Searching for the best camping near Monticello, UT? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Monticello, UT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
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
With its colossal sandstone structures and scenic state and national parks, it is no wonder that Moab, Utah, is one of the most sought-out destinations in the American Southwest. The breathtaking landscape of red rocks and forests, along with the Colorado River's cool waters, arrest the senses with their rugged beauty. Make Moab KOA your Adventure Capital of the West headquarters as you plan a trip of a lifetime to Moab. Book at the Best Place To Stay in Moab Today! Being the best camping spot in Moab, our campground combines the rustic feel of adventure camping with resort-like amenities like the largest pool in town! Plus, we are only 15 minutes from Arches National Park and offer easy access to Dead Horse State Park. Additionally, camping near Canyonlands National Park has never been easier! Your unforgettable adventure awaits at Moab KOA. RV Sites: If you are traveling cross-country in your RV, you need a place with plenty of space. We offer the best RV campground in Moab. So, try one of our Pull-Thru or Back-In RV Sites. Max pull thru is 80 feet. Cabins: Our adorable Camping Cabins near Canyonlands are the perfect way to experience this region's immense beauty. If you prefer something more comfortable, our Deluxe Cabins come with bathrooms, linens and toiletries. Tent Sites: For many campers, the tradition of tent camping in Moab, Utah with all your gear is the only way to experience camping! Our spacious Tent Sites ensure you have plenty of space for your whole crew to cozy up around the campfire.
$25 / night
$40 - $50 / night
The Needles is a remote district located within the southern portion of Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah. The Needles District is 1.25 hours driving time from Monticello, Utah, and 1.5 hours from Moab, Utah, and sits at an elevation of approximately 4,900 feet.__ The Needles Campground offers limited services and are best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the Needles District Group Campground page. You may book individual campsites in Loop B up to six months in advance for dates within the peak seasons ___ March 15 - May and September - October.__ Loop A is available first come, first served only.__ Please, also read ___Facilities___ below and the ___Need to Know___ tab for important information.__
The Needles District's extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Confluence Overlook, Druid Arch, the Joint Trail and Chesler Park.
The Needles is a remote district with limited services and no cell coverage. The Needles Campground and group sites are best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. A seasonal campground host (spring and fall) is located in Loop A of the campground.____ Individual Campsites: Drinking water and flush toilets are available in the campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site. There are no RV hook-ups. The campground does not have electricity, showers or a dump station. Maximum vehicle length is 28 feet. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the Needles District Group Campground page.
The campground contains stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape in the spring, adding to the vivid colors of the surrounding red rock desert. The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters.
Southeastern Utah offers breathtaking scenery, hiking, road and mountain biking opportunities, rafting and scenic driving routes. Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments and Dead Horse Point and Edge of the Cedars State Parks are all within three hours drive of the Needles Campground. Moab, Utah, (1.5 hours away) offers numerous restaurants, shops and museums.
Individual Campsite Cancellations: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.__ Group Cancellations: Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.____ Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff).____ Camping no-show: Customers who do not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time (10:00 AM) the day after the scheduled arrival date or does not cancel the reservation by check out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date will be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night use fee. If the no-show service fee is greater than the reservation amount, the customer will not be charged any additional service fees. In addition, the campsite will become available to other customers at this point. Make sure to plan accordingly to avoid any unexpected changes to your travel plans.__ Early Depatures: An early departure occurs when a customer spends at least one night of their reservation at the facility but leaves the facility prior to the reservation departure date. If a customer departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Early departures are treated as a cancellation of the remaining days. There will be no refunds for days used prior to the departure date, regardless of whether the customer was present for all those days, i.e., the customer arrived a day late. __Campers must notify the facility that they are leaving early, as required by local policy. If a customer requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time has passed, the customer will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used. Field location procedures may vary depending on agency policy.
$70 - $115 / night
ATTENTION: William's Bottom Campground will be closed the first week of December 2020: 11/30 through 12/4 for maintenance. Shady campsites for tents and small trailers with beautiful views of the scenic Colorado River Canyon. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is located between the Wall Street climbing area and the Poison Spider 4WD trailhead. Individual Sites: 17 (limited to 10 people & two vehicles per site) Water: No Toilets: Yes Hook-ups: No
Traveler
My partner and I were work campers at this location from the end of Aug until about mid October. There are a variety of accommodations from dry camping, pull through RV sites, tipis, cabins, rental RVs, and safari tents. The office is also a cute gift shop and general store with fresh popcorn and homemade pastries available for free. There are two different showers facilities that are maintained beautifully. There is also an observation deck for sunsets and star gazing. Lots of improvements on the way too.
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.
Ranger
Stayed in site 52 which had a lovely view to the east and LaSals. Most sites on this side of Wingate campground are pretty good. Flush toilets are very good but has to be brought in by truck. Temps were in the 20s (we think) and it was quite cold, even with the electric plugged in and heater set at upper 50s. Beautiful sky views. Nice trail around the rim of Dead Horse Point (looks a bit like Grand Canyon)
Food aside: Had freeze-dried Asian noodles, added beef jerky and was spicy HOT & had high FQ (fart quotient). Also ate freeze-dried bone broth rice with added turkey jerky, and beef noodles meal and both were quite good.
Kayenta campground is also nice with trees and the shelters have cabinets and overhead lights. Also seem like vegetation is plentiful, offering privacy between sites. Checked out the campgrounds in Canyonlands- FC/FS and the sites appear level. There are 12 sitesv(one is handicap only) and 2 vault toilets. Also looked at Cowboy Campground, 7 sites that are mostly level, a vault toilet, FC/FS but appears pretty nice, easy access from road and good views. Also looked at Horsethief which has 50+ FC/FS sites that are mostly level. Plenty of vault toilets. Road in is dirt and was fairly rutted but passable with van.
GuideQuiet spot. Plenty of spots on a Saturday afternoon. Metal picnic tables, fire pits, paved parking spots.
Traveler
Very well maintained campground. Stayed in tent. Bathroom and shower new and very clean. Excellent views.
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.
Traveler
We went to Buckeye with six families and somewhere between 10 and 12 kids(The oldest being Nine years old) to celebrate one of the kiddo's 7th birthday. We camped at the group site, which was a big enough place for all of us. We had a mix of camp setups- including a Class B RV, a pop, a hybrid travel trailer, and three or four tents. There was a large common area with plenty of built-in picnic tables and a very large fire pit. All for only$50 a night! The lake was beautiful, and we fished, Sup’d, and swam in the refreshingly cold water.
There are some monster Rainbow Trout in the lake, and we had fun catching a few with the kids on fly rods, but there were a lot of other campers having good luck with spinner rods. The area also has a good mountain bike trail that us adults enjoyed. The Mtn bike ride starts and ends from the campground, taking you across the border into Utah and then swings back towards CO on a ridge that offers an incredible panorama of the lake and red rock cliffs. The trail is primarily double-track, and we bumped into a few ATVs along the way.
Overall, if you’re going with a large group, you 100% should book the group site, which is also separated from all the other single campsites.
We’ll be back! Buckeye is about a 2.5-hour drive from Telluride, where our group lives, and a 1.5-hour drive from Moab, UT.
Lastly, if you're looking to stay connected, there is no cell service or wifi(I have Verizon), although when we rode our bikes to the top of the ridge, I got two bars. You can also drive to the top of the hill in an offroad-capable vehicle if you need to make a call.
Traveler
About 5 miles outside of downtown Moab. Very clean, amazing staff, dog friendly. I would give more star, however, we paid for a premier pull through full hook up’s site and it was situated just above the dump station. We have a 40’ Alliance Toy Hauler. We were not familiar with the campground. I would recommend staying in sites #100 and up if you’re in a large rig. Would definitely return knowing what we know now. Immaculately kept campground!
GuideDon’t let the dilapidated mobile home near the entrance scare you away. This place is super well maintained. Every site is well thought out and has great hookups. I thought a plug water and sewer was pretty uniform. Our site had a pedestal with 20/30/50 amp and then another with 30 20 feet further into the site. Lots of shade. The sites along the south edge of the property have amazing views of the Cortez valley and Sleeping Ute Mountain. Really nice communal fire pit, dog park and some trails too. Some sites have a beautiful brick fire ring too.
ScoutWe needed a stop before our travels to Colorado. What a gem! Beautiful sites and so quiet. And with our Senior pass (federal national parks) the cost was $10! We didn’t have a reservation but there were many sites open.
ScoutWe stayed at this campsite for one night on our way back to Phoenix from Denver and it is almost exactly half way in between (roughly 6.5 hours from either location) Exactly as expected. Site 28 was calm quiet and had 2 spots for Tents. We used the bigger of the two tent spots and set up a 6 person tent overlooking a heavily forested area.
Traveler
Growled at by mountain Lion 100meters from climb up to campsite. Amazing. So textured and layered. Loved just staring at everything. Fun climbs to top of canyon. Bring more water than you think.
ScoutLarge site very close to the water. We paddle boarded in the reservoir and jumped off a few rocks. We stayed 2 nights.
ScoutMuch fuller and more crowded than 3 yrs ago when we visited. Took only place we found, closer to the dock and more traffic than preferred but still beautiful.
Traveler
Great experience! Really helpful staff, clean and quiet sites, and lovely views.
When we arrived with my 21 foot travel trailer, we were told that site 28 can be difficult to park in due to the angle and size, but just as panic started to seep into this trailer-newbie’s brain, they said, “But don’t worry, Jake can help you park your trailer into the spot.” And he did! Jake was super helpful and within 5 minutes my RPod was happily parked at site 28!
The site was clean, with water, sewage, and electric hookups on the left side. It comes with a picnic table and fire pit (fire wood can be bought at the shop).
I was remote working, and the wifi worked pretty well (I just had issues once during a meeting when video + screen sharing was on).
The site is right on the La Sal Mountain Loop, which is a beautiful drive up the mountain and down through Castle Valley and along the Colorado River.
We really loved our stay.
Guide
We loved the large tent pads and covered dining area with pantry (yes, a pantry!). The staff kept the campground clean and tidy. We found it to be an excellent base camp while exploring the Moab area, including Arches and Canyonlands.
Scout
We adored it here. Came thru with two adults and two girls in a van on way from Taos New Mexico to Moab. Loved meeting Amber and Oscar. Wonderful rocks to climb for a sunset view.
Traveler
This camp is advertised as dispersed camping since it’s free but it actually has an outhouse, fire pits, and tables. Right next to the river inside a canyon it’s hella beautiful. Only tricky part is getting there. You have to have high clearance to get through the bumpy, rocky road leading to the camp. I have a crosstrek so nothing crazy though. You have to drive through some farmland to get here but don’t worry you’re going the right way. Gets very cold at night since it’s in a river canyon but other than that no complaint.
When returning from the camp it took me 20 minutes of driving on rough dirt road, a lot longer when I came in, at night, going downhill. So don’t beleive maps when it tells you you’re 5 minutes away
Scout
Nice spacious sites with fire pit and table
ScoutWe stopped here in the off-season. Very, very quiet with great views of lake and mountains.
Guide
We came across Needles Outpost on our road trip across southern Utah. After some nights of dispersed camping, this was a welcome treat. The camping grounds were pleasantly spaced and we did not feel like we were on top of other campers. Amber, owner of the site, was absolutely wonderful and we enjoyed stopping into the outpost to chat with her. Amber had a store with crucial essentials that you may need, firewood (which was thick logs that go a long way!), gas for when you’re in an absolute pinch (nearest gas station is 30-40 miles away), and bathroom with showers (must purchase tokens, similar to NP sites). We did one night staying at site 4 and a night in one of Ambers canvas (glamping) tents. Both were extremely well kept and had beautiful surroundings. The sunsets over Canyonlands NP and the star gazing were outstanding and alone made the stay worth every penny. If we ever find ourselves back in the needles region of Canyonlands, Needles Outpost will be our overnight stay.
ScoutWe dry camped at this campground because they had no other vacancies. It was a very nice grassy lot, the campground was clean and the people running it were friendly. The grounds were quiet, clean, and people obeyed the speed limit.
Traveler
The hosts and the amenities make this place something special. The hosts do everything they can to make your stay comfortable (helping out with hookups or change for the laundry). There are indoor AND OUTDOOR showers available, and taking a shower under the dark Moab sky was unforgettable.
The ground here is all rocks, and the spots are simple pull-ins with electrical and city water hookups, with a cover for tenters.
They are working on some things, like a group kitchen, and that makes it even more of a place to “gather” in the future. I’d recommend this as a spot to stay in Moab!
Bear in mind that I think you can only book through AirBNB.
GuideUnique location right next to the national park. Loads of gekkos. Very quiet. Very simple camping with limited services. The Norwegian forest cat Oscar is keeping guard
TravelerThis place was perfect I had access to trees and a big lake and no one around!
TravelerCurrently closed for some reason. Was chained off with a "closed" sign.
Camping near Monticello, Utah, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Monticello, Utah, is a fantastic way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Monticello, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Monticello, UT is Devils Canyon Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Monticello, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 glamping camping locations near Monticello, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
