Simpson Springs Campground
Open year-round. Potable water is available seasonally but shut off during winter months. Sites 1-10 are reservable via Recreation.gov; sites 11-19 are first-come, first-served. No campground host on site.
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 12 at 10:49AM MDT until July 14 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 107 possible for the valleys of northern Utah, including the Wasatch Front and Cache Valley. Highs around 100 possible for the mountain valleys of northern and central Utah, including the Wasatch Back, along Castle Country, the Uinta Basin, and the San Rafael Swell. * WHERE...Portions of central and northern Utah. * WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There is high confidence that temperatures will warm to values challenging daily, monthly, or even all-time high temperature records Sunday through Monday. Overnight lows in the lower to mid 70s for many valley locations will provide little in the way of overnight relief.
About
Simpson Springs Campground occupies a historic location on the Pony Express National Historic Trail in Tooele County, Utah. The site served as a significant Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the late 1930s and early 1940s, predating the establishment of the nearby US Army Dugway Proving Grounds. Today it offers a remote desert camping experience with access to OHV riding, mountain biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing along the scenic Pony Express backcountry byway. The campground features 20 campsites designed with accessibility in mind, including pull-through gravel parking suitable for side lifts and ramps, wheelchair-accessible water hydrants, elevated fire rings, and cement picnic tables on hard-packed ground. Three accessible vault restrooms serve the area, with a fourth added in late 2024 along with a new group camping area. Potable water is available seasonally but shut off during winter months. Sites 1-10 can be reserved through Recreation.gov, while sites 11-19 are available first-come, first-served with on-site payment. The campground operates year-round at $15 per night. There is no campground host on site, and visitors should be prepared for primitive conditions in a remote desert environment.
Directions
From I-80, take exit 199 (Tooele) and travel south on Highway 36 for approximately 40 miles. Turn right onto the Pony Express Road and travel for approximately 25 miles. The campground is approximately 12 miles south of Dugway, Utah, on the Pony Express Road.
Location
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $15 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| blm_ut_sl_mail@blm.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (801) 320-8300 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| View on Recreation.gov | |
| BLM Simpson Springs Campground |
Availability
Photos
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