All The Best Camping Near Arches National Park
Arches National Parka place that is now so popular that if Abbey, a self-professed lover of seclusion, were alive, he would likely balkis one of the Mighty Five Utah national parks. It receives over 1.5 million visitors a year, and many of those visitors roll in with RVs, trailers, or tents packed in their trunks.
Finding the solitude Abbey craved is a tall order these days, but there are a lot of great options for camping in and around Arches National Park. Here are a few of the Campendium communitys favorites.
How To Plan Your Arches National Park Rv Camping Trip
With this information, youll be able to plan the perfect Arches National Park camping trip. Whether you prefer glamping or roughing it, and whether youre traveling with kids in a large motorhome or solo in a tiny trailer, theres an option for you. Go ahead and decide what that is and start planning so you can witness the wonders of this wonderful national park!
Start planning your Arches National Park camping trip, and find more great points of interest in the area, with the RV LIFE App and RV LIFE Trip Wizard. Been to a campground lately? Dont forget to leave a review! Reviews help other RVers like yourself, and they help the campground. Leave a campground review today!
Free Dispersed Camping Spots Near Moab Utah
Thanks to the abundance of public property around Moab, there are plenty of places where you can rest your head at night without having to pay for campground fees.
Moab is a major hub for outdoor activities in the Southwestern United Sates. The town thrives on seasonal tourism, with Moab Season typically starting around spring break when all the college kids come out to do every activity they can possibly fit into one week.
With Moab becoming a more popular destination for rock climbing, canyoneering, mountain biking, and river sports, it can be hard to dodge the crowds. That is, unless you know how to escape the crowds in prime free camping spots.
These under-the-radar dispersed camping areas are far-removed from the noise and light pollution of the city, affording more peace and quiet and stellar stargazing opportunities at night. Theres no charge to pitch your tent or park your RV, though keep in mind that these are primitive camping sites with no drinking water, toilets, or other amenities.
If that sounds like your cup of tea and youre willing to follow the Leave No Trace principles, check out one of these five dispersed camping areas near Moab.
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Do You Need A Reservation For Arches National Park
Due to overcrowding, Arches National Park implemented a timed entry reservation system for the 2022 peak season. From April 3rd to October 3rd, reservations are required to enter Arches National Park between 6 am and 5 pm.
Reservations are in addition to National Park entrance fees. Check out to America the Beautiful National Park Pass: Is it Worth it and Will it Save You Money before your next National Park visit.
Clothing And Foot Wear
It can get hot in the desert, so make sure you pack lightweight, breathable clothes that will protect you from the sun while also keeping you cool. If youre visiting in the winter, however, it can get quite cold, so youll want to be prepared for that as well.
Youll need proper footwear for all of the activities you plan on enjoying, so make sure to pack sturdy hiking shoes or boots with good traction for walking on the sand and rocks.
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Other #parkchaser Tips To Know
- Arches can be busy at all times of the year. The campground reservations book early online. Set a reminder on your calendar to book your online reservations well in advance.
- Firewood is not available for sale in the campground. Buy a coupon at the Visitors Center and pick up details on where to get firewood there.
- Arches National Park is so close to Canyonlands National Park. Dont miss out on the chance to see one of our favorite national parks take the time to drive to the Island in the Sky or Needles areas of the park!
Arches National Park Free Campgrounds And Boondocking Klondike Bluffs Trail Rd
AddressElevation: 4636
Management: Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Dirt. Klondike Bluffs Trail Rd is open Year round. There are 30 or more campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is unlimited. You may stay 14 days at Klondike Bluffs Trail Rd. Starting at the Colorado River, drive 15 miles north from Moab.
Best Review:
This is a great open area to stay we stayed for four nights. There is a trail head near the end of the road. One of the trails leads to dinosaur tracks. There are also many other trails to hike on they are also mountain biking trails. There were only two bikers during our hike. We parked on the east side of a steep hill so we could be in the afternoon shade. The La Sal Mountain range can be seen from our spot. Beware of the ruts in parts of the road and on the way to certain campsites. The area is roughly 20 miles from downtown Moab about 15 miles from the entrance to Arches National Park. We used a WeBoost to use our cell phones and laptops.
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Where Can I Hike Near The Campground
Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Arches National Park. From the Devils Garden campground, visitors can hike to:
- Devils Garden connected network of hiking trails to Landscape Arch , Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Double O Arch.
- Broken Arch & Sand Dune ArchTwo of our favorite spots in the park!
Staying at Devils Garden also allows you to bypass the morning entrance rush at the gate to visit popular sunrise spots like Delicate Arch.
Ready To Go Camping Near Arches National Park
Camping near Arches National Park is amazing, with truly unrivaled landscapes, plenty of activities available, and inviting camping conditions year-round. All these factors make it popular no, youre not the only person currently planning a camping trip in Arches! So, book your campsites early, but only after shopping around for the best site to suit your personal tent camping, RV camping, or glamping style. Once you have that reservation in hand, all the other details of your cool camping adventure in Arches will easily fall into place.
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When To Visit Pet Policies & Other Things To Know
- Arches National Park is an excellent destination for a winter visit. Crowds are much smaller than in prime season . Seeing the desert landscape with a delicate powdering of snow makes for excellent photography.
- Even though reservations are often packed mid-summer, Arches National Park can be extremely hot at this time of year. Many summer visitors combine a visit to Arches with river activities in Moab. Hikers will likely enjoy the cooler non-summer months.
- Pets are allowed on-leash in parking areas, picnic areas and at the Devils Garden Campground, but not on any trails or backcountry terrain .
- Utahs National Parks see millions of travelers each year. As you plan your next trip to Arches, consider ways to support its basecamp communities and keep the park Forever Mighty.
Campgrounds On The Road To Canyonlands Island In The Sky District: Horsethief Cowboy And Lone Mesa Campgrounds
There are three campground areas on the road leading into the Islands in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, all of which are under the control of the Bureau of Land Management. The Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park provides information on these campgrounds but is not responsible for bookings.
The main campground that will be of interest to most people is the Horsethief Campground. This is a large, non-reservable campground that accommodates both tents and RVs and is very close to some popular biking trails.
Almost across the highway from this campground are the Horsethief Area biking trails, including the Magnificent 7 trailhead. Walking trails also leave from this campground, and the Gemini Bridges Road is nearby, on the opposite side of the highway.
Also on the road to Canyonlands is the small Cowboy Campground, with only seven sites for tents only. This is a quiet campground set on a rise, with good views over the surrounding area but quite exposed to the wind and elements.
Nearby, Lone Mesa is a campground specifically for groups, and group bookings are accepted. However, there is a schedule of groups posted at the entrance, and if there is no one booked for group camping, anyone can camp here. This campground is mainly just a large parking pad but it’s great for RVs. It is also very close to the Navajo Rocks biking area trailhead.
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Moonflower Canyon Group Site
Editor’s Note: There’s no photo available at the time of writing
Enjoy camping in a lovely tent with your loved ones at this fascinating campground. It welcomes small families and groups for a fantastic tent camping experience. You can enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and driving trips when here, as the campground is quite close to the scenic national park. The camping ground provides a year-round shade to camping enthusiasts. Vault toilets, campfire rings, parking space, grills, and picnic tables are available for you. Make your camping full of fun with your furry friend around, as the ground welcomes pets.
Moonflower Canyon Group Site
Pitch up a tent on this quiet campground in Utah and take your camping experience to the next level. Explorers looking for an off-the-grid camping experience will love to stay here. Being close to Arches National Park, you can enjoy the fun of hiking and mountain biking to the fullest. The camping ground is open throughout the year and welcomes small groups of explorers. Breathtaking cliffs and canyons enveloping the site offer you mesmerizing vistas. The facilities available at the campground include campfire rings, vault toilets, trash collection, grills, and picnic tables. Explore the spectacular surroundings with your Fido as the site is pet-welcoming. You can visit Moab, which is merely 45 minutes away.
Windwhistle Group Site
Devils Garden Campground
The Weird Wild West Is Waiting
Arches is one of the most easily accessible National Parks in Utah, making it a top choice for a long weekend or more. But dont let the ease of access deter you Arches is teeming with inspiring, fantastic, and strange sights, and the surrounding area is ripe with peace and quiet. If unique is what youre looking for, stop looking. Come see what its all about.
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History Of The Arches National Park
The Arches National Park was established back in April 1929 and was designated as a national monument. The park is located in the southern region of Utah, in the United States. Later in 1971, President Richard Nixon through congress-signed legislation reduced its area of enclosure significantly, and its status changed into a national park. The park covers a total area of 76,679 acres.
For thousands of years, the area now under the Arches national park was inhabited by Native Americans. The region attracted a huge number of researchers, especially on the monument idea. To support the idea, a polar explorer and a geologist from the University of Michigan- Laurence assisted in studying the geology of this scenic area. The Arches national park has natural sandstone arches of more than two thousand.
In 1980, there was an attempt made by Vandals of defacing the parks ancient petroglyphs using kitchen cleaners that were said to be abrasive. In this situation, the damage was to be cleared by John Asmus using laser technology. The Arches national park is found on top of a weathered salt bed. The rock bed has undergone extreme climatic changes a long time ago.
Guided Tours Of Arches Np
Arches 4X4 adventure from Moab guided tour is a great option if you would like a guide to take you off road in the park.
There is also an epic Moab U-drive Slickrock Guided Tour that gives you the chance to off road with a guide.
Scenic Flight over Arches NP – Enjoy an epic scenic flight over the park with views of arches, rock formations, and so much more.
There is also a great introduction to mountain biking in Moab tour that gives you the chance to experience mountain biking in Moab.
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What Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Arches National Park
Arches National Park is open year-round, but the regions climate makes it more appealing to most campers at certain times of the year. The best time to visit depends on your preferences for weather and crowds. April through May and mid-September through October offer the mildest temperatures, ranging from 60 to 80 degrees F in the daytime and 30 to 50 F at night. These pleasant conditions make the park extra popular in spring and fall.
Summer is very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 100 F. Thunderstorms are common in later summer. Visitation remains high throughout the season. Winter temperatures are cold, ranging from 0 to 20 F at night and 30 to 50 in the day, with occasional snow and ice. Expect much smaller crowds during a wintertime visit to Arches National Park.
Free Camping Areas Near Moab Utah
The Moab, Utah area is full of great campsites. Campgrounds with all the amenities, bare-bones campgrounds on BLM land, campsites within national and state parks, and of course, theres tons of FREE camping near Moab.
Today were giving you 7 great free camping options to choose from on your next visit to Moab! And if youre trying to plan exactly what youll do during your trip, check out our top 5 recommended things to do near Moab.
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Camping In The Park Devils Garden Campground
Photo credit: Ken Lund
There is just one campground in Arches National Park, at the Devils Garden. Due to the high demand during peak season, it is usually full for several months straight each year. You can, however, reserve a site here up to six months in advance. If you do reserve a site at Devils Garden, youll be in a great spot for experiencing the park.
The scenery around the campground is definitely first-rate, with large sandstone formations backing right up to many sites, and great vistas on all sides. Sites range from $25 per night for individual sites to $250 per night for group sites. If you can plan months in advance, this is the way to go.
Where To Camp Near Arches National Park
There is one place to camp inside Arches National Park: a mid-sized, rustic campground with 51 sites for tents and RVs. It has pit and flush toilets, picnic tables, grills, and drinking water, but no showers, no camp store, no internet, and limited cell phone reception. This campground is reservable during the high season and gets fully booked well in advance, so plan ahead if you want to camp inside the national park. Also, consider one of the two campgrounds with tent and RV spots as well as yurt rentals at Dead Horse Point State Park, 30 miles from Arches.
You have plenty more campground options and much more variety across tent camping, RV camping, and glamping categories, outside Arches National Park. Many campgrounds offer tent, RV, and glamping options in one location others specialize in just one camping style. Start your search for commercial campgrounds in the city of Moab, just 5 miles from Arches and a popular vacation destination in its own right. Some of the best camping near Arches National Park is within walking distance of Moabs shops, restaurants, breweries, art galleries, and tour companies. More campgrounds are in the outskirts of Moab, between the city and the La Sal Mountains to the southeast, on mesas with wide-open views, and along the Colorado River.
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Can You Make Reservations At Devil’s Garden Campground
Devils Garden Campground is open year-round. Reservations are required in the park campground during the peak season from March to October. Reservations can be made online using recreation.gov, on a rolling 6 month advanced schedule . No reservations are required and sites are available on a first-come, first-serve walk-up basis from October to March.
Unlike parks like Zion and Rocky Mountain National Park, a reservation in the campground does not allow visitors to by-pass park capacity closures. Arches National Park receives extremely heavy visitation and regularly temporarily restricts entrance to the park once capacity is reached. This closure usually occurs between 7 am and 12pm. Visitors with campsite reservations are not exempt from this closure.
Moab Valley Rv Resort And Campground
In addition to RV sites, Moab Valley RV Resort also offers well-maintained, clean, and comfortable cabins. The staff is friendly and accommodating, running events and activities throughout the day. On top of that, the resort is in a great location, putting you right on the edge of town and close to the action, while still allowing you the peace of camping.
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Standard Full Hookup Pull Through Rv Site
Our spacious standard RV sites provide full hookups with 20-, 30- or 50-amp electric for your comfort and convenience. These pull-through sites include gravel pads that can accommodate up to 30-35 feet with room for slide-outs. Each site is separated by a concrete patio area that has a picnic table and charcoal grill for your outdoor enjoyment, plus cable and WiFi access for your entertainment.