Up the Creek Campground, near Moab, Utah, is a tent-only spot that offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and urban convenience. With a peaceful atmosphere, it’s a great choice for those looking to escape the noise of RVs and generators while still being close to the action.

The campground features clean facilities, including showers and restrooms, which visitors appreciate after a long day of hiking. Many campers have noted the well-kept picnic tables and the handy dishwashing station, making it easy to enjoy meals outdoors. One reviewer mentioned, “This place was great... it has everything you need while camping.”

Located just a short walk from downtown Moab, you’ll find plenty of dining options and shops to explore. It’s also a prime base for accessing nearby attractions like Arches National Park and Canyonlands, perfect for those early morning hikes. As one camper put it, “Most people were up and out before sunrise to hike Arches NP.”

While the campground has some rules, like no campfires and no pets, the overall vibe is friendly and respectful. Visitors have enjoyed the shady spots and the quiet ambiance, making it a solid choice for a relaxing camping experience. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Up the Creek Campground offers a great mix of comfort and adventure right at your fingertips.

Walk-in tent only campground with 16 sites next to Mill Creek. Showers, propane grills, outdoor sink, and bike rack in campground. All sites have picnic tables and most are well shaded. Close to Main St. with easy access to shopping, restaurants, and adventure outfitters.

Up the Creek Campground

Nestled in the sandstone of eastern Utah is the small town of Moab. This outdoor-lover’s paradise is the gateway to Arches National Park, with Canyonlands just a short drive away. Camping near Moab means unfettered access to BLM lands with rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, ATVing, horseback riding, rafting, and more.

Whether you’re heading in for a day-hike, scenic drive, or staking your tent at a campground, a visit to Arches is a must. Tent and RV camping near Moab provide easy access to one of Utah’s most iconic landmarks: Delicate Arch. (It’s even on their license plate!)

Downtown Moab is certainly worth a visit too. Grab an al fresco lunch at the Food Truck Park, visit the galleries and boutiques, or stock up on gear rentals for all your outdoor adventures. The area is also known for its petroglyphs and petrographs, which were created by Paleo-Indian, ancestral Puebloan, and Ute artists.

Moab

Searching for the best camping near Moab, UT? Moab is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Discover great camping spots near Moab, reviewed by campers like you.

The Best Moab Camping | Utah Campgrounds

stayed here for two nights, and it was very nice! disclaimer: I was recovering from altitude sickness while staying here the first night, and slept for 12 straight hours, but when I woke up it was a really nice campsite! the staff work hard to keep it clean and green for us. and while there were many other campers and we were in downtown Moab, it was very quiet and peaceful. they had picnic tables and clean bathrooms/showers. would recommend! 

very cool, downtown camping spot 

We have camped at this campground twice now and both experiences were great! This is a tent only campground in the middle of Moab. I would say it maybe holds a dozen or so tents so you have plenty of space and few neighbors. It is super quiet for being in the city. I was surprised at how few cars you hear going by.

The facilities are clean, although a little dated with shower curtains on the small shower stalls and your stuff goes way over on a bench so you have to hope nobody else comes in while you get dressed. I prefer the kind where each shower gets a bench and a door. It feels a little more private that way. I can’t really complain about getting a shower though since many campgrounds in the area do not have them.

Price per night is $40 a night which is plenty steep for a tent site, but I really love that after a day of hiking, you can wander the streets of Moab and find cute souvenir shops and great food. We really love Moab so it’s worth a little extra to camp in the city. We felt completely safe here and would do it again!

City camping at its’ finest!

I will say there is something very interesting about being in the middle of this rocky desert and finding an oasis of trees and tent only campers! Oh did I mention it is in the middle of a town yet seems like it is in the middle of a quiet sanctuary?

Up the Creek Campground is a strange anomaly in Moab offering a retreat from hiking and exploring for the weary camper looking to feel like they are a part of the downtown life but not so much that they have to get a hotel.

For me being a single person it was only $25 but they do charge by the person not by the tent site, which is kind of strange to me but the price I paid seemed fair.  

But then came the red tape: NO campfires, NO dogs, NO bathrooms from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., NO sleeping on the grass only on the dirt, NO wifi, NO electrical provided at tent sites.  So basically it is primitive camping with a lot of NOs!

While I don’t have to have electrical or wifi or even a dog it seemed odd to close the bathrooms for a large block during the day and to regulate that while campsites had dirt and grass that you could be removed from the grounds camping on the grass.  

So again with the good of the trees and grass also came almost a heavy feeling of limited use of those amenities, which I would say are their best features.

So what is the bonus of being at this campground, because I am always trying to find the absolute positive?  Being close to downtown, in fact only a block from some of my favorite spots including several shops and places to stop in for a meal or a good cup of coffee.  You are also very close to the access points for rentals and adventures.

Urban Camping With Urban Rules

The spot itself was shady and people around were nice and respectful. Conveniently located close to town (about 5 a minute walk from Main Street). The bathrooms were not kept up too well and you’ll definitely want bug spray. 

Shady, close to town, iffy bathrooms

A few things set this place apart in Moab: Tent only campers, no dogs, showers, and there are Wheelbarrows to bring your camp gear to your site - there are no vehicles allowed past the parking lot. Not having RV noise is great. and no headlights, dust or car exhaust by the tents is a great plus. 

  

We camped there 3 nights, did Arches and Canyonlands.  I will add that by 7:30 AM, Arches was full, and they tell you to come back in 3-5 hrs.  I did not know that National Parks closed admission- at any rate, Canyonlands is a great alternative, and there's Arches there too.  Please don't hike dumb- it's super hot this June and the sand and rock are even hotter- hiking boots (not sandals) and AT LEAST a liter of water, sunscreen, and a hat that covers your ears, a small gatorade or other electrolyte if possible. 

  

There are shared gas grills supplied w/gas cannister, each tent has its own picnic table.  There's tree cover for shade.  You can walk to decent places to eat.  Not a shopper- but there's a bunch of shops for souvenirs and such.

  

Yes, the bathrooms are shut down from 11-1, that's when they're cleaned! - I would hope you wouldn't come to Moab so you could hang by your tent site at full sun and not go exploring.  Most people are on their way someplace by 10am, so those hours are fine.  

Entrance to Arches is about 7 minutes away, Canyonlands about 20 for the closest entrance (top of Canyon hikes), we went to Needles too which is about 1 hr 45 min drive (inside Canyon hikes). 

There are campsites in the NPs, but they don't have showers/running water.  That IS a big thing.  You get filthy orange after hiking a day, and a shower is fantastic.

There is a food shopping store right down the street. The campsite also has a stocked ice chest with bags for $3.  

You don't set your tent on the grass because there's sprinklers there- that's why it's still green, and why there's a tree cover- it needs water.

It was 2 of us on this trip, and $35/nt - I dare you to price out hotels in the area. There are a couple outlets in the bathroom if you need to charge- I had to charge my Fitbit, and have to add- it died in Arches- it was so hot, it overheated, and I had to tear it off my wrist fast, because the green laser shorted and started burning me.

I love dogs, but have camped in enough places where folks don't control them, they bark and fight with other camper's dogs and of course you get the bad apples that don't pick up after them - ironically there's a dog park right next to the camp.

There's construction going on behind the tree line on a school. They start promptly M-S at 8 AM- 5 pm.  Looks like they're over half finished. Great cell service, because there's a cell tower right behind the tree line.  It's surprisingly quiet for being a few blocks from the main drag.

Best tent camping ever

The campsite has a bathrooms and showers available which was always kept nice and clean. Water was easily and quickly accessible. We would rent there again.

Excellent little site to stay at while visiting Arches

Quaint campground two blocks from downtown and a 7-11. Park in the lot and carry your gear (carts provided) to your site. Showers and dish washing area kept up very nicely twice a day. BBQs available to cook all set up and ready to go. 

Cool vibe for adventurers. Most people were up and out before sunrise to hike Arches NP. We also used it a s a base for Canyonlands to do some off roading.

There is a dog park nearby, but you only heard it if you were still in camp at 10am.

Perfect Base Camp

This place was great. Short drive to all the state/national parks, and just a walk to downtown. Has everything you need while camping like showers, bathrooms, dish washing station, picnic table,  and a charging station, just no fire pits. Tent only camping is also so peaceful with no rv's, generators or blinding headlights too. We even saw a group of deer while setting up around 6pm! 
Everyone camping was very respectful and quiet after hours, if you're a light sleeper maybe bring some earplugs for the traffic nearby but it doesn't get too bad. 

Photos of Up the Creek Campground

Real photos from real campers