The best camping near Canyonlands National Park

Will you be one of the lucky people to snag one of 38 campsites located within Utah’s Canyonlands National Park? This vast desert landscape has been carved in intricate ways by the Colorado River, creating an epic natural playground for mountain biking, boating, rafting, and stargazing amid sandstone towers and deep canyons. Across the park’s three vast districts, the NPS operates two campgrounds with maintained campsites for tents and RVs, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails are found in the park, with many trailheads accessible from the campgrounds. Backcountry camping is also allowed. Or, venture just outside the park into Moab, nearby BLM lands, or Dead Horse Point State Park to find more camping options.

• Best for views of the Green River Overlook: One of Canyonlands National Park’s most famous viewpoints is easily accessible from the Island in the Sky / Willow Flat Campground. 
• Best for accessibility: Island in the Sky / Willow Flat Campground is closer to Moab and is less remote than The Needles region.
• Best for reservable campsites: The Needles Campground’s individual sites are reservable during peak seasons. 
• Best for group camping: The Needles Campground has 3 group campsites.

• Island in the Sky Campground is open year-round. Sites are non-reservable.
• The Needles Campground (formerly known as Squaw Flat Campground) has one loop open year round. Some sites in Loop B are reservable through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance during peak seasons, which run mid-March through May and September through October.
• First-come-first-serve campsites generally fill by noon each day. Departure time is 10am for campers leaving the park, so arrive early for the best selection. Visitors sometimes start scouting spots as early as sunrise.

Canyonlands National Park is located in Utah’s high desert. Summertime temperatures may top 100°F. Fall and spring are the busiest seasons, with more moderate daytime temperatures. Special care needs to be taken for sun protection and drinking water. No matter the time of year, nights are much cooler than the day, dropping as much as 40 degrees. Campers can expect freezing weather in winter, with lows potentially dropping below 0°F.

• Backpackers and hikers must carry drinking water, as water sources are not reliably found in the backcountry.
• The greater Moab region is home to several RV parks with hookups for campers. Partial hookups are also available at Kayenta Campground at Dead Horse Point State Park.
• Parts of the park are very remote. The Maze is only accessible by foot, while other parts of the park require four-wheel drive. Permits are required for some access.
• Potable water is available at The Needles Campground but not at Island in the Sky Campground. Both visitor centers offer potable water. While both campgrounds offer vault toilets, neither has showers. The Needles campground has flush toilets available. Neither offers a dump station or hookups.
• Cell signals are limited in the park, but wifi is offered at the visitor centers. Make sure to download park maps or pick up physical copies for navigating this large park.