The best camping near Fossil Butte National Monument

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Fossil Butte National Monument adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Fossil Butte National Monument

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High Heaven

4 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Evanston, WY

Welcome to Big Sky Country with fabulous sunrises and sunsets everyday. My 35 acres sit at 7500 ft elevation with 360-degree views for miles around, including view of the snow-capped Uintas. No neighbors (unless you count the occasional cattle or sheep as it is open range). Starry skies, red cliffs, sage seas, junipers, howling coyotes: the Wild West at its best. Pull in your RV or pitch a tent. Lots to see and do in the area. The Piedmont ghost town and kilns are 15 minutes away. The majestic Uinta mountains are 30 minutes to the southeast on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Check out the local bison herd (including its famous white bison) at Bear River State Park in Evanston. While there, walk around the Historic Depot Area and the Union Pacific Roundhouse and Railyards further to the west. The downtown stretch along Main St. is step back in time and the site of our local brewery (Suds). Up the road on I-80 is historic Fort Bridger. Fishing available at local reservoirs and Bear River.

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Lazy 6-T Ranch

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents101 acres · Montpelier, ID

This is our Family owned cattle ranch. Our cattle love this place and we are sure that you will too! Come enjoy some time in the countryside away from the rat race. Only a short drive from Bear Lake where you can relax on the beach and soak up the sunshine or enjoy all types of water sports with your friends and family.

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Bear Lake Aquatics Base

33 sites · Tents300 acres · Laketown, UT

Bear Lake Aquatics Base is owned and operated by the Crossroads of the West Council, Scouting America. It is used for Scout events and campsite rentals during the summer season. There aren’t many places inland that you can say you really feel like you’re at the ocean. Bear Lake just happens to be one of them! With one mile of beach-front property, you will enjoy a beach-front camp like you’ve never dreamed of! All campsites are located between the highway and Bear Lake. Each campsite has potable water, a picnic table, campfire pit, and restrooms/showers a short walk away. No alcohol, drugs, or fireworks on property per Scouting America policies. Bear Lake Aquatics Base is conveniently located north of Laketown and nearby many local attractions - Bear Lake State Park, Logan Canyon, Minnetonka Cave and the National Oregon Trail Museum. Explore neighboring Laketown to experience the local flavor, maybe even a raspberry shake.

The best camping near Fossil Butte National Monument guide

Overview

About

Do you have an aspiring geologist or dinosaur-lover in your family? Then this national monument along the Green River in southwestern Wyoming is perfect for you and your family. Rolling hills and valleys sweep upward towards a flat-topped butte that harbors some of the most abundant fossils on the planet.

You may not find any T. Rex skeletons roaming the grounds, but you might discover ancient fish, horses, bats and alligators. Each new discovery at the park tells a story of a time before humans. At one time, the Green River was a shallow, warm lake teeming with life tens of millions of years ago. It's a far cry from the dry sagebrush and almost desert-like appearance you see today.

In addition to the beautiful views on the butte and multicolored rock formations, several hiking trailheads near the scenic drive offer a chance to get out and explore the scraggy area on foot. During the summer, make sure to bring water to drink and sunscreen. Summertime also gives you an opportunity to dig for fossils thanks to the Fossil Butte Quarry Program. Every Friday and Saturday from mid-June to late August, you and your family can spend a few hours as a geologist hunting for fossils. Anything you find goes towards actual ongoing research.

If the weather didn't cooperate for your hike, the visitor's center has plenty to see an do. A mock-up of a fossil lab gives your children a chance to take rubbings of fossils as a souvenir, while more than 300 fossils are on display.

It's not Jurassic Park, but it's one of America's hidden treasures when it comes to a rich time period in Earth's ecological history. If you want to see what life was like on Earth without humans, this park brings it all together.