Forum Discussion

dodge_guy's avatar
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2022

Dry camping in SW Utah

Hello. Planning to possibly go to Utah next year. I’m wanting to dry camp in a spot like they did in the movie RV. I know it was a movie set p, but there has to be someplace like that accessible with a 37 foot class A. I’m out looking to go miles off road, maybe a 1/4 mile at most! Would love to camp around the rock formations for a couple days. Anyone know of any spots like that or a website that will show me the places I can stay? Anywhere from Arches south to monument valley, as well as the other NPs in the area.

Thanks.
  • IDman's avatar
    IDman
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2022
    Arches N.P. and Monument Valley are not SW, but are in Eastern Utah.
  • accsys's avatar
    accsys
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2022
    You might look at Valley of the Gods BLM just north of Monument Valley in SE Utah. Access is UT 261 off of US 163 just north of Mexican Hat. When we drove through a few years ago there were a few C's and trailers boondocking there. Gooseneck State Park is also close by.
  • Old_Days's avatar
    Old_Days
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2022
    Be careful there is a lot of soft sand in Utah, unless your class A is 4 wheel drive. I love going to the Moab area and south of there, also check the weather it gets hot early.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2022
    “… maybe a 1/4 mile at most!”

    When in any doubt, walk in before driving in. You’ll be fine.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2022
    IDman wrote:
    Arches N.P. and Monument Valley are not SW, but are in Eastern Utah.


    Ugh! And I went over the corner of the state in my head, I knew it was E, SE, but still managed to mess that up.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2022
    Old Days wrote:
    Be careful there is a lot of soft sand in Utah, unless your class A is 4 wheel drive. I love going to the Moab area and south of there, also check the weather it gets hot early.


    Yes, that’s why I was asking for a place accessible to a full size class A. Don’t need to be getting stuck!
  • Old_Days's avatar
    Old_Days
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2022
    We go to Utah all the time, just got back from a 12 day trip of Utah and Arizona. Right outside of Arches National park is a lot of free places to camp. We always go in early May before it gets to hot, the main thing is always check the weather by Vail we had to dodge a snow storm on the way home.
  • 2g_s's avatar
    2g_s
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2022
    dodge guy wrote:


    Yes, that’s why I was asking for a place accessible to a full size class A. Don’t need to be getting stuck!


    We've spent months in southern Utah boondocking on public lands. Places aren't hard to find. Get a map and go!

    The Benchmark Utah atlas book is great for roads on public lands. We've gone in up to 20 miles on good gravel roads with our 40' motorhome. If in question, we took the Jeep to scout the road first. You won't find much if you only want to drive 1/4 mile.

    https://www.benchmarkmaps.com/product/utah-road-recreation-atlas

    Here's a good post for the Moab area: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29448394.cfm

    and another... https://www.discovermoab.com/blm-campgrounds/

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