BLM · Salt Lake Field Office · Salt Lake City, UT

Simpson Springs Campground

The campground is situated on the eastern edge of Utah's West Desert near the historic Simpson Springs station on the Pony Express National Historic Trail. Simpson Springs was the site of a significant Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in the late 1930s and early 1940s, just prior to the establishment of the US Army Dugway Proving Grounds during World War II.

More like this: reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah · accessible sites in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Pony Express Station at Simpson Springs CampgroundPony Express Station at Simpson Springs CampgroundSimpson Springs CampsiteView from Simpson Springs Campground
Photos courtesy of BLM, Bureau of Land Management - Utah (Public domain) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups22
group standard area nonelectric1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

23 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001StandardBack-in90No / No8 / 2YesYes
002StandardPull-through54No / No8 / 2YesYes
003StandardPull-through50No / No8 / 2YesYes
004StandardBack-inNo / No8 / 2Yes
005StandardBack-in52No / No8 / 2Yes
006StandardBack-in50No / No8 / 2Yes
007StandardBack-in74No / –8 / 2YesYes
008StandardPull-through100No / No8 / 2YesYes
009StandardBack-in36No / No8 / 2Yes
010StandardPull-through62No / No8 / 2YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length98 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesYear round $15.00 per site
Stay limit14 days
AccessibilitySites 001, 002, 003, 007 and 12 more are listed accessible

Potable water (seasonally) and accessible vault toilets.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Simpson Springs Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.69 inches of precipitation, 4.1 inches of snowFebruary: 0.63 inches of precipitation, 3.4 inches of snowMarch: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowApril: 1.05 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowMay: 1.11 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.46 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.45 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.81 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowDecember: 0.57 inches of precipitation, 3.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.1°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 42.9°F averageApril: 49.4°F averageMay: 58.8°F averageJune: 69.7°F averageJuly: 78.3°F averageAugust: 76.4°F averageSeptember: 65.1°F averageOctober: 50.8°F averageNovember: 38.2°F averageDecember: 27.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Dugway, 13 miles from the campground at 4,345 feet, station USC00422257 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 8 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 15 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From I-80, take exit 199 (Tooele) and travel south on Highway 36 for approximately 40 miles. Turn right onto the Pony Express Road and travel for approximately 25 miles. The campground is approximately 12 miles south of Dugway, Utah, on the Pony Express Road.

Nearest townSalt Lake City, Utah
Coordinates40.0350° N, 112.7812° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Jacob City Trailhead Rx

    36 mi from the campground · 5 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗33 mi
Outdoor gearSierra ↗43.5 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗57.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Camping at Simpson Spring Campground in Utah Part 1/Muntik naku Himatayin

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Campground is along the Pony Express National Historic Trail.

Recreation

Hiking, picnicking, OHV riding, mountian biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, scenic backcountry byway, Pony Express National Historic Trail.

Nearby

Historic Pony Express National Historic Trail site and visitor interpretation.

Guidebooks for Utah

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Simpson Springs Campground?

Sites at Simpson Springs Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Simpson Springs Campground?

Year round $15.00 per site

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Simpson Springs Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Simpson Springs Campground have?

23 sites, including 22 standard sites without power and 1 group standard area nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Simpson Springs Campground?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Simpson Springs Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Simpson Springs Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Simpson Springs Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

How long can I stay at Simpson Springs Campground?

14 days

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Simpson Springs Campground?

Sites 001, 002, 003, and 007 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 16 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is the nearest town to Simpson Springs Campground?

Salt Lake City, Utah. Historic Pony Express National Historic Trail site and visitor interpretation.

Source: Getting there

What if Simpson Springs Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Clover Springs Campground (24.8 mi), Loop Campground (32.7 mi), and Upper Narrows (33.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby