A Primer on Moab
We spend a lot of time in Moab. I first visited there in the 60’s and have been going back ever since. I probably camped in the area over 300 days in just the last 10 years. So I thought maybe I’d put...
Forum Discussion
Camping
We’ve never stayed at a private CG in this area, so you’ll have to do a search here or RVparkreviews.com to find info on those. There are lots of options and they tend to be full during popular times of year, so plan ahead.
In and near the national parks
The Devils Garden CG at Arches is one of the most scenic anywhere. BUT, it takes reservations that fill quickly. We haven’t actually stayed here in several years as we can’t plan our lives that far in advance. But if you can get by without hookups, it’s definitely worth a try. It is an hour trip each way into town to get gas and supplies, so stock up before driving in. Once in the CG, one can leave the rig parked and hike on a variety of trails in the area. Kids love this CG as in places it is just one big sandbox for the younger ones and there are lots of rocks to climb on for the older ones. Deer frequent the CG certain times of the year. Campfire programs in the warmer months of the year. Water and flush toilets in the CG but no dump station.
The Kayenta CG at Dead Horse Point SP is another very popular CG. Reservations are a must. One should haul their own water up there as what is available is trucked in. Flush Toilets and a dump station near the CG entrance. Probably 45 minutes into town so plan accordingly before heading up. This is a good base camp to explore the Island in the Sky portion of Canyonlands NP. There are some pretty nice easy and intermediate bike trails here, one reason we try to stay there once in a while. The CG was expanded in early 2018 and now has 44 RV/tent sites and 11 walk-in tent only site. We noted some of the pull through sites are over 100' long (even though they show a max length of 55'! The remainder are back-in sites and all seem to be at least 50' to 60' long. All are more level than those in the older part of the CG (sites 1-21). All sites have cabanas, picnic tables, fire rings and the RV sites have 20, 30, and 50 amp services. Two sets of flush toilets.
There are also nine yurts one can rent in the park. Convenient if you have others travelling with you who don't want to camp but want to stay nearby. There is 15 amp electric service in the yurts, plus heat and a/c IIRC.
The Willow Springs CG in the Island of the Sky district of Canyonlands NP is another option up there. But with no water and pit toilets, it’s not nearly as nice as Dead Horse Point. The wind can get to be a problem and there’s lots of sand and dust to blow around. There are a few larger spaces, but most of the parking pads are 30’ or less. No reservations.
Another camping option in Canyonlands is the Squaw Flat CG in the Needles District. The turnoff is 40 miles south of Moab and then it’s another 35+ miles to the CG. This is not a CG to use if you’re wanting to explore in the Moab vicinity. There are hiking trails and 4x4 roads to get into the backcountry of the Needles. This is remote. They have water and flush toilets, a great improvement from when we first started going there. Reservations are taken for a little over half the sites. Just outside the park boundary is the Needles Outpost, which has camping spots, a small store, and gasoline. (Closed November 1 through March 1) If you venture out to the Needles and the CG is full, there are a few options back up the road. The turnoff for Creek Pasture BLM CG is about seven miles from the visitors center and the turnoff for Sugarbowl BLM CG is about nine miles. Pit toilets and no water at either, but most of the dispersed camping locations were closed by the BLM a number of years ago.
BLM sites along UT 128
Here is a link to a map showing where most of these CG's are.
The BLM has a number of CG’s in the Moab area. Many are familiar with those along the Colorado River on UT 128. Some are RV friendly, some not. Even those with RV sites have limited numbers. No water at any of these CG’s. Pit toilets. Quite popular. Being in the canyon, some sites have nice shade in the a.m. or p.m. One length limitation on some of the CG’s isn’t necessarily the size of the sites, but how tight the turnaround is at the end. Seen more than a few big rigs have some real issues because they didn’t think the length limit applied to them. I’d say that if your rig is approaching 40’ in length, On the first campground (Goose Island) is a real possibility. Yes, there are a few campsites further up the road, but you’ll have to decide if it’s worth driving UT 128 just to check out those sites.
One thing to note. Camping is only allowed in the designated CG’s. Several times we’ve witnessed the sheriff ousting people who had camped in some of the parking areas along the road. Just a warning. Not much fun getting a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
Goose Island is about 1.5 miles up from US 191. Fills really early and stays full. Nice cottonwood trees. Probably the most big rig friendly of the CG’s on UT 128. Obviously very convenient to town.
Three miles up is Granstaff CG. Nice CG but 24’ length limit. For many of the sites, there is room to park a TV next to your trailer. One of those with a tight turn around at the end, probably the main reason for the 24’ length restriction. Busy CG as it’s where the Porcupine Rim mountain bike trail comes down to the highway. Easy access to Granstaff trail across the road.
Drinks Canyon CG is about six miles up the road. There are three sections to the CG along the road. The first and last are loops so one shouldn’t get stuck because of length. However, this CG is suitable for tents, truck campers, and short PUP’s. Small sites and a tight turn around on the middle entrance. I understand that the BLM is in the process of replacing them, but the pit toilets at Drinks Canyon don’t have roofs! Kind of cool at night to look up at the stars, but we’ve also camped there when it was raining. Makes one get right to the business at hand!
A half mile further is Hal Canyon. Generally short sites. A couple might take a 30’ trailer, but those pads are a 90 degree entry off a narrow road, so some real jockeying is required.
Seven miles up is Oak Grove CG which has a sign specifically saying no trailers. Short sites and the turnaround at the end is also the parking area for a couple of the campsites.
Big Bend CG, 7.5 miles up, has some sites that are big rig friendly. A few have decent sized trees for privacy. Don’t take the last spur upstream (farthest to the right as you enter) as there isn’t a turnaround at the end. I think there’s a sign warning of that. Across the street there is an overflow camping area. The one place one can camp outside of the CG’s along the river. Still costs and one has to walk across the road to use the outhouses.
Upper Big Bend is a small CG ½ mile further up the road. Small turnarounds in both directions from the entrance, so maybe best limited to PUP’s and TC’s.
After Upper Big Bend, it’s 13 miles to the Onion Creek CG’s. Big rig friendly. Pretty far from town. Lower Onion Creek is down by the river and there’s a boat launch, so used by river runners at times. Upper Onion Creek is off the road 7 miles. Open with big views all around. There are some horse corrals there for those looking for that option.
Also in the area is the turnoff for Fisher Towers CG. Very short sites. Tent or TC only. Convenient access for the Fisher Tower Trail. Brochure
A mile further along UT 128 is Hittle Bottom CG. I’d prefer it over either of the Onion Creek options. A couple of sites even have some cottonwoods for shade.
Up another six miles or so is Dewey Bridge. Both Dewey Bridge and Hittle Bottom are popular launch sites for rafts. Dewey Bridge is 30 miles or so from town, probably a 45+ minute drive. Popular with people coming from Colorado as it’s the first campsite they get to. I first stayed here in ’69. Dirt road and the original Dewey Bridge was still in place. We were the only ones for miles and not another car went by all night. My how things have changed.
We’ve never stayed at a private CG in this area, so you’ll have to do a search here or RVparkreviews.com to find info on those. There are lots of options and they tend to be full during popular times of year, so plan ahead.
In and near the national parks
The Devils Garden CG at Arches is one of the most scenic anywhere. BUT, it takes reservations that fill quickly. We haven’t actually stayed here in several years as we can’t plan our lives that far in advance. But if you can get by without hookups, it’s definitely worth a try. It is an hour trip each way into town to get gas and supplies, so stock up before driving in. Once in the CG, one can leave the rig parked and hike on a variety of trails in the area. Kids love this CG as in places it is just one big sandbox for the younger ones and there are lots of rocks to climb on for the older ones. Deer frequent the CG certain times of the year. Campfire programs in the warmer months of the year. Water and flush toilets in the CG but no dump station.
The Kayenta CG at Dead Horse Point SP is another very popular CG. Reservations are a must. One should haul their own water up there as what is available is trucked in. Flush Toilets and a dump station near the CG entrance. Probably 45 minutes into town so plan accordingly before heading up. This is a good base camp to explore the Island in the Sky portion of Canyonlands NP. There are some pretty nice easy and intermediate bike trails here, one reason we try to stay there once in a while. The CG was expanded in early 2018 and now has 44 RV/tent sites and 11 walk-in tent only site. We noted some of the pull through sites are over 100' long (even though they show a max length of 55'! The remainder are back-in sites and all seem to be at least 50' to 60' long. All are more level than those in the older part of the CG (sites 1-21). All sites have cabanas, picnic tables, fire rings and the RV sites have 20, 30, and 50 amp services. Two sets of flush toilets.
There are also nine yurts one can rent in the park. Convenient if you have others travelling with you who don't want to camp but want to stay nearby. There is 15 amp electric service in the yurts, plus heat and a/c IIRC.
The Willow Springs CG in the Island of the Sky district of Canyonlands NP is another option up there. But with no water and pit toilets, it’s not nearly as nice as Dead Horse Point. The wind can get to be a problem and there’s lots of sand and dust to blow around. There are a few larger spaces, but most of the parking pads are 30’ or less. No reservations.
Another camping option in Canyonlands is the Squaw Flat CG in the Needles District. The turnoff is 40 miles south of Moab and then it’s another 35+ miles to the CG. This is not a CG to use if you’re wanting to explore in the Moab vicinity. There are hiking trails and 4x4 roads to get into the backcountry of the Needles. This is remote. They have water and flush toilets, a great improvement from when we first started going there. Reservations are taken for a little over half the sites. Just outside the park boundary is the Needles Outpost, which has camping spots, a small store, and gasoline. (Closed November 1 through March 1) If you venture out to the Needles and the CG is full, there are a few options back up the road. The turnoff for Creek Pasture BLM CG is about seven miles from the visitors center and the turnoff for Sugarbowl BLM CG is about nine miles. Pit toilets and no water at either, but most of the dispersed camping locations were closed by the BLM a number of years ago.
BLM sites along UT 128
Here is a link to a map showing where most of these CG's are.
The BLM has a number of CG’s in the Moab area. Many are familiar with those along the Colorado River on UT 128. Some are RV friendly, some not. Even those with RV sites have limited numbers. No water at any of these CG’s. Pit toilets. Quite popular. Being in the canyon, some sites have nice shade in the a.m. or p.m. One length limitation on some of the CG’s isn’t necessarily the size of the sites, but how tight the turnaround is at the end. Seen more than a few big rigs have some real issues because they didn’t think the length limit applied to them. I’d say that if your rig is approaching 40’ in length, On the first campground (Goose Island) is a real possibility. Yes, there are a few campsites further up the road, but you’ll have to decide if it’s worth driving UT 128 just to check out those sites.
One thing to note. Camping is only allowed in the designated CG’s. Several times we’ve witnessed the sheriff ousting people who had camped in some of the parking areas along the road. Just a warning. Not much fun getting a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
Goose Island is about 1.5 miles up from US 191. Fills really early and stays full. Nice cottonwood trees. Probably the most big rig friendly of the CG’s on UT 128. Obviously very convenient to town.
Three miles up is Granstaff CG. Nice CG but 24’ length limit. For many of the sites, there is room to park a TV next to your trailer. One of those with a tight turn around at the end, probably the main reason for the 24’ length restriction. Busy CG as it’s where the Porcupine Rim mountain bike trail comes down to the highway. Easy access to Granstaff trail across the road.
Drinks Canyon CG is about six miles up the road. There are three sections to the CG along the road. The first and last are loops so one shouldn’t get stuck because of length. However, this CG is suitable for tents, truck campers, and short PUP’s. Small sites and a tight turn around on the middle entrance. I understand that the BLM is in the process of replacing them, but the pit toilets at Drinks Canyon don’t have roofs! Kind of cool at night to look up at the stars, but we’ve also camped there when it was raining. Makes one get right to the business at hand!
A half mile further is Hal Canyon. Generally short sites. A couple might take a 30’ trailer, but those pads are a 90 degree entry off a narrow road, so some real jockeying is required.
Seven miles up is Oak Grove CG which has a sign specifically saying no trailers. Short sites and the turnaround at the end is also the parking area for a couple of the campsites.
Big Bend CG, 7.5 miles up, has some sites that are big rig friendly. A few have decent sized trees for privacy. Don’t take the last spur upstream (farthest to the right as you enter) as there isn’t a turnaround at the end. I think there’s a sign warning of that. Across the street there is an overflow camping area. The one place one can camp outside of the CG’s along the river. Still costs and one has to walk across the road to use the outhouses.
Upper Big Bend is a small CG ½ mile further up the road. Small turnarounds in both directions from the entrance, so maybe best limited to PUP’s and TC’s.
After Upper Big Bend, it’s 13 miles to the Onion Creek CG’s. Big rig friendly. Pretty far from town. Lower Onion Creek is down by the river and there’s a boat launch, so used by river runners at times. Upper Onion Creek is off the road 7 miles. Open with big views all around. There are some horse corrals there for those looking for that option.
Also in the area is the turnoff for Fisher Towers CG. Very short sites. Tent or TC only. Convenient access for the Fisher Tower Trail. Brochure
A mile further along UT 128 is Hittle Bottom CG. I’d prefer it over either of the Onion Creek options. A couple of sites even have some cottonwoods for shade.
Up another six miles or so is Dewey Bridge. Both Dewey Bridge and Hittle Bottom are popular launch sites for rafts. Dewey Bridge is 30 miles or so from town, probably a 45+ minute drive. Popular with people coming from Colorado as it’s the first campsite they get to. I first stayed here in ’69. Dirt road and the original Dewey Bridge was still in place. We were the only ones for miles and not another car went by all night. My how things have changed.
