every camper. Check out some of General RV’s favorite places to RV camp throughout Utah below.
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RV Camping in Southern Utah
Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
With numerous RV campgrounds offering stunning lake views, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is the perfect spot to set up camp and dive into water activities, hiking or simply relaxing under the stars.
Covering over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing scenic vistas, geologic wonders and a vast panorama of human history. Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in North America, is 186 miles long and has 1,960 miles of shoreline. Hundreds of side canyons, inlets and coves sheltering Indian ruins and natural wonders make Lake Powell a paradise for house boating, photography and general exploring.
Primitive camping, group camping, backcountry camping and RV camping options are available in Glen Canyon for all kinds of adventurers. There are six RV campgrounds in the park, equipped with full hookups, partial hookups or no hookups for RVs. Facilities in the park include boat launch ramps, fish cleaning stations, dump stations and parking lots. Amenities within campsites are picnic tables, potable water, fire grills, laundry and many others.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, located in Utah, was established as a national monument in 1996 and includes 1.7 million acres (slightly larger than the state of Delaware). The land included in the monument was the last place in the continental United States to be mapped and includes three separate units: Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits and Escalante Canyon.
Within the confines of the park, which spans five eco-zones, are monoliths, slot canyons, natural bridges and arches. The area boasts a mixture of colorful sandstone cliffs, picturesque washes and seemingly endless slickrock, prehistoric sites and abandoned old Western movie sets, among other treasures.
With options that range from backcountry campgrounds to full RV hookup campsites, there’s an option for every type of camper within the Monument. There are three small developed campgrounds located within the Monument. Campsites are first-come, first-serve with no advance reservations.
Moab
The area in and around Moab, Utah has over 1,600 campsites ranging from primitive sites to fully stocked RV parks. You’ll find national parks, state parks, national forests and private campgrounds in the area, offering a variety of amenities, great location and proximity to the outdoors.
Nestled between the Colorado and Green River, Moab serves as a destination for everyone, from adventurers seeking unique treks to stargazers wanting to see the night sky. With giant arched rock formations and miles of steep canyon walls, it’s no wonder its home to, not one, but two national parks. Many sites, including some visitor favorites, fill up quickly. Reserving or arriving early is a must.
San Rafael Swell
Nestled in the heart of Utah, the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area is a large Bureau of Land Management property containing 216,955 acres of wilderness.
The area consists of badlands and colored, uniquely shaped sandstone formations created by erosion, winding canyons and huge slabs of stone that protrude from the landscape, the results of past geological upheavals. Towering cliffs, vibrant rock layers and intricate slot canyons tell the story of the Earth’s history, with formations like the San Rafael Reef standing as a testament to the power of nature. From hiking and mountain biking to off-highway vehicle (OHV) exploration, the area is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers a less crowded alternative for those who journey to the more remote spots on the map.
The Wedge Overlook is an excellent place to begin exploring the northern Swell. It’s an often overlooked viewpoint and campground that offers a bird’s eye perspective of the Little Grand Canyon, a 14-mile path cut from the Earth’s crust by the San Rafael River. This 1,000-foot-deep gorge reveals towering sandstone cliffs that overlook the canyon’s bottom, lined with cottonwoods, rabbit brush and greasewood.
St. George
The largest city in Greater Zion, consider St. George as your basecamp to the Zion National Park region. St. George is steeped in rich history, pioneer heritage, red rock formations, family-friendly offerings, plethora of hiking and biking trails and engaged locals who are deeply immersed in the gorgeous natural landscape.
St. George 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.
RV Camping in Northern Utah
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island, with an area of 42 square miles (109 km2), is the largest of ten islands located within the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Accessed by a causeway, the island sits in Great Salt Lake and is home to free-roaming herds of bison, bighorn sheep, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. It’s a Utah state park that was once considered for national park designation.
There are several campground options at Antelope Island, including camp sites for families, small groups and large groups, ideal for family reunions. Individual hook-ups are available at certain camp sites at Bridger Bay Campground. Flush toilets and shower facilities can also be found at Bridger Bay Campground. There are also hike-in sites available, with no hook-ups. Advance camping reservations are recommended. Also featured are 25 miles of back country trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, a visitor center that’s open year-round and tours of the Fielding Garr Historic Ranch House.
Bear Lake State Park
Bear Lake State Park is nestled along the shoreline of Bear Lake’s natural 20-mile-long and eight-mile-wide bank. The lake’s beautiful, brilliantly blue waters combined with sandy beaches perfectly match the tranquil pace of the quaint towns that dot the shore.
The northern half is located in Idaho and the southern half in Utah with the state lines dividing it. The turquoise color of the lake comes from the mineral calcium carbonate. The vibrant waters have led some people to call it the “Caribbean of the Rockies.”
Located in the beautiful Bear Lake Valley in Rich County, there are three distinct recreation areas—Marina, Rendezvous Beach and the Eastside – which offer a variety of recreational opportunities. Whether you plan on visiting for a day, weekend or more, Bear Lake offers some of the best picnicking, camping, boating, fishing or hiking that you will find in Utah.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument stretches from Colorado to Utah and is almost 211,000 acres in size. Aside from seeing the hundreds of dinosaur fossils, there are many other areas of the monument to explore. Dinosaur fossils can only be viewed on the west end of the monument in Utah.
Trek down one of the hiking trails and for those looking to get off the beaten path, off-trail hiking is permitted at the monument. River rafting trips are enjoyed by adventure-seekers, and at night, the dark sky is free of light pollution providing a stunning view of the star-filled sky.
There are six campgrounds at Dinosaur National Monument and three of these can accommodate RVs and travel trailers. Camping is open year-round at some campgrounds, but roads may be hazardous or impassable during the wintertime. There are no hookups at any of the campsites, but each site has a picnic table and campfire ring to relax at during the quiet mornings and star-filled nights.
Flaming Gorge
Flaming Gorge might be the West’s most spectacular reservoir. Flaming Gorge National Recreation area is an all-encompassing outdoor recreation destination. With more than 200,000 acres of land and water, Flaming Gorge is a scenic playground for boating, waterskiing, paddling, camping and backpacking in addition to some of the best fishing in the west.
Blue Ribbon-designated angling can be found on both the reservoir and the Green River for several miles beyond the dam. The brown trout on the Green average 15–17 inches in length but a record brown weighed it at 29 pounds in 1996.
Numerous campgrounds are scattered throughout the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. In addition to these listed below, there are more campgrounds located on adjacent Ashley National Forest.
Uinta Mountains
Stretching for hundreds of miles across northeast Utah, the Uinta Mountains are the closest representation to nature’s paradise. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is a short drive away from Salt Lake City and offers extraordinary scenery, recreation and relaxation.
With 2.1 million acres of diverse landscape, there are endless opportunities to get closer to nature, whether it be from the seat of your camper van, bike, OHV or on your own two feet. From caves to mountain peaks, with rivers and lakes in between, you won’t want to miss this unique forest. There are 60 established forest service campgrounds in the Uintas, all of which lie outside the designated high wilderness area.
RV Camping in Utah’s National Parks
Arches National Park RV Camping
The otherworldly landscape of Arches National Park is a desert dream painted in red sandstone, faded green juniper and pastel twilight sky. Exploring the namesake arches, fantastic pillars and remote canyons make this one of America’s most exotic national parks.
Devil’s Garden Campground is the only developed campground in Arches National Park. The campground is forested with mixed stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape, offering vivid color to the surrounding red rock desert.
There are 51 total sites. Roads and parking spurs are paved, allowing smooth access for all types of travelers. A campground host is located on-site. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided, and campsites contain picnic tables and fire rings. RVs are welcome but the park does not have dump stations, or electric, water or sewer hook-ups.
Bryce Canyon RV Camping
Over millions of years, water and wind carved Bryce Canyon into one of the country’s most unforgettable destinations. You’ll marvel at its signature red rock pillars — called hoodoos — in addition to extraordinary vistas, one-of-a-kind slot canyons, unique wildlife and a starry night sky that you have to see to believe. Any amount of time spent at Bryce Canyon is a treat, but camping allows visitors to get the most out of any visit to this amazing part of Utah.
Whether you prefer a tent, RV, van or cabin, camping in Bryce Canyon National Park provides easy access to a theatrical amphitheater of hoodoos, plus front-row seats to stargazing at a Dark Sky Park certified by DarkSky International. Bryce Canyon National Park has two campgrounds, North campground (open year-round) and Sunset campground (closed in winter). Neither campgrounds offer sewer, water or electric hookups, but a dumping station is available in the summer.
Canyonlands National Park RV Camping
Canyonlands National Park is a wonderland of ancient geology, carved out by the mighty Colorado River. Stand atop any one of the flat-topped, red-rock mesas, and you’ll revel in dramatic panoramic landscapes filled with deep canyons, pinnacles, cliffs and spires. Or walk along a canyon floor and harness the power of the deep canyon walls that reach the sky.
Better yet, stay overnight. For first-class access to hiking, biking and stargazing, a Canyonlands camping experience is unmatched. The park itself houses two campgrounds with first-come, first-served developed sites. Island in the Sky Campground is open year-round and has 12 sites. The Needles Campground is also open year-round with 26 sites.
Capitol Reef National Park RV Camping
Capitol Reef’s amazing bluffs, winding canyons and stony domes were formed by a geological event that created The Waterpocket Fold, the park’s showcase feature. It’s a 100-mile-long step of layered rock, 60 miles of which lay in the boundaries of Capitol Reef’s dazzling desert ecosystem. Camping in the park harkens to an ancient time when the American Southwest was formed by the raw power of the elements.
The Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef and is located by the Fremont River, a permanent water source that keeps the landscape green with grass and nurtures the leafy trees of old orchard groves. It offers 71 sites complete with firepits and picnic tables. RVs have access to a dump station and potable water, but no electric hookups. Campsites are reservable year-round.
Two other campgrounds, Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa, offer nearly a dozen primitive sites located in areas in which a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended.
Zion National Park RV Camping
Zion National Park offers endless adventure. The rugged desert landscape, slender canyons, scenic drives and diverse plants and wildlife appease hikers, mountain bikers, climbers, canyoneers and nature lovers. The park’s year-round camping options keeps adventurers as close to the action as possible. Zion also boasts certification as an International Dark Sky Park, so sleeping under the stars grants first-class stargazing.
Zion National Park has three campgrounds: Watchman Campground, South Campground and Lava Point Campground. Watchman is open year-round with more than 200 sites available, including some with electric hookups. South offers 117 sites with potable water sources and RV waste dumps. No electric hookups are available, but the campground does allow generators. At 7,890 feet above sea level, Lava Point is one of the highest points in the park. There are six primitive campsites that are best suited for tents (vehicles over 19 feet aren’t allowed on the road).
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