Searching for the best camping near Escalante, UT? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Escalante, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Escalante, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Had a pull behind camper. Night sky was AMAZING. Perfect spot for those who don't want neighbors. No water, toilets etc... good Verizon cell service. Would stay here again."
"Some sites close to others, some distant. Very large area - about 1/2 mile long. Could be windy, no shade. Good cell service."
"Stayed in a tent, very soft sand, plenty of small dry trees, easy to access and find. Found a beautiful spot overlooking the canyon."
"We chose one on the cliff edge, and had no one else in site.
A short walk away and a slight climb onto a small hill was the perfect spot to see a stunning sunset."
"Super convenient with easy access off Route 12. Lots of level, open spaces short distance from entrance. Great basic dispersed camping in a 34 ft Class A motorhome with towed vehicle."
"Bumpy dirt road going in. Large area with plenty of private dispersed camping spots."
"We were the only ones at this dispersed site. A bit windy. It’s a great site for camper vans, outs is 21 foot. Won’t accommodate large vehicles. Good cell service."
"Up a dirt road you end up just below the radio tower. Very private and quiet"
"Cool dispersed camping right off the road. It's beautiful the only thing is you can here cars on the highway from your campsite and there's only like 4 campsites."
"There’s a big open group site and a few tucked away single sites."
"The access is close to the main road. It is steep but then is very flat. The campgrounds are in a circle and looks like people like doing donuts here you can see the tracks."
"Nice big gravel lot right off highway 12. Great for bigger rigs. Drive through the lot though, into the p and j forest and find several quiet spots in the trees. Canyon rim views if you’re lucky."
"There were quite a few near hole in the rock road right outside of Escalante. Perfect for astrophotography! Sporadic cell service with sprint/t-mobile. Dirt road to this area is not the best."
"We didn't end up camping at this site, it's right as you turn off hole- in- the-rock rd onto Harris wash rd., but I wanted to update this app a bit for others. This first area is a little larger."
"October 15, 2020
We wanted to be close to Bryce Canyon but not in all of the hub and chaos of people. This location is about a 10 minute drive away from Bryce. "
"Plenty of free camping opportunities as you drive down the dirt road. Space between sites is ideal so noise isn’t a problem."
"Found a great spot with a bit of a trail right from our site. Pack it out. No services. Great hiking from ATV trails, lots of dispersed sites with shade and privacy. Beauty all around you!"
"The location is close to the road but we found a beautiful spot surrounded by incredible views. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there were only two other jeeps far away from us."
"About 2 miles in from highway. There are sites here and there along the road, but not after about 2.5 miles."
LegendAfter visiting two very popular Utah parks -- Zion and Bryce Canyon -- Capitol Reef was a breath of fresh air. And one of our favorite parts about visiting this park is that it was almost totally free!
When we arrived at the visitor center, they informed us that their only developed campground, Fruita Campground (first-come-first-served only, not reservable) was full for the night, and rangers were ready with a handout full of alternative camping areas. We had not dabbled into BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camping before, but this experience would encourage us to utilize it throughout the rest of our year-long trip to the national parks.
This “campground” is located about a mile outside of the national park, which allows great access to everything inside Capitol Reef. Usually free camping like this is harder to discover, but this pull-off is just off the road.
Benefits of camping in BLM land include the cost (free!), solitude (you can be as far away from people as you’d like), and easy access to the national park (in fact, most national parks are surrounded with National Forest Service or BLM land!). Downsides, of course, include the lack of amenities, the sometimes uninspiring scenery, and the feeling of uneasiness (can I really just camp here? For free?)
Capitol Reef’s BLM camping is plentiful, but this site was definitely the best. We were able to drive up on a high ridge of the pull-out area that the RVs could not easily access, so we felt alone and watched the gorgeous sunsets from our campsite each night.
During our five days in the park, we had some favorite activities: backpacking in Upper Muley Creek, hiking to Cassidy Arch, picking and eating fruit right off the trees in the historic orchards, hiking the tough Navajo Knobs trail, and, most of all, the Sulphur Creek trail through a narrow beautiful creek with three waterfalls to climb down.
You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Capitol Reef)
LegendDispersed camping in the beautiful Ponderosa pines of Dixie National Forest. The Forest Service road is easy to navigate. There are many dirt roads branching off of it with sites to choose from. Chose a site relatively close to the forest service road. If you're sensitive to dust may want to choose a site further off the access road as there is lots of dust kicked up every time someone drove in or out on the gravel. Convenient location to Bryce (about 15 minutes). Cell service for Verizon.
When the rigs pulling in and out stopped, the only sounds were the braying of cows (the herd wandered into the site) and the wind blowing.
Views! Peaceful! Free!
LegendThis dispersed camping area is to the west of the more well known Tom Best Road Dispersed area. Still on Dixie NF but access road is native dirt one lane and no gravel or graded...so if very wet or rain could be sketchy access ( hence 3 stars). Sites are along the road upland side in flat spots and alcoves for about first mile or so. There are TT spots and also good overlander sites up higher. I would recon first before pulling a TT up there to make sure you can get a turnaround. No designated sites, no trash, tables, water or toilets. 14d limit. However cell signal is good if a clear line to Wilson peak antennas. Posted map screenshot shows my recon of campsites...trailer icon are sits with trailers, tent icon is more suited to overlander type setups with high clearance vehicles or smaller rigs.
GuidePlenty of spots (though we were here on a weekday) and SO CLOSE to Bryce NP! The stars were beautiful at night - even got some photos with my phone. There were some cows but they mostly stayed clear of the road. Road was pretty level and easy for cars to get back (and there were spots right off the road). I already want to come back!
There was a fire ban in July so bring your camp stove and leave no trace!
GuideWe spent a week along Beas Lewis Flat Road just outside of Torrey, to explore Capitol Reef National Park. This is free BLM dispersed camping with a 14-day stay limit, no sites or services provided. The first camping areas off of UT-24 get crazy busy, to the point that it looked more like a crowded RV park than a peaceful boondocking area; however, make a right just past the cattle grate and you can go several miles back in, in search of solitude. Just after making that right there's a small dry wash to cross that requires some clearance and decent approach/departure angles, but other than that the condition of the road is superb. Views stretch to the red rock cliffs north of UT-24 from Torrey to the National Park, including Capitol Reef itself and the Henry Mountains beyond. Cell service was solid on both Verizon and AT&T, and we had no issues working on VPN from our location or streaming HD video. There's a small general store in Torrey with a few staples and even a laundry available, but the nearest small-town supermarket is in Loa, 18 miles west of Torrey. We found the prices there to be reasonable given the location. You may get water and dump at the Fruita Campground inside the National Park for $5.
Watch our full-length video on both the camping and the National Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=296k\_D3AZIE
RangerSo this is the dispersed camping area in a beautiful location. It is only about a quarter of a mile off Utah 24 on hole in the rock road. There's no water there no pit toilets there are no fire rings there are no picnic tables. But it's free. And there's a cell phone signal.
TravelerWhen our original dispersed camping spot didn’t work out we drove down the road and found this little gem, right outside the entrance to Bruce Canyon National Park. There are a bunch of designated USFS camping spots. They’re level-ish, fire rings, and pretty easy to get to. We have a 1992 (renovated!) motorhome and we got to spot 17 no problem. We could have gone to 17-19, but then the road got to rough for our old girl. Lots of quads and sideXsides riding on the dirt road, kicking up dust till about 8:30PM but was not a big deal. Solid free camping right near the park!
GuideOctober 15, 2020
We wanted to be close to Bryce Canyon but not in all of the hub and chaos of people. This location is about a 10 minute drive away from Bryce. This is the perfect location to get away from it all. When you first arrive, you will see plenty of spots for RV's and travel trailers. We traveled 1.8 miles and took a left turn on a small dirt road and found 5 or 6 campsites that were level and far away from each other. (We were the only one down this road).
The site was level with a lot of space to spread out. There was a firepit but no other facilities, so come prepared with everything you need. Due to fire restrictions, we didn't have a fire, and enjoyed seeing the Milky Way and shooting stars! There is a pit toilet across the highway before you turn into the BLM land.
We thought we would only stay for one night, but ended up there 2 nights since it was so beautiful!
ScoutSuper convenient with easy access off Route 12. Lots of level, open spaces short distance from entrance. Great basic dispersed camping in a 34 ft Class A motorhome with towed vehicle. Had decent cell service with AT&T. There are, of course no amenities or even pit toilets, although there are two dumpsters for trash and the town of Escalante is nearby with groceries and other necessities. Would absolutely stay here again. Also- if you have a smaller vehicle that you can take down the main dirt road (washboarded, but otherwise not bad) you can get to several good hikes. We really enjoyed the Zebra slot canyon (gets VERY narrow) and also the tunnel. Amazing lighting near midday as the sun is directly overhead. Both are moderately strenuous hikes. Bring plenty of water.
Experience the beauty of nature with dispersed camping near Escalante, Utah. This area offers stunning landscapes, a variety of outdoor activities, and the freedom to camp in serene settings away from the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find dispersed camping areas near Escalante, Utah?
Excellent dispersed camping options can be found along Hole in the Rock Road Dispersed at Utah 24, which is conveniently located just off Route 12 with easy access. This area offers numerous level, open spaces a short distance from the entrance, making it suitable for various vehicle types. Another popular option is Spencer Flat Dispersed Camping - Grand Staircase Nat Mon, providing beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Additional dispersed camping can be found on BLM lands throughout the region, including areas off Highway 24 and along various forest service roads. Most of these sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early during peak season is recommended.
Is there free BLM camping available near Grand Staircase-Escalante?
Yes, there's abundant free BLM camping near Grand Staircase-Escalante. Haycock Ranch Road BLM offers numerous free dispersed sites that are nicely spread out, providing privacy and spectacular night skies. It's also centrally located for exploring the region. Beas Lewis Flat Dispersed is another excellent free BLM option with a 14-day stay limit. While the areas closest to main roads can get crowded, driving further in reveals more secluded spots. These BLM lands typically have no developed facilities but offer unrestricted access to some of Utah's most beautiful landscapes. Remember that all BLM dispersed camping in this area follows Leave No Trace principles and typically has a 14-day maximum stay limit.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante?
Dispersed camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante follows standard BLM regulations: a 14-day stay limit within any 28-day period, camping only in previously disturbed areas, and positioning vehicles/tents within 150 feet of designated roads. At Capitol Reef National Park Dispersed Camping and surrounding BLM lands, you must pack out all waste and practice Leave No Trace principles. Campfires may be restricted seasonally based on fire danger levels, so a portable stove is recommended. Permits are not typically required for dispersed camping, but certain backcountry areas might have specific regulations. Always camp at least 200 feet from water sources and check current conditions at visitor centers, as road access can change with weather, especially on unpaved routes like Head of the Rock dispersed.
What amenities can I expect at dispersed camping sites around Escalante?
Dispersed camping around Escalante is truly primitive with virtually no amenities. At Tom Best Spring Road FR117 Dispersed - Dixie National Forest, you'll find unofficial campsites with occasional fire rings but no developed facilities. Similarly, Dave's Hollow Designated Dispersed Camping offers level-ish sites with fire rings, but no water or toilets. Most dispersed areas have no potable water, no garbage service, no picnic tables, and no toilets. Cell service varies widely—some areas like Hole in the Rock Road have decent AT&T coverage, while others have none. You must be completely self-sufficient: bring all water, pack out all trash, and have a plan for human waste management. The trade-off is pristine locations, spectacular views, and the opportunity to camp for free in some of Utah's most beautiful landscapes.
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