Camping - Moab

The Moab area has more than 1,600 campsites of all varieties. Campers need to supply their own water and firewood. Buy local firewood to avoid spreading diseases and pests.

Make sure to camp only in designated sites and always leave your site cleaner than you found it.

Sand Flats

Sand Flats Recreation Area, a unique area of rock fins, bowls, and domes, is a five-minute drive from downtown Moab. It is home to the famed Slickrock and Porcupine Rim Bike Trails, Hell’s Revenge, and Fins and Things 4x4 Trails.

Grand County and the BLM manage Sand Flats with collected fees supporting all operations. The 140+ campsites are open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. $15/vehicle with up to 5 people. $2/each additional person. Ten people and 2 vehicles maximum per site. Camp only in designated campsites! Bring drinking water and buy firewood locally.

Some campsites can accommodate RVs, but no hookups. SandFlats.org.

The Colorado River (BLM)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers campgrounds next to the Colorado River as well as in other locations. They are all first-come,
first-served and sites fill up quickly.

A fee of $20/night is collected at each campground (check or cash only).

New: Remote off-grid kiosk is located at Big Bend and Hittle Bottom. It accepts electronic payment using a credit or debit card for all campsites along the river.

All campgrounds are equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and trash receptacles.

There are 12 campgrounds near the Colorado River on Utah Scenic Byway 128, as well as three campgrounds near the river on Utah Hwy 279.

Many of the campgrounds such as Goose Island, Big Bend, Hittle Bottom, Lower and Upper Onion Creek, Dewey Bridge, and Goldbar have reservable group sites (for 15 or more). Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.

Other BLM Camping Opportunities

The BLM Moab Field Office maintains 26 additional campgrounds in the vicinity, on a first-come, first-served basis. ​These campgrounds are located in Sand Flats, Horsethief on Utah Hwy 313 (with a remote kiosk), and north of town off US Hwy 191.

The campground at Ken’s Lake, south of town, is the only reservable BLM campground through Recreation.gov.

Campgrounds have picnic tables, vault toilets, metal fire rings, gravel roads, and trash receptacles. RV sites do not have hookups. Camping is restricted to campgrounds and designated sites.

Dispersed camping is allowed on other BLM land ​that is somewhat removed from Moab. You must abide by Leave No Trace ethics and remove your human waste in a portable toilet or commercial WAG bag. DON’T bury it!

Contact the BLM for more details. 435-259-2100, BLM.gov/Programs/Recreation/Recreation-Activities/Utah.

National Forest

For an alpine camping experience, Warner Lake Campground offers 20 sites at an altitude of 9,400ft in the La Sals. Go fishing or hiking on the extensive trail system accessed from the trailhead at the campground. Signs offer information about the area.

No powerboats are allowed on Warner Lake. This site is about a 1.5-hour drive from Moab. $20/night per site. Reserve at 435-259-7155 or Recreation.gov.

Camping Etiquette

Everyone has a different idea of what a perfect night camping should be. The common denominator is that campers all want to be outside enjoying nature. Help protect the environment you are enjoying. Be a respectful camper.

Limit excessive noise and obey quiet hours. If you are listening to music, be respectful and keep the volume low. Keep your generator use to a minimum.
Remove all trash (this includes toilet paper and pet waste) and recycling, even if that means hauling it into town.

If you are camping on BLM land, or anywhere where there are no toilets, you must have a primitive toilet or WAG bags for human waste. Don’t bury it. Grand County has an ordinance that all human waste must be properly disposed of.
Keep your pets with you, under restraint, and always clean up after them.

When driving through a campground, drive slowly and use your low beams.

Make sure your campfire is out—really out! Do this by drowning it with water, stirring, and adding more water.

Buy It Where You Burn It

A night of camping often comes with sitting around a campfire. However, where you get your firewood can have long-term effects on the area. Wood from different areas can have invasive species in it. These species, whether it’s a bug or a disease in the tree, can then be spread to this area.

Buy and burn firewood locally. Do your best to buy only what you’ll need for your stay, and burn it all before you depart. Always build fires in a metal fire ring only. Gathering or cutting firewood is prohibited. Firewood is available at convenience stores in Moab.

I Didn’t Know That

Get a headlamp with a red-light feature. Insects are not as attracted to red light as they are white. Red light is also less blinding when you look at your fellow campers with your headlamp on. Our eyes adjust to the dark night better with red light than white light. 

San Juan County

Kane Gulch Ranger Station

The Kane Gulch Ranger Station serves the Bears Ears National Monument and Cedar Mesa areas. A BLM permit is required for most day hiking and backpacking activities in these areas.

Located on Utah Hwy 261 about four miles from Utah Hwy 95. Open for permits and questions 8am-noon only March 1-June 15 and Sept. 1-Oct. 31.
For lots of information, permits, and updates, visit BLM.gov/Programs/Recreation/Permits-and-Passes/Lotteries-and-Permit-Systems/
Utah/CedarMesa.

Bears Ears National Monument

Dispersed camping is allowed within BLM-managed lands, including along Butler and Comb Wash roads. Driving off road to create new camping is prohibited. Don’t camp inside archaeological areas.

Bring your own water, firewood, and pack out your trash and human waste.

There are several developed camping areas throughout Bears Ears National Monument. The Indian Creek region includes Indian Creek Falls, Hamburger Rock, Creek Pasture, and Superbowl. BearsEarsPartnership.org/Camping.

Valley of the Gods

Backcountry-style camping is allowed along the 17-mile loop through Valley of the Gods. The road is unpaved and fine for 2WD, campers, and RVs; however watch the weather. This road can get muddy and have washouts in big rain storms.

Along the road there are several car camping spots that can easily be identified. There are no markers or signs. Look for a good, flat spot off the road and park. No campfires are allowed. There are no restrooms so make sure to have a primitive toilet system or WAG bags with you.
Goosenecks State Park

This state park is definitely worth the stop. The park overlooks the meandering San Juan River, where it twists and turns while only advancing west one mile on its way to Lake Powell.

Primitive campsites with picnic tables are scattered back from the edge of the cliff. $10 per night, first-come, first-served. No water, so bring plenty. Vault toilets. StateParks.Utah.gov/Parks/Goosenecks.

Muley Point

Camping at Muley Point is pretty incredible. The views here cannot compare as you are about 2,400ft above the San Juan River and can see for miles toward Monument Valley. Peace, solitude, and a sky full of stars await you. No facilities so make sure to have plenty of water and a toilet system or WAG bags.

Sand Island

This campground is managed by the BLM and is located on the north bank of the San Juan River about 3 miles west of Bluff.

The 27-site campground is open year round, has drinking water (seasonal, March through October), vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, a day-use picnic area, and a boat launch for the San Juan River (permits required).

Sites are first-come, first-served and self-register at the campground. $15/night.

Abajo Mountains

See map.