Best Moab Camping Sites
By Redtail Air Adventures
When you visit New York, you stay in a high-rise hotel. When exploring a tropical paradise, you get the most out of your trip with a little beach bungalow. And when you’re adventuring around Moab, no accommodations feel quite as perfect as a Moab camping trip.
From waking up to a stunning red rock sunrise to stargazing with the milky way in view, the fewer walls and ceilings you have in Moab, the better.
There are many fantastic camping options in and around Moab that range from a quiet place to pitch a tent to an amenity-rich hookup for your RV rental. Here we’ll share a few of our favorites!
Three Main Types of Moab Camping Sites
Every year, Utah’s national parks draw millions of visitors, which means you will likely have some competition to land a spot. Some camping spots in Moab require reservations far in advance, while others are first come, first served. Here are the main types of Moab campsites you may find in your research:
Campsites on BLM Land
Are you looking for cheap or free camping in Moab? Or hoping to find a last-minute spot on the fly? If so, dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land is your best bet. These non-reservable, minimal-services spots can be competitive to snag during busier times of the week and year, but with several options for BLM camping sites around Moab, there is a great chance you’ll find a place to pitch a tent.
Reservable Camping Sites
If you want to ensure you have a set place to park your car and rest your head, reserving a spot on an established campsite is your best option. The pay-to-reserve areas usually have access to more amenities than BLM land, like toilets, potable water, or campfires. You can find several reservable campsites for both tents and RVs in and around Moab.
RV Parks
An RV park is a safe option if you’re visiting with your rig or plan to rent an RV in Moab. With options for RV hookups in some parks, you can access showers, flush toilets, hookups, and all of the creature comforts you could want.
Best Spots for Moab Tent Camping
Tent camping is the most accessible to find, thanks to the minimal space it needs. From amenity-rich sites to dispersed camping, here are our favorite tent camping sites in and around Moab.
Devils Garden Campground
Location: Arches National Park
Fees: $100/night
Reservations: Yes
With towering desert rock surrounding this campsite, Devils Garden Campground is a beautiful place to call home for a few days. While this campsite is in high demand, it is spaced just so that you can still feel a level of privacy from other campers. This reservable campsite has access to potable water, picnic tables, a parking spot, and flush toilets. Keep in mind that there is little-to-no cell service at this campsite, so download any essential info before making your way to the site.
Devils Garden Campground is the only established campground in Arches National Park, so it can be tough to land a spot. Only available March–October and often reserved months in advance, we recommend booking as early as possible to confirm your Devils Garden campsite.
Willow Flats Campground
Location: Canyonlands National Park
Fees: $15/night
Reservations: First-come, first-served
Willow Flats Campground is a fantastic option for no-reservation tent camping if you can snag a spot. A short stroll from the infamous Green River Overlook, these campsites are in a great location and have a good amount of privacy and space to enjoy.
These spots do not have access to toilets or potable water, but the paved parking spaces and spacious sites can accommodate cars, tents, and RVs for a picturesque and tranquil camping experience.
Needles Campground
Location: Canyonlands National Park
Fees: $20/night
Reservations: Depends*
A lesser-traveled area than the bustling trails of Arches National Park, the Needles Campground in Canyonlands gives you access to toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and even a few hidden gem trails. Many paths in this area offer access to longer hikes, so it’s a great option for campers who want to go the distance. In addition, you can get an early start on these hikes right from your campground instead of needing to embark on a morning commute to the fun!
*Loop A is always first-come, first-served. Loop B has some reservable options.
Colorado River Camping
Location: Highway 128
Fees: $20/night
Reservations: No
There’s nothing quite like falling asleep and waking up to the sound of rushing water. Choosing a spot on the river can offer a respite from the heat and the opportunity to cool off on the bank whenever you please. It’s also an excellent option for those who are visiting Moab for rafting, fishing, kayaking, or boating adventures.
Found all up and down Highway 128, these BLM Moab campsites offer easy access to the gorgeous Colorado River. All grounds have access to toilets and are first-come, first-served.
Best Spots for Moab RV Camping
Luckily for RV enthusiasts, there are several areas in and around Moab that offer fantastic RV camping. With options that span from luxury hookups to cheap and rustic sites, you can find a spot that perfectly complements your style of RV camping.
Horsethief Campground
Location: Near Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point
Fees: $20/night
Reservations: No
Nestled in a pygmy pinyon-juniper forest in the mesas above Moab, Horsethief Campground offers stunning overlooks from your camping area. The several 4WD and mountain biking trails nearby make it a great spot for visitors intending to spin some wheels.
With 83 non-reservable camps scattered among four scenic loops, tent and RV campers may find some luck exploring this picturesque area.
To see much more of Canyonlands than you can from your campsite, take an incredible airplane tour of Canyonlands at sunset!
Kayenta Campground
Location: Dead Horse Point
Fees: $20/night
Reservations: Yes
Surrounded by Junipers, Kayenta Campground has a small loop of RV camping spots offering beautiful scenery and helpful amenities, like charcoal grills, sheltered eating areas, and paved parking. All 21 sites include relaxing shaded spots and RV electrical hookups (20/30/50 AMP). Places are available to be reserved March–November.
Sand Flats Recreation Area
Location: Sand Flats
Fees: $15/night for five people
Reservations: No
Mountain bike, ATV, and Jeep lovers, this one’s for you! If you are traveling with your wheels and want easy access to some of the best trails around (including the famous Slickrock Mountain Biking Trail), this campsite will put you in the middle of the action.
While there are 140 campsites in this area, only 30 can accommodate a 40-foot RV, so we recommend snagging a spot before the weekend warriors pull in!
Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway
Location: Near Arches National Park
Fees: Starts at $59/night
Reservations: Yes
For more of an RV glamping experience, the Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway RV Resort is a fantastic option. Right near the entrance of Arches, you have nature at your fingertips while also enjoying amenities like a hot tub, putting green, and shady trees.
If you want to catch a new and unique perspective of Arches, consider taking a scenic Arches National Park airplane tour.
Ken’s Lake Campground
Location: Ken’s Lake
Fees: $28/night
Reservations: Yes
Another excellent option for camping near water in Moab, the Ken’s Lake Campground will give you easy access to a fun day of swimming, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, or floating.
These spots are not directly on the water, but it is a very short journey from the campsite to the shore. While this campsite is closed during the low seasons of summer and winter, visiting in the fall and spring will grant you access to over 3 miles of trails in the lake vicinity, with views of the Moab Valley, Faux Falls, La Sal Mountains, and Ken’s Lake.
Best Spots to Park a Campervan in Moab
Traveling by van? You may have access to spots that RVs don’t! Whether you’re looking for tranquility or the chance to make friends with other campers, here are our favorite spots to park a campervan in Moab.
La Sal Loop
Location: Manti-La Sal National Forest
Fees: $10/night
Reservations: No
Though the road can be steep and winding, La Sal Loop will take you to some of the most picturesque first-come, first-served campsites around the area. This 60-mile paved road has countless dirt roads to venture down and scope out spots with stunning views overlooking Porcupine Rim and Castle Valley below.
These campsites have a maximum stay of 14 days so that you can enjoy two uninterrupted weeks of BLM beauty.
Castleton Tower Campground
Location: Castleton Tower
Fees: Free
Reservations: No
Known as a party campsite, Castleton Tower is a first-come, first-served climber’s paradise and is found at the base of some of the best climbing in the area. With a bit of a raucous reputation, we recommend finding a spot in this area if you come to Moab to meet new people and make fun friends.
While there is a vault toilet nearby, most choose to treat this area as if it was dispersed camping or bring a luggable toilet.
Kane Creek Road
Location: Near Moab
Fees: $10–$15/night
Reservations: No
Kane Creek Road is a very convenient place to camp on BLM land in a fairly-centralized location. There are several campsite options to score, so your chances of landing a spot are pretty good—especially if you arrive before the bustle of the weekend. If you’re lucky, you may even find a site with a good amount of shade!
Kane Creek camping keeps things rustic with a vault toilet and no RV hookups or potable water.
Now that you know where to rest your head, it’s time to fill your Moab trip with memorable explorations! Reach out to our team for help planning the perfect aerial overview on a Moab airplane tour or other Utah national park adventure.
