What is the Best Place to Camp in Arches National Park?

Camping in the Arches National Park is the experience that will have you gasping in amazement. Pure black sky, with the stars of the Milky Way twinkling back at you and the sounds of nature filling up your senses. It’s the red rock desert experience that we’d highly recommend that everyone adds to their bucket list.

As the name suggests, this place is home to more than 2000 sandstone arches which range in size and color. From the Devil’s Arch to the Delicate Arch to the Landscape Arch as well as huge rock formations that tower over the desert and remind you exactly where you are.

To help you discover the best campsite and experience for you in this place of outstanding natural beauty, we’ve gathered together our favorite campgrounds right in the Arches National Park and further afield. Enjoy!

Campgrounds inside Arches National Park

Devil’s Garden Campground

Devil’s Garden Campground is hidden deep within the national park itself. It is surrounded by those majestic arches and exactly where you want to be when you visit the park. Stay here for the spine-tingling sunrises and sunsets, and the feeling that you’re really getting away from the chaos of everyday life.

With 51 campsites and 2 group sites, you can enjoy this back-to-basics ‘real’ camping experience out in the wilds. You will have to drive 18 miles off the main road to get here, but wow the journey really is an experience in itself!

There aren’t hookups at this campground but there are good facilities including pit and flush toilets, generators which run for a few hours per day and they’ll even allow you to bring your dog.

Although they’re open all year round, be sure to make a reservation if you want to stay here between March and October as it can get pretty busy.

Find out more about Devil’s Garden Campground here.

Campgrounds outside Arches National Park

Whilst Devil’s Garden is the only place inside Arches National Park to camp, there are plenty of other campgrounds nearby that can help you enjoy your trip to the max and enjoy more of what Moab and the surrounding area have to offer. Here are our favorites:

Desert Moon Campground

The Desert Moon Campground certainly isn’t the type of place where you get out into the wilds. But it is a very convenient place for laying your head when everywhere around you is booked up or you want to camp but don’t want to ‘rough it’ too much.

This tiny little campground is about 30-40 minutes’ drive into Moab, it only offers 15 sites and it’s located just behind a hotel in a really quiet part of town.

What we love the most is the friendly reception, plus the wide variety of facilities on offer here, including toilets, electricity and sewage hookups, potable water, showers, picnic tables, and even WIFI! You can bring your pets if you like and even enjoy a campfire for that real camping feeling.

Find out more about Desert Moon Campground here.

Canyonlands RV Resort and Campground

If you want to enjoy some breath-taking views with a bit of luxury thrown in, go and check out the Canyonlands National Park.

Located just 10 minutes from the Arches National Park, where you can enjoy swimming in the gated pool area, hiking around the amazing property or even taking it easy and relaxing away from home.

With WIFI, free parking and tent sites, pull-thru RV sites and even cabin rentals on offer, you’ll find the perfect camping solution for you right here. It’s open from March to October, so you’ll have to make a reservation if you want to stay here.

Find out more about Canyonlands RV Resort and Campground here.

Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground

Close to the Arches National Park, just 6 miles from Mesa Arch, and 6.5 miles from North Window, this campground and RV park offer stunning views of the mountains and gardens and it’s perfectly placed for your any adventures that take your fancy.

There are plenty of facilities here too including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a shared bathroom, free WIFI, a launderette, a bathroom, and even a children’s playground and life-sizes chessboard for you to enjoy.

Offering tent sites, RV sites or vacation rentals and open all year- this is one of the fail-safe Arches National Park campsites you should visit. Make sure you check out their stunning photographs on their website for a better idea of what’s on offer.

Find out more about Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground here.

Slickrock Campground

Offering plenty of shade to keep you cool (or sun if that’s more your style!), full RV hookups, cable TV, free WIFI, a heated pool, a laundry service, a playground, showers, and even a store where you can get restocked or buy souvenirs for back home, the Slick Rock Campground has got it made!

Just a mile south of the Colorado River, this is the place to visit if you’re an adult looking for a break away from it all but with some of the comforts of home. Sadly, they don’t allow campfires, but they do allow pets.

Find out more about Slick Rock Campground here.

Up The Creek Campground

Describing itself as “your desert oasis for downtown Moab camping”, the Up the Creek Campground is one of the quietest on this list and perhaps one of the best.

Nestled under some gorgeous cooling trees and just a couple of blocks away from Main Street, Moab, it’s hard to believe how close you are to the center.

With just 18 campsites, it’s a cozy place where you can pitch your tent or choose their glamping option. It’s not a place suitable for kids under 3 and they don’t accept dogs or campfires but it’s still a great place to lay your head when you want to experience what Moab has to offer.

Find out more about Up the Creek Campground here.

Whether you want to be right in the heart of Arches National Park or closer to the convenience and facilities of Moab and surrounding area, you’re traveling with a family or grown-ups only or you just want to enjoy the peace and calm, you’re guaranteed to find a great camping ground for you in this list.

The only question is, which one will you choose?

Learn more about 13 Best National Parks for Camping and Hiking.