Camp ObserverCapitol Reef National Park
Directions
From I-70: Take exit 149, then take UT-24 west toward Hanksville; continue for 43.8 miles (70.5 km). Turn right to continue on UT-24 west and continue for 37.3 miles (60 km).
From I-15: take exit 188 then US-50 east toward Scipio. Left on UT-50; continuing 0.7 miles (1.1 km). Turn right onto US-50 east; continue for 24.4 miles (39.3 km). Turn right onto UT-260 south and continue 4.2 miles (6.8 km), then right on UT-24 for 71.3 miles.
UT-12: North on highway 12 to Torrey, UT. Right onto UT-24.
Reviews
Capitol Reef National Park's Fruita Campground remains a scenic and well-maintained destination known for its beautiful orchards, wildlife, and close access to hiking trails and ranger presentations. Visitors appreciate the cool atmosphere with ample shade in some areas despite high temperatures. While restrooms are clean, some note they are in need of updates. The campground continues to offer a peaceful desert oasis with opportunities for fruit picking, stargazing, and enjoying homemade pies. Infrastructure remains simple with no showers or hookups, and mud issues persist during rainy weather.
Beautiful orchards with fruit picking opportunities
Cool, shaded areas even in hot weather
Clean restrooms and simple infrastructure
Friendly and helpful campground hosts
Close proximity to hiking, ranger programs, and natural attractions
Restrooms need updating
No showers or electric hookups available
Mud issues during rainy weather
Limited privacy in some campsites
Limited cell service and occasional noise
Karl C
Reviewed 5 days ago
Enjoyed the campground bathroom were clean and convenient. A lot of shade trees so solar charging was not good but it depends on your site.
Daniel M
Reviewed 5 days ago
Amazing views at the campground. Within walking distance of some really nice trails! The camp host was amazing and made everyone feel welcomed! I will be staying here again!
Kenneth S
Reviewed 5 days ago
The campsite host was very nice
This was a walk-in campsite for tents only. The walk was not very far, but it is furthest sites from water and the bathrooms.
But very peaceful and quiet
Ting Hao H
Reviewed 6 days ago
Site itself is nothing to write home about but it's super close to everything fun! Beautiful park, great hikes, lots of history too.
Ryan M
Reviewed 6 days ago
Fruita Campground's setting is fantastic. Tucked into the historic Fruita district beneath the cliffs of Capitol Reef, with mature trees, orchards, wildlife, and easy access to the visitor center, Scenic Drive, hiking and the Gifford House.
The campground itself was peaceful, well maintained and surprisingly green for southern Utah; although big patches of grass area have reverted to red dirt. We spent several days here and loved being able to walk or bike around Fruita in the mornings and evenings. Deer wandered through the campground regularly, and the surrounding cliffs make for a pretty spectacular backdrop.
One thing to know if you rely on a generator: during the main season, generator use is restricted to Loop C during designated hours. We originally stayed in another loop, but several cloudy days depleted our trailer batteries and the camp host was extremely helpful in moving us to Loop C so we could recharge.
Our only real complaint was the flies. During our August stay they were relentless at times, although that’s obviously seasonal and not something I’d hold against the campground itself.
Overall, Fruita is an outstanding base for exploring Capitol Reef and a campground we would absolutely stay at again. The combination of history, scenery, location and the campground atmosphere makes it feel like part of the park experience rather than simply a place to park the trailer.
Kisten H
Reviewed 6 days ago
Highly recommend! Beautiful campgrounds that are maintained well, with friendly and helpful hosts. Stunning views of Capitol Reef, with horses, orchards, and rivers walking distance. One of my favorite places to wake up while camping, along with great views for stargazing at night.
Popularity: Moderate
Busiest in August, when about 52% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 10 years of reservations.
Campgrounds
Capitol Reef National Park has 6 campgrounds, 66 campsites in total.
