As the most populous destination in Utah, Salt Lake City makes a great base camp for exploring the state’s many natural landmarks and manmade attractions. There are numerous campgrounds close to town, suitable for both RVs and tent campers.
The Wasatch Mountains create a beautiful backdrop to Salt Lake’s downtown skyline. Encompassing this mountain range is the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with over 1 million acres of wilderness to explore. Nestled at an elevation of 4,226 feet, the capital city provides a dry climate and cool nights, to accompany its hotter summer days.
SLC’s Top Tent and RV Campgrounds
What’s great about the campgrounds close to Salt Lake, is that many of them are open year-round. So, if you have your own hard-sided camper, you can set it up all winter long and shred Utah’s famous light, dry powder. There are nine ski resorts by SLC all within a reasonable drive of these campgrounds.
There are a few heavenly hot springs nearby Salt Lake City, which make for an easy day trip from any of the following campgrounds. Soaking in relaxing warm mineral springs, followed by a night around the campfire, is a splendid pairing. So pack up your sleeping bag and tent, or clean your bedsheets in your RV, and book a reservation today.
Here are the best and closest campgrounds to Salt Lake City, UT, in order of proximity:
Salt Lake City KOA/ Camp VIP (3 miles)
Salt Lake City KOA, known also as Camp VIP, is only three miles from downtown Salt Lake City. It’s the perfect RV and tent campers hoping to enjoy Salt Lake City’s attractions like shopping, historical sites, museums, and food. The city has a reliable light rail system that can transport KOA campers to downtown. Camp VIP also has every possible amenity for a campground, so visitors can feel confident in a relaxing, urban camping experience that presents relief from the road and dust.
- Closest town: SLC, UT (3 miles)
- Specs: 201 tent/RV sites, cabins, full hookups, dogs welcome, long/short-term stays available, heavy usage, open year-round
- Amenities: Glamping, cabins, group events, potable water, showers, flush toilets, laundry, basketball hoops, camp-store, dumpsters, kitchens, barbecues, picnic tables, pool, hot tub, sauna, pet walk
- Reservations: Yes, at KOA.com
- Address: 1400 W N Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (Map)
Pony Express RV Resort/Sun Outdoors RV (7 miles)
Also known as the Pony Express RV Resort, Sun Outdoors RV is just a short jaunt north of Salt Lake City downtown–about ten minutes. There’s a large nature preserve five miles north for great wildlife viewing and nature hikes with the kids, while bike rentals and life-size board games can be had at the RV Resort itself. They are deluxe accommodations with full amenities that also allow tent camping; plus, they’re centrally located between nature and the city.
- Closest town: SLC, UT (7 miles)
- Specs: 197 tent/RV sites, cabins, full hookups, dogs welcome, heavy usage, easy, open year-round
- Amenities: Glamping, cabins, group events, potable water, showers, flush toilets, laundry, basketball hoops, camp-store, dumpsters, kitchens, barbecues, picnic tables, clubhouse, game room, pool, TV, WiFi, pet walk, bike trails/rentals
- Reservations: Yes, at SunOutdoors.com
- Address: 1012 Recreation Way, North Salt Lake, UT 84054 (Map)
Lagoon RV Park & Campground (17 miles)
Lagoon RV Park & Campground has direct access to an amusement park and is an all-around fun place to bring the family. While a bit noisy, it’s a neat spot with sites for tents too. Stay over on the way somewhere or take a break and head to the beach or any of the numerous local amenities.
- Closest town: Farmington, UT (1 mile)
- Specs: 123 tent/RV sites, full hookups, dogs welcome, short-term stays available, heavy usage, easy, open April 29th-October 30th
- Amenities: Group events, potable water, showers, flush toilets, camp store, dumpsters, pet walk, amusement park access, catering for groups 25+
- Reservations: Yes, at Lagoonpark.com
- Address: 375 Lagoon Dr, Farmington, UT 84025 (Map)
Great Salt Lake Campground (18 miles)
With just a few campsites near the beach and a few more RV spots near the parking area, Great Salt Lake Campground is an experience unlike any other. It boasts beach access to one of North America’s greatest natural curiosities, the Great Salt Lake, where about 12% salinity allows visitors to swim and float.
This convenient stop even features hot showers. The gate is usually locked in the off-season. Just call the number provided during the reservation and a gate code is offered. Most people recommend a spring visit.
- Closest town: Magna, UT (8 miles)
- Specs: 5 tent/RV sites, standard non-electric hookups, dogs welcome, short-term stays available, heavy usage, open year-round
- Amenities: Flush toilets, showers, dumpsters
- Reservations: Yes, at utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com
- Address: Unnamed Road, Tooele, UT 84074 (Map)
Mountain Shadows RV Park (18 miles)
Mountain Shadows RV Park is a long and short-term campground known for being centrally located and having a nice selection of amenities. Tents are welcome. Visitors can use the pool or either of the hot tubs (indoor & outdoor) or take a dog for a walk at the dog park. Mountain Shadows RV Park serves as a nice retreat after an adrenaline-filled adventure. For aerial daredevils, Draper, UT, has good winds for paragliding.
- Closest town: Draper, UT (8 miles)
- Specs: 136 tent/RV sites, electric hookups, dogs welcome, short-term stays available, heavy usage, easy, short/long-term stays available, open year-round
- Amenities: Group events, potable water, showers, flush toilets, laundry, playground, camp-store, dumpsters, kitchens, barbecues, picnic tables, clubhouse, game room, pool, hot tub, TV, WiFi, pet walk, bike trails/rentals, hiking trails, pool
- Reservations: Yes, at MountainShadowsUtah.com
- Address: 13275 Minuteman Dr, Draper, UT 84020 (Map)
Affleck Park Campground (20 miles)
A little bit out of the way (really just a quick hop-skip from Salt Lake City) in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is Affleck Park Campground, a 22-site woodsy wonder for the outdoorsy type. It’s best to be mindful of wildlife here since since the wilderness area is home to moose and bears. There are national historic trails through Emigrant Canyon nearby.
- Closest town: SLC, UT (20 miles)
- Specs: 22 tent/RV sites, no hookups, no pets, short-term stays available, moderate usage, open year-round
- Amenities: Vault toilet, fire rings
- Reservations: Yes, at SLC.gov
- Address: UT-65, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (Map)
Tanner’s Flat Campground (25 miles)
Tanner’s Flat Campground is about a thirty-minute drive southeast of Salt Lake City and offers a quiet, natural location with summer wildflowers. It shares a border with Little Cottonwood Creek. Many alpine lakes make this an ideal campground for hikers and fishermen. Potable and flushable water is seasonal since this location is at an elevation of 7,200 feet.
- Closest town: East Millcreek, UT (18 miles)
- Specs: 40 tent/RV sites, group sites, yurts, standard nonelectric hookups, dogs welcome, short-term stays available, heavy usage, open May-September
- Amenities: Potable water, showers, flush toilets, dumpsters, kitchens, campfire ring, picnic tables, volleyball court, bike trails, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
- Address: 7490 Little Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Sandy, UT 84092 (Map)
Spruce’s Campground (26 miles)
Spruce’s Campground is somewhat centrally situated between four different peaks in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest–Gobbler’s Knob, O’Sullivan Peak, Twin Peaks, and Clayton Peak. It’s a surprisingly large campground for the remote location and offers decent amenities for both tent campers and RV goers. Enjoy the spruces, the seclusion, and the Big Cottonwood Creek that runs along the edge of this campground.
- Closest town: Cottonwood Heights (11 miles)
- Specs: 98 tent/RV sites, group sites, standard nonelectric hookups, no pets, no swimming, short-term stays available, heavy usage, open May-September
- Amenities: Potable water, vault toilets, dumpsters, campfire ring, picnic tables, grills, volleyball court, disc golf, bike trails, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
- Address: S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121 (Map)
Jordan Pines Group Campground (27 miles)
Jordan Pines Group Campground is so named because it consists of four overnight group campgrounds and one-day use group campground–that’s it. There is a vault toilet, drinking water, and some other convenient amenities to make a large gathering of family, friends, or colleagues relatively comfortable, and it’s only a thirty-minute, scenic drive to downtown Salt Lake City.
- Closest town: Cottonwood Heights, UT (11 miles)
- Specs: 5 tent/RV group sites, group sites, no hookups, no pets, no swimming, short-term stays available, heavy usage, open May-September
- Amenities: Potable water, vault toilets, dumpsters, campfire ring, picnic tables, grills, volleyball court, horseshoes, bike trails, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at fs.usda.gov or 1-877-444-6777
- Address: S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121 (Map)
Park City RV Resort (27 miles)
Park City RV Resort is a clean, well-kept resort located about half an hour directly east of Salt Lake City. Trees offer privacy, paved spaces make set-up easy, and the location is pretty easy on the eyes. What’s more, Park City RV Resort has about every amenity one can hope for when it comes to a campground, including a fishing stream right off the tent sites.
- Closest town: Park City, UT (0 miles)
- Specs: 69 tent/ RV sites, electric hookups, dogs welcome, heavy usage, short/long-term stays available, open year-round
- Amenities: Group events, potable water, showers, flush toilets, laundry, dumpsters, barbecues, picnic tables, clubhouse, pool, TV, WiFi, pet walk, bike trails/rentals, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at RobertsResorts.com
- Address: 2200 Rasmussen Rd, Park City, UT 84098 (Map)
Redman’s Campground (30 miles)
Located in Big Cottonwood Canyon about a thirty-minute drive southeast of Salt Lake City is Redman’s Campground–a pretty little place to get away at a stunning elevation of 8,300 feet. It’s located near multiple ski resorts and presents excellent opportunities for hiking, fishing, and mountain biking in the summer. All visitors are advised to take any necessary altitude-related precautions.
- Closest town: Brighton, UT (1 mile)
- Specs: 45 tent/RV sites, standard non-electric hookups, dogs welcome, heavy usage, short/long-term stays available, open June through September
- Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, dumpsters, barbecues, picnic tables
- Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov; first-come, first-serve seasons also occur
- Address: FR023, Salt Lake City, UT 84121 (Map)
Bridger Bay Campground (42 miles)
Bridger Bay is a pretty little campground in the Antelope Island State Park on the shores of Farmington Bay on the Great Salt Lake. With beautiful views, beach access, and a general sense of solitude despite its location, it’s a terrific place to bring a tent or RV to experience a unique travel destination in the U.S.
- Closest town: Syracuse, UT (12 miles)
- Specs: 64 tent/RV sites, standard hookups, group sites, dogs welcome, short-term stays available, heavy usage, open year-round
- Amenities: Potable water, showers, flush toilets, dumpsters, campfire ring, picnic tables, bike trails, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at UtahStateParks.ReserveAmerica.com
- Address: Antelope Island Rd, Utah (Map)
Lakeside RV Campground (46 miles)
Lakeside RV Campground is a little under an hour south of Salt Lake City on the shores of Utah Lake. Limestone Caverns are nearby, as well as hiking, eating, and dining. Along with the many amenities it offers, this spot is an altogether well-rounded property. On top of that, this RV campground welcomes tent campers.
- Closest town: Provo, UT (3 miles)
- Specs: 120 tent/RV sites, group sites, partial and full hookups, no pets, short-term stays available, heavy usage, year-round
- Amenities: Potable water, vault toilets, dumpsters, campfire ring, store, picnic tables, grills, WiFi, propane, golf, volleyball court, horseshoes, bike trails, hiking trails
- Reservations: Yes, at LakesideRV.com
Address: Lakeside RV Campground, 4000 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601(Map)
Those are among the best spots for car camping near Salt Lake City, Utah. Remember to always pack in, pack out your trash, and be animal-conscious (don’t leave food out or in your tent). For those looking to stay at thermal springs, consider the Belmont Hot Springs RV Park, located just 83 miles north of SLC near the Idaho border.
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