NPS · Capitol Reef National Park · Torrey, UT

Fruita Campground

Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles (160 km). The Fruita Campground has 71 sites. 65 sites are reservable year round- there are no longer first come, first serve sites any time of year. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are used as administrative sites. Sites 14, 24, and 63 are accessible sites with electrical hookups. From March 1 through Thanksgiving weekend, generators are only permitted in Loop C during generator hours.

More like this: reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · dark sky in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A old barn sites in a grass field. A red rock cliff is the background.A purple starry night sky is featured behind a small building.Trees with yellow leaves are centered in the image. Red rock formations rise above the treetops towards a blue sky with puffy clouds. Red clay and desert brush make up the foreground.A paved road meet in a "v" in the center of the image, going across the image on the left side and up the image on the right side. A tree missing its limbs is on grass right next to the intersection. Many trees are in the background.
Photos courtesy of NPS, Yan Li, Douglas Croft · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups55
Tent-only7
Standard with electric3
Host/management7
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 52 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

65 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfacePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
004Loop AStandardBack-in36Paved8 / 2Yes
005Loop AStandardBack-in32Paved8 / 2Yes
009Loop AStandardBack-in37Paved8 / 2Yes
010Loop AStandardBack-in30Paved8 / 2Yes
011Loop AStandardBack-in31Paved8 / 2Yes
012Loop AStandardBack-in38Paved8 / 2Yes
013Loop AStandardBack-in30Paved8 / 2Yes
014Loop AElectricBack-in28Paved8 / 2YesYes
015Loop AStandardBack-in33Paved8 / 2Yes
016Loop AStandardBack-in43Paved8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Campground map of Fruita Campground
Campground map published by National Park Service on Recreation.gov, credited to NPS. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length52 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCapitol Reef charges an entrance fee separate from camping fees. You may pay the fee upon arrival at the entrance station or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g. annual, senior, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.).
Dark skyInside Capitol Reef National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park
AccessibilitySites 014, 024, 026, 063 are listed accessible

The Fruita Campground has 71 sites. 65 sites are reservable year round. Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are used as administrative sites. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring (except sites 7, 48 and 50, which only have an above ground grill). There is a RV dump and potable water fill station near the entrance to Loops A and B. Restrooms have running water and flush toilets, but no showers. Accessible campsites are located adjacent to restrooms. Campsites have no individual water or sewage hookups. There are no electrical hookups (except accessible sites 14, 24, and 63). Electrical hookups at these sites are for required medical devices only. There are no first-come, first-served sites during reservation season.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Fruita Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 3.8 inches of snowFebruary: 0.50 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowMarch: 0.46 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowApril: 0.52 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.35 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.95 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 0.50 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowDecember: 0.37 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.5°F averageFebruary: 36.2°F averageMarch: 45.4°F averageApril: 51.9°F averageMay: 61.3°F averageJune: 72.3°F averageJuly: 78.2°F averageAugust: 75.3°F averageSeptember: 67.2°F averageOctober: 54.5°F averageNovember: 40.7°F averageDecember: 30.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Capitol Reef NP, 1 mile from the campground at 5,500 feet, station USC00421171 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 8 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 11 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Traveling westbound on Interstate 70: Take Utah State Highway 24 west towards Hanksville (exit 149). Stay on Highway 24 for 80 miles (129 km) to reach the park Visitor Center. Traveling on Interstate 15: Take US Highway 50 east at Scipio (exit 188) towards Salina for 30 miles (48 km).

Nearest townTorrey, Utah
Coordinates38.2825° N, 111.2469° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Fremont River Rd Piles Rx

    32 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Salina Canyon East Rx

    37 mi from the campground · 17,375 acres

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗under 0.1 mi
Outdoor gearEscalante Outfitters ↗40.4 mi

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

Explore

Video

Fruita Campground Drive-Thru: Amenities + What to Expect / Capitol Reef National Park [Uta

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Fishlake National Forest begins about 14.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The Fruita Campground area is located one mile south of the visitor center and is often described as an oasis within the desert. Fruita Campground is a semi-shaded, grassy campground and is located in the Fruita Historic District of the park.

Recreation

Walk to historic inscriptions on the Capitol Gorge Trail and stroll the Goosenecks Trail or longer trails such as Cohab Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Cassidy Arch. Enjoy the geology and view the Fremont Culture Petroglyphs along Hwy 24. In addition, the Scenic Drive will introduce you to the fascinating cultural and geological history of Capitol Reef National Park. The drive includes a portion of the original road through the Waterpocket Fold. The road passes through parts of the Fruita Historic District and follows the western faces of the Waterpocket Fold, and spur roads allow exploration into beautiful Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Check at the Visitor Center for a current schedule of interpretive programs, which may include geology talks, Fremont culture talks, evening programs, star gazing, moonwalks, and geology hikes. Wander through the historic Fruita Orchards and pick fresh fruit when in season. The orchards contain approximately 3,100 trees including cherry, apricot, peach, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, almond, and walnut. Discover Mormon pioneer history at the historic Gifford Homestead store and museum.

Nearby

The Fruita campground is adjacent to the Fremont River and is a short walk from the group site, amphitheater, picnic areas, hiking trails, the historic Gifford house and orchards.

Guidebooks for Capitol Reef National Park

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

  • Best Easy Day Hikes Capitol Reef National Park
    Brett Prettyman, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Your Guide to Capitol Reef National Park
    Michael Oswald, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Capitol Reef National Park
    Rick Stinchfield, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Fruita Campground?

Sites at Fruita 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 Fruita Campground?

Capitol Reef charges an entrance fee separate from camping fees. You may pay the fee upon arrival at the entrance station or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Fruita Campground?

Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Fruita Campground have?

72 sites, including 55 standard sites without power, 7 tent-only sites, and 3 standard sites with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Fruita Campground?

The longest site here provides 52 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Fruita Campground?

Restrooms have running water and flush toilets, but no showers.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Fruita Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Fruita Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Fruita Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Fruita Campground?

Sites 014, 024, 026, and 063 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Fruita Campground good for stargazing?

Yes. Fruita Campground sits inside Capitol Reef National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

What is there to do at Fruita Campground?

Walk to historic inscriptions on the Capitol Gorge Trail and stroll the Goosenecks Trail or longer trails such as Cohab Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Cassidy Arch. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Fruita Campground?

Torrey, Utah. The Fruita campground is adjacent to the Fremont River and is a short walk from the group site, amphitheater, picnic areas, hiking trails, the historic Gifford house and orchards.

Source: Getting there