Capitol Reef RV Camping: Top Campgrounds & RV Parks
One of the lesser-known national parks among Utah’s Mighty 5, Capitol Reef is a hidden gem and far less crowded than its more well-known cousins—Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches National Parks.
This 241,000-acre Capitol Reef is known for dramatic red rock formations and canyons, and it’s great for hiking, scenic drives, historic sites, photography, stargazing, rock climbing, canyoneering, and wildlife viewing.
Getting to Capitol Reef is easy, but figuring out where to camp on your RV trip requires some research. Read on to learn about 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
The Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef itself. 63 of its 71 sites allow RVs or campervans and you’ll want to reserve early during the busy season from March 1 – October 31. Reserve through reservations.gov up to six months in advance.
Fruita Campground
This 71-site ‘oasis in the desert’ is surrounded by a fruit orchard and is near other amenities in the Fruita Historic District.
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
The two primitive campgrounds inside Capitol Reef—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.
For RV rentals from Blacksford RV Rentals in Las Vegas, only the Winnebago Revel meets this criteria.
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
runt35, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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
To take your adventure to the next level!
Rent a new, premium RV or campervan from Blacksford RV Rentals’ in Las Vegas to see Capitol Reef and the rest of Utah’s Mighty Five (we’re only 6 hours from Capitol Reef and 2.5 hours from Zion National Park!)
