Utah Camping advice

[Mimitjc@gmail.com]

We are planning a trip to the National Parks in Utah in late May or early June. I looked on the NPS site and it is overwhelming trying to figure out where to camp with our 16 ft Fun Finder. Actually some of the NPS areas are already full. Any ideas for great camping and access to the parks out side the parks - maybe one of the National Forests campsites? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[seismo101]

If you planning on going to Moab, Arches Nat. Park, there a lots of campsites around there as well as koa, and other pay sites. You can camp along the colorado river but you will be boondocking.

Bryce Canyon Ruby's inn full hookups.

 

[Rocky Mtn marmot]

Utah camping

I never stay in a regular campground in Utah, I always boondock, or what the Gov't agencies call 'dispersed camping'. You can boondock on national forest and BLM land for free, but there are no facilities and no hookups. You would watch for gas stations that have dump facilities. Some private campgrounds may allow you to dump and fill up water for a small fee when you are not camping there. Popular boondocking areas, like along the river outside of Moab do fill up so you may have to go farther into the public lands to find a spot. This works well if you have a small rig, those with big rigs may find boondocking more challenging. especially if you have to turn around in the boonies to find a spot elsewhere. Using Google Earth can be helpful.

 

[randyjames]

Most beautiful campsite in the US is Kodachrome Basin. Full hookups and between Bryce and Moab. Get up early and watch the sun come over the red rock cliffs. You'll remember it your whole life.

 

[Rocky Mtn marmot]

Can you say what parks you hope to visit?

 

[profdant139]

Someone mentioned Kodachrome -- wonderful place, not too far from Bryce. Here is a blog post -- lots of photos:

https://lookmomwerecamping.blogspot.com/2014/11/utah-rocks-and-stars-november-2014.html

 

[Mimitjc@gmail.com]

Looking at a map, we see Cayonlands, Escalante, Bears Ears, Corral Reef and on and on. We don't know which to visit. We've got 4 nights reserved at Bryce and are hoping to use it as a base to see things around us like Zion but not sure it's a day trip. It is as the crow flies but driving mountain roads could be a lot different.

 

[Mimitjc@gmail.com]

Beautiful. And where is this from Bryce? Thank you.

 

[randyjames]

About 90 miles from Bryce, east and south. Dirt road some of the way.

 

[profdant139]

Don't take the dirt road from Bryce/Kodachrome to the southernmost part of Utah -- too rough for most RVs. There are paved alternatives -- longer in miles, shorter in time, less risk of damage to the trailer.

The other issue is that the dirt roads in Utah turn into glue whenever it rains. It's fun if you are an expert four-wheeler, which I am not. (I would probably be classified as an intermediate four wheeler. I can handle many rough roads (slowly), but not deep mud or deep sand.)

 

[randyjames]

The dirt road part from Bryce to Kodachrome is good for about any vehicle in dry weather (which it is about 330 days a year).

 

[profdant139]

Yes, but the road beyond Kodachrome can get really rough. I think they grade the road once a year, and then the potholes and ruts re-form during wet weather.