8 Best Camping Spots in Utah, USA

Boondocking, or RV camping is popular throughout the State of Utah. Southern Utah is an amazing place to experience wilderness and some of the best camping in USA. Late summer and early fall are the best times for perfect camping weather. Although spring can be nice there are a lot of windstorms that can be hazardous to RVs. Wherever you choose to go, make sure you visit some slot canyons! These narrow cracks and gullies in the canyon are incredible to explore.

While exploring the landscapes of the southwestern United States, visitors can relax and enjoy the country hospitality offered by the city, a world-famous central base for mountain biking, hiking, 4x4 rides or river trips of any kind. Utah is one of those places that you either love or hate, depending on your personality.

If nature and adventure are your jam, you will love this place! If you are into nature photography, Utah is your place. Every winter, the SLC international airport is flooded with people with their ski-gears headed to Park City. Deer Valley in Park City, has been ranked the top ski resort in North America in a survey organized by Ski Magazine. Not surprisingly, it is home to the United States Ski Team.

The Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the United States, takes place each January in Park City, Utah, Salt Lake City, and at the Sundance Resort. Celebrity-spotting time! Temple Square is ranked as the 16th most visited tourist attraction in the United States by Forbes. Utah hosts the biggest Holi festival in the US at Spanish Fork called Festival of Colors.

Utah has a growing international food scene. You will not have a hard time finding cuisine of your choice although the options might be limited when it comes to ethnic food.

The spectacular national parks of Utah, range from the Zion Canyon in Zion National Park to the Arches National Park, near Moab, which has the highest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world, including the Delicate Arch, one of the most famous and photographed.

There are so many fun and exciting things to do and see in the campgrounds in southern Utah that you might have to make a few weekend trips or an extended road trip to really take it all in. To give you a starting place, here are the top RV campsites to explore Southern Utah.

1. Moab

Welcome to Moab, an outdoor lover’s paradise and home to not one but two national parks: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. See what the southern part of the beautiful state of Utah has to offer.

Whether you need an RV site, tent site, or rental, this resort has it all, including a vintage Airstream trailer available for rent. Beautiful grassy areas, picnic tables and BBQ pits are featured on each site. There are many helpful amenities in the resort including a propane filling station and a bicycle repair station. For entertainment you'll find putt putt golf, life-size chess, a playground, and a BBQ pavilion.

The resort location is conveniently located near two great national parks, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park where you can expect to find hiking and biking trails. It's just a quick drive to downtown for delicious food and drinks. After a long day of fun, relax and enjoy the scenery in the swimming pool or hot tub.

Rocky Mountains dominates the Moab skyline. Admire the nine spectacular peaks, walk the alpine trails and see the Mill Creek, the Black Bill Canyon and the Professor Creek, where you will discover waterfalls in the middle of the desert landscape.

Two lakes will tempt those going for a picnic or those who want to refresh themselves. Visit the small Castle Valley, an area that has appeared in the cinema numerous times for its iconic and austere beauty. When you're here, take the scenic tour from La Sal Mountain to the Colorado River to admire the impressive red rock formations and stroll through the most popular parks in the area and see the viewpoints.

2. Arches National Park

This is a great base camp for exploring Moab and is rated as one of the top tourist destinations for outdoor adventuring with some of the most stunning family friendly hikes in Arches National Park. There is plenty of shade to protect you from the harsh Moab sun, and the bathhouse facilities have received a 10/10 from the Good Sam RV Club, so you can be sure that relaxing and recovering from a full day of sun can easily be accomplished here.

The park also includes a dog park, pavilions, a convenience store, and large lush grass areas for picnics. You'll have easy access to the popular National Parks like Arches National Park, Canyonland National Parks and Dead Horse State Park. Hiking, biking, and whitewater rafting should be on your adventure list. At sunset, be sure to catch the incredible views of the La Sal Mountains.

In addition, here you will find The Windows, a series of four arches that can be reached easily by walking. When you are here, admire the colossal sandstone wings, the huge balanced rocks, the high peaks and the imposing peaks.

3. Antelope Island

About an hour from Salt Lake City is Antelope Island State Park, sprawling but easily accessible, with a beautiful view of the snow capped mountains and blue waters that surround the island.

Antelope Island is the largest of the islands that lie in the Great Salt Lake, known as the Dead Lake for the amount of salt that is in the lake water, much more than that of the sea. It is the second lake with the highest proportion of salt in the world.

The path goes up to the highest part of the island, where there is a rest area, where everything is white and you only distinguish the first silhouettes of bison grazing in the background, near the shore. It's cold as hell but you can't stop looking, looking for some sign of civilization beyond the old road that has brought you here. And then you realize the silence.

From the silence that screams in a powerful voice that you are in a desert, a white desert.

4. Canyonlands National Park

Less than an hour away from Moab is the top of the mythical and immersive Island in the Sky, a remarkable district of the Canyonlands National Park, the state's largest national park, which also includes the huge Mesa Arch. The Island in the Sky offers many stops with spectacular views along a picturesque paved road.

5. Dead Horse Point State Park

There is no better view of the meandering Colorado River than the plateau of the Dead Horse Point State Park, a popular destination for mountain biking, hiking and admiring the wide views of the canyon, with just one short ride from the city. It is the only major city in Utah on the banks of the Colorado River.

The area is known for family trips in the rapids in the section of the river where the Fisher Towers are located. The most adventurous trips of several days and for one person are available at the Cataract and Westwater Canyon. In addition, canoes, kayaks and paddle boards are perfect for exploring the quieter stretches of the Colorado.

6. Christmas Meadows

Christmas Meadows on the Mirror Lake Highway is a sub-Alpine wilderness with lodgepole and white pine forests as well as colonies of aspens. Many of Utah’s high mountains contain cloud forests. The forest floor is littered with ferns and Lillies, as well as many lupine genus. Typically the Alpine wildernesses of the Colorado and Wasatch Plateaus receive more water than surrounding areas.

Salt Lake City typically receives 17–20 inches of rain annually, while the Wasatch and Uientas can receive more than 50 inches. Moose are a common sighting in Utah’s mountains.

7. Capitol Reef National Park

Staying at this campsite provides one of the most beautiful settings you will see in your travels. The campground is situated along the Virgin River and provides access to explore the canyons and surrounding areas. The campground is right next to a shuttle stop which makes going into the park hassle free. Request a site right along the river bank and go for a quick dip.

You'll have easy access to trails that feature hikes of different levels, easy, intermediate and advanced, so there is something for everyone.

The campground has an excellent location as it is just a bus ride into the town of Springdale and is within walking distance of the park (1/2 mile). Across the street from the campground you’ll find a general store, an ice cream shop, and restaurants, all within easy walking distance. After dinner relax outside and watch the sunset under The Watchman, a truly stunning sight.

As an added bonus, we will suggest Capitol Reef. There is a small general store down the road in Torrey with the best local Rib Eyes! Regardless of where you end up staying, if you can, you have to check out the backcountry. It is one of the beautiful scenic drives in Utah though be aware of the size of your rig as you might not make it with the switchbacks on some of the more adventurous roads.

Any of these sites would make a great weekend trip or as an extended stay and jumping off point to explore Southern Utah.