My husband and I just wrapped up a few months of RV life in Utah, and wow, we were surprised and pleased. I can’t speak highly enough about the state of Utah, which is way more than what I think the rest of the world knows. You don’t have to be a rockhound, mountain climber, or National Park enthusiast to visit the Beehive State, but rest assured that you might not want to leave once you get here. There’s something extraordinary about Utah and these four places to RV on your journey. Take a look!
Mountain View RV Park and Campground in Monticello, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
1. Mountain View RV Park And Campground
Monticello
Mountain View RV Park & Campground was a surprise for us because somehow, I booked a campground in Utah rather than close to Mesa Verde, CO, after leaving Durango. So, when I typed the campground in my phone to pull up the map, thinking we were only driving 45 minutes to our site, it turned out it was two hours away and in Utah. Sometimes mistakes can be a blessing in disguise, which is precisely what happened in our case.
We rolled into Monticello, Utah, during a cold and windy day. It is an hour south of the city of Moab. The small but well-laid-out RV campground had a gravel lot and only a handful of RVs and tent campers. Mountain View RV Park, in the heart of Canyon Country at 7,000 feet, has five tent sites and 25 RV sites. So, you can see what I mean by small. The park owner was super friendly and the office offered helpful town directories and local menus. The campground provided a fenced off-leash pet area, laundry room, fresh water access, full hook-ups, and several trees, which we had not seen at the RV parks we’d been to in the past few months.
fun fact: Monticello’s average summer temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gustavo’s Mexican food in Monticello
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
By the end of the day, the campground was nearly full since the outdoorsy types stayed here for recreational activities nearby, including at Lake Powell, Arches, Canyonlands National Parks, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, and Four Corners National Monument, to name a few .
Monticello is a small town of around 2,000 people. We found two restaurants with the friendliest waitstaff we could have asked for. First was Gustavo’s, a family-owned Mexican eatery with beautiful furnishings and excellent food. You can’t miss the queso with chorizo, and the refried beans are delicious.
The second restaurant was The Granary Bar & Grill at the Grist Mill Inn. Whatever you do, don’t miss the homemade chips. They were highly addicting.
Lakeside RV Campground in Provo, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
2. Lakeside RV Campground
provo
Lakeside RV Campground will go down as one of our all-time favorite campgrounds of the year. About 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, Lakeside RV Campground is another family-owned RV ten-acre property shaded with hundreds of cottonwood, oak, and maple trees. Eddie and I clapped for joy when we saw so much shade, especially after being in Albuquerque for months.
The 120-site year-round campground is off-the-beaten-path, about nine minutes from downtown Provo, and has one of the most beautiful settings we’ve yet to see. There were mountains, some still snow-covered, in every direction you looked.
The swimming pool and perfectly maintained grounds were a major draw for us. I appreciated a portable shower house and toilets toward the back of the park since the main ones at the front were somewhat far away. The clean and heated facilities reminded me of Hot Toddy Potties in Oxford, MS, where my daughter went to college.
Lakeside has a dog park and many grassy places to walk, with or without your pet, just to enjoy the scenery. I was always finding surprises at the campground, too. One day a river setting, another horseshoe pit, and numerous flower gardens.
Pro Tip: Lakeside has commendable free Wi-Fi and they can refill your propane tanks on-site.
Church and sculpture in Provo, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
Minutes away in Provo, get your Indian food fix from Bombay House, which is tied for the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten. Provo is home to BYU (Brigham Young University), but it has the feel of a more elegant city than a college town. Around town, you’ll find excellent photo ops of sculptures, murals, mountain scenes, and stately churches with elegant flower bed accents.
Another thing you’ll love about Provo, or at least I hope I’m not the only one, is the sheer number of delicious pastry shops in town. One street had four; another had three. I was in sweet treat heaven! All the necessary bases were covered, such as cannoli, cookies, macarons, and cupcakes.
I found a darling shop in downtown Provo, Heindselman’s. America’s oldest yarn shop, circa 1904, is chock full of yarn, gifts, and materials used for weaving, spinning, and needlework. I met a group of artisans eagerly working on their projects and was fascinated by hearing them talk about their craft and showing me the process.
fun fact: If you haven’t fall in love with Crumbl Cookies, you surely will on your Utah trip. This Utah-based company is one of the country’s top franchises and has the best cookies that change flavors weekly. Frosted strawberry pop tart is my favorite.
The pool at Century Mobile Home and RV Park in Ogden, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
3. Century Mobile Home And RV Park
ogden
In Ogden, 35 miles north of Salt Lake City, is Century Mobile Home and RV Park, with 192 sites and offers monthly rates. Ogden is the gateway to Powder Mountain and Snowbasin ski resorts. Whether or not you ski, take a road trip to this stunning area riddled with fantastic photo ops and a waterfall along the way.
Century Park RV was a great choice in terms of convenience and price, although we did have RVs way too close for comfort at times. Our campsite was only a few steps from a lovely swimming pool, which I took full advantage of. Century Park RV had a well-stocked store, clean restrooms, and a laundry facility tucked in an area near the interstate, but without much road traffic noise. We used the property as a home base to visit our children’s godparents, who moved from the East Coast and opened Mountain Donuts a few years ago.
A selection of treats from Mountain Donuts
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
Pro Tip: Choose anything blueberry-related at Mountain Donuts to satisfy your sweet tooth.
We ventured into downtown Ogden a few times, mainly for a meal, but the Farmers Market Ogden is open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm (through September 10th) is highly recommended. The streets of historic 25th are closed off to pedestrians, and the market goes on and on. Historic 25th Street was once home to prohibition-era speakeasies. Today, it is a shopping and dining hub, plus a sought after tourist area. At the end of the street, you’ll see the picturesque Ogden Union Station, a museum with cowboy history, cars, and trains.
Pizza from Slackwater Pub in Ogden, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
I visit farmers’ markets around the country, and this one had many more unique things for sale than most. Restaurants I enjoyed were Rovali’s Ristorante Italiano (closed Sunday and Monday) and Slackwater Pub & Pizzeria, which offer great take-home meals.
Pro Tip: We saw a mobile RV wash company make several visits to Century Park RV and wanted to hire them to wash and wax our rig, but ran out of time. You can ask the office staff for referrals, but they are available and allowed to come to this campground.
Cedar Breaks RV Park
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
4. Cedar Breaks RV Park
Cedar City
Though we only landed there for an overnight stay, we will definitely be back for more RV life at Cedar Breaks RV Park, the Gateway to Adventure, per the website. The small park has 48 sites, full hookups, and a few cozy cabins to choose from if you need a change of scenery. We loved the grassy sites, layout, and feel of this campground with an onsite store, laundry, restrooms, showers, and free Wi-Fi. I was also impressed that this park offers monthly storage for $50 a month.
Cedar City is a sweet little town that I would love to explore, but also a place many use when visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon National Parks. It’s also a big draw for those seeking mountain biking, skiing, and golf. It also attracts those wanting to enjoy Brian Head, a popular reprieve for those seeking cooler temperatures. I took myself on the hour-long ride to Zion on the morning of my stay because it was so close that I couldn’t pass it up.
Pro Tips:
- Leave Cedar City around 4:45 am
- Swing by the local 24-hour McDonald’s for breakfast.
- Arrive at the parking lot of Zion National Park at the perfect time to beat the crowds, catch the shuttle bus, and get at the optimum parking place.
Breakfast at Amber Kay’s Cafe in Cedar City, Utah
Photo credit: Melody Pittman
We did take time to drive into downtown Cedar City to have breakfast the morning before hitting the road. Amber Kay’s Cafe is where the locals go, and rightly so. We had the most attentive service and a delicious breakfast there. You can’t go wrong with homemade biscuits, omelets, and hash browns.
Pro Tip: Many campgrounds offer discounts for Good Sam, FMCA, AAA, and often, AARP memberships. It never hurts to ask.
For more information on traveling to Utah, check out these articles:
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