Mexican Hat sits at 4,200 feet elevation in southeast Utah, surrounded by red sandstone formations and desert terrain. The area experiences temperature swings from summer highs exceeding 100°F to winter nights below freezing. RV campgrounds near Mexican Hat offer basic services with limited cell coverage but serve as convenient baselines for exploring the region's dramatic landscapes.
What to Do
Visit Valley of the Gods: Located just 10 miles from Mexican Hat, this area offers free dispersed camping with spectacular geological formations. "Dispersed campsites off the side of the trail gives many options to get the best from this area," notes a camper at Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping. Recent visitors mention primitive facilities: "Pit toilets close to the entrance. Good Verizon signal. I'm about 1.6 miles in."
Explore Monument Valley: The iconic landscape is accessible within 30 minutes of Mexican Hat. "We decided to stay here on a short notice, and found a space for our RV with full hook-ups. This location is just minutes from Monument Valley, and while we did not use their tour service, Goulding's offer their own guided tour of MV," says one visitor at Gouldings RV and Campground.
Hike nearby trails: The region offers numerous hiking opportunities with archaeological sites. "The Wildcat Trail (3.7 miles) is a great hike in the morning or evening when the sun isn't directly overhead. It took us a few hours at a slow pace to take plenty of pictures," reports a camper who stayed at The View Campground.
What Campers Like
Quiet desert nights: Many campers appreciate the solitude available at dispersed sites. "We had a great night in August, we got there around 7PM to avoid the heat of the day. Once the sun set a few bats came out for about 45 minutes then disappeared. Once the moon set that night, the stars were amazing on a beautiful clear desert night," notes a camper at Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping.
Convenience to attractions: Established RV parks provide strategic positioning. "Good location near the monument valley entrance and the border of utah and Arizona. This place is great and has everything you need," says a visitor at Monument Valley KOA.
Clean facilities: Despite remote locations, several campgrounds maintain quality amenities. "The bathrooms and showers were very clean, as was the campground. In terms of facilities, there were several washing machines out of service, which is only a big deal if you were counting on them to do laundry but it wasn't a huge wait," according to a camper at Gouldings RV and Campground.
What You Should Know
Weather considerations: Extreme heat and wind affect camping conditions. "The campground was empty because it was HOT. The campground is a basic dirt field with only a few small trees. We took the site that had trees for shade," warns a camper at Gouldings RV and Campground.
Road conditions: Access to some campsites requires careful driving. "Road is a bit rough coming in at either entrance—just take it slow. At the moment, there's porto-potties near each entry. Views are great all around," mentions a recent visitor at Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping.
Limited amenities at some locations: Prepare accordingly for basic facilities. "Simple campground for a stay for a night, full hookups, nothing to complain, no bathrooms or toilets at the ground," reports a visitor at Valles RV Park in Mexican Hat.
Tips for Camping with Families
Choose campgrounds with shade: Summer heat makes shade essential. "No shade but very convenient. We visited Memorial Day Weekend. The campground was empty because it was HOT. Each site had a picnic table and fire pit," notes a family at Gouldings RV and Campground.
Consider recreational facilities: Some campgrounds offer activities for children. "They were also putting together the kids playground, I plan to come back next year when hopefully it's complete," mentions a family who stayed at Monument Valley KOA.
Plan for limited connectivity: Prepare offline entertainment. "You should not rely on their wireless. We didn't need it, but did try to connect, and it just never worked. Also to note the network is 3G, so if you can get a data connection, it's very slow," advises a family at Cottonwood RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Level sites available: Many rv campgrounds near Mexican Hat offer accommodations for larger rigs. "Pull through FHU everything worked as it should extremely clean campground. A little shade level gravel sites. Would absolutely stay here again," reports an RVer at Gouldings RV and Campground.
Off-season advantages: Visiting during shoulder seasons offers better availability. "We are full-timers in a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow. We were here for a few days in mid April. The CG is pretty basic, and could use a little work, but has full hook-ups with 30A service," notes an RVer at Valles RV Park.
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Prepare accordingly based on campground selection. "Very nice RV park. They have done a lot of improvements so everything is clean and new. All pull through sites, level sites, a new bath house with large showers and laundry facilities," according to a visitor at Cadillac Ranch RV Park in nearby Bluff.
