October Moab Crowds – BLM Camping?

[CVD]

I’m planning a first Moab trip in mid Oct (Wed night to Monday). I’d prefer to camp along the river (vs RV park in town). I see several BLM camping spots that look interesting (especially Goose Island or Grandstaff, per link below). I don’t think anyone has a crystal ball, but based on prior October visits, what are the chances of finding a spot when I pull in Wed night?

http://www.discovermoab.com/campgrounds_blm.htm#map

[CVD]

4runnerguy (and others) - thanks for the great feedback. One thing I didn't mention is my group will include a couple tent campers on the weekend (I'll get there Wed night, Oct 14, the rest on Fri night). So, I'll be looking for 2 spots.

Given the likely crowd, I'm going to look into a reservable RV park that also allows tent campers.

Again, thanks for the feedback.

[4runnerguy]

Seems like you are getting a lot of people telling you not to worry that it won't be busy in the fall. We typically camp in Moab 3 to 4 weeks every year, probably far more than most on this forum. It is just over three hours from our house so it's a quick get away for us. Fall has gotten to be a popular time to go camping there, especially before the ski resorts open in mid-November. (We've camped in Moab during Thanksgiving week several times when the weather was quite pleasant and the skiing not quite ready).

But let me reiterate that the weekend of the Utah Teachers Convention (October 15-19 this year) is not an easy weekend to find a BLM campsite in Moab. For instance, one year we arrived out there around noon to find every BLM and NPS campsite full. We spent hours driving to all the places I knew of. We finely ended up high in the LaSal Mountains at Warner Lake CG. Luckily for us, it hadn't snowed up there yet as it is inaccessible once it does.

Whenever our local school has a long weekend in October that coincides with the Utah Teachers Convention weekend, we now don't go to Moab. We've been to Vernal several times instead.

Now others may have had a different experience on that weekend, but I'd still strongly recommend arriving early Wednesday morning or even better on Tuesday if you want to find a spot.

[tsetsaf]

Spring is the busy season in Moab... you shouldn't have any issues. Just check the moab calendar for any events. Also this is the Best resource for finding campgrounds in that area.

[Padlin]

Thanks

[zman-az]

Get to the campground around checkout time and you should be fine.

[4runnerguy]

Padlin wrote:

4runnerguy wrote:
Just a heads up. Many Utah school districts have vacation from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Monday the 19th.

Think the same holds for Fruita CG in Capital Reef? plans are to arrive Wed the 14th from Kodachrome and stay till the 19th, then head to Moab from there. Be our first "first come first served" campground. Suppose I could leave Kodachrome a day early if need be.

Capitol Reef is a less crowded area in general. Many go to Moab for a lot of different reasons: mountain biking, rock climbing, ATV and motorcycle riding, sightseeing, rafting, hiking, etc. Far fewer choices (and therefore fewer tourists) at Capitol Reef. It's only a three hour drive from Kodachrome SP to CRNP, so you should be able to get there by late morning or early afternoon on Wednesday (but I don't have direct experience with CRNP on that weekend).

The reason schools in UT all take vacations that weekend is that there is a state-wide teachers convention in SLC on Thursday and Friday.

[Padlin]

4runnerguy wrote:
Just a heads up. Many Utah school districts have vacation from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Monday the 19th.

Think the same holds for Fruita CG in Capital Reef? plans are to arrive Wed the 14th from Kodachrome and stay till the 19th, then head to Moab from there. Be our first "first come first served" campground. Suppose I could leave Kodachrome a day early if need be.

[zman-az]

Was there the week before turkey day a few years back and the blm sites were half full. The sites on the river filled first. If they are full I am sure you could find a spot at a rv park.

[4runnerguy]

Just a heads up. Many Utah school districts have vacation from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Monday the 19th. We avoid going to Moab that weekend as it is very busy then. Many campers will converge on Wednesday to beat the crowds. If that is the weekend you had in mind, I'd arrive Wed. morning if at all possible. The BLM CG's along the river fill pretty quickly. The size of your rig limits the number of sites available to you.

There are other sites further away that might still be available Wed. evening. Horsethief CG off UT 313 on the way to Island In the Sky/Deadhorse Pt. SP tends to fill later. The BLM also constructed a new camping area called Ledges out Kane Creek Road with over 100 sites. The last four miles or so is graded gravel road that can get washboardy. This is probably the last area to fill. Turn off US 191 between the McDonalds and Burger King to get out that road.

Other weekends than the one I noted shouldn't be as crowded.

[2lazy4U]

Things have changed radically in the past year or two as far as the area being discovered. Could very likely be full. Have a back up plan.

[Seneca_35GS]

Been to Moab several times, it's our favorite. Should have NO problem finding a spot on a Wednesday in mid October.

[Busskipper]

CVD wrote:
I’m planning a first Moab trip in mid Oct (Wed night to Monday). I’d prefer to camp along the river (vs RV park in town). I see several BLM camping spots that look interesting (especially Goose Island or Grandstaff, per link below). I don’t think anyone has a crystal ball, but based on prior October visits, what are the chances of finding a spot when I pull in Wed night?

http://www.discovermoab.com/campgrounds_blm.htm#map

Just as everywhere the crowds are down once the kids go back to school, my guess is you will be able to find a place to stay if not exactly where you plan but close, your coming in on a Wednesday almost guarantees it will have many opening.

JMHO,