I stay in Salt Lake Metropolis, simply 3.5 hours from Moab, considered one of my favourite locations to go to in Southern Utah. I’ve completed A LOT of tenting right here through the years with my household and keep in mind feeling overwhelmed by all the tenting potentialities on our first visits; so, I’ve compiled this information to save lots of you time scouring the lots 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.
Whenever you’re able to hit the hay at evening 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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In case you’re questioning about the very best locations to camp (or glamp) throughout your go to, you’ve come to the fitting place! On this put up, I share the very best Moab tenting choices, together with my favorites that I’ve stayed at through the years.
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Arches Nationwide Park Tenting
Arches Nationwide Park is legendary for its evening sky, which is simply one of many many causes I 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 need 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 evening, accommodating as much as 10 folks and a pair of automobiles every.
After I drove by the Devils Backyard Campground, I used to be impressed by the views and the area between campsites.
Devils Backyard Campground fills up shortly throughout peak season, so don’t anticipate a web site to be out there except 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 aim, I head to the Island within the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground in Canyonlands Nationwide Park.
The campground is about half-hour from Moab and provides 12 websites on a first-come, first-serve foundation. I like that the restricted variety of campsites means this campground is commonly 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 any potable water or close by providers.
The Needles Campground is over an hour from Moab, Utah, nevertheless it provides 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 fall.
The campsites in Loop B might be reserved by 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, provides ample alternatives for distant backcountry tenting. There are car campsites and backpacking websites within the Island within the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze.
Permits are required for all backcountry tenting, and you may keep as much as 14 consecutive nights within the backcountry. Nonetheless, because of the lack of water, the size of your keep will likely be decided by the quantity of water you convey.
In case you’re automotive tenting, you could have a high-clearance, four-wheel drive car, camp in designated websites, and keep on established roads. In case you want a tow, it will probably price upwards of $1,500.
Backpackers, bike packers, and pack rafters should 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 info might be discovered on the Canyonlands web site.
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Lifeless Horse Level State Park Campgrounds
Kayenta Campground and Wingate
Campground
Lifeless Horse Level State Park sits 2,000 toes above a twist within the Colorado River and Canyonlands Nationwide Park. Sundown views up right here actually can’t be beat, making it a major place to camp close to Moab.
I firmly consider 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 bushes with direct entry to quite a few trails within the park.
Kayenta Campground provides 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 might be made right here.
You’ll pay extra for tenting at Lifeless Horse State Park, however the views (particularly at dawn and sundown) are value it! That is additionally the positioning 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 time, I do know I can anticipate 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 time warmth, with an elevation of 9,200 toes. 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.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re seeking to get away from the crowds and funky down, this spot provides fishing, canoeing, and kayaking within the lake and an in depth path system for mountaineering only a quick 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 mountaineering trails.
Bearfoot Principle contributor Kaylin has stayed right here together with her husband and canine. She mentioned, “I camped in my tent and appreciated how the positioning was degree 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 toes 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 a number of the greatest:
Through 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 displaying up on Friday.
All BLM campgrounds are open year-round and have vault bathrooms and fireplace rings. Most don’t have water, I all the time convey my very own every time I camp at any of those websites simply in case.
Not like different dispersed BLM tenting in Southern Utah, these BLM websites should not free. Particular person websites typically price round $20 per evening. Try this helpful map of all BLM campgrounds close to Moab.
Dispersed Moab Campgrounds
Campsites might be costly and may add up shortly. After I’m planning a protracted journey in my van, I attempt to keep in free campsites to reduce prices.
The excellent news is that Moab is surrounded by numerous public lands and is a goldmine for dispersed tenting. Dispersed tenting, the place there aren’t any assigned spots, is out there if you happen to enterprise a bit of additional out of city.
Most of the dispersed campsites in Moab are solely really useful for high-clearance automobiles with four-wheel drive. Keep in mind to learn critiques of spots rigorously earlier than trying the drive, and look into climate situations so that you don’t by chance 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.
Widespread Non-public Moab Campgrounds
Through the busy season, the personal campgrounds in Moab generally is a little dear, however they’re nice in a pinch when every part else is full otherwise you need to keep proper on the town.
Up The Creek Campground
Up The Creek Campground provides 15 tent-only websites beside a perennial stream and beneath massive cottonwood bushes.
Among the best issues about Up The Creek is its location. It’s simply two blocks from Major Avenue which implies you’ll be able to seize dinner or catch stay music at Woody’s Tavern and stroll again to your campsite on the finish of the evening.
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 need a tent web site or perhaps a cabin-style room, HTR Moab Lodge and Campground is one other standard choice.
Just lately, they’ve added safari tents, cottages, and lodge rooms as extra lodging choices.
My favourite a part of HTR is that they’ve a typical space kitchen for all company that features two gasoline ranges, sinks, and consuming areas.
The campground strives to be as environmentally pleasant as potential, using solar energy, recycling waste, and implementing efforts to preserve water.
Solar Outside Moab
In case you’re in search of a campground with choices for RV or van websites (with hook-ups), tent websites, or one-room cabins, try Solar Outside in Moab.
There are literally 4 areas round Moab:
The entire campground areas are pet-friendly and have facilities together with fireplace rings, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, electrical hook-ups, water and sewer hook-ups, and a swimming pool.
Finest Glamping in Moab
Lifeless Horse Level State Park Yurts
In case you don’t need to camp, Lifeless Horse Level State Park additionally has a variety of yurts. I stayed in a single a couple of years in the past the evening 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 items, a lamp, BBQ, and fireplace pit. Bedding will not be offered.
Reservations for all Lifeless Horse Level State Park campsites and yurts might be made right here.
Beneath Canvas
Beneath Canvas has a variety of glamping tent areas in Utah, together with Beneath Canvas Moab simply exterior of Arches Nationwide Park.
A stick with them is fairly dear, however if you happen to’re actually in search of a luxurious tenting expertise, then this is perhaps simply the fitting 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 youngsters.
Different Moab Lodging Choices
In case you determine you don’t need to camp throughout your complete journey, there’s loads of lodging in Moab. You’ll discover all types of resort and motel chains, in addition to a couple of domestically run choices.
One newer choice is Area 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 take pleasure in facilities together with a swimming pool, scorching 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 mentioned, “My husband and I beloved having an air-conditioned area 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 evening, we have 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 choose? The Pink 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 purple mountains throughout the valley.
The proprietor, George, bakes home made natural bagels, and quite a lot of breads and makes his personal granola. Contemporary eggs from the chickens can be found and the entire place is run on photo voltaic.
Often Requested Questions
No! With so many choices for campsites, it’s not arduous to discover a place to camp. Relying on the time of yr you go to, although, the paid campgrounds is perhaps full. In my expertise, the additional away you enterprise from the city of Moab, the extra campsite availability you’ll discover. In case you actually need to keep in one of many nationwide park or state park campgrounds, I like to recommend reserving these effectively forward of time as they e book shortly.
It will depend on the kind of tenting expertise you prefer to have. In case you’d prefer to be inside strolling or driving distance of retailers, eating places, and the doorway to Arches Nationwide Park, then I like to recommend in search of a campground within the city of Moab. In case you choose extra solitude whereas tenting and simply need to get off-grid for some time, search for campsites on the outskirts of city.
This normally 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 might be $50 or extra per evening, whereas campgrounds which can be additional away with no hook-ups or bathrooms could also be extra round $15/evening. There are additionally loads of free dispersed tenting areas in Moab, however these usually don’t have any facilities in anyway, so that you should be solely self-contained.
Extra Issues to Do in Utah
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What is your favourite Moab campground? Did I go away one off this listing? Depart a remark under!
