Bluff, UT is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Bluff campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Bluff, UT. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Lots of sites, all free, primitive. GREAT views of the Mexican Hat geological features. Good for 2wd cars.
Sand Island Recreation Area is a good camping option for visitors launching San Juan River float trips, or wishing to camp close to the town of Bluff or the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. The campground provides 23 campsites that each feature a tent/trailer space, a picnic table, a fire ring, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available seasonally (typically March through October). Each campsite can hold 8 people and 2 vehicles. Reservations are not available for camping at this location. Individual campsites are available on a first come, first served basis upon arrival at the self-register kiosk at the site. The Sand Island Group Sites are available for larger groups, and may be reserved here.
Sand Island is the primary launch point for multi-day San Juan River float trips. San Juan River trips provide boaters with access to spectacular canyons rich in scenery, geology, archeology, history and wildlife. A river permit is required in advance. The Sand Island Petroglyph Panel site is located on the sandstone walls on the north side of the recreation area. There are many nearby hiking and scenic driving opportuites in the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument.
Sand Island is located along the San Juan River. Cottonwood trees line the banks of the river and are scattered throughout the campground, providing shade at many of the sites. The north side of the campground is lined with red sandstone walls.
For facility specific information, please call (435) 587-1500.
Bears Ears National Monument San Juan River Cedar Mesa Valley of the Gods Goosenecks State Park
No refunds are available.
$15 / night
$10 / night
Major expansion and upgrade completed in August 2023, with additional landscaping coming Spring of 2024!!
What's new?
We are so excited to share all that we have accomplished to make your stay a truly remarkable experience! Come experience this quiet campground with awe inspiring views.
Escape the Moab mobs, Zip away from Zion’s zanies! Come to Bluff and see the Grandeur of Southern Utah without the constant crowds!
Cadillac Ranch RV Park is easy access on and off Hwy 191.
The views from Cadillac Ranch are world class. Our RV Park and Campground are quiet. Be sure to check out the walking/bicycle trail from the back of the park down to the San Juan River.
Tent camping is primitive. No water or electricity to the site. Tent camping sites are located around the side of our pond and have fire rings and picnic tables. There are two dishwashing stations, one at each bathroom/shower building, just a short walk. We provide a wagon at the station to carry your dishes back and forth. Please do not wash dishes in the bathroom sinks or at tent sites. Showers are included for all campers.
Check in at the office for site assignment and wifi password.
$40 - $65 / night
Devils Canyon Campground sits in the Manti-LaSal National Forest of southeast Utah at the foot of the Abajo Mountains. There is water available seasonally from June to September.
Several miles of off-road vehicle trails crisscross the Abajo Mountains. The Camp Jackson/Wagon Wheel Trail can be accessed nearby. The Abajo Loop State Scenic Backway passes by the campground. It leads from the desert floor and red rock canyons to steep mountains over 10,000 feet high, with overlooks and panoramic views. The byway is suitable for passenger vehicles from late spring through fall but is not recommended for large RVs.
Ponderosa pines, pinyon pines and juniper cover the area, offering limited shade. The campground sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet, and summer temperatures are warm in the day and cool in the evening. Birds, squirrels, chipmunks, mule deer and black bear may be seen in the area.
Popular attractions in the area include Canyonlands, Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Lake Powell and numerous archaeological sites. Evening programs are provided at Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding. The San Juan County Fair is held annually in August in Monticello.
$20 / night
Enjoy the stunning southwestern sights of Monument Valley at Goulding’s Lodge – the area’s premier lodging and recreation destination. Whether you choose the lodge or RV park and campgrounds, expect endless views with resort-style amenities. But Goulding’s is so much more than just a place to rest. Feast on authentic southwestern and Navajo flavors in the Stagecoach Dining Room. Relax and rejuvenate in the indoor pool or on the sun deck. Commemorate your visit to the gift shop or pick up supplies at the on-site convenience store. Take a glimpse into the past at the Goulding’s Trading Post Museum or catch your favorite Western in the Earth Spirit Theater. A private airstrip is also available. Goulding’s is a can’t-miss destination in your southwest sightseeing adventure!
Traveler
Arrived at East Gate about 3:30 pm, 10% of sites filled. Camped between Sitting Hen and Rooster Buttes, and saw nobody until dawn. No cell phone service where I camped and sporadic on road which was just as well. Easy road with few must-slow-down-below-3-mph-because-of-rocks areas. For me, rubbernecking with a camera out the window is the most dangerous driving hazard and it is plentiful along this drive 😜.
Traveler
It's a breathtakingly beautiful spot with a fair amount of simple pull offs for camping. Unless it's raining or just finished there won't be any water. There is precious little vegetation as well, but a fair amount of rock outcroppings to block the wind, which howls come spring and is far more common than precipitation.
Speaking of which, don't push your luck if it has rained recently, as the clay softens and becomes slick, packing around tires, and everything else. Plus even if your vehicle can handle the soft soils you'll wreck the road for everyone once the deep ruts dry out and harden.
Some sites have fire rings but that's the extent of facilities, although there might be a port-a-potty by the western entrance to the road, closer to the Moki Dugway. Summers get hot, and I'd head up to Cedar Mesa if so.
There ample dispersed camping on Cedar Mesa, as well as plenty of scraps to get a fire going. This is one of the greatest concentrations of smaller Ancestral Puebloan (formerly Anasazi, which is controversial and regarded as insulting by today's Pueblo tribes) villages, so there are a life time of ruins to explore.
Researching ahead of time will pay off, but both the BLM station by the Kane Gulch trailhead and the Natural Bridges National Monument visitor center have maps, guidebooks, and advice. Please follow the regulations, as this is a sacred ancestral site for numerous indigenous peoples.
The Recapture Lodge at the east end of Bluff has decades worth of old maps to hidden sites for those who want a hotel (I recommend them highly, having visited off and on since the 1990s). They'll give great advice if asked.
Both Natural Bridges and Hovenweap offer something precious in short supply across southern Utah, amazing and beautiful hiking, abundant ruins, and few visitors (this is the rare part). Both are far more enjoyable than Arches or Zion, which are now overrun by tourists.
Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, and the nearby national monuments (also Canyonlands, which isn't as packed as the other famous national parks) offer a chance to experience Utah's red rock country without standing shoulder to shoulder with other visitors. That's getting increasingly difficult to find as the beauty of the region is well known by now.
p.s. Those wanting even more solitude should ask about the off site ruins managed by Hovenweap: you'll often have these to yourself.
Scout
We arrived late but the host took good care of us We got a nice spot with full hook up and after we built up we went into the bathroom I can tell if I could take this with me home I would definitely do that Nice meat bathroom on our trip and we had much more expensive RV parks on the trip with poor bathrooms
Traveler
10/10 would recommend. Road is a little rocky once you get off the gravel road but totally worth it. Plenty of camp spots right on the edge with an incredible view. Up there with one of the coolest spots I’ve ever stayed at.
ScoutThis campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and offers some powered sites. I love geometry dash lite. Located just about 40 minutes from Calgary and near Bragg Creek, it provides a pleasant atmosphere with minimal noise. Most sites offer a good level of privacy. Rates are standard, and pets are welcome at no extra charge, as long as they are leashed. It's an excellent spot for hiking day trips!
Traveler
Very cool site! Nice and Quiet and the site we selected was very level. Would definitely stay here again.
ScoutThis campsite was easy to access. Had an amazing view and clean facilities. We would stay there again if we’re in the area.
Guide
Easy spot to get to, paved road most of the way. Watch out for deer if you’re driving in the evening, we saw lots of them. The pull in spot had one other truck and trailer when we arrived and we had room to turn our rig and towed vehicle around to get the mountainside view. Little muddy in spots. Very quiet.
Traveler
We stayed here during hunting season, noticeable amount of noise in the very early hours of the morning due to this. On a clear night you can see an amazing amount of stars!
Scout
River views in the morning are so pretty. Roads a bit rocky comin in, we didnt have any problems in our subaru crosstreck but could be tough if the geound gets muddy.
Traveler
Well-kept grounds make clear the managers care. The trading post is full of beautiful , native-made items and a handy small store of cameras essentials. We appreciated the small laundromat.
Traveler
A meticulously maintained park with lots of room, some shady trees, and level sites. Views of the beautiful red cliffs.
Traveler
Cute clean little park out of the way of the Moab crowds. Great stop over in that long stretch of 191.
Guide
Just stayed one night but the site/roads had been recently repaved and park was being updated. Tall pines, good hiking and quiet surroundings made for a good overnight stay.
TravelerBe prepared for no water unless there has been recent rains, and even then there likely won't be any.
It can get windy, so be ready for that, and you'll need to bring your own firewood as well. It's beautiful but there aren't any amenities beyond (maybe) a fire pit.
I'd argue there are better spots on Cedar Mesa itself, but the Valley of the Gods is a beautiful alternative to the more famous Monument Valley.
Both Natural Bridges and Hovenweap are worth the short (an hour at most) drives from camp, and both have developed campgrounds for those looking for toilets or other aspects of civilization.
Guide
Some good some bad. Good: Nice location with good spot to view the valley. Easy to due laundry, Nestled in the red rocks. Bad: very tight spots, overpriced given the lack of amenities.
TravelerNever in my life have I heard of Mexican Hat, let alone the rock it’s named after. Jeez this place was cool, the river was beautiful, the dispersed camping areas were great under the stars, and that dang Mexican Hat Rock juxtaposed to the unforgiving sea of desert just put a huge smile on my face.
GuideVery easy to drive on road, we took a 2WD car and had no issues. Plenty of spots so you’ll always find a place to camp for the night.
Great views at every spot and barely any road noise from the highway. Good AT&T coverage.
No fires allowed here so keep that in mind
Guide
You need clearance to be able to enter this spot, there’s a large rut which stopped us from getting into the spot, we had to turn around - so only attempt to come here if you have a 4x4 or a vehicle with clearance
TravelerVery nice RV park. They have done alot of improvements so everything is clean and new. All pull through sites, level sites, a new bath house with large showers and laundry facilities. The only complaint is that there is not much shade, but they have planted trees, so are trying. The manager/caretaker is busy everyday working on keeping the property nice & in good working condition. Very nice and accommodating. We would definitely stay again.
GuideQuiet spot. Plenty of spots on a Saturday afternoon. Metal picnic tables, fire pits, paved parking spots.
Scout
The campground is small, which makes it nice and quiet. We enjoyed the beautiful starry night! And they made us a delicious Navajo taco dinner which you can request beforehand. We highly recommend this campground.
GuideSo beautiful. Plenty of dispersed sites. Even on a Friday at 5pm! Sacred. Revenant. Be respectful of this beautiful land!
Scout
Was quiet and convienent to the local town. No signal but there is some at the bottom of the entrance.
WARNING: if you don't have an off-road capable vehicle don't listen to the GPS, it took us down a super sketchy back road. If you're coming from the North, go further down and use Radio Hill Rd to access this site.
ScoutCamping is rustic but very quiet and sites are very close with little privacy. Host is very nice and helpful.
Traveler
Gorgeous Views literally camping on the rim of a 1000 foot high cliff overlooking the goosenecks of the San Juan river below. No designated campsites. Just pick your spot along the canyon rim. Great place for trailers / campers. I wouldn't want to camp here in tent.
Pros:
Easy drive in and pull up to a spot.
Dark sky area so you can get some amazing night photography shots
Close to other attractions including Valley of the Gods, Muley Point (which would also be a fun campsite), Monument Valley (a bit further afield), etc.
The canyon below is stunning and the goosenecks are quite remarkable
Cons:
This is not a site for small children. You are literally camping several feet away from a 1000 foot cliff.
You are on top of a mesa and we had some strong winds blowing across.
The terrain is very flat, but is also rocky. I would not want to set up a tent on the rocks and/or fight the wind with a tent.
The pit toilets are reasonably clean, but only located by the park entrance gate. So if you park further along the rim, you either need your own facilities, you have a very long walk, or you are driving back and forth over the rocky road (disturbing all of the other campers along the way).
The last observation is that while the goosenecks are truly incredible, especially from the main lookout spot, the color of the rocks in the canyon aren't as varied as other places (i.e., compared to Dead Horse Point State Park). As a photographer, I kept hoping the coloring would be more captivating once the light shifted, shadows moved, etc., but that never happened. Go in with the right expectations and you won't be disappointed.
Traveler
We were unable to find any open spots at Comb Wash Campground on the south side of the road. And the spot we found on the north side was full of sticker weeds. Yuck. Ain't nobody got time for that. So we headed up the road toward blanding until we saw a camping sign and drove a short ways up the road and found a turn out.
This is basically a convergence of several old roads. It was rather dusty/sandy. But grasses rather than sticker weeds. Cottonwood trees are in the wash below the spot. It was big enough that several vehicles could easily share this spot. A larger RV *might* do OK pulling in here.
I've checked and it is BLM land, part of the Bear's Ears National Monument. Their general rule is to allow dispersed camping off of any existing road within the monument area. Additional spots are definitely available off this road or its shoot-offs.
This is a great, secluded spot. The only reason for the 4 stars is that it isn't really a room with a view sort of location.
Camping near Bluff, Utah, offers a unique experience with stunning landscapes and a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or a place to explore the great outdoors, there's something for everyone.
Camping near Bluff, Utah, is a fantastic way to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors. With a little planning and the right campground, you can have an unforgettable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bluff, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bluff, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 88 campgrounds and RV parks near Bluff, UT and 42 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Bluff, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bluff, UT is Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping with a 5-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bluff, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 42 free dispersed camping spots near Bluff, UT.
What parks are near Bluff, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Bluff, UT that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring
