Where to Camp Around Moab

I'll be in Moab climbing around Sept 28-October 5th - first time.  There are tons of camping options - are there any "climber" campgrounds like a Miguels at the red river gorge, or anything similar?  Any suggestions? A shower might be necessary...

No climber campgrounds, but there are plenty of BLM campgrounds with pit toilets along highway 128 (aka River Road) and Kane Creek for $15/night.  If you don't want to pay and are willing to drive to town to poop or use wag bags, you can stay on Willow Springs Road 10 miles north of town.  Shower at the aquatic center or one of the other facilities the library lists in their bathroom.  You can also stay at one of the many RV "campgrounds" in and around town; they often include showers.

No dedicated "climber campground" like Miguels. Probably the closest thing is the Castleton Tower parking/camping lot and the campgrounds down in the Creek. For showers, I use the Moab rec center. $5 gets you high pressure hot water, great for washing the Wingate dust out of your hair.

Thanks - this is super helpful.

I like camping up on dead horse point, which you can reach by going up long canyon or going around through canyonlands.

I haven't been for there for a while, but on two previous trips stayed here:

Lions Back Camp Park
Sandflats Rd
435-259-7954

http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/lodging/campgrounds_private.php

It was a great spot just south of the Lion's Back (cool sandstone formation morons at least attempt to climb in their ORVs, sometimes with tragic results). Very basic (bring your tent and stove, although there are great dining options in town), with an outhouse and 600' deep well for water. Just drive into the desert and pick a spot. A big bonus are the great showers and it's quite cool shaving with nothing but sandstone in the mirror background. Super cheap, too ($5/night including shower, which itself was $1 à la carte), but that was years ago. Just head east out of town on E. Mill Creek Dr. and bear left onto Sand Flats Rd., which will go past what I believe they call "the world's most scenic garbage dump." The road heads north and the campground is on the left just before the road kicks east (the alternative being to run into a sandstone wall). If you go past Sand Flats Recreation Area (camping there also), you've overshot. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sand+Flats+Recreation+Area/@38.5721367,-109.5278856,1776m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8747e19d114a3465:0x307e0c3d5b602ba7!8m2!3d38.5764609!4d-109.5186506!5m1!1e1

BtW, Moab has some of the most amazing mountain biking on the planet, but it's not for the novice (some of it's "accessible" but other stuff is like 5.12R). Check out http://www.mbpost.com/moab-utah/261891 and have fun! 

If you're at Indian Creek, there are NPS campgrounds in Canyonlands that are nice and pretty close. A bit expensive but they have showers (and lots of RVs).

The backcountry sites in Canyonlands are really nice but no facilities and require backpacking

Jim Fox wrote:

If you're at Indian Creek, there are NPS campgrounds in Canyonlands that are nice and pretty close. A bit expensive but they have showers (and lots of RVs).

The NPS campground in the Needles district does not have showers, nor does the CG at Island in the Sky.

Jim Fox wrote:

If you're at Indian Creek, there are NPS campgrounds in Canyonlands that are nice and pretty close. A bit expensive but they have showers (and lots of RVs).

The backcountry sites in Canyonlands are really nice but no facilities and require backpacking

Watching the sunset and waking up to sunrise at one of the Chessler Park campsites is a magical experience.

There aren't showers at the NPS campgrounds in the Needles District, but there's running water that you can load into a solar shower or just dump a jug over your head in the parking lot. The Needles Outpost Store has showers you can pay for, as well as gas (at about $4-5 a gallon last I remember) and a small selection of snacks (like Klondike bars). Oh what I'd do for a Klondike bar in the desert.

Matt Zia wrote:

The Needles Outpost Store has showers you can pay for, as well as gas (at about $4-5 a gallon last I remember)...

It was $6.50 a year ago.

 ...and a small selection of snacks (like Klondike bars).

They actually have quite a bit more, meaning enough to make up entire meals.

Marc801 C wrote:

They actually have quite a bit more, meaning enough to make up entire meals.

Marc speaks the truth. 

The ice cream is really all I care about

Marc801 C wrote:

The NPS campground in the Needles district does not have showers, nor does the CG at Island in the Sky.

My bad. I've never stayed in the car camping areas there but they look nice. Guess I just assumed they had showers. 

I've backpacked and stayed in various backcountry sites there and it's an amazing place to spend the night (but no showers)

1. Manzana Farm used to host Wwoofers. They have a cabin and allowed guests to shower in their home. Maybe there's a place to truck camp off of Potash Rd?  Headed out towards corona arch. 

back potash rd there is the gold bar campground that has a pretty big parking lot, might be ok to park there for the night if your incognito ?  castleton has a decent sized parking lot and i have seen a few people camping out of there truck there.

me and my wife will be out there end of sept 24-29th we are taking our jeep out and most likely staying on sand flats road or possibly back kane creek. we have a trailer so need a spot :(

i have one of those eccotemp showers and a water tank setup we will be using for showers.... but camping out of our pickup also

the lions back campground mentioned above was closed 

October is a SHIT SHOW in moab. You will NOT be able to find good/close/cool campsites. People posting about the hidden gems need to remember that they are hidden for a reason and telling people where they are should be done through a private message. 

grog m aka Greg McKee wrote:

October is a SHIT SHOW in moab. You will NOT be able to find good/close/cool campsites. People posting about the hidden gems need to remember that they are hidden for a reason and telling people where they are should be done through a private message. 

And all of the BLM river campgrounds people have mentioned have a daily fee. Also, there is no legal camping on Potash Road other than or beyond the BLM campgrounds.

Here's the link the OP needs:

http://www.discovermoab.com/campgrounds_blm.htm

And pay special attention to this map:

I like camping along Potash Road right outside Moab. You can hike to about 200 climbing routes on "Wall Street" right from your campsite!

Always amazes me how uncreative people are when trying to find camping in the middle of the desert. Anyhow - there are like a dozen places you can get a shower in town - I prefer the Aquatic Center - last I went was $4 and was unlimited time. Places like Poison Spider bike shop are about $5 but the time is limited...the campground/gas station place near gearheads is about $6 but also unlimited time...

Matt Pierce wrote:

Always amazes me how uncreative people are when trying to find camping in the middle of the desert.

But it isn't the "middle of the desert" - it's Moab and the immediate surrounding area; a surrounding area that is one of the most heavily used in the state, with associated restrictions. And, due to the best temperatures of the year, one of the highest visitation times as well. It can be a little like trying to find a campsite in Yosemite.

Marc801 C wrote:

But it isn't the "middle of the desert" - it's Moab and the immediate surrounding area; a surrounding area that is one of the most heavily used in the state, with associated restrictions. And, due to the best temperatures of the year, one of the highest visitation times as well. It can be a little like trying to find a campsite in Yosemite.

I guess I see your point but here is what I am trying to say. I regularly camp ~8-10 miles out of town and find MANY good spots that are legal. I revisit them year round and they are always open - always amazes me how HWY128 and other local locales are totally packed (including the "campsites" right in town) yet these spots are always free and easy) If people would just get a little creative and drive just a LITTLE ways out of town there is plenty of great quiet legal camping...

If you're looking for a quick respite from camping, check out the Lazy Lizard hostel... $13 a night for a bed with showers, cold AC, and a kitchen.  Bunch of like-minded outdoorsy people from all over the world.