The Ultimate Guide to Capitol Reef RV Camping
Whether you enjoy camping off-grid or with full hookups, these are the best RV campgrounds for your visit to Capitol Reef National Park.
As the lesser-known national park among Utah’s Mighty 5, Capitol Reef promises the same dramatic red rock formations and outdoor activities found in the other parks, but with more solitude.
It’s much easier to escape the crowds here than in Utah’s more popular national parks: Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Arches.
Getting to Capitol Reef National Park is easy when renting an RV from Blacksford—you just need to decide where to camp.
In this Capitol Reef RV camping guide, you’ll find tips on where to stay: Campgrounds inside Capitol Reef, private campgrounds just outside the park, public campgrounds in nearby Fishlake/Dixie National Forest, and other public land dispersed camping.
Campgrounds Inside Capitol Reef
Fruita Campground
Fruita Campground is the only developed campground within the 241,000-acre park, allowing RVs and campervans in 63 of its 71 sites. Reservations are strongly encouraged during the busy season (Mar. 1–Oct. 31) on recreation.gov and can be made up to six months in advance.
At the center of a lovely historic orchard, Fruita Campground has a dump station, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and allows generators. Camp elsewhere if you want hookups or showers.
Location: Inside Capitol Reef National Park
Amenities: Potable water, dump station, restrooms but no showers, picnic tables, fire rings, generators allowed (with time restrictions). No hookups.
RV Life Rating: 9.2/10
Reservations: Recreation.gov - Fruita Campground
Primitive Campgrounds
Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa have five or six spaces and are first-come, first served. However, each requires a high-clearance vehicle to access.
Luckily, you can rent a Winnebago Revel, which meets this criteria, through Blacksford RV Rentals in Las Vegas.
Courtesy Duke’s RV Park
Private Campgrounds Outside Capitol Reef
If you can’t snag a spot at Fruita Campground, if you need more amenities, or want RV hookups, there are many private and public land campgrounds within 15-45 minutes of the park’s main entrance just outside Torrey, Utah.
Consider one of these private RV parks:
Wonderland RV Park
Clean, comfortable, and well-maintained park with level sites.
Location: Torrey, Utah
Distance from Capitol Reef: 11 miles
Amenities: Full hookups, free wifi, laundry, restrooms with showers, picnic tables, dog park, BBQ area.
RV Life Rating: 9.1/10
Reservations: Wonderland RV Park website
Offroad RV Resort
32 very spacious, full hookup gravel sites with beautiful views on 110 acres along the Freemont River.
Location: Caineville, UT
Distance from Capitol Reef: 18 miles
Amenities: Full hookups, recreation trail, dark sky viewing, no wifi, no showers/restrooms
RV Life Rating: 8.9/10
Reservations: Off Road RV Resort website
Thousand Lakes RV Park
Amenities galore at this 22-acre park with 69 full hookup sites.
Location: Torrey, UT
Distance from Capitol Reef: 6 miles
Amenities: Full hookups, wifi, camp store, restaurant, coffee & muffins, propane, grills, fire rings, picnic tables, pool, playground, basketball court, cabins, laundry, showers, pavilion
RV Life Rating: 8.7/10
Reservations: Thousand Lakes RV Park website
Duke’s Slickrock Campground & RV Park
54 full hookup dirt sites in a pretty location with an onsite restaurant.
Location: Hainesville, UT
Distance from Capitol Reef: 28 miles
Amenities: Full hookups, wifi, showers, laundry, gift shop, picnic tables, firepits, cabins.
RV Life Rating: 7.3/10
Reservations: Duke’s Slickrock Campground & RV Park website
Freemont River RV Park
Small, gravel sites with some amenities.
Location: Loa, UT
Distance from Capitol Reef: 18 miles
Amenities: Full hookups, wifi, showers, bathrooms, laundry.
RV Life Rating: 7.6/10
Reservations: Freemont River RV Park website
Public Land Campgrounds Outside Capitol Reef
Fishlake National Forest
Capitol Reef National Park is adjacent to the beautiful and massive (1.5 million acres) Fishlake/Dixie National Forest which have developed and primitive campsites.
Fishlake National Forest is a haven for both nature lovers and off-road enthusiasts. Fish Lake’s crystal-clear waters and huge fish population make it a prime spot for anglers and kayakers. Hiking and biking are also popular at this high-altitude hidden gem.
It can be tough to find useful information on the Forest Service website about RV camping in Fishlake National Forest.
However, recreation.gov recommends several in Fishlake, near Capitol Reef:
Singletree Campground
Visitors love this gorgeous no hookups campground with paved sites in Fishlake National Forest.
Location: Fishlake National Forest
Distance from Capitol Reef: 20 miles
Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, picnic tables, dump station, paved sites, wifi, horseshoes, volleyball court, hiking nearby
RV Life Rating: 9.8/10
Reservations: Recreation.gov - Singletree Campground
Sunglow Campground
This beloved, 8-site, no hookup campground in Fishlake National Forest is in a red rock box canyon. Only half its sites can be reserved while the others are first-come, first-served.
Location: Fishlake National Forest
Distance from Capitol Reef: 20 miles
Amenities: No hookups, flush toilets, potable water, no dump station
RV Life Rating: 9.9/10
Reservations: Recreation.gov - Sunglow Campground
Pleasant Creek Campground
This popular, small campground in Fishlake National Forest is near hiking and fishing, has a 25' RV length limit, and requires good bear safety practices
Location: Fishlake National Forest
Distance from Capitol Reef: 15 miles
Amenities: Vault toilets, no dump station on-site, potable water
The Dyrt Rating: 5/5
Reservations: None–first-come, first served only. Contact highcountryrec@gmail.com or 435-979-6868 for fee information.
Oak Creek Campground
This 20 site, no hookup, scenic creek-side campground is great for fishing, hiking, nearby off-road trails and biking trails. It’s first-come, first-served and it offers some amenities.
Location: Fishlake National Forest
Distance from Capitol Reef: 22 miles
Amenities: Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, grills, volleyball court, amphitheater, play field.
Recreation.gov Rating: 4.7/5
Reservations: None—First-come, first served only.Contact highcountryrec@gmail.com or 435-979-6868 for fee information.
Looking for dispersed camping? Check out the best dispersed camping spots near Capitol Reef.
Camp Near Capitol Reef in a Blacksford RV
Figuring out where to camp with your RV or campervan while visiting Capitol Reef National Park can be challenging. But this list of campgrounds—public, private, full hookups, limited service, and dispersed—will help you to plan fun adventures in Capitol Reef.
Take your trip to the next level by renting a new, premium RV or campervan from Blacksford’s Las Vegas location to see Capitol Reef and Utah’s Mighty 5!
