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Ballard RV Park in Thompson accommodates tent campers, RV travelers, and those seeking cabin lodging with pets. This full-hookup facility maintains reasonable rates compared to Moab alternatives, with spacious pull-through sites set on level gravel pads. Dogs are welcome throughout the property with standard leash requirements. The park provides clean restrooms, hot showers, and a designated pet walking area, though some campers note the pet area contains occasional debris including glass and metal bits. Located approximately 30-35 minutes from both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the campground serves as a convenient base for exploring the region's natural attractions with pets.
Dispersed camping options surrounding Thompson offer alternatives for pet owners seeking more remote experiences. Several BLM areas permit pets without restrictions, including sites along County Road #146 and near Klondike Bluffs. These free camping locations provide ample space for dogs to explore while maintaining reasonable proximity to Thompson's limited services. Pet owners should prepare for basic conditions, as these dispersed sites lack facilities like running water and toilets. The climate presents significant considerations when camping with pets in this region, as summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Campers report trains passing nearby Ballard RV Park can be loud at night, which may disturb sensitive pets. For travelers seeking free overnight options, several pull-offs near I-70 accommodate both tent and RV camping while allowing pets to remain with their owners.
"This campground is surrounded by tall majestic rocks high in the Utah desert. Well located to visit several National parks. Toilets and water scattered around this large site."
"Depending on how far you want to walk, there is access to several of the park's arches right from the campsite. Beware of Ravens!"
from $25 - $250 / night
Check Availability"But the best part is the setting: scrubby desert surrounded by craggy mountains and dramatic skies. What a beautiful place."
"Lots of room for over 100 rigs, tents, vans, though some are in close proximity to each other."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful sunset and my cat loved to roll on the dirt."
"Pretty much just flat land surrounded by a primitive fence. No porta potty when I was there. It’s far enough away from the highway that cars aren’t bothersome."
"We saw RVs and camper and and cats and vans and ATVs. There’s paths for everyone and lots of availability"
"Low clearance vehicles can access sights closer to highway. Lots of camping spots tucked away if you continue down the road. Cattle around but bothersome. gorgeous red rock!"
"It's close to the highway for quick overnighter and close enough to Moab if your headed that way in the morning. I went right and followed the path behind the hill."
"If you love space and nobody in your face, a place for your dogs to run freely, but this is not your final “destination”… this is your spot!"
"Willow Springs is awesome for the person that wants to be out in the middle of nowhere without really being super far away from something... it’s about 15 minutes outside of moab and directly off of the"
"Our Toyota Highlander didn’t have the best time getting over some big rocks the deeper we went off the main road so we stayed close to the road."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The office can provide great information on the nearby national parks and other attractions. Showers and laundry are available for a fee, though we did not use them. Propane was available."
"The dog walking area is full of glass and bits of rusty metal (I don’t think it is the campgrounds fault but just fair warning). Beautiful spot."
from $23 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Lots of nice remote site options and trail leads you right into Arches NP (dont forget parks pass unless government is still shut down) with some fun off roading trails for capable vehicles but did see"
"I drove through Arches National Park on Salt Valley Road, until it exited the park onto BLM Land. Took an immediate right and followed the fence of the park."
"It's nice and close to the highway, but if you keep going, you can get a ways out there, and there is even some fins and an arch if you go in a few miles."
"Nothing special but cell service was good and far enough from highway to not bother sleep"
"Great spot for unstructured camping (no sites, just a large dirt parking lot) surrounded by sagebrushy land. We landed a spot right across from Courthouse Rock (see photo)."
"There are nice hikes close by looking in toward Canyonlands Nat’l park. We tried riding our bikes to the trails, but the deep sand made it very difficult. The kids enjoyed finding lots of lizards."
from $20 / night
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TravelerGreat little spot. Was very private. Ford F150 towing a 22’ camper. I didn’t go to the top but camped about halfway in and the road wasn’t too bad. I probably could have made it to the top camping spots at the end of the dirt road but didn’t want to risk it
ScoutOnly 18 minutes from the entrence to Canyonlands this spot is nice. Stayed only one night here but multiple in the area with recent constant, steady rain. Main road held up fine and was NOT an issue to pass in a mid-size AWD crossover SUV. There doesnt appear to be many spots along the main road UNTIL you take one of them and discover that one spot that looks like a camping area is actually a spur road and leads to many. Cell service with T-Mobile: almost nonexistent. Sometimes you'll have, mostly you wont though.
GuideSites are have good space. Most sites have an up hill to get into them but pretty level at the top. Nice covered picnic table. Views are nice and close to visitors center and hiking trails leaving from campground. Dump station.
ScoutCamping by the Colorado river but it is by a busy road. Only has a pit toilet. It is close to Moab and the bike trail goes by the camp.
TravelerStayed at primitive campgrounds easy to get into with a class b RV. Clean roads not washed out. Sites far apart from each other.
LegendFirst off, the road from Moab, getting up to Sand Flats is very steep, probably 8% or 9% grade in a couple spots, and very winding. We stayed in campground A where there were a few pull out spots and several back in spots. Even though the Ranger said campgrounds A,B,E or J were suitable for big rigs, campground J is about 6 miles from the pay window and after about 2 miles it becomes dirt road very rough. I wouldn’t want to take my rig down there, but we did drive down there and there was a couple of big rigs there. As one could expect there were lots OHV vehicles driving all over the place but it quieted down after dark. Good spot to stage from to go to Arches or Canyonlands national parks. There are only pit toilets available and no trash receptacles that I could see.
ScoutRoad is terrible. 2.5 miles off road to find out the entrance is a wasteland.
TravelerThis was on our way to Canyonlands and Arches after major rains the past few days…easy to find, roads not bad for any 4WD, restrooms in each loop, first come first serve basis with a self designated site kiosk at the entry! Beautifully laid out and peace of mind! Firepits and picnic tables and most spots are separated with beautiful trees and shrubs! Nice views and ok cell service.
GuideAn amazing place with great views from almost every spot. Quite each night. It is at the very end of the Arches drive which in some ways is great. The sites have pretty level concrete pads (they run a little down hill but not a big deal). Great separation for other sites
Dispersed camping areas surrounding Thompson offer more pet-friendly options than many realize. Located at 5,200 feet elevation between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the region combines desert terrain with significant temperature fluctuations. Most dispersed sites on BLM land near Thompson have no designated pet areas but allow dogs to accompany their owners throughout the camping area with standard leash requirements.
Explore ancient petroglyphs: Only 8 minutes from Ballard RV Park, Sego Canyon features remarkable rock art. "We've been here about a month. The staff is super friendly, the park is clean, the showers are hot and clean and it's only about 40 mins. to Moab," notes James C., who found this historical site easily accessible from the Thompson area.
Dinosaur tracking: Visit dinosaur tracks near Willow Springs Trail. "Our caravan had 3 campers and 15 people, plenty of space even with it being Jeep safari and spring break. The kids loved climbing the rocks and bonus there is a trail with dinosaur tracks!" reports Chelsey M., highlighting one of the area's unique paleontological features.
Sunrise photography: The landscape provides excellent sunrise opportunities at Devils Garden Campground. "Spent (3) wonderful nights at Devil's Garden CG. Despite 'FULL' indicators at the park and campground entrances, I drove through and noticed a couple of sites open (cancellations)... Beautiful night skies and a great place to spend sunrise/sunset," shares Chris P.
Star visibility: Clear, dark skies create spectacular stargazing conditions at Willow Springs Road dispersed camping area. "If you are a star gazer then this would be your 5 star place. With no light noise you can see every star in the night sky!" notes Alisa P., highlighting one of the main natural attractions for campers.
Affordability: Many sites near Thompson remain free or cost significantly less than Moab options. "This place was $35 a night and was the cheapest spot I could find in the Moab area," mentions Wendy C. about her stay at Ballard RV Park, noting the cost savings compared to sites closer to park entrances.
Wildlife encounters: Evening wildlife viewing adds to the camping experience. "Loved it. It was active, but we just grabbed the first spot we found. Perfect place to set up shop for the night... Loved it," says Adria K. about Salt Valley Dispersed Camping, where many campers report seeing coyotes and antelope.
Weather preparation: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F while winter nights can drop below freezing. "We tent camped here in mid December and it was cold at night, but nothing too terrible if you have the right sleeping bags," advises Bailey A. about camping with the appropriate gear.
Ground conditions: Terrain at most dog-friendly campgrounds near Thompson can be challenging. "Ground is hard to drive stakes into, so bring some para cord if tenting. Watch out for cactuses," warns Ben R. about Utahraptor State Park, where the desert soil conditions affect campsite setup.
Arrival timing: Securing preferred campsites requires planning. "Plenty of open space and spots to choose from. Approximately 50 different campers, lots of vans and just all types of rigs. Good gravel road in, some spots on slick rock and some in sand," reports VanpeDiem D., noting the variety of terrain and occupancy levels even during busy periods.
Pet safety considerations: Examine camping areas for hazards before allowing pets to explore. "The dog walking area is full of glass and bits of rusty metal (I don't think it is the campgrounds fault but just fair warning)," cautions Wendy C., highlighting potential dangers for pets at certain sites.
Multiple bathroom options: Some dispersed areas now have portable facilities. "Free, dispersed camping on BLM land. There are porta potties along the road, which was great for someone like me who sleeps in the back of their SUV," mentions Dale, describing the unexpected amenities at BLM Dispersed Camping Outside of Moab.
Access road assessment: Road conditions vary dramatically by season and recent weather. "If rainy/wet and in 2wd beware. I got stuck, luckily got myself out. It was about 930p and I didn't notice just how muddy it was until I was sliding. Good spot if dry," warns Jessica K. about her experience on wet roads near Thompson.
Late arrival options: For those arriving after dark, certain areas provide easier navigation. "Arrived late at night and were a little nervous—no troubles though! Well maintained dirt road, ample pull-offs for camping, nicely spread out, very quiet," reports Eric S. about his experience at BLM 144 Dispersed.
Level site selection: Finding level parking requires searching beyond initial pull-offs. "Easy access to all size rv. Easy to get level. Near hwy so a bit of road noise. Wide open space," notes Karla R. about camping areas outside Thompson where the terrain varies considerably.
Power needs: Plan for self-contained power at most dispersed sites. "I needed a place to get electricity for AC when Temps hit 100+ degrees consistently. Found this campground unexpectedly and couldn't have been happier! Super clean, friendly management," shares Deb, describing how Ballard RV Park met her power needs during extreme heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Thompson, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Thompson, UT is Devils Garden Campground — Arches National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 97 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Thompson, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 142 dog-friendly camping locations near Thompson, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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