Sitting along the Colorado River corridor on Highway 128 northeast of Moab, Lower Onion Creek Campground occupies an open stretch of BLM land where Onion Creek meets the river. The access road runs roughly three-quarters of a mile off the highway, which keeps road noise low. Early spring and fall visits tend to be quieter, with mid-March arrivals sometimes finding only a handful of other campers. By peak season, the campground fills fast, and reviewers note it could easily support more sites given the available space.
Shade is essentially nonexistent here. No trees, no natural windbreaks. That exposure works in cooler months when the sun is welcome, but summer visitors should come prepared with their own shade structure and expect wind to be a factor. The Colorado River is accessible directly from camp, with a small boat launch on-site and three reservable group sites near the water. Rafters and commercial float trips put in regularly during the day, so expect foot traffic from the river. Across Highway 128, a dirt road leads to the Fisher Towers trailhead, reachable by bike from camp.
Facilities include vault toilets and a large dumpster near the entrance. The toilets are open-air, with no roof or door, which becomes a real problem in rain when toilet paper gets soaked. Bring your own. Cell service is spotty at best, alternating between weak 3G and LTE with little consistency. The Lower Onion Creek Group Sites sit about 0.4 miles east for larger parties needing reservable covered areas. No pets are allowed. Self-pay, no reservations for standard sites, at $20 per night.
Description
Campsites are located along the banks of the Colorado River, offering vistas of the river canyon, Fisher Towers and the area's captivating red rock formations. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Two group sites, Lower Onion Creek Group Sites A and B, are available for reservation through Recreation.gov. This campground has two boat ramps and is near popular 4WD roads, rock climbing, hiking and rafting opportunities. (Do not enter the river without life jackets; it has dangerous under currents.). Individual Sites: 21 (limited to 10 people & two vehicles per site); Group Sites: 2 (reservable); Water: No; Toilets: Yes; Hook-ups: No.
Fee Info
$20/night (Pay at campground-cash or check only)
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLower Onion Creek Campground is located in Utah near Castle Valley
Directions
From the junction of Hwy. 191 & Hwy 128, drive east 22 miles along the Colorado River on Highway 128. Turn left (across from the "Fisher Towers" sign) and drive 1.5 miles on the gravel road to the campground.
Address
Moab Field Office
82 East Dogwood
Moab, UT 84532
Coordinates
38.737 N
109.359 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 7/25/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 7/25/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 7/25/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 7/25/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 13 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs 14 min from Provo, UT
- 3 hrs 32 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 45 min from Salt Lake City, UT
