Top 10 Best Campgrounds in Utah | 2026 Camping
Discover Utah's best campgrounds across the Mighty Five national parks. Red rock formations, dark skies perfect for stargazing, and unforgettable desert camping experiences.
Utah is unmatched. Five national parks, endless BLM land, slot canyons carved over millennia, and some of the darkest skies in the country. We’ve camped across the state more times than we can count, and these are the campgrounds that keep pulling us back.
1. Watchman Campground, Zion National Park
Location: Springdale, southern Utah
Watchman puts you at the heart of Zion with direct shuttle access to every major trailhead. The Virgin River runs alongside certain loops, and evening brings that famous red glow on the canyon walls.
Best for: First-timers to Zion, families, anyone who wants convenience without sacrificing scenery.
Pro tip: A-loop riverside sites fill instantly. Set an alarm for exactly 6 months out when reservations open at 8am Mountain Time.
2. Devils Garden Campground, Arches National Park
Location: Moab area, eastern Utah
The only campground inside Arches, Devils Garden sits among sandstone fins at the end of the park road. Wake up surrounded by formations that took 300 million years to create, and beat the crowds to Delicate Arch.
Best for: Photographers chasing golden hour, anyone wanting in-park access.
Pro tip: Sites 1-24 are tent-only and more private. Book early—this one fills months ahead.
3. Goblin Valley State Park Campground
Location: Between Hanksville and Green River, central Utah
Otherworldly doesn’t begin to describe it. Thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos (the “goblins”) spread across the valley floor, and at night, the Milky Way stretches overhead. This is an International Dark Sky Park.
Best for: Stargazers, families with kids who love to climb, anyone who wants something totally different.
Pro tip: Full moon nights are stunning but harder for stargazing. Aim for new moon weekends.
4. Dead Horse Point State Park Campground
Location: Near Moab, eastern Utah
Perched 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point offers canyon views that rival the Grand Canyon. The sunrises here are legendary, and you’re just 30 minutes from Moab’s mountain biking trails.
Best for: Mountain bikers, sunrise chasers, photographers.
Pro tip: Yurt rentals are available if you want a roof but still want the views. They book up fast for fall weekends.
5. South Campground, Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Torrey, south-central Utah
Capitol Reef is the quiet one of Utah’s Mighty Five, which means you can actually get a site. Orchards planted by pioneers still produce fruit you can pick for free, and the Waterpocket Fold geology is unlike anywhere else.
Best for: Solitude seekers, road trippers on the scenic byway, geology enthusiasts.
Pro tip: Grab a pie at nearby Gifford Homestead, then hike the Hickman Bridge trail before sunset.
6. Natural Bridges National Monument Campground
Location: Near Blanding, southeastern Utah
This was the world’s first International Dark Sky Park, and it earns that distinction every clear night. Three massive natural bridges, zero light pollution, and rarely a crowd.
Best for: Serious stargazers, those escaping the Moab traffic, backcountry solitude.
Pro tip: The 13-site campground is first-come, first-served. Arrive midweek for best odds.
7. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Location: Near Kanab, southwestern Utah
Pink sand dunes rising against juniper-covered hills—it looks like another planet. The dunes are open for hiking, sandboarding, and photography. Camp right at the base and catch sunset painting the sand in impossible colors.
Best for: Families, sandboarders, photographers hunting unique landscapes.
Pro tip: Rent a sandboard in Kanab before you arrive. Walking up the dunes is the workout; sliding down is the reward.
8. Kodachrome Basin State Park
Location: Near Cannonville, south-central Utah
Named by a National Geographic expedition for its color palette, Kodachrome Basin has 67 sedimentary pipes—geological chimneys found nowhere else on Earth. The campground offers shade, hot showers, and far fewer crowds than nearby Bryce.
Best for: Families, horseback riders, those looking for a Bryce alternative.
Pro tip: Combine with a trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante for slot canyon hikes. Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch are 30 minutes away.
9. Antelope Island State Park Campground
Location: Great Salt Lake, northern Utah
Free-roaming bison, pronghorn antelope, and the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Bridger Bay campground puts you on the island with views across the water to the Wasatch Mountains.
Best for: Wildlife watchers, Salt Lake City day-trippers wanting an overnight, photography of bison at sunrise.
Pro tip: The bugs can be brutal in summer. Spring and fall are prime time.
10. Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Capitol Reef, south-central Utah
Yes, we’re putting two Capitol Reef options on this list—it’s that underrated. Fruita is the main campground, sitting in the historic district surrounded by fruit orchards. Deer wander through at dusk, and Cassidy Arch is a short drive away.
Best for: History buffs, families, those wanting amenities in a quiet park.
Pro tip: When fruit is in season (roughly June through October), you can pick cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples right in the campground. Pay by the bag on the honor system.
Final Thoughts
Utah rewards those who stay. Day-trippers see the famous arches and viewpoints, but campers get the empty trails at dawn, the desert silence at midnight, the slow shift from orange to pink to purple as the sun sets over canyon country.
Book early for the national parks. Show up midweek for the state parks. And always, always stay for the stars.
Red rocks and dark skies—that’s the Utah we keep coming back to.