Mexican Hat sits along the San Juan River in southeastern Utah, a small town named for the sandstone rock formation balanced above it on the mesa. The area is a hub for river camping, BLM access, and a good base for reaching Monument Valley and the Goosenecks of the San Juan. Mexican Hat's dispersed camping options spread across BLM land along the river corridor, with no fees and no reservations but also no water or restrooms.
Developed sites in town are basic. Most travelers here are moving between Bluff and Monument Valley, so competition for sites is moderate except during peak spring and fall. Oljato-Monument Valley is about 20 miles south. BLM sites around Bluff are worth checking as an alternative base with similar canyon country access.
Cell service is unreliable throughout this stretch of the river. Stock up on water and supplies in Blanding or Bluff before arriving.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
"The towns of Mexican hat and Bluff are nearby to resupply or pick up so thing you forgot. If you’re looking to get away from everything, this is your spot."
"Best place to camp near blanding/Mexican hat. Will say the road was relatively rough and is not suitable for large rvs and maybe some RWD/low clearance vehicles."
$10 / night
"We enjoyed our stay at Gooseneck State Park in Utah. $10 per day. Pretty good ATT Service. This is a remote location with no water or hookups. You must be fully contained."
"You get to walk around at the edge of the cliffs."
"Better ones if you go down the hill behind Mexican Hat rock next to the river. Lots to explore. Seen a bunch of deer."
"Easy to find, we picked a spot off to the right of Mexican Hat Rock Rd, right at the base of Mexican Hat. Explored more spots accessible via 4WD only on our bikes."
"We found a spot about 3km in from the 163 entrance. Great views. Windy in the afrernoon but dies down around 5pm."
"Very 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."
"Crazy and scary drive coming from Mexican Hat to the south climbing up Moki Dugway to get here. It is not for the feint of heart. 11% grade, 15mph limit and gravel with some washboards."
"There’s a sentimental quality that comes with this location. From this plateau, you get a perfect view of both the sunrise and the sunset."
"Never in my life have I heard of Mexican Hat, let alone the rock it’s named after."
"The entry road off the highway technically goes through private land."
$25 / night
"Having drove past the packed KOA campground in Monument Vally, we arrived at Sleeping Bear with huge smiles on our faces... couldn't believe what a beautiful location it was and only one other van there"
"Grill and picnic tables close by. Entire site to ourselves absolutely perfect."
$15 / night
"We stopped here on our loop of the Utah big 5. Weren't expecting much but it surprised us! There was a nice river and some petroglyphs a short walk away. Water fill and some picnic tables."
"Scattered water spigots, vault toilets at both loops and a trash dumpster at entrance by the boat ramp area. 15$ nite for camping. 14 day limit."
$30 / night
"It was super close to entrance of Monument valley. Soft sand for tents that made it super comfortable and they even have an amazing hike- we did it at sunrise and loved it."
"Very close to and on the same road as the entrance to the monument valley drive thru tour."
"The campground is with 5 miles of the MV entrance. Clean restrooms and great sights. "
"If you get to the campgrounds early enough you can set up a tent at the edge. This way you will have a clear view of Monument Valley with no other tents or distractions in the way."
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.
ScoutThere is a fence across the entrance at the road. There is overnight parking across the road but it’s just a pulloff on the side of the highway.
GuideBathrooms, trash, some shaded picnic tables some not shaded.
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
GuideClean bathrooms, hot showers, nice little shared cooking area in the middle! You can see monument valley from here & Aaron the host is super nice! There’s also a trail out back too. Great view of the stars as well. Nice place.
RangerEvery towering rock is beautiful! Lots of sites, choose what works for your rig. Prefer East entrance. Lots of hiking and star gazing!
ScoutVery close to and on the same road as the entrance to the monument valley drive thru tour. If you are doing the tour the hours were 8am-4:30pm and if you’re going for a photo at John ford point those hours were 10am- to I think 3pm. But I would check before you go. We arrived at 5pm and didn’t get to do the tour until the next day.
We really enjoyed our stay and visit of monument valley. It was very peaceful and calming experience. There are about 8 campsites at hummingbird.
Our site had a shaded picnic table, fire pit, and they provided a water jug of water.
There is a shower. The bathrooms are vault bathrooms located outside the fence. I would bring a headlamp or light source to use.
Overall, highly recommend. We would definitely stay here again. The location is so close to the monument entrance and it has everything you need.
** I would not worry about the dogs on the property. I’m always worried because I have a very small dog [4lb yorkie]. But these dogs are very laid back and had no interest in us at all. It was a worry-free experience. I would say even if you have a fear of dogs you won’t mind the ones here.
**last note for dog owners. If you stop at the visitors center do not let your dog use the dog area. It is covered in burs. I pulled 7 burs out of one paw. I would actually suggest boots in all parts of the southwest AZ,CA,TX between cactus needles, dog tails, and grass burs it’s worth getting boots for your dog.
ScoutIt's my first time disperse camping and I absolutely loved this place! Very spacious. A few cars were here too but it did not feel crowded, also there's way more spaces the deeper you go. We just stopped on the first spacious spot because we got here at 1am and it was pitch black lol. We stopped by here to sleep overnight and headed to Zion the next day. 10/10 spot and I'd come back again. There's a 7-11 store 10 min away from the entrance of this place. We drove a Tacoma and my friends drove their RAV4 with no issues. I have Verizon and I had pretty good signal! It did get down to 55°F overnight so it was a bit chilly (we're from Texas, we're not used to this) but also felt sooo good.
ScoutThe two vault toilets are clean & the primitive sites spaced far apart
Mexican Hat camping sites offer diverse options from riverside settings to high desert plateaus with elevations ranging from 4,200 to 6,300 feet. The region features a unique geological landscape of eroded sandstone formations with camping locations often situated near dramatic rock formations. Temperature swings of 40°F between day and night are common, particularly during spring and fall camping seasons.
Hike to elevated viewpoints: Near Hummingbird Campground, visitors can take a short trail to see Monument Valley from above. "They even have an amazing hike - we did it at sunrise and loved it," reports one camper. The hike takes approximately 15 minutes and offers 360-degree views.
Explore rock art: The Sand Island Recreation Area provides easy access to ancient petroglyphs. According to a visitor, "Gorgeous rock art panel in campground. Nice 6 mile trail to town of Bluff." The area also features interesting archeological sites within walking distance of the campground.
Stargazing: The region has minimal light pollution, making it ideal for night sky viewing. At Goosenecks State Park Campground, "The night sky is amazing," and the location is designated as a Dark Sky site. For optimal viewing, plan stargazing sessions after midnight when the sky is darkest.
Wildlife watching: Several campsites offer opportunities to observe desert wildlife. "We saw horses around in the morning," notes a visitor at Sleeping Bear Campground. Other areas report sightings of hummingbirds, lizards, mule deer, and coyotes in the early mornings and evenings.
Affordability: Many camping sites near Mexican Hat, Utah offer good value. At Goosenecks State Park Campground, "For only $10, I got a ring side seat, amazingly clean restrooms, and very quiet." This makes it one of the more economical options in the region.
Privacy between sites: At Muley Point, campers can find more secluded spots away from others. "We got a spot off to the side that was more secluded than others," mentions one visitor. The dispersed nature of sites allows for separation, though some locations fill up quickly during peak seasons.
Cultural experiences: Some campgrounds offer authentic Navajo experiences. At Hummingbird Campground, "The lady host was very kind and cooked also a real Navajo Taco for dinner." Several campgrounds in the area are run by local Navajo families who share aspects of their culture with visitors.
Variety of terrain: The camping areas around Mexican Hat feature diverse landscapes. "Soft sand for tents that made it super comfortable," notes a camper at Hummingbird Campground, while others mention rock outcroppings that provide natural windbreaks at different sites.
Accessibility challenges: Road conditions vary significantly between camping areas. At Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping, "Keep left and drive past the private campground (sign says to pay online) up to the cattle grate into free BLM area." Some roads require high clearance vehicles, particularly after rain.
Weather extremes: Wind can be a significant factor. One camper at Muley Point reported, "Strong winds (33 mph gusts) when we were there. Rocked our van a bit but the views are worth it." Spring tends to be particularly windy, with afternoons seeing the highest gusts.
Limited amenities: Most dispersed camping sites have minimal facilities. "This is desert dispersed camping so there are NO amenities, however there are occasional camper made fire pits," explains a reviewer. Bring all supplies, including water, as most areas lack potable water sources.
Ownership confusion: Some areas have unclear boundaries between private and public land. A visitor noted, "There's a sign that says go to the website to pay. Not sure if anyone comes to check." Research current status before visiting as management changes have occurred at some locations.
Timing your visit: Early spring and late fall offer more moderate temperatures for family camping. At Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping, "We had a great night in August, we got there around 7PM to avoid the heat of the day. Lots of spots and saw very few people." The evening cooled to the mid-50s, making it comfortable for children.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for potential wildlife encounters. "During the evening, a few bats came out for about 45 minutes then disappeared," reports a camper, providing a natural educational opportunity for kids to observe desert wildlife safely.
Activity planning: Bring activities that don't require shade or water. At Valley of the Gods, "It is hot in July, but cools off at night. Constant breeze, no bugs. Bring shade as there are no trees except for a couple of spots by dry river beds."
Navigation assistance: Use GPS coordinates rather than written directions. "For directions follow the GPS don't go off what the description says if you are coming from the south," advises a visitor to Hummingbird Campground, noting that written directions can be confusing for first-time visitors.
Site selection strategy: RVers should scout locations early in the day. At Sleeping Bear Campground, "I absolutely love this primitive campground. The views are spectacular, it is quiet and secluded. I would highly recommend site 7 for the views. We were in a 33ft toy hauler and had no problems with the dirt road and room to pull thru."
Leveling considerations: Many sites require additional equipment for leveling. "The dirt pads but fairly level," notes an RVer, suggesting bringing leveling blocks as most dispersed sites aren't perfectly flat.
Camping near attractions: Position your RV for optimal views. At Goosenecks State Park, "Half the camp spots are right on the edge of the drop off to see the Gooseneck with the river. Great sunrise and sunset. You can just see (tiny) Monument Valley in the distance."
Road awareness: Check current road conditions before traveling. A Valley of the Gods visitor noted, "My 25 ft travel trailer pulled by my F150 did all it could to pull thru the ruts, hills and hollows. Don't go off the main road without desert 4x4 capabilities."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds in Mexican Hat, Utah?
Mexican Hat offers several camping options. Dispersed Mexican Hat Camping is located on BLM land around the town, with sites available directly at the base of Mexican Hat Rock. Some spots are accessible with 2WD vehicles, while others require 4WD. For a unique experience, Muley Point — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers spectacular views, though reaching it requires navigating the challenging Moki Dugway. Other nearby options include camping along the San Juan River or in the surrounding desert landscapes. Most dispersed camping areas in Mexican Hat are primitive with no amenities except for occasional camper-made fire pits, so come prepared with all necessary supplies.
How much does it cost to camp in Mexican Hat, Utah?
Camping costs around Mexican Hat vary by site type. Goosenecks State Park Campground charges $10 per day for primitive camping with stunning canyon views but no hookups or water. It's a self-contained camping experience with vault toilets. In contrast, the free Mexican Hat Rock dispersed camping areas provide cost-free options on BLM land. These free sites offer no amenities but provide beautiful desert camping under the stars. For those heading slightly further from Mexican Hat, Sand Island Recreation Area offers developed camping with water fill stations and picnic tables for a modest fee.
What RV camping options are available near Mexican Hat?
Valles RV Park offers full hookups near Mexican Hat Rock, though it has no bathroom facilities. It's a simple, convenient option for RVers who need connections. For those comfortable with boondocking, Valley of the Gods Road Dispersed provides big-rig-friendly sites in a scenic area. If you're willing to drive about an hour from Mexican Hat, Blue Mountain RV Park in Blanding offers more amenities and reliable cell service. Many RVers also use the dispersed camping areas around Mexican Hat, with some spots accessible to larger rigs, particularly those to the right of Mexican Hat Rock Road.
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