But if you have the time and patience, keep driving! Would not recommend a stock 2x2. The atmosphere at Castleton Climbers Camp is quite rowdy. The Gemini Bridges free camping spots are located west of Moab off Gemini Bridges Road. The majority of this trail is pretty smooth, however, there are a few bumpy sections; especially when you head through Pucker Pass where it gets both narrow and bumpy. Who Owns Loki Expedition (Formerly Basecamp)? 4. Bull Run Trail follows the north side of Bull Run Canyon and provides scenic views with a mix of slick rock, sand, and flowing trails. As such, it is best to check with the Moab BLM office or Manti-La Sal Ranger District to confirm your plans. Phone Number. Rock Springs Bench Campsite- Grand Staircase Escalante NM is open all year. This is definitely a place you should scout with your tow vehicle first. The Bureau of Land Management offers approximately 26 campgrounds in the Moab area. The higher up you go, the more breathtaking the sites, and the fewer people youll see. 5. La Sal Loop is part of Manti-La Sal National Forest. Cell Service: Yes Verizon; spotty AT&T; spotty T-mobile/Sprint (Google Fi). Heres exactly where to go dispersed camping in Moab on your next trip. Youll know youve found the designated campsites when you see the fire rings scattered around. A better way to Canyonlands (if you have a 4x4!). A 4WD vehicle is not necessary but a high-clearance vehicle is always recommended. Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Junction City - Schreiner Park Campground, Upper Teton View - Toppings Lake Dispersed Campsites 8-16, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park Campground, Video: Where to Camp in Quartzsite, Arizona. I live in Fruita, CO, and I try to do all my 'wheeling' in the Moab area in the winter months, because the weather is much cooler than it is in the summer months (very hot), and the trails are a lot less crowded. While you can driveLong Canyon Road either east or west it is best enjoyed from the west. This is BLM land so you can continue further along the road in hopes of finding a quieter or more secluded site. This camping spot is only 15 to 20 minutes from Arches National Park, too. Here are the best free camping spots outside of Moab, Utah. There is free camping down both routes. It climbs up from 1.206m (3,956ft) to 1.865m (6,118ft) above the sea level. Free camping is readily available along the canyon floor and is generaly quiet and clean except for the occasional jeep drive by or desert-love-child beating their drum at 2 in the morning. At the very least you may be awakened in the middle of the night and asked to move, but they may also issue citations. This free camping area doesnt make our list of favorites, mostly due to the microscopic grains of fine red sand and threat of cacti attacking our preschooler at every turn, but it is super convenient to the national and state park, the sunsets are perfect, and it's FREE! Dont camp here if you want privacy. That is no longer an option and people are routinely asked to leave in the middle of the night. Map showing land status from discovermoab.com, These services are available only at their southern location, Free potable water coming from the north/left side of the building, Free dump station on the north side of the building by the diesel pumps, Can quickly become crowded and congested so try to go at odd times, Dump Station - $5.00 fee (if both dumping and filling they only charge $5.00 total), Propane Fill - must pay for a minimum of 2 gallons, Great option if Maverik is a complete cluster, Potable Water - Free (bring your own hose), The Moab Information Center keeps an awesome up-to-date list on places to shower and the related fee, Or check out our post on showering with very little water, GPS Coordinates: 38.468199, -109.363763 (these coordinates are about where the free camping starts); 38.507608, -109.346539 (these are the coordinates for where we camped - shown below in photo), Cell Service: Yes - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint/T-mobile (Google Fi). Once on BLM 142 youll start to see campsites appear almost immediately. As such, we do not recommend having a campfire at any of the dispersed camping areas in this guide. This free camping area near Moab is not for any big rig! The Best RV Campgrounds for Stargazing Adventures. Cell Service: spotty T-mobile/Sprint (Google Fi) Elevation: 6079' There are two approaches to this free camping area near Moab. Drive a canyon in the comfort of your personal SUV! The GPS coordinates for this spot are 38.5416, -109.7078. Permits are required for all vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles. We drove long enough to find a large open free camping spot back off the main road and we boondocked all weekend, only hearing a few other vehicles drive by. Expect outstanding views from top to bottom. You can get to Long Canyon two ways, either from Highway 313 en route to Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park which is suitable for most vehicles, or from the east by taking Highway 279 directly to Long Canyon Road. Where to Find the Best RV Couch Replacements, Walmart Alternatives for Free Overnight RV Parking, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZh-GabxhSU, EPIC ADVENTURES IN MOAB, UTAH || WEEK 13 VLOG || FULLTIME RV LIVING (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZh-GabxhSU). Tent campers should be aware that the dirt here is incredibly difficult to get stakes into, so plan accordingly! Pack it in, pack it out! Long Canyon Road dispersed camping is managed by the BLM and has wide open spaces and beautiful views. 8:00 AM 12:30 PM (Saturday) As with most dispersed camping in the Moab area you wont find much shade here, but the road is fairly easy to navigate and you cant beat the location. Not officially a dispersed site, this free camping area is owned and maintained by Utah Open Lands. This is a popular spot for RVs as the road is navigable by most vehicles. There are tons of open and flat sites (great views though! Available Campsites. *(This post contains affiliate links. Its known for late nights, socialization, and traffic noise. I did this yesterday in my stock Jeep Wrangler, no rubbing or bottoming out anywhere. Although not much more than a basic dirt road, this is a convenient spot for campers headed south to Canyonlands. In addition to encountering rough roads with potholes and washboards, in the Moab area, you might encounter roads with sheer dropoffs on one side or lots of mud. Reviewers have reported that some roads in the area will require high clearance and 4WD to explore, but you can find plenty of spacious campsites toward the beginning of the area. Both Arches and Canyonlands National Park are just a short drive away as is Dead Horse Point State Park. If you can get to it, the views are breathtaking. Behind the Rocks is a BLM camping site outside of Moab off of US 191. We did this trail on our way back to Moab after doing Gemini Bridges. The latter is only for 4WD vehicles as the road gets quite rough. Most roads in are either national forest roads or BLM roads, and these roads arent always well maintained (if at all). This is another one located really conveniently to Islands in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Some rough spots to get thru. Bonjour, If you do opt to have a fire, please be sure to completely put it out prior to going to sleep or leaving you campground for any amount of time and never create a new campfire ring! The main road is maintained, but some scouting may be required when turning in to certain campsites. Should You Camp at the Thousand Trails Chehalis Resort? With some caution and common sense, any vehicle should be able to make it down these roads. Reviewers report that the road in is pretty rough, so its a good idea to drop off your camper and scout this one out with your tow vehicle. There are many Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds on the public lands surrounding Moab, although most fill daily during mid-March-May and Sept-October. Is the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass Worth It? 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. A strenuous mountain bike trail following the Colorado River. One reviewer says if you have a trailer, you should only enter from the north off 189 via Blue Hills Road to Mill Canyon Road then to Bartlett Washington Road. Taking Potash/279 west out of Moab and turning west on Long Canyon Road is the 4x4 route, and although the views and drive would be stunning, this route isnt really recommended if youre just trying to get to a free camping spot. Venture down these to find a free campsite for the night. There are a couple of camping spots along the way and some interesting unique sights on this road, including some caves that were converted to . The road is truly dangerous. I went through in my truck with a small lift and being really careful and still bashed the rocker panels and got a new exhaust leak. From the KOA to the Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground, RVers rest easy knowing they can make a reservation; have access to showers, running water and RV hookups; and be centrally located to all the Moab fun. I couldnt decided on what to leave as my rating. If youre able to get out to these sites, they are sure to please! We recommend booking Long Canyon Road tours ahead of time to secure your spot. This is a pretty cool drive if you have a stock AWD/4WD high clearance vehicle. In my opinion; the Long Canyon road is one of the most fun, easy, drives in the Moab area. We stopped a couple times to give the brakes a rest. Theres no camping allowed along the first half-mile of the road, but as you drive farther in, youll start to see campsites. Its up to all of us me, you, and all other dispersed campers to keep our public lands open and available to us all by treating them with respect. It was named Pucker Pass by some imaginative Jeepers back in the days when a drive down the canyon was a lot more hair-raising than it is now. Long Canyon Road Dispersed Camping Long Canyon Road dispersed camping is managed by the BLM and has wide open spaces and beautiful views. Be sure to check out our other camping guides in the area: Looking to find more dispersed campsites? Experienced off-roaders will consider this a wide smooth trail with a few bumps and smaller rocks (pucker pass), but a family in a 2wd Rav 4 or Subaru who hasn't experienced steepish rocky terrain might feel a bit worried. As you reach the rim, there are multiple dispersed camp sites on both sides, but camping on the left, right on the rim of the canyon cannot be beat. Expect a rough road surface; mud and sand are possible but will be easily passable. The western 3 miles of the road travel over the flat top of the mesa and will not be discussed here. Once in the national forest, youll notice countless dirt side roads. So if looking for free camping near Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point, these spots are right between the two! 9. I believe paid dispersed camping is currently still allowed at Klondike Bluffs, Willow Springs, and Dalton Wells, but this will likely change as Utahraptor State Park develops the area. Uphill travel has the right of way, but not everyone knows this. This campsite has decent cell signal for most major carriers. ), head to this free spot. Yellow Circle Road is sometimes called Black Ridge Area Dispersed Camping Area.. Expl Williams Bottom Campground and its 17 first-come first-serve campsites are tucked into the side of the Colorado River Canyon on Utah Highway 279 aka "Potash Road" just 15 minutes from downtown Moab. For campground inquiries, please call: 435-259-2100. Today were giving you 7 great free camping options to choose from on your next visit to Moab! Long Canyon Road. Its no longer allowed in many once popular locations while others now charge a nightly fee yes, even for primitive camping with no amenities. Learn how to plan your route, create GPS files, navigate offline, and even print you own maps. The trail signis not e Not many people visit this petroglyph site because of the steep access trail. It might just be one of the prettiest boondocking spots outside of Moab. This will help ensure that theres an open spot and that the road is safe for you to travel with a big rig. Leave your firewood at home buy local firewood at or near your destination. Moab, UT 84532 435-259-2100 Official Website GPS: 38.6431, -109.8183 Add Photos View 38 Photos Overview Q&A Cell Service Reviews (24) Amenities Overview of Lone Mesa Dispersed Camping Never bury human waste here use the pit toilet or pack out your waste, please. Distance to Moab: 18 milesRestrooms:NoWater:NoCrowds: BusyMap. What Is Primitive Camping? I started from the top (hwy 313), because the views are much better (spectacular) and the drive is a lot easier, in my opinion. Beautiful scenery surrounds this area, and the sky puts on a show at sunset and sunrise. The abundance of BLM land along with Manti-La Sal National Forest means there will be a dispersed campsite to suit any needs. The campsites are all tucked away and quite private, and youll be close to the Brides Canyon hiking area here. One requires a high clearance 4x4 vehicle with an experienced driver, and the other is accessible to anyone. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. Distance to Moab: 12.6 milesRestrooms:NoWater:NoCrowds: BusyMap. This list includes all commercial campgrounds in the Moab area.Click here for a list of campgrounds, BLM campgrounds are located in extremely scenic locations and are very well-maintained. This includes properly disposing of human waste. You can also quickly get to Canyonland and Arches NP from this campground, as well as downtown Moab. Long Canyon Road offers some decent dispersed camping near Moab for those willing to drive a bit further. Many of . If you are spending time around Moab, Kane Creek is one of the most convenient places to camp. If you've done any off roading in Moab, this wouldn't even rank. We hope weve provided all of the information you need to plan a Moab dispersed camping trip, and we know youll find the perfect campsite for your upcoming adventure! See our full disclosure.). Moab police officers do enforce the city code that prohibits camping. RVs of any size can easily find a great spot here. 10 Mile Canyon Overlook is a short side trail leading to a fantastic overlook with camping. Human waste is a serious health issue in the backcountry. On May 15, 2022 the Utah Division of State Parks implemented overnight camping fees for areas within the boundaries of Utahraptor State Park, which includes the Dalton Wells and Willow Springs dispersed camping areas. Please explore responsibly! About five miles farther on is the Hal Canyon Campground, with 11 small sites suited for tents; two of these are walk-in sites. The longest RV campers reported at this spot was a 29-foot travel trailer. Get 20% here. Access is never guaranteed, so play it safe. Planning a Utah road trip? The famous Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Dog Friendly: Yes. Closed Sunday, Moab Transfer Station Distance Highest Rated Most Reviews Category. From here look for BLM 340, signed for the Horsethief Campground. Hangout under this massive arch without much of a crowd. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Shafer Trail is a point-to-point trail where you may see local wildlife located near Moab, Utah. So yes an AWD can make it, but I wouldnt recommend it. If camping for free on BLM Land in Moab, portable toilets or human waste bags* are required. Although its very steep with tight hairpin turns, all but the largest RVs and trailers will manage just fine. RV road trippers delight in the selection of easy-in, easy-out Moab RV accommodations. Your email address will not be published. If camping during summer time, heres a few tips and products that can help you stay cool in the heat. Along that wall and on a few fallen slabs are some very nice Petroglyphs. If you plan to camp in Moab, we cant recommend boondocking in this area enough. 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