Set in the heart of Capitol Reef’s historic Fruita district, this campground is genuinely unlike any other in the National Park System — sites sit among still-productive, park-maintained orchards planted by 19th-century Mormon settlers, with permission to pick and eat ripe fruit in season right from the trees. Shaded by cottonwoods along the Fremont River, it’s a notably cooler, greener spot than the surrounding red-rock desert, with flush toilets and potable water available. Its central location puts you within walking or short driving distance of the park’s Scenic Drive, Hickman Bridge Trailhead, and the historic Gifford Homestead. Reservations are available and genuinely worth making in advance during peak season (especially harvest months, roughly June through October), since this is the only developed campground in the park and demand is high.