Camping in Lake Powell
Camp, swim, and boat against epic natural backdrops at this Colorado River reservoir.
- Lake Powell
Popular camping styles for Lake Powell
Available this weekend
Under $50
9 top campgrounds in Lake Powell
Dog-friendly getaways
Star Hosts in Lake Powell
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Camping in Lake Powell guide
Overview
On the Colorado River at the border with Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell has long been a popular vacation spot. The lake attracts visitors from around the world with its fantastic views, ample recreation opportunities, and proximity to many of the most popular national parks in the Southwest, including Zion National Park in Utah and Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Popular activities include swimming, boating, and fishing, and there are all sorts of outfitters in the area—most based in the nearby city of Page—where campers can rent watersports equipment or sign up for lessons.
Where to go
Lake Powell, Page, and Around
The area around Lake Powell offers fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation, from taking in the iconic views at Horseshoe Bend to exploring the otherworldly sandstone slots at Antelope Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon. The area is also rich with petroglyphs, while those in search of an active vacation will find plenty of opportunities to hike and kayak. While many people visiting the area stay in one of the many hotels right in the city of Page, there are also plenty of spots to camp, from private spots to National Park Service-run options such as Lees Ferry Campground and the Lone Rock Beach Primitive Camping Area
Southwest Utah
If you're in the Lake Powell region and want to see some epic views, it's worth popping over to southwest Utah, where you'll find some of the most incredible natural areas in the Southwest, if not the country. Standout highlights include Bryce Canyon National Park, with its towering hoodoo-style rocks, and Zion National Park, offering beautiful views and seemingly endless opportunities for hiking and camping.
Grand Canyon Country
South of Lake Powell sits Arizona's star attraction, the Grand Canyon National Park. While this iconic natural formation is reason alone to visit the region, it's not always easy to secure a campsite, and you may wish to travel further south to the Coconino National Forest, where ponderosa pine groves and high elevations create a cool environment that's ideal for summer camping trips.
The Navajo Nation
Stretching over a vast expanse of northeastern Arizona (along with a bit of Utah and New Mexico, the Navajo Nation is the largest Native American Tribal area in the country. Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado meet at what's affectionately (and officially) dubbed the Four Corners, and while the monument of the same name is worth visiting for the novelty factor, there's plenty more to experience in this region. Popular points of interest include Monument Valley, the Petrified National Forest, the Painted Desert, and the Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
