I dwell in Salt Lake Metropolis, simply 3.5 hours from Moab, certainly one of my favourite locations to go to in Southern Utah. I’ve accomplished A LOT of tenting right here through the years with my household and keep in mind feeling overwhelmed by the entire tenting potentialities on our first visits; so, I’ve compiled this information to avoid wasting you time scouring the tons of of Moab tenting choices.
With easy accessibility to 2 Nationwide Parks (Arches and Canyonlands) and different outdoorsy issues to do in Moab, Moab is a must-visit for any journey lover.
If you’re able to hit the hay at night time after a day of desert enjoyable, you’ll be able to keep in Nationwide Park campgrounds (Arches and Canyonlands), state park campgrounds, paid BLM campsites, free dispersed land, personal campgrounds, and even yurts.
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If you happen to’re questioning about the very best locations to camp (or glamp) throughout your go to, you’ve come to the precise place! On this publish, I share the very best Moab tenting choices, together with my favorites that I’ve stayed at through the years.
This publish could include affiliate hyperlinks.
Arches Nationwide Park Tenting
Arches Nationwide Park is known for its night time sky, which is simply one of many many causes I really like tenting within the park.
Devils Backyard Campground is the one campground within the Park and options 51 websites that may be reserved between March 1 and October 31 on a 6-month rolling foundation.
If you would like the closest entry to the greatest hikes in Arches Nationwide Park, staying on the Devils Backyard Campground minimizes your drive instances.
Between November and February, campsites are first-come, first-served.
Customary non-electric websites are $25 per night time, accommodating as much as 10 folks and a couple of autos every.
After I drove by means of the Devils Backyard Campground, I used to be impressed by the views and the house between campsites.
Devils Backyard Campground fills up shortly throughout peak season, so don’t count on a web site to be accessible until you e book forward on their reservation web site.
Canyonlands Nationwide Park Tenting
Island within the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground
When getting away from the crowds is my objective, I head to the Island within the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground in Canyonlands Nationwide Park.
The campground is about half-hour from Moab and gives 12 websites on a first-come, first-serve foundation. I like that the restricted variety of campsites means this campground is usually peaceable and quiet.
Tenting contained in the park additionally means fast entry to the paths – together with the greatest hikes in Canyonlands.
I like to recommend filling up with water, firewood, and provides earlier than heading on the market as there isn’t a potable water or close by companies.
The Needles Campground is over an hour from Moab, Utah, however it gives 26 particular person campsites and three group websites on 2 loops.
Loop A is open year-round, whereas Loop B is just open from spring by means of fall.
The campsites in Loop B may be reserved by means of Recreation.gov on a six-month rolling foundation, whereas the websites in Loop A are all first-come, first-served.
Canyonlands Backcountry Tenting
Canyonlands Nationwide Park, in contrast to Arches, gives ample alternatives for distant backcountry tenting. There are automobile campsites and backpacking websites within the Island within the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze.
Permits are required for all backcountry tenting, and you’ll keep as much as 14 consecutive nights within the backcountry. Nevertheless, as a result of lack of water, the size of your keep will likely be decided by the quantity of water you deliver.
If you happen to’re automotive tenting, you could have a high-clearance, four-wheel drive automobile, camp in designated websites, and keep on established roads. If you happen to want a tow, it will possibly price upwards of $1,500.
Backpackers, bike packers, and pack rafters have to be skilled and ready for distant websites with no dependable water sources. You must have a plan and expertise navigating the boundaries of the zones with topographic maps.
Extra data may be discovered on the Canyonlands web site.
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Useless Horse Level State Park Campgrounds
Kayenta Campground and Wingate
Campground
Useless Horse Level State Park sits 2,000 ft above a twist within the Colorado River and Canyonlands Nationwide Park. Sundown views up right here actually can’t be beat, making it a chief place to camp close to Moab.
I firmly imagine it’s one of many greatest state parks in Utah for out of doors adventures. There are two campgrounds right here (Kayenta and Wingate) nestled in juniper timber with direct entry to quite a few trails within the park.
Kayenta Campground gives 21 RV or tent websites, whereas Wingate Campground subsequent door has 20 RV campsites, 11 tent-only campsites, and 4 yurts.
All websites embody a shade construction, campfire rings, and picnic tables. They even have electrical hook-ups in any respect RV websites. Reservations for each campgrounds may be made right here.
You’ll pay extra for tenting at Useless Horse State Park, however the views (particularly at dawn and sundown) are value it! That is additionally the location for the ultimate scene of the film Thelma and Louise.
La Sal Mountains Tenting
Every time I go to Moab in the course of summer season, I do know I can count on temperatures to be sweltering. Throughout this time of yr, my greatest wager to flee the warmth is to go east of Moab up into the La Sal mountains.
Warner Lake is an superior public campground to beat the summer season warmth, with an elevation of 9,200 ft. It has 19 websites that may be reserved on-line.
A possible draw back of staying at Warner Lake Campground is its distance from Moab and the close by Nationwide Parks. It’s about an hour to get to downtown and 1.5 hours to Arches or Canyonlands.
Nevertheless, should you’re seeking to get away from the crowds and funky down, this spot gives fishing, canoeing, and kayaking within the lake and an in depth path system for mountain climbing only a brief stroll from the campground.
Moab BLM Campgrounds
The Bureau of Land Administration maintains 26 campgrounds within the Moab space. Out of those, 25 are first-come, first-served with no reservations accepted. You possibly can pay upon arrival through money or test.
The one reservable BLM campground in Moab is Ken’s Lake Campground. Positioned 10 miles south of Moab, this campground is a part of a recreation space with alternatives for swimming, paddle boarding, boating, fishing, and mountain climbing trails.
Bearfoot Principle contributor Kaylin has stayed right here along with her husband and canine. She stated, “I camped in my tent and appreciated how the location was stage and quiet. I loved having a campfire within the offered ring at my campsite and taking my camp chair all the way down to the lake to look at the sundown. My canine loved dipping her ft within the water!”
Listed here are a couple of extra BLM campgrounds in Moab that I’ve camped in or stand out to me as among the greatest:
In the course of the busy season (April to October), these campgrounds will likely be full by midday, so arrive early to snag a spot. Your greatest wager is to reach on Sunday or Monday and keep away from exhibiting up on Friday.
All BLM campgrounds are open year-round and have vault bathrooms and hearth rings. Most don’t have water, I all the time deliver my very own each time I camp at any of those websites simply in case.
Not like different dispersed BLM tenting in Southern Utah, these BLM websites are usually not free. Particular person websites usually price round $20 per night time. Take a look at this helpful map of all BLM campgrounds close to Moab.
Dispersed Moab Campgrounds
Campsites may be costly and might add up shortly. After I’m planning an extended journey in my van, I attempt to keep in free campsites to reduce prices.
The excellent news is that Moab is surrounded by a lot of public lands and is a goldmine for dispersed tenting. Dispersed tenting, the place there aren’t any assigned spots, is offered should you enterprise a bit additional out of city.
Most of the dispersed campsites in Moab are solely beneficial for high-clearance autos with four-wheel drive. Bear in mind to learn opinions of spots fastidiously earlier than trying the drive, and look into climate situations so that you don’t unintentionally get caught on moist or muddy roads.
Use my final information to discovering free campsites that will help you discover an superior dispersed campsite throughout your subsequent journey to Moab.
In style Personal Moab Campgrounds
In the course of the busy season, the personal campgrounds in Moab generally is a little expensive, however they’re nice in a pinch when all the pieces else is full otherwise you wish to keep proper on the town.
Up The Creek Campground
Up The Creek Campground gives 15 tent-only websites beside a perennial stream and beneath giant cottonwood timber.
Among the best issues about Up The Creek is its location. It’s simply two blocks from Essential Avenue which implies you’ll be able to seize dinner or catch dwell music at Woody’s Tavern and stroll again to your campsite on the finish of the night time.
A draw back for many who journey with pets is that no canines are allowed at Up The Creek Campground.
HTR Moab Lodge and Cottages
Whether or not you desire a tent web site or perhaps a cabin-style room, HTR Moab Lodge and Campground is one other widespread possibility.
Not too long ago, they’ve added safari tents, cottages, and lodge rooms as extra lodging choices.
My favourite a part of HTR is that they’ve a standard space kitchen for all company that features two gasoline ranges, sinks, and consuming areas.
The campground strives to be as environmentally pleasant as doable, using solar energy, recycling waste, and implementing efforts to preserve water.
Solar Outside Moab
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a campground with choices for RV or van websites (with hook-ups), tent websites, or one-room cabins, take a look at Solar Outside in Moab.
There are literally 4 areas round Moab:
The entire campground areas are pet-friendly and have facilities together with hearth rings, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, electrical hook-ups, water and sewer hook-ups, and a swimming pool.
Finest Glamping in Moab
Useless Horse Level State Park Yurts
If you happen to don’t wish to camp, Useless Horse Level State Park additionally has a variety of yurts. I stayed in a single a couple of years in the past the night time earlier than my White Rim Path biking journey, and it was superior. My yurt had a deck, grill, and room for six folks to sleep.
There are 5 yurts within the Moenkopi space and 4 yurts within the Wingate Campground.
These yurts have a bunk mattress, futon mattress, indoor and out of doors tables, AC/heating models, a lamp, BBQ, and hearth pit. Bedding shouldn’t be offered.
Reservations for all Useless Horse Level State Park campsites and yurts may be made right here.
Below Canvas
Below Canvas has a variety of glamping tent areas in Utah, together with Below Canvas Moab simply outdoors of Arches Nationwide Park.
A stick with them is fairly expensive, however should you’re actually on the lookout for a luxurious tenting expertise, then this could be simply the precise match.
These tents can be found to order between early March and late October. They’ve choices starting from tents that sleep 2 adults to tents that match 4 adults + 2 children.
Different Moab Lodging Choices
If you happen to determine you don’t wish to camp throughout your complete journey, there may be loads of lodging in Moab. You’ll discover every kind of resort and motel chains, in addition to a couple of regionally run choices.
One newer possibility is Discipline Station Moab, an journey resort that options rooms and Van Life Posts the place you’ll be able to pay to park and sleep in your rig. Whether or not you keep in a room or your van, you’ll be able to get pleasure from facilities together with a swimming pool, sizzling tub, recreation room, Wi-Fi, free laundry, showers, and a retailer and cafe.
Bearfoot Principle contributor Kaylin Zittergruen stayed right here in her van and stated, “My husband and I cherished having an air-conditioned house the place we might use Wi-Fi, seize complimentary espresso, and work in the course of the day. It’s dog-friendly so we introduced our pup with us, and at night time, we had been in a position to do our laundry, bathe, swim, play ping pong, and sit by the fireplace. It was value each penny!”
My prime decide? The Crimson Moon Lodge is simply south of city. It’s a tranquil, retreat-style mattress and breakfast full with an natural backyard, chickens, sheep, and views of the crimson mountains throughout the valley.
The proprietor, George, bakes home made natural bagels, and a wide range of breads and makes his personal granola. Contemporary eggs from the chickens can be found and the entire place is run on photo voltaic.
Incessantly Requested Questions
No! With so many choices for campsites, it’s not onerous to discover a place to camp. Relying on the time of yr you go to, although, the paid campgrounds could be full. In my expertise, the additional away you enterprise from the city of Moab, the extra campsite availability you’ll discover. If you happen to actually wish to keep in one of many nationwide park or state park campgrounds, I like to recommend reserving these properly forward of time as they e book shortly.
It will depend on the kind of tenting expertise you wish to have. If you happen to’d wish to be inside strolling or driving distance of outlets, eating places, and the doorway to Arches Nationwide Park, then I like to recommend on the lookout for a campground within the city of Moab. If you happen to desire extra solitude whereas tenting and simply wish to get off-grid for some time, search for campsites on the outskirts of city.
This often will depend on the campground’s proximity to city (or the parks) and their facilities. The campgrounds which can be near city and supply facilities like a swimming pool may be $50 or extra per night time, whereas campgrounds which can be additional away with no hook-ups or bathrooms could also be extra round $15/night time. There are additionally loads of free dispersed tenting areas in Moab, however these usually haven’t any facilities in anyway, so that you have to be totally self-contained.
Extra Issues to Do in Utah
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What is your favourite Moab campground? Did I depart one off this record? Go away a remark under!