Camping in and around Ogden, Utah

Since Ogden is replete with both…and equidistant from Southern Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef) and Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, it’s the perfect stopover point on any road trip.

It’s also the perfect multi-day destination to set up camp and avoid the congestion of the National Parks altogether. Below, we’ve highlighted a few of the camping options available in the Ogden area to help you with your trip planning.

With hundreds of thousand of acres of Wasatch-Cache National Forest land immediately adjacent to Ogden, there are several Forest Service campgrounds to choose from by heading east up Ogden Canyon. These campgrounds don’t offer water, sewer, or electrical hook-ups, but more than make up for it in the scenic beauty of Pineview Reservoir or the South Fork of the Ogden River.

Best of all, availability can be quickly searched and reservations easily made with a single visit to recreation.gov.

Anderson Cove Campground is a popular facility located 10 miles east of Ogden, Utah, on the banks of Pineview Reservoir in scenic Ogden Valley. This campground is incredibly popular for its immediate access to Pineview boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing and swimming.

Continuing east on Scenic Byway 39 takes you along the South Fork of the Ogden River and accesses more campgrounds including Bott’s, Magpie, South Fork, and Perception Park.

Due to the popularity of these areas, reservations are required and get gobbled up quickly. A quick visit here is the best resource for up-to-date facility information and availability. Some of the campgrounds mentioned above may not even appear on the recreation.gov site, which is a good indicator that all available spots are reserved for the season at those locations. A quick stop into the Ogden Ranger District Office at 507 25th Street or a call to (801)625-5112 will likely confirm that, but there’s the contact info anyway.

Some RVers are simply looking for a quick, overnight stop with easy access from the freeway where they can pull off for the night, juice up the batteries, do a bit of laundry, and explore the town. A couple of great options that tick all of those boxes include Century RV Park and the Golden Spike Event Center RV area.

Century RV Park is located just west of I-15 off the 21st Street Exit (Exit 343). In addition to being the closest campground to downtown Ogden, it offers long, full-hook-up, pull-through sites with both 30- and 50-amp services, 24-hour laundry facilities, free cable TV and wifi, a convenience store, swimming pool and hot tub, playground, an off-leash dog park, and easy after-hours check-in for late arrivals. Best of all, you’re just minutes from Historic 25th Street and all of the great restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions in downtown Ogden.

The Golden Spike Event Center has 52 RV sites that are typically used by folks visiting for rodeo, horse racing, or other livestock events at the facility, but are open to the general public (with a few blackout dates set aside for major events). It is located just east of I-15 off the 12th Street Exit (Exit 344) and features full electric (30- and 50-amp), sewer, and water hookups. You can check availability and make reservations here.

With Forest Service campgrounds often selling out months in advance, a great option for many campers can be one of Weber County’s parks with similar camping amenities, activities and settings. Camping at these parks is on a first-come, first-served basis with a 1:00 p.m. check-in. Reservations are not accepted.

Continuing along Scenic Byway 39 past Perception Park campground leads to Weber County’s Memorial Park, situated on the banks of the South Fork of the Ogden River just below Causey Reservoir, deep in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains.

A quick trip around Pineview Reservoir through Eden and up to Liberty leads to North Fork Park, another Weber County campground. This park is nestled tightly against the eastern slope of the Wasatch Range, effectively blocking the ambient light pollution created by the populous Wasatch Front. It was one of Utah’s first officially designated Dark Sky Parks and is a great place for stargazing.

All Weber County Parks campgrounds are relatively primitive with no water, sewer, or electrical hook-ups, and excessively large RVs may find these campgrounds challenging to navigate.

For those looking to really get off the beaten path, the Monte Cristo region of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest is your best bet around Ogden. Situated at nearly 10,000 feet of elevation and with unimproved roads, the Monte Cristo Range puts campers in much cooler temperatures, but without any of the amenities of developed campgrounds. Bring along plenty of water and make sure your vehicle is up for the challenge.

This is Utah’s high country, so be prepared for rapidly changing weather at any time, including late- and early-season snowstorms.

Due to occasional closures for logging operations or prescribed burns for wildfire management, it’s always best to stop into the Ogden Ranger District office at 507 25th Street in Ogden, or call them at (801)625-5112 before heading out. Rangers can point you to the best dispersed camping areas at any given moment before you begin your trip.

Regardless of your style, be it luxury RV “glamping” closer to town or primitive backcountry camping in the high country, please treat Ogden-area natural resources with respect. Familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace principles and check the latest wildfire danger status before heading out. Fire restrictions will likely be in place throughout most of the year due to ongoing extreme drought conditions throughout the Intermountain West.

We invite you to demonstrate your commitment to responsible visitation by taking our Wild 4 Ogden pledge here.