Antelope Island State Park RV & Campground Guide
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State officials opened Antelope Island State Park in 1993, a year after workers completed rebuilding the North Causeway. At the same time, they reintroduced pronghorn antelope to the area. In 1997, state officials reintroduced bighorn sheep to the park. If you love watching deer, antelope, and buffalo play, head to Antelope Island State Park. Consider joining the fun on a trail ride as you explore the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake. An outstanding time to visit this park near Syracuse, Utah, is during the buffalo roundup in late October and early November. Nearby, you can find terrific attractions to explore, including the Syracuse Museum, the Hill Air Force Museum, and the Utah State Railroad Museum.
Nearby cities:
Salt Lake City, UT
Park City, UT
Ogden, UT
Provo, UT
Spring 25-61 F
Summer 49-82 F
Fall 23-69 F
Winter 12-34 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Antelope Island State Park
Campground Accommodations
Bridger Bay Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length:60 feet
Other amenities: Dump station, showers, pit toilets
White Rock Bay Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length:60 feet
Other amenities: two horse sites, flush toilets
Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill is one of the most popular campgrounds within the local area, offering 140 campsites nestled among 400 trees. It’s also home to a water park, mini-golf, jungle maze, restaurants, shops, and more. The campsites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet and feature 30 – 50 amp sites. Daily rates range from $38 - $51.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: restrooms, showers, camp store, gift shop, water park, playground, mini-golf, jungle maze, restaurants / cafes, pavilions, propane grill rentals.
Salt Lake City KOA
Just an hour’s drive from the state park isSalt Lake City KOA, which provides shady, spacious campsites for both tents and RVs. It’s just 14 blocks from downtown Salt Lake City, meaning you’re never far from the region’s most exciting attractions.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: laundry facilities, picnic tables, tours, basketball court, outdoor games, playground, on-site café / restaurant, dog walk area, pet wash, dump station, camp store, cable TV, dog park, swimming pool, hot tub / sauna, pavilion, camp kitchen.
Pony Express RV Resort & Campground
Another popular campground within the area is thePony Express RV Resort & Campground, which offers RV sites, Airstream trailer rentals, and cabin rentals. It’s located minutes away from the Great Salt Lake and downtown Salt Lake City and provides a wide range of amenities to help you and your family have a comfortable stay.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: heated swimming pool, picnic tables, BBQ grills, restrooms, showers, convenience store, games room, TV lounge, laundry facilities, playground, horseshoe pits.
What to Do at
Antelope Island State Park
Explore the 28,000-acre state park with a rented e-bike for a guided tour. Stop by the Island Buffalo Grill for a delicious burger before embarking on a horseback ride through the park with a guide. Take a hike and spot free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and other desert animals. Enjoy birdwatching along the shoreline or participate in various activities with park rangers, such as stargazing parties and guided kayaking tours.
Inside Antelope Island State Park
Whether you’re hoping to enjoy hiking, biking, or horse riding the state park’s famous trails, swimming, boating or more – there’s certainly something for every type of traveler at Antelope Island.
Hiking : The state park is home to anumber of trails ranging from easy to difficult. The most popular of these is theFray Peak trail, which takes visitors to the highest point on Antelope Island, providing spectacular views of the island, Great Salt Lake, and the Wasatch Mountains. It’s a 7-mile round trip.
Biking : There are several riding options within the state park and the easiest and most popular route is the White Rock Bay loop. Other rides include Split Rock Bay, Elephant Head, East Side, and Lakeside.
Horseback riding : The state park’s trails are also available to those on horseback and is a great way to experience the island. The exclusive provider of horseback rides within the state park isR & G Horse and Wagon, with rates starting at $55 per person.
Swimming : Visitors also enjoy swimming in Great Salt Lake's salty water, which is several times saltier than the ocean. Because it is so salty, the water is extra buoyant, making people float on its surface.
Boating : A marina is available for those using sailboats, powerboats, and kayaks. Visitors must keep in mind that the Great Salt Lake’s high salt content can be corrosive to metal vessels. It’s recommended engines are flushed out when leaving the lake and boat hulls and trailers should be rinsed before hitting the road.
Geocaching
Friends of Antelope Island State Park sponsors a geocache. To participate, start by unscrambling one letter from each of the signs on the east side of the main park road, which will give you a clue to the geocache's final location.
Nature Watching
You can see free-roaming buffalo, antelope, and deer across Antelope Island State Park. Attend the Bison Roundup to see how park rangers round up the bison and prepare them for auction. Visitors often see many smaller animals and have spotted over 250 bird species at this park.
Stargazing
Antelope Island State Park is an official International Dark Sky Park. White Rock Bay, Buffalo Point, and Ladyfinger Point offer the best viewing conditions. Park rangers host a stargazing party about once a month.
Flora and Fauna
Enjoy seeing a variety of plants near the springs at Fielding Garr Ranch when visiting Antelope Island State Park. The water provides extra moisture for plants not seen in other areas. Across the park, there are more than 40 springs, but most are at the ranch.
Hiking
There are many hiking trails at Antelope Island State Park, including the Dooly Knob Trail, which offers panoramic views of the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Range, and the Mountain View Trail, leading to Fielding Garr Ranch. Another fantastic option is the Frary Homestead Trail, where you can see many historical structures, including one of the oldest Anglo-built homes in the state.
Boating
Kayaking, paddling, and sailing are popular activities on the Great Salt Lake. Depending on water levels, launching a vessel from this park can be challenging. There is a marina nearby where you can rent boats. Park rangers occasionally lead guided kayaking tours.
Swimming
At 12% salinity, swimming in the Great Salt Lakes makes people float easily. There is no designated swimming area and no lifeguards.
Biking
Antelope E-Bike Company gives guided tours of Antelope Island State Park on e-bikes. Sunrise, sunset, and moonlight tours are available.
How to Get to
Antelope Island State Park
To reach Antelope Island State Park from Salt Lake City, take Interstate 15 north and exit at Exit 332. From there, drive west on Antelope Drive for seven miles until you reach the park entrance.
Entering Antelope Island State Park
For up to eight passengers, the park charges $15 per vehicle. However, seniors over 65 can enter for $10 per vehicle. Motorcyclists can enter for $5, and bicyclists and pedestrians can enter for $3.
Antelope Island State Park Per Vehicle : $15.0
Antelope Island State Park Seniors : $10.0
Antelope Island State Park Pedestrians : $3.0
Antelope Island State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts looking to reconnect with nature with various activities, including geocaching, which involves using GPS coordinates to find hidden containers or caches. Next, try character watching, where you can observe the diverse wildlife that inhabits the park; studying plants, where you can learn about the flora that thrives in this unique environment. Or you can try relaxing and stargazing, where you can marvel at the breathtaking night sky, and camping, where you can spend the night under the stars and wake up to stunning sunrise views over the Great Salt Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions About Antelope Island State Park
Fall is a terrific time to visit Antelope Island State Park because you can watch the Bison Roundup, which usually starts in late October. You can generally see the bison the first week in November.
Visitors to Antelope Island State Park often see bison, deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. They can often be spotted by walking along the park's trails. The path leading to Fielding-Garr Ranch is one terrific option where hikers often spot wildlife.
There are almost 100 designated camping spots at Antelope Island State Park. Most are at Bridger Bay Campground, where sites are spread around two loops.
Reservations are highly recommended at Antelope Island State Park. Camping fees range from $20 to $40, depending on the available services. Reservations can be made online.
Yes, dogs are allowed at Antelope Island State Park. They must always remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.