Campgrounds

Camp VIP/Salt Lake KOA (1400 W. North Temple St., 801/328-0224, www.koa.com [1], tents or RVs without hookups $27, with hookups $36) offers tent and RV sites year-round with showers, swimming pool, game room, playground, store, and laundry. From I-15 northbound, take Exit 311 for I-80, go west 1.3 miles on I-80, exit north and continue one-half mile on Redwood Road (Highway 68), then turn right and go another one-half mile on North Temple Street. From I-15 southbound, take Exit 313 and turn south and head 1.5 miles on 900 West, then turn right and go 0.8 mile on North Temple Street. From I-80, either take the North Temple exit or exit on Redwood Road (Highway 68) and go north one-half mile, then turn right and go one-half mile on North Temple Street.

Lagoon R.V. Park & Campground (375 N. Lagoon Dr., Farmington, 801/451-8100, www.lagoonpark.com [2], Apr. 30-Oct. 17, tent and RV sites without hookups $28, with hookups $30-38) is 16 miles north of Salt Lake City [3] in Farmington at Lagoon Amusement Park. The camp has showers, a store, laundry, and discounts on rides. Take I-15's Lagoon exit and follow the signs.

Cherry Hill Camping Resort (1325 S. Main St., Kaysville, 801/451-5379, mid-Apr.-mid-Oct., tent or RV sites without hookups $30, with hookups $38), 18 miles north of Salt Lake City, features a water slide, inner-tube ride, swimming pool, Pirates Cove (for young children), restaurant, miniature golf, and a variety of games, as well as a large campground with showers, a store, and laundry. Some activities operate only Memorial Day-Labor Day weekends. Take I-15 Lagoon/Farmington Exit 327 and go north two miles on U.S. 89.

There are two campgrounds in Big Cottonwood Canyon [4], about 15 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City; both have drinking water. Sites cost $20 a night. Reservations for these Forest Service campsites can be made by calling 877/444-6777 or online at www.reserveamerica.com [5]. Spruces Campground (elev. 7,400 feet, 9.1 miles up the canyon) is open early June-mid-October. The season at Redman Campground (elev. 8,300 feet) lasts mid-June-early October. Redman is between Solitude and Brighton, 13 miles up the canyon.

Little Cottonwood Canyon [6] (about 19 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City) has two campgrounds with drinking water. Tanners Flat Campground (elev. 7,200 feet, 4.3 miles up the canyon) is open mid-May-mid-October ($16). Albion Basin Campground lies high in the mountains (elev. 9,500 feet) and is open early July-late September ($17). Go 11 miles up the canyon (the last 2.5 miles are gravel).