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. Bundles are for sale locally at convenience or grocery stores.
Make sure to always camp in designated sites only and always leave your site cleaner than you found it. Please be respectful campers. Quiet time is 10pm-7am. If arriving late, camp en route and arrive in the morning to search for a campsite.
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 4×4 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, $5 trailer fee. Ten people and two vehicles maximum per site. Camp only in designated campsites! Bring drinking water and firewood. Some campsites can accommodate large RVs, but there are no hookups. sandflats.net.
The Colorado River (BLM)
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers campgrounds next to the Colorado River. They are all first-come, first-served and sites fill up quickly. A $20/night is collected at each campground (check or cash only). All campgrounds are equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. There are 12 campgrounds along the Colorado River on Utah Hwy 128, as well as 32 sites 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.
BLM Camping
The BLM Moab Field Office maintains 26 additional campgrounds in the vicinity, all on a first-come, first-served basis. Campgrounds have picnic tables, open-air 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 BLM lands in selected areas somewhat removed from Moab. You must abide by leave no trace ethics and have a portable toilet or pack out your waste and your trash with you. (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 9,200ft in the La Sals. Favorite activities are fishing and 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. $10/night per site. Reserve at 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232404.
Private campgrounds
Often, having a reservation, access to a shower or the Internet, and electricity while camping is nice. Moab has privately-owned campgrounds with a variety of options from shaded tent sites to full RV hookups.
- Archview Resort offers the best camping near Arches with incredible views. They have a pool, playground, and a general store. Choose from a tent or RV site, or a casita. Call 877-243-2179 or visit
archviewrvresort.com. - Canyonlands RV Resort is located right in downtown Moab, yet the campground is quiet and secluded. Within walking distance to many shops and restaurants, this campground has a general store, gas station, pool area, and covered picnic pavilion. Call 877-622-7796 or visit
canyonlandsrvresort.com. - Moab Valley RV Resort is located near the intersection of Utah Hwy 128 and US Hwy 191 giving campers easy access to all that the Moab area has to offer. They have covered tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. You can even rent their vintage Airstream trailer. They have a pool, hot tub, putting green, and general store. Call 877-504-1395 or visit moabvalleyrvresort.com.
Camping etiquette
Everyone has a different idea of what a perfect night camping can be. But the common denominator is that people camping all want to be outside enjoying nature. Help protect the environment you are enjoying. Be a respectful camper.
- Limit excessive noise. If you are listening to music, be respectful and keep the volume low. Keep your generator use to a minimum.
- Remove all trash 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. Take ALL trash out with you, this includes toilet paper and pet waste.
- Keep your pets with you and always clean up after them.
- When driving through a campground, drive slowly and use your low beams.