Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [99]
Backcountry camping is permitted in much of the park with a free permit, available at the visitor center.
NEAR THE PARK
Several commercial campgrounds are in the community of Torrey, about 5 miles west of the park entrance, and an attractive U.S. Forest Service campground is not too far away.
At Sandcreek RV Park & Hostel, 540 Utah 24 (P.O. Box 750276), Torrey, UT 84775 (☎ 877/425-3578 or 435/425-3577; www.sandcreekrv.com), you'll find RV sites with full hookups plus grassy tent sites, not to mention great views in all directions. Trees have been planted and will provide shade as they grow. There are horseshoe pits, a gift shop and espresso bar, two cabins, and a hostel (see "Where to Stay," below).
Also in Torrey is Thousand Lakes RV Park & Campground, Utah 24 (P.O. Box 750070), Torrey, UT 84775 (☎ 800/ 355-8995 for reservations, or 435/425-3500; fax 435/425-3510; www.thousand lakesrvpark.com). In addition to the usual amenities, this campground offers good views of surrounding rock formations, some shade trees, and wireless Internet access. RV sites are gravel; tent sites are grass. The campground also has a convenience store, a coin-op laundry, horseshoes, an outdoor heated pool, barbecues, and jeep rentals (call for rates). The campground has five camping cabins ($30), which involve a walk to the bathhouse. Three deluxe cabins ($55), one of which sleeps five and has a kitchen, have their own bathrooms. In addition, Western dinners are offered Monday through Saturday.
Wonderland RV Park, at the junction of Utah 24 and 12 (P.O. Box 67), Torrey, UT 84775 (☎ 877/854-0184 or 435/ 425-3775; www.capitolreefwonderland.com), is a delightful campground, protected from the highway by a row of trees, with mostly open, grassy sites (although young, mostly small trees do their best to provide some shade) and all the usual commercial campground amenities. In addition, Wonderland offers guided ATV tours and ATV rentals (call for rates). Just across the street are groceries and a full-service deli.
Those looking for a forest camping experience on the west side of the national park will like Single Tree Campground, on Utah 12 about 16 miles south of Torrey (Teasdale Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest; office at 138 E. Main St. [P.O. Box 90], Teasdale, UT 84773; ☎ 435/425-9500; reservations 877/444-6777; www.reserveusa.com). Located in a forest of tall pines, this campground has standard individual campsites ($10) plus six multiple-family sites ($20). All sites are paved, some are especially large, and many offer distant panoramic views of the national park. Near two of the large multiple-family sites, you'll find a horseshoe pit and volleyball court.
Where to Stay
There are no lodging facilities in the park, but the town of Torrey, just west of the park entrance where Utah 12 meets Utah 24, can take care of most needs.
NEAR THE PARK
In addition to the properties discussed below, Torrey has a Comfort Inn, 2424 Utah 24 (☎ 435/425-3866), with rates for two from $72 to $112 from mid-March through December and $42 to $62 from January through mid-March; and a Super 8, 600 E. Utah 24 (☎ 435/ 425-3688), with rates of $45 to $89 from April through October and $39 to $72 the rest of the year. Also see the information on cabins at Thousand Lakes RV Park & Campground under "Camping," above. Motel chains' toll-free reservation numbers appear in the appendix (p. 661).
Austin's Chuck Wagon Motel
12 W. Main St. (P.O. Box 750180), Torrey, UT 84775. ☎ 800/863-3288 or 435/425-3335.