Discover the best family-friendly beach campgrounds in Utah

United States
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Utah

89% (468 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Utah

3 top beach campgrounds in Utah

Dog-friendly getaways

91%

(692)

Bear Lake Aquatics Base

33 sites · Tents300 acres · Laketown, UT

Bear Lake Aquatics Base is owned and operated by the Crossroads of the West Council, Scouting America. It is used for Scout events and campsite rentals during the summer season. There aren’t many places inland that you can say you really feel like you’re at the ocean. Bear Lake just happens to be one of them! With one mile of beach-front property, you will enjoy a beach-front camp like you’ve never dreamed of! All campsites are located between the highway and Bear Lake. Each campsite has potable water, a picnic table, campfire pit, and restrooms/showers a short walk away. No alcohol, drugs, or fireworks on property per Scouting America policies. Bear Lake Aquatics Base is conveniently located north of Laketown and nearby many local attractions - Bear Lake State Park, Logan Canyon, Minnetonka Cave and the National Oregon Trail Museum. Explore neighboring Laketown to experience the local flavor, maybe even a raspberry shake.

Sandy Beach

46 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents350 acres · Scipio, UT

17 RV sites available for reservations. Easy to access 55 foot long sites. Each site has incredible lake views. Access to private sandy beach with kayak, and paddle board rentals available. Fishing, water sports, views, and star gazing. Just a short distance from I-15 but worlds away from the hustle an bustle.

Sandy beaches on the Green River

3 sites · RVs, Tents700 acres · Jensen, UT

This Learn more about this land: Pitch your tent (or rent one of ours) on the beautiful sandy beaches of the Green River. You will be surrounded by the unique landscape of North Eastern Utah. The river is constantly changing so the exact location of the campsite is adjusted accordingly to provide the best experience for our guests. You will have a private campsite with BBQ pit or fire ring, fire starter kit, and wood. There is access to a common area for latrine, dressing area, gravity fed solar shower, and eco-friendly toiletries. The river is full of fun and relaxation. There are life vests, kid and adult kayaks, sand toys, and more available for rent. The campsite is on the fringe of a large hay farm so you may spot farming in action. Expect a 15-20 minute drive to downtown with many food, entertainment, and amenities offered. There is a diversity of wildlife to be seen on site. It is a bird watchers paradise, don't be surprised if you spot a bald eagle, Canadian geese, peregrine falcon, cranes, meadow lark, red-wing black bird, and more! Depending on the time of year you may see deer, antelope, racoon, beaver, or the occasional skunk or coyote.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Family-friendly beach camping in Utah guide

Overview

With a wide variety of terrains ranging from dense forest to arid plateaus, Utah has been attracting campers, backpackers, and hikers for generations. It's home to five national parks, plus dozens of state parks and national forests and monuments (not to mention plenty of BLM land), making it easy to find a Utah camping experience that suits you best. While the southern and eastern parts of the state attract lovers of the great outdoors with their massive rock formations and abundance of recreation activities, you’ll also find plenty to do up in the north, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to getting out on one of the region’s many lakes and reservoirs come summer.

Where to go

Northwest Utah

Northern Utah is where you'll find some of the state's lushest areas, with plenty of lakes and mountains, a stark contrast to the rockier, arid regions to the south. Salt Lake City is one of the region's biggest draws, and its easy access to outdoor recreation areas, such as Antelope Island State Park on the Great Salt Lake, makes it a reasonable base for those wanting to explore the region. Camping areas abound in this region—the tent-only Cottonwood Campground at Bear Lake State Park is a particularly good choice.

Eastern Utah

Eastern Utah offers some of the best opportunities for outdoor recreation in the state, and that's not just because two of Utah’s five national parks—Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park—are here, a short drive from Moab. Spots worth visiting include Dead Horse Point State Park (popular for mountain biking) and Natural Bridges National Monument, where you’ll see three natural bridge formations carved from the earth millennia ago. This area is also great for archaeology fans. Hovenweep National Monument is a great place to check out the ruins of 13th-century pueblos, while Bear Ears National Monument is full of beautifully preserved ancient cave art.

South-Central and Southern Utah

South Central Utah offers a mix of high desert and dense forest, with plenty of spots to go out and play. You can hike through the slot canyons of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, explore the fairytale-like hoodoos at Goblin Valley State Park, or try your hand at canyoning at Capitol Reef National Park. This region is also home to Lake Powell, on the Colorado River, right on the border with Arizona.

Southwest Utah

Home to both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, southwest Utah offers fantastic hiking and camping options, with a mix of beautiful rock formations, vast forests, and desert sand dunes. While the national parks are the main draw, this region offers plenty to do, from ATV/OHV riding on the massive golden dunes at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to checking out the red rock formations at Kodachrome Basin State Park. You'll find some of Utah's best camping spots and hiking trails all through the region, and the lack of light pollution makes this area ideal for stargazing under the night skies.