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La Sal's high-elevation terrain in the La Sal Mountains sits in a different climate zone than the canyon country below, with cooler summer temperatures and a shorter camping window than Moab. Most sites near La Sal run on forest roads in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, with cabin rentals and dispersed camping as the primary options. No-reservation camping outside La Sal covers the no-fee end of the spectrum on forest roads above 8,000 feet. Higher sites close with the first significant snow, typically October, and don't reopen until late May or June.
Moab sits about 24 miles west and gives access to a much wider range of developed campgrounds, private RV parks, and in-town services. The drive between La Sal and Moab is paved. Horse camping with tie rails and trailer parking is available at some forest sites. No hookups at any forest campground in the area. Bring a full water supply.
"Quiet, secluded, beautiful vast views of the La Sal range and the Spanish Valley."
"This was right outside of Moab. This is a great spot for any vehicle, just a little bit of a dirt off road."
"Stayed night of 4/21, all single sites FCFS but we found a space arriving around 1230 on a Friday (space 4, $20)."
"Convenient small campground on the way into Needles Overlook (6 miles from main highway 191). Close to road but quiet at night. 15 sites total. Clean bathrooms."
"The pool is great, laundry room is accessible from the pool area...so I did some laundry while hanging out near the pool. Bathrooms are decent."
"Nice Campground for exploring Moab and surrounding area. Clean, full hook up sites, and close to town. The pool area was awesome for cooling off after summer hikes."
"The area filled up throughout the night and the people were close by . Everyone was cool when we were there. Bring a WAG bag to protect the desert. Not much privacy."
"We were striking out on basically all the campgrounds close to Moab early on a Thursday. Luckily Dyrt led us to this little dispersed camping oasis."
"We found this spot while passing through Moab and fell in love with Utah. Plenty of spots to choose from, just make sure you go about a mile down there road before setting up camp. "
"T-Mobile service here is LTE but if you go just a walking distance away, you can get 5G."
"The Sun Outdoors Moab Utah camp grounds was great. Beautiful trees in the fall, laundry, clean showers, hookups, easy walk to downtown places, yet still quiet. Staff were very friendly and helpful."
"Tucked in behind the Texaco gas station/general store, this large campground has plenty of shade trees and all the hookups including cable TV for around $55/night."
"We wanted to camp close to Fisher Towers and get away from the camping chaos of Potash Rd on Jeeper Weekend. This was a bit off the beaten path and was about 45 mins from the center of Moab."
"We were looking for a campsite away from the business along the river and were So excited to have found this gem."
"My girlfriend and I woke up to a pack of coyotes howling in the distance at night so use caution if you are tent camping."
"There was some off road noise but it wasn’t frequent or problematic. Not a lot of shade."
"Right on the edge of Moab with access to everything. About 10 minutes from arches and 30 from Canyonlands. Bathrooms were clean and camp store had most things you’d need."
"We stayed at Moab Rim RV Campark in March 2021 on our way to visit Arches National Park (which is only 15 minutes drive from the campark). "
from $9 - $125 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $47 / night
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GuideI only drove <10 minutes up this public land road and passed 3 large pull-through spots for camping as well as multiple small pull-off type locations. I only saw people driving past for day use, no other campers. It was incredibly peaceful, clean, and so scenic. I did have full Verizon service. No bathrooms but I was able to use the one at the Gateway Hotel (it was early in the AM so no one seemed to mind)
GuideThis lake is nice along with the stream that runs into which has hikes up it to the waterfalls. Not much trees for shade at this campground but other than that we’ve really enjoyed it here.
ScoutPretty nice RV park. Nice folks, not quite as luxurious as advertised, but very good. Close to town, river, Arches NP, okay views. Sites were just spacious enough, but no real privacy. Your neighbor's sewer hookup may be next to your picnic table in some sites. We used our Starlink and not their internet.
ScoutGreat views but a lot of spiders
GuideNice place, yes there’s a high way near by but they ask if you prefer to be closer to bathrooms or further away from the high way. Laundry room is nice $3/wash $3/dry. The bathrooms are very nice. Almost every spot is shaded.
GuideLots of different spots up close & further away. Big dumpster & a small restroom, no toilet paper in it though & there was a spider web in side the toilet so use at your own risk. Great spot to hang out at though.
GuideDon’t need 4wd to access off of lone messa.
TravelerAt only $20 a night you get access to like 100 different campsites, bathrooms and dumpsters. Money goes back into managing the land.
Would recommend 4x4 or AWD high clearance due to steep inclines/switchbacks and rough road.
Ton of privacy, incredible views and lots of trails for both hiking and off roading vehicles.
Have been back a few times. Hot in summer and nice in spring/fall.
There are reservable group sites and a ton of first come first served campgrounds from a-e. Very much out there it’s like 30 minute drive from the main road.
Went in early June for a few days and did not see another person in my campground the whole time I was there.
TravelerThe roads are rough; gouged, twisty, Sandy, narrow, Rocky, etc. but beautiful. I saw a couple of big rigs in the close-in spots so it is possible.
I have a RWD van and did fine but, I’m more adventurous with my van than most.
I have zero cell signal but I do have starlink.
There are no amenities, but there is a trash bin, yay!
I went around and looked at a lot of spots, most were full. A few remaining were impossible to get level
Dispersed camping dominates the La Sal area with primitive sites requiring varying levels of vehicle clearance. Campers should note that road conditions change drastically with weather, particularly after rainfall when many dirt access roads become impassable even for 4WD vehicles. Summer temperatures often exceed 100°F in lower elevations while dropping to the 40s at night in higher elevations near La Sal Mountain camping areas.
Explore Needles Overlook: Take the paved road about 20 miles past Windwhistle Campground for spectacular canyon views. "Views out at Needles Overlook are stunning and are about 20 mi pavement past the CG," notes Greg L., who appreciates that "this is not an OHV area so the OHV trailer types are absent."
Night sky photography: The minimal light pollution makes campsites near La Sal perfect for stargazing and astrophotography. "We have never had WiFi nor cell service there," reports Mark M. at Windwhistle Campground, making it ideal for disconnecting and enjoying natural darkness. Another camper at Upper Onion Creek Campground shared it was "Great for night photography!"
Nearby water activities: During hot summer months, find relief at water access points. "10 minutes away from white water rafting site, multiple boat/water ramps, and close enough to town for all Moab has to offer," writes Tori M. about Upper Onion Creek Campground, making it a convenient base for cooling off during summer heat.
Seclusion options: Many sites offer privacy despite the area's popularity. "We ended up camping multiple times in different spots. The best spot backed right up to the rocks and was cozy and very private," writes Sarah and James H. about Behind the Rocks Road Dispersed, suggesting campers explore various pullouts to find the right balance of views and privacy.
Convenient town access: Camping near La Sal provides accessibility to services while maintaining a wilderness feel. "Convenient location in downtown Moab, behind a Texaco station. We liked having one night in town, as we could walk to the restaurants, shops and stores," reports Paula O. about Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown, highlighting the ability to mix wilderness camping with urban amenities.
Cell service variability: Some sites offer surprisingly good connectivity for remote workers. "Cell signal on T-Mobile was marginal 2 bars lte," notes Greg L. at Windwhistle Campground, while a visitor to Behind the Rocks reported, "Verizon was only one bar." For reliable connectivity, Adventure Haven RV offers "lightning speed Wi-Fi," making it "a remote workers paradise."
Fire restrictions vary seasonally: Regulations change throughout the year based on drought conditions. "We arrived after hours and the pickup of our site map and information was easy," explains a camper at Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown, highlighting the importance of checking current fire rules upon arrival.
Road conditions require preparation: Many dispersed sites demand careful driving. "The road to get there is bumpy with lots of tire ruts. I did still make it with my 2WD though!" shares Lindsey J. about Yellow Circle Road Dispersed Camping Area. Another camper warns, "Unless you've ample off roading experience, outfitted your rig with an assortment of lights, and a decent lift kit, please don't attempt to climb the mountain beyond a certain point at night."
Campsite availability timing: Sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "We arrived to this area quite at night. There was TONS of space for everyone to comfortably fit. We passed probably 20-30 vehicles camped throughout before we found space for ourselves," explains Ryan L. about Yellow Circle Road Dispersed Camping Area, suggesting late arrivals may still find options.
Look for established campgrounds with amenities: Facilities make family camping more comfortable. "We had a tent but so happy we got the cabin. It was clean, comfortable and kept us out of the wind and rain. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked," shares Johnny V. about Moab KOA, highlighting the value of weather protection with children.
Find sites with natural exploration areas: Kids enjoy spaces to roam safely. "There's a horse trail right behind the campground that was perfect for walking our dog along, and the site had plenty of room for her to explore without bothering anyone else," notes Lauren at Upper Onion Creek Campground, describing terrain that works well for supervised children too.
Plan for extreme temperature fluctuations: Desert camping requires preparation for both hot days and cold nights. "It was 105 degrees," recalls Kathleen H. at Moab KOA, while evening temperatures can drop significantly. Pack appropriate clothing layers for children who may be more sensitive to temperature changes.
Assess site access carefully: "This is a pretty big area so there's space for trailers etc. The road is a bit rough, but manageable for most vehicles," explains Alex P. about Yellow Circle Road Dispersed Camping Area, suggesting drivers check conditions before committing to routes with larger vehicles.
Consider seasonal timing for comfort: Extreme temperatures affect RV camping differently. "We got here to find it relatively busy, we are here in a Tuesday and there are at least 10 other campers here. It's a rough road in, the higher up you go on the road, the rougher. We took our travel trailer(22' total) up, just have to be careful," shares Nathan L., highlighting both crowd factors and road challenges.
Evaluate hookup needs against solitude preferences: Balance service needs with location appeal. "Nicely secluded BLM CG. 16 sites, all FCFS no reserved. Water and host in season. Cell fair depending on camp, vault toilets, tables, fire-rings. No RV dump. Dumpster for trash," describes Greg L. about Windwhistle Campground, providing the practical information RVers need for planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Windwhistle Campground in La Sal?
While specific information about Windwhistle Campground isn't directly mentioned in reviews, nearby campgrounds in the La Sal area offer context for typical amenities. Utahraptor State Park Campground features gravel roads with campsites on slickrock and sand, accommodating various types of camping rigs. Similarly, Sand Flats Recreation Area offers multiple camping loops with scenic views. State-managed campgrounds in this region typically provide basic amenities such as vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though water is often not available. For exact amenities at Windwhistle, check with the managing agency before your visit.
What is the best time of year to camp in the La Sal Mountains?
Summer (June-August) is ideal for camping in the La Sal Mountains, as the higher elevation provides a refreshing escape from the intense desert heat. Many campers visit specifically to enjoy the cooler temperatures and welcoming breezes. Cr 0083 in the Monti La Sal national forest offers high elevation camping with comfortable nighttime temperatures during hot months. Moab Koa visitors note that even during Labor Day weekend, the La Sal Mountain views are spectacular. Spring and fall offer mild conditions, though nights can be chilly. Winter camping is possible at lower elevations, but higher areas may be inaccessible due to snow.
Where are the best camping spots in the La Sal Mountains?
The La Sal Mountains offer several exceptional camping spots. Warner Lake Campground & Cabin is a higher elevation option with well-maintained sites, perfect for escaping the heat of Moab valley. For those seeking dispersed camping, La Sal Loop Rd Dispersed provides panoramic vistas of Moab valley and the mountain range. The area feels remote yet remains accessible, with some spots located in cow pastures offering unique wildlife encounters. Pack Creek Trailhead is another quiet, secluded option, though some portions of La Sal Pass Road may require high clearance 4x4 vehicles.
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