Great Salt Lake State Park has five campsites on the southern shore of Utah's inland sea, about 20 minutes west of Salt Lake City. Sites cost $20-$35 per night and include water, electric, and sewer hookups plus access to showers and flush toilets. The campground sits right off I-80, which means excellent cell service and easy access but also steady road noise.
The campground is small with only five sites available, offering options for RVs, tents, and dry camping.
Historical Significance
The Great Salt Lake is what remains of Lake Bonneville, a massive Ice Age inland sea that once covered 20,000 square miles. The ancient lake left behind distinctive terraces and shorelines visible across the basin. Today's concentrated salt water and unique ecosystem preserve this geological history.Weather and SeasonsSpring brings the best conditions. Daytime temperatures range from the upper 40s to mid-60s°F with chilly nights. Migrating shorebirds and waterfowl arrive in large numbers, feeding on brine shrimp along the shorelines. Calm mornings work well for launching boats before afternoon winds pick up. Summer pushes into the 80s and 90s with intense sun, minimal shade, and swarms of mosquitoes and sand fleas. Winter sees highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s, though the campground sometimes closes unpredictably during colder months. Wind is constant year-round.
ElevationSituated at the edge of the Great Basin, the campground rests at the lake's natural shoreline elevation, where the high desert plateau meets the saline waters.
Natural Features and SceneryShores of the Great Salt Lake, the largest body of water between the Great Lakes and Pacific Ocean, and largest salt lake in the western hemisphere with 13% salt content (2-7 times saltier than ocean). Remnant of prehistoric Lake Bonneville. Features golden shorelines, salt flats, mudflats, marshlands, freshwater wetlands, and stunning mountain views.[1][3][5][7]
Geological RegionSet within the Great Basin's most iconic feature, the campground occupies the southern shores of the Great Salt Lake – a geological marvel born from the ancient Lake Bonneville. This prehistoric inland ocean once covered 20,000 square miles during the Ice Age, leaving behind today's concentrated salt lake and the surrounding basin's distinctive terraces and shorelines. The unique geology creates an ecosystem found nowhere else, where salt-loving organisms thrive in waters saltier than the ocean.
Scenic ViewsThe main draw of the campground is its 'sweeping views of the lake,' as noted in the official description and multiple user reviews. Sunset views are highlighted as particularly beautiful.