4 Free Camping Locations in Utah
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My goal when traveling is to be able to camp for free. My philosophy is the less I spend on camping the more I can spend on fun activities that we can do as a family. Camping fees can really add up especially if you camp at a location with a lot of amenities. Now camping at campgrounds is still way cheaper than a hotel. But FREE, is even cheaper!
The state of Utah offers a wide range of things to do such as visiting the 5 National Parks (yes 5!!), 4X4 Jeep and ATV tours, rafting trips on the Colorado River, hiking, horseback riding and so much more. You could spend at least a couple weeks or more exploring this state.
4 Free camping locations in Utah
Each of these four camping locations are less than an hour to a National Park, depending on traffic.
Utah also has a lot of BLM lands to boondock on giving you lots of options to chose from and many different lands to explore. If you haven’t been to Utah you need to add this state to your bucket list.
This state is home to 5 National Parks
Canyonlands National Park
Capital Reef National Park
Free Boondocking Locations
I have found Four FREE camping locations in Utah that I wanted to share with you. Each of these locations I have personally stayed at and recommend. The area is subject to change over time due to weather, time of year and overall care of others who use the land. We have stayed at each of these locations in the summer months only.
1) North Kolob Terrace Road in Virgin
This is about 22 minutes from Zion National Park. It was a very nice and quiet spot. There were a few other campers in the area but everyone kept to themselves. The area is sandy but nothing I was concerned about getting stuck in (take traction boards just to be safe). Definitely a good find and really close to Zion National Park.
This is BLM land and is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.
Amenities: Rock fire ring, shade trees.
GPS: 37.22033, -113.16161 or GPS: 37.21179, -113.17602
2) Manti-La Sal National Forest in Moab
This was on a winding paved road except for the camp site pull-offs which are gravel. This location was very quiet at night. There were several spots where you could camp in a group or find a secluded spot to yourself. When we entered this area later in the day it was pretty full with lots of campers. While in this location we took a 4X4 U-Drive Hell’s Revenge tour. It was a great experience. Check out more details on our 4X4 tour HERE. You are only about 33 minutes from Arches National Park.
This location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservation needed.
Amenities: Rock fire ring only
GPS: 38.47056, -109.36281. This GPS is to a general location. There are several areas to camp at along this road.
Cell Signal: None, Verizon
3) Willis Creek Road in Kanab
This was a beautiful location overlooking mountains. The drive to this location was quite scary in several places. There is no cell signal on this drive which made me nervous for fear of getting stuck and unable to call for help. There is a sign that states 4 wheel drive recommended but we did fine in our camperVan. Some areas were sandy and narrow so please use caution. I wouldn’t take this trip if it had been raining. GPS took us 1 hour on this road but on our way out the following day we were only on the road briefly and then onto a hard surface road. I wish I would have known about that so I didn’t have to be on this dirt/gravel/sandy road for an hour the day before. This spot is located about 47 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park.
Do I recommend this location? I would not go there again because of the drive/roads being so sandy but the view was beautiful and if you have 4 wheel drive it would be a great location. There is a cliff next to the campsite so be careful with young children and pets.
This location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.
Amenities: Rock fire ring, mountain view, shade trees
GPS: 37.49401, -112.10456
Cell Signal: Yes, Verizon
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4) N Bridge Sheep Road W in Virgin
This spot is located off a gravel road. This area had many different camping spots along N Bridge Sheep Road W. You could camp as a group or by yourself. We did see a couple other campers but they were far enough away you couldn’t hear them. I didn’t have any concerns with getting stuck in this area. There are several cars that drive through this area so there is some traffic noise. I loved this location and would definitely stay here again! This spot is about 25 minutes to Zion National Park.
My maps said we were in Virgin UT but some of the apps say this is located in La Verkin in Hurricane Cliffs Recreational Area BLM land.
Camping is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.
Amenities: rock fire ring, mountain view. No trees for shade.
GPS: 37.18582, -113.22221
Cell Signal: Yes, Verizon
Utah has a lot of boondocking locations available. You can research more locations through the APPS listed below. I also get a lot of my locations from others on Instagram, I often see others post about boondocking locations so I add those places to my list for camping at in the future.
APPS I use to help find bookdocking locations
FreeRoam
Showers and Laundry Facilities
In our CamperVan I only have portable shower bags to wash our hair with. This works well but it is nice to be able to take an actual shower once in a while. We were able to take advantage of showers and laundry facilities while we were at Bryce Canyon National Park. The laundry facility only takes quarters and dimes and I believe we spent about $1.50 per wash and slightly less per dryer. Showers were $3 per person and run on a timer for 8 minutes. Tokens for the showers can be purchased at the General Store. These two conveniences are available from 9am to 6pm daily. The General Store also has emergency camping supplies, fire wood, socks, rain poncho, souvenirs and grocery items. You do not have to be camping within this National Park to use these facilities.
A few necessary items for boondocking
WEN Generator - I use my generator a lot and it has been very dependable. This model is comparable to a Honda generator and is very quiet and much cheaper.
Traction Boards - I have never had to use these (thank goodness) but I am glad I have them just in case.
6-Gallon water Jugs - I have a foot pump system to pump water to our sink in the van. This allows us to wash our hands or food as needed. I have an extra jug I carry also full of water for a backup.
Flashlights
Solar Portable Shower bag - We used these often to wash our hair or the sand/dirt off of our feet.
As we continue to camp I will update this page if we find anymore camping locations in Utah. If you have a favorite place to camp in Utah please comment below.
You can also find other FREE camping locations across the US on our other blog post HERE.
Although there are challenges to boondocking, all of the memories and time spent together as a family are worth it! I would love to hear about your boondocking experiences and what some of your favorite places to camp are. Feel free to email me or comment below.
Enjoy the journey,
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