Moab, Utah is an epicenter for outdoor adventure and one of the best ways to base yourself in the area is by camping. From there, you can visit nearby National Parks like Arches and Canyonlands as well as Dead Horse Point State Park with options for hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and mountain biking all in one trip. In this guide, we share the best Moab campgrounds in and around the city, plus a few glamping and alternative lodging options.
Here are the best Moab campgrounds as well as the top glamping and lodging options in and around town.
Best Moab National & State Park Campgrounds
Arches National Park Campground
Arches National Park is famous for its night sky, just one of the many reasons you should stay in the park. Devils Garden Campground features 51 sites that can be reserved between March 1 and October 31. Between November and February, campsites are first-come, first-served. Standard sites are $25 per night and can accommodate up to 10 people and 2 vehicles each. When I drove through I was impressed by the views and how spread out some of the sites were. Note that the campground fills up very quickly during peak season so make sure to book far in advance on their reservation website.
Canyonlands National Park Campgrounds
Canyonlands National Park has two campgrounds; one at The Needles and one at Island in the Sky. The Willow Flat Campground, in the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands, is only 30 minutes from Moab, Utah and offers 12 sites that are all available first-come, first-serve.
The Needles Campground is over an hour from Moab, Utah but it does offer 26 individual campsites and 3 group sites on 2 loops. Loop A is open year-round and Loop B is only open Spring through the Fall. 11 campsites in Loop B can be reserved through Recreation.gov, all other sites in both loops are first come first served.
Canyonlands, unlike Arches National Park, offers ample opportunities for remote backcountry camping. Permits are required for backcountry camping, and more information can be found on the Canyonlands website.
Dead Horse Point State Park Campgrounds
Dead Horse Point sits 2,000 feet above a twist in the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Sunset views up here really can’t be beat, making it one of the best places to camp near Moab. There are two campgrounds here nestled in juniper trees with direct access to numerous trails in the park.
The Kayenta Campground offers 22 sites for $35 a night. The new Wingate Campground next door has 20 RV campsites with tent pads, 11 tent-only campsites, and 4 yurts. All sites are lightly shaded, have campfire rings, and they even have RV electrical hook-ups available. Reservations for both campgrounds can be made here.
Best Moab BLM Campgrounds
The Bureau of Land Management maintains 24 campgrounds in the Moab area. Here are a few that stood out to us:
- Closest to Moab, UT is Goose Island Campground which has 20 first-come, first-served individual sites, is on the river, and has cell service or 3G access.
- About 30 minutes away from Moab, Big Bend Recreation Site has a number or campsites in the Colorado River Canyon. All individual campsites are first come, first serve and many are right on the river.
- Also 30 minutes from Moab, Horsethief Campground is on the road to Dead Horse Point State Park and the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands and has 85 individual first-come, first-served campsites.
- Less than 15 minutes from Moab, Jaycee Park Campground has 7 first-come, first-served individual tent sites just across the road from the Colorado River along the popular Wall Street climbing area. You’ll find hiking trails, including the trail to Corona Arch, nearby.
- Nearby the Jaycee Park Campground, the William’s Bottom Campground has 17 first-come, first-served, individual campsites.
During the busy season, these campgrounds will be full by noon, so make sure you arrive early to snag a spot. All BLM campgrounds are open year-round, have vault toilets and fire rings but most don’t have water so be sure to bring your own. Unlike other dispersed BLM camping in Southern Utah, these BLM sites are not free. Individual sites generally cost around $20 per night. Check out this handy map of all BLM campgrounds near Moab.
The Sand Flats recreation area just east of town near the Slickrock Bike Trail also has a ton of camping. Sites here are nicely spread out and cost $15 per night, but I should note this area is very popular with ATVers and can get noisy.
Free Moab Campgrounds
Campsites can be expensive and can add up quickly, especially if you’re planning a long trip. Moab is surrounded by public land and is a goldmine for dispersed camping. Dispersed camping, aka free campsites, are available if you venture a little further out of town. One of the closest free campgrounds to Moab is Willow Springs road, just north of the turnoff to Dead Horse Point. Use our ultimate guide to finding free campsites to help you find an awesome free campsite during your next trip to Moab.
Popular Private Moab Campgrounds
During the busy season, the private campgrounds in Moab can be a little pricey, but they are great in a pinch when everything else is full or you want to stay right in town.
Up The Creek Campground
Up the Creek Campground offers tent only sites beside a perennial stream and underneath large cottonwood trees. They also offer fully furnished luxury tents with a queen bed or two twins! One of the best things about Up The Creek is their location, they are just two blocks from Main Street which means you can go grab dinner and a beer or catch some live music at Woody’s Tavern and stroll back to your campsite at the end of the night.
ACT Campground
Whether you want an RV site, a tent site or even a cabin-style room, ACT Campground in Moab is another popular option! Most recently they’ve added an Aistream trailer and a 30 foot Yurt as additional accommodation options. Our favorite part of ACT is that they have a common area kitchen for all guests that includes two gas ranges, sinks and eating areas. The campground strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible, utilizing solar power, recycling their waste, and implementing efforts to conserve water.
Best Camping near Moab In the Summer Heat
If you find yourself in Moab in the middle of summer, expect temperatures to be sweltering. Your best bet to escape the heat is to head east of Moab up into the La Sal mountains.
Warner Lake is an awesome public campground to beat the summer heat, with an elevation of 9,200 feet. It has 22 sites that can be reserved online.
Best Glamping in Moab
Dead Horse Point State Park Yurts
If you don’t want to camp, Dead Horse Point State Park also has a number of yurts. I stayed in one a few years ago the night before my White Rim Trail biking trip, and it was awesome. Our Yurt had a deck and grill and room for 6 people to sleep.
There are 5 yurts in the Moenkopi area and 4 yurts in the new Wingate Campground. Yurts have a bunk bed, futon bed, indoor and outdoor tables, AC/heating units, a lamp, bbq, and fire pit. Reservations for all Dead Horse Point State Park campsites and yurts can be made here.
Under Canvas
Under Canvas has a number of glamping tent locations in Utah, including in Moab just outside of Arches National Park. A stay with them is pretty pricey but if you’re really looking for a luxury camping experience then this might be just the right fit.
Other Moab Lodging Options
If you decide you don’t want to camp during your entire trip, there is plenty of lodging in Moab. You’ll find all kinds of hotel and motel chains, as well as a few locally run options. Our top pick? The Red Moon Lodge just south of town. It’s a tranquil, retreat style bed and breakfast complete with an organic garden, chickens, sheep, and views of the red mountains across the valley. The owner, George, bakes homemade organic bagels, a variety of breads, and makes his own granola. Fresh eggs from the chickens are available as well and the whole place is run on solar.
Got any questions about the best Moab campgrounds? What are your favorite places to stay in Moab? Leave a comment below.
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