Best Camping In Moab

When it comes to gorgeous desert views, full of rugged red cliffs and astonishing stretches of land, there are few places better than Moab, Utah.

It’s a place where you can really get in touch with the great American natural landscape, thanks to the enormous expanse of desert valley there. Not only is it a great place for awe-inspiring sightseeing, it’s also a great place for camping.

But what are the best camping spots in Moab, Utah? There are so many different locations to choose from that it can be difficult to narrow them all down and find the one that’s going to be best for you – and give you the best views of Moab’s amazing landscape.

Well, we’ve got the answers! In our detailed guide below, we’ve got a list of the best camping in Moab. With each camping spot, we’ve got a vivid breakdown of what makes it such a great spot, as well as features that you can enjoy when there. Read on!

Why Go Camping In Moab?

Just before we get to our list of the best camping spots in Moab, Utah, it’s worth looking at why you should go camping there in the first place. After all, if you’re in Moab you might just stay at a hotel or rent an apartment, rather than camp in the great outdoors. What makes camping there so great? 

Well, it’s all about the sights! As we said in the intro, Moab offers an astonishing natural landscape for you to enjoy, with a massive valley of red rock cliffs, large desert, and rugged terrain. It’s breathtaking to look at and makes a visit to Moab especially memorable.

When you’re camping, you’ll be a lot more connected to the natural landscape around you, since you’ll be living and sleeping in it. If you stayed at a hotel, you really wouldn’t experience the views that Moab has to offer, so camping is the best way to really immerse yourself in the red dessert.

Best Camping In Moab

Drinks Canyon Camping Area

Where Is It? Following Highway 191 from Moab, it’s 6 miles up the beautiful Colorado River

The first Moab camping location on our list is at Drinks Canyon, with brilliant views and a decent level of privacy that allows you to relax and lose yourself in the landscape. There are 17 sites available here, but there are also motorhome pitches – so watch out for those when camping!

Not only does this camping area have a great view of large red rocks and gorges, it’s also located alongside the Colorado River’s banks, allowing you to peacefully relax in the evening alongside the gentle sounds of the running water.

Campfires are allowed here, too, so you’ll be able to add a dreamy glow to your evenings too.

Big Bend Campground

Where Is It? Drive along Highway 128, going east along the Colorado River for 7.4 miles

This next camping ground is also found alongside the Colorado River, so you can get equally peaceful and soothing places to rest here. However, this also offers a sandy beach! Campers can enjoy going down to the dunes and lounging in the sand, which is the perfect spot for a sunny day.

There are also picnic tables to use near the campground.

If you like boating, then you’ll enjoy the “Moab Daily” that’s here too. This is a section of the Colorado River that’s got a bunch of small rapids, which will make boating down them very exciting.

On top of this, there are also lots of trails to hike nearby, as well as national parks to explore. 

Willow Flats (Island In The Sky) Campground

Where Is It? Go 7.5 miles southward of the Canyonlands National Park visitor center

The Canyonlands National park in Utah is absolutely enormous – so large, in fact, that it has to be divided into four districts. The Willow Flats campground is found in the Island in the Sky district, and it’s the only campground in that area. 

You can expect a quiet and peaceful camping area, and each site has a little covered area. The key feature here, though, is the landscape. Wow!

You’ll be camping with enormous red canyons looming above you, and the sunrises and sunsets are simply spectacular. Sunsets are especially good at the Green River Overlook, which is nearby.

Sand Flats Recreation Area

Where Is It? Visit Sand Flats Road, Moab, UT 84532

This picturesque campground is found among slickrock fins and domes, and you’ll get brilliant views of sandstone cantones and domes while you’re there. THough it’s hot, there’s some shade from a variety of trees.

Better yet, the site has a view of the brilliant and massive La Sal Mountains. 

As for activities to do, this Recreation Area is actually home to the world famous Slickrock Bike Trail, meaning that there will be plenty of bikers around. 

Cowboy Campground

Where Is It? Go north on Highway 191 from Moab, then turn west on Highway 313 and continue 18 miles

If the biking trail of the previous campground was too much for you, then this is a peaceful and secluded spot where you can enjoy a lot more peace when camping. Better yet, RVs and trailers aren’t even allowed! You won’t have any disturbances. 

As for the views, you’ll enjoy brilliant vistas of the canyon country. 

Horsethief Campground

Where Is It? On the way to Canyonlands National Park

This is one of the largest and most notable campgrounds in Moab, Utah, and it’s got as many as 90 sites for people to use. If this sounds crowded, don’t worry! There are plenty of trees dividing up the sites and keeping you secluded from other campers. 

At the site, you’ll find picnic tables to enjoy your meals at, and there are fire pits available too. The campground is a great spot for allowing you to go and explore more of the National Park itself, or even the Dead Horse Point State Park.

As you can tell, there’s a lot to do nearby! There is even a hiking trail from the campground, giving you a great walk through the beautiful sites of the surrounding landscape.

Needles Overlook

Where Is It? Go southward of Moab, then turnoff when the road splits to go to Canyonlands National Park’s Needles district

This quiet spot that can be accessed on the way to Canyonlands National Park offers beautiful views of the great canyon, and you can see it from all kinds of different angles. You’ll even be able to see the Colorado River! There are some trails to enjoy around here too.

As for the campsites, you’ll see camping space on the left of the road, though we must stress that it’s actually an undesignated campsite.

Kayenta Campground

Where Is It? You’ll find it at Dead Horse Point State Park

This is a very peaceful spot, partly because it’s nestled in the middle of a bunch of juniper trees. As a result, it’s a remote and quiet location, which will be ideal camping material for some.

There are 21 campsites to choose from, and each of them has shade, fire rings, picnic tables, and more. It’s worth noting that only 8 people maximum are allowed to stay at each site – so keep your groups small!

The campground has a variety of hiking trails coming from it, which will take you to all kinds of points of interest and allow you to explore the area even more. 

Devils Garden Campground

Where Is It? Arches National Park

This is the only campground that you’ll find at Arches National Park in Utah, and it’s a fantastic spot that’s located just beneath a gorgeous wall of ragged red rocks. It’s quite a sight!

All of the rocks are different shapes and sizes, which really gives this camping ground a surreal feeling – especially when those rocks are silhouetted at night!

Be sure to make a reservation, because this campground can fill up quite quickly! Though the site has no cell phone reception or internet, it does have firewood for sale so that you warm yourself by a campfire each night. 

Hittle Bottom Campground

Where Is It? Along the Colorado River’s banks

We’re finishing our list of the best camping spots in Moab with this cozy little campground that’s found on the banks of the Colorado River. As a result, it’s got brilliant views of red rock formations, as well as the gorgeous vista of the river canyon itself.

There are 15 campsites available there, but it also accommodates RVs. 

As for activities, this campground is near hiking areas, as well as spots for mountain biking and whitewater rafting. If you love adventure, this is the spot! On top of that, the town of Moab is just 45 minutes away, so you can shop and eat there.

Final Thoughts

Moab, Utah is full of wonderful desert views, making it perfect for camping. Use our list to find the best camping in Moab!