See website for entrance fees.
Capitol Reef National Park is composed of cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) that extends almost 100 miles. Near the Fremont River, white domes of Navajo sandstone resemble the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Located on Utah Hwy 24 (which runs east and west through the park) the park is 150 miles west of Moab, or 174 miles from Monticello if you take the southern route. The park and campgrounds are open year-round.
The visitor center, which features interpretive exhibits, is open daily (except for some major holidays) from 8am-4:30pm with extended hours spring through fall.
The Scenic Drive starts at the park’s visitor center and provides access to Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge, Pleasant Creek, and South Draw Road. The Scenic Drive is an 8.2-mile paved road with dirt spur roads. The drive is not a loop. The entrance station is located just south of the campground on the Scenic Drive.
The 71-site Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in the park, located south of the visitor center in the Fruita Historic District.
Reservations are available March 1- Oct. 31 on Recreation.gov.
$25/night per site. There is an RV dump and potable water fill station near the entrance to Loops A and B. Restrooms have running water and flush toilets, but no showers.