It’s time to camp among the intriguing landscape and unique rock features of Canyonlands National Park!
Experiencing the rugged cliffs of Canyonlands with a night sky full of stars is an unforgettable experience! Spending a night or two in the park is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the solitude of this wild desert landscape after everyone else has left.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I’m also a Utah native, and so today, I want to help you snag a campsite in Canyonlands National Park. My family loves this park — we visit often and any chance we get! Let’s talk all about camping in Canyonlands.
What You Need to Know About Camping in Canyonlands
- No showers are available while camping in Canyonlands.
- Individual campsites have a group size limit of ten people. If you have a larger group, you will need to book two individual campsites or one of the group campsites.
- Dump stations and RV hookups are not available within Canyonlands National Park.
- You need to bring your own firewood. Wood gathering in the park is prohibited and is not available for purchase in the park. Wood fires can only be burned in the provided fire grates.
- Generators can only be used between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. or from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- The Needles Campground is the only campground with potable water, and it is only available seasonally.
- Summer temperatures in Canyonlands National Park can often be unbearably hot during the day. This area has very few trees and little to no shade, and your tent will likely be in direct sunlight for most of the day.
This article contains information on the frontcountry camping experiences that are available within Canyonlands National Park. In other words, it covers places you can get to with your car! If you’re interested in hike-in backcountry camping options, click here.
The most important thing you need to know about camping in Canyonlands is that this park is separated into districts, and it takes hours to drive between districts. This means looking at a park map and camping in the district nearest the activities you want to accomplish is critical.
You’ll find one frontcountry campground in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, the Island in the Sky Campground (previously called the Willow Flat Campground). The Island in the Sky District is the closest district to Arches National Park and the town of Moab. This is the most-visited district of Canyonlands!
The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is a little further from Moab, but many people make it into a day trip, hoping to hike one of the longer trails here. You’ll find the other frontcountry campground, the Needles Campground, in this district of the park.
There are no frontcountry camping options in the Maze District or along the Green River or the Colorado River.
Getting to the Island in the Sky Campground
The Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat) is 7 miles from the Island in the Sky Entrance Station. You’ll drive 6 miles on the main paved road, Grand View Point Road. Then, you will take a right onto Upheaval Dome Road. Less than half a mile after turning towards Upheaval Dome, you will turn left onto Green River Overlook Road and drive until you reach the campground on your left.
Getting to The Needles Campground
The Needles Campground is less than 4 miles from the Needles entrance station. You’ll follow Highway 211 from the entrance for almost 3 miles until you reach a fork where you will turn left instead of continuing down Highway 211. This will take you to the campground. There are two loops in the Needles Campground, so you’ll follow the sign that marks the direction to the loop where your site is reserved.
It’s important to note that if you have a group campsite, it might be at a different location. The Needles Group Site is in The Needles Campground, the Split Top Group Site is on Cave Springs Road, and the Wooden Shoe Group Site is along the scenic drive near Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook.
How to Get a Campsite in Canyonlands
If you’re hoping to camp in the Island in the Sky Campground, you’ll need to show up first thing in the morning because sites in this campground can only be snatched up on a first-come, first-served basis! Even though this campground is in the most-visited and easy-to-access district of Canyonlands, it only has 12 sites.
Get here early, find a vacant campsite (or one that will be vacated that day), pay, and put the paper stub on the campsite to show that it’s been spoken for! This campground is open year-round but is the busiest from late March through October.
To camp in the Needles Campground, head to Recreation.gov 6 months in advance if you are camping between March 15 – November 15 to reserve a campsite in Loop B. If you can’t get an advance reservation on recreation.gov, you can get to the park early to snag a first-come, first-served site in Loop A.
If you’re visiting Canyonlands during the peak season and can’t find a campsite inside the park, you should consider camping in the Moab area. We like camping along Highway 128, Highway 279, Dead Horse Point State Park, or Arches National Park. Staying in any of these places will provide easy access to the Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground. For the Needles, you’ll find camping near Monticello or at the Needles Outpost.
Campgrounds in Canyonlands National Park
Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground
This is a primitive campground near the Green River Overlook in Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky District. Staying here provides easy access to some of the most popular sights in Canyonlands, such as Mesa Arch, Grand View Point, and the White Rim Road.
This campground has picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire rings but no running water. You’ll need to go to the visitor center to get potable water. Although the campground is open year-round, water is only available at the visitor center from spring through fall. You’re in a high desert environment, so expect big temperature swings year-round (hot summers and cold winters)! Shade structures are built over the picnic tables to provide relief from the hot daytime temperatures during the summer.
Open Season: Year-round
Maximum RV Length: 28 feet
Generators: Ok from 8-10 a.m. and 4-8 p.m. only
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: No
Fee: $15
Number of Sites: 12 individual sites
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Canyonlands’ Pet Policy
Restrooms: Pit toilets available
Wheelchair Accessibility: One accessible site and nearby pit toilet
Planning a trip to Canyonlands can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Canyonlands Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Needles Campground
This campground is tucked beautifully among the needle formations that gave this district its name. Camping here provides easy access to some of the best long day hikes in Canyonlands, such as the Druid Arch Trail, the Chesler Park Loop, and the Joint Trail, which all start at the nearby Elephant Hill Trailhead.
Sites here have picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, and running water (seasonal), so you’ll have a few more comforts here than at the Island in the Sky campground. You’ll love the breathtaking scenery in this off-the-beaten-path district of Canyonlands!
Open Season: Year-round
Maximum RV Length: 28 feet
Generators: Ok from 8-10 a.m. and 4-8 p.m. only
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Individual sites in Loop B can be reserved 6 months in advance for dates between March 15 – November 15. Loop A is on a first-come, first-served basis. Group sites can be reserved for March 15-November 15 and are closed in winter. Click here to check availability.
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 26 individual and 3 group sites
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Canyonlands’ Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets and potable water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Two accessible sites
Now that you’ve taken a look at your camping options, are you ready to make sure you don’t miss any of the best sights in the park?
Click NEXT to learn about the 12 things you can’t miss on your first visit!
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