Updated July 2024

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Free camping locations in Utah

Exploring Utah’s breathtaking landscapes doesn’t have to break the bank and thanks to the abundance of free boondocking locations throughout the state this allows for some magical camping destinations. Free boondocking locations offers an affordable way to experience the beautiful state of Utah while keeping your accommodation costs down. I always figure the less I spend on camping costs, the more I can spend on activities for my family.

These camping locations are close to iconic national parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches and provide the perfect spot for adventurers looking to immerse themselves in nature without the expense of traditional campgrounds.

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! Allow me to show you our favorite boondocking locations across Utah.

This beautiful state is home to 5 National Parks

The state of Utah offers a wide range of activities 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. If you haven’t been to Utah, you definitely need to add this state to your bucket list.

Free Boondocking Locations

I 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 for your reference.

At the end of this post, I have listed other boondocking locations in Utah that are on my list of places to stay. These locations we have not stayed at but would the next time we are in the area.

1) North Kolob Terrace Road in Virgin

Location: North Kolob Terrace Road is located about 22 minutes from Zion National Park.

This boondocking location offered stunning views of the surrounding mountains and was a very quiet spot to camp. There were a few other campers in the area, but everyone kept to themselves. The area is sandy so before you park, get out and check the area to make sure you won’t get stuck. Definitely a good find and really close to Zion National Park.

This is BLM land and is FREE to camp at for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: Rock fire ring, shade trees, mountain views

GPS: 37.22033, -113.16161 or GPS: 37.21179, -113.17602

Needed items: traction boards

2) Manti-La Sal National Forest in Moab

Location: Manti-La Sal is located in Moab and is only about 33 minutes from Arches National Park and 24 minutes to Moab Tourism Center.

This camp spot is located on a winding paved road except for the camp site pull-offs which are gravel. This location was very quiet and peaceful at night and had an amazing view of the dark stary night sky. There were several spots where you could camp either in a group or you can find a secluded spot to yourself. When we entered this area later in the day it was pretty full of campers throughout the area. We drove quite a way to find an open spot.

While in this area we took a 4X4 U-Drive Hell’s Revenge tour in Moab. It was a great experience and I highly recommend you take a tour with Moab Tourism Center where you can experience the thrills of driving your own 4x4 through the mountains of Moab. Located 33 minutes from Arches National Park, you can spend some time in the stunning natural beauty and unique geological formations

This boondocking location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservation needed.

Amenities: Rock fire ring

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

Location: Willis Creek Road, located in Kanab, was a beautiful location overlooking the mountains and is located about 47 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park.

The drive to this location was quite scary in several places as some areas are quite sandy, narrow and steep so use caution when traveling this route. 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 along this road that states 4-wheel drive is recommended but I took a risk, and we did fine in our campervan. Several places where it looked pretty sandy, I drove faster through that area to avoid getting stuck. I wouldn’t take this trip if it had been raining and although we made it to the boondocking locations, I am not sure I would risk it again.

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.

Do I recommend this location? I would not go there again because of the drive/roads being so sandy but the view was absolutely 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.

Located near Bryce Canyon National Park, this park provides an incredible array of unique geological formations and stunning vistas. This park has the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world ranging in vibrant colors from red, orange, and white making this location a must-see while in the area.

This boondocking 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 at the boondocking location but limited to none on the drive to this spot.

Needed items: traction boards

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4) N Bridge Sheep Road W in Virgin

Location: N Bridge Sheep Road W located in Virgin is about 25 minutes to Zion National Park.

This boondocking location is located off a gravel road. This area had many different camping spots along N Bridge Sheep Road W and was located right next to the road. 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 the road at night so there is some traffic noise. I loved this location and would definitely stay here again! Check out The Narrows at Zion National Park when in the area.

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.

This boondocking location 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

Boondocking locations we have not stayed at but recommend

The following boondocking locations we have not personally stayed at, but they are on my list of places to stay when were in Utah again. I found these locations on iOverlander and Campendium and they have good reviews at the time of inquiry (2024). Please check the area for safety prior to staying.

1) Oak Grove Road in Washington

Location: This campsite on Oak Grove Road is a smaller campsite located next to the road and tends to be a popular location. People report there are 3 camping spots along Oak Grove Road near Silver Rim Trailhead. There is a small creek nearby for natural element sounds and beautiful mountain views.

This boondocking location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: rock fire pit, minimal shade, mountain view, beautiful sunset

GPS: 37.26372, -113.36856

Apps: iOverlander (Dispersed campsite 1)

2) S South Creek Road W in Monticello

Location: This beautiful campsite is located in Monticello off of S South Creek Road W in the Manti-La Sal National Forest by the Abajo Corrals and offers beautiful mountain views in a grassy field.

This boondocking location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: rock fire pit, grassy plains, mountain views

GPS: 37.83526, -109.38144

App: Campendium (Abajo Corrals Dispersed Camping)

3) Valley of Gods Road in Mexican Hat

Location: This Valley of Gods Road campsite is located in Mexican Hat. This is located along a very bumpy road that takes you to an amazing boondocking location with spectacular views. This is one of the most beautiful looking spots to camp at that will leave you wanting to stay for a long time. There are several spots to camp at along this long road.

This location is 52 minutes from Forrest Gump Point and 1 hour 40 minutes from Four Corners National Monument.

This boondocking location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: Beautiful dark stary night skies. No fires allowed.

GPS: 37.31580, -109.85104. This is one location, there are multiple locations along this route.

App: Campendium (Valley of the Gods Dispersed Camping), iOverlander (Valley of the Gods)

4) Pole Canyon Road in Moab

Location: Located on Pole Canyon Road in Moab this location has the most amazing snowy mountain views. This spot is located 3.3 miles from the highway on a bumpy dirt road. There are multiple campsites along this road. This camp spot is located 33 minutes from Arches National Park and 23 minutes from Moab Tourism Center where you can experience a thrilling 4x4 U-drive experience.

This boondocking location is FREE for up to 14 days. No reservations needed.

Amenities: mountain views

GPS: 38.40118, -109.39997

App: iOverlander (BLM area on cliff edge with mountain view)

Cell signal: zero/no Verizon

APPS I use to find boondocking locations

Utah has a lot of boondocking locations available. You can research more locations through the APPS listed below to find the perfect location for your camping needs. I also get a lot of my boondocking 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.

FreeRoam

Showers and Laundry Facilities

In our Campervan I use a portable shower bag to wash our hair since we do not have a shower in our van. 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 visiting 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, firewood, socks, rain poncho, souvenirs and grocery items. You do not have to be camping within this National Park to use these facilities. (2022 prices)

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 always carry 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 use these often to wash our hair or the sand/dirt off of our feet.
Road Atlas - we have had to pull out the road atlas a couple of times while traveling when we lost cell signal. It is always good to have one handy just in case.
Outdoor rocker camping chair - the perfect chair to relax in after a long day of traveling.
Camco portable toilet - our van does not have a bathroom area, so we carry a portable toilet to use in emergencies.
RTIC 45-quart cooler - perfect for storing refrigerated food in while traveling.
Camper coloring book - the perfect coloring book I created to pass the time as you are enjoying the mountain views.

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As we continue to camp, I will update this page with new camping locations in Utah. If you have a favorite place to boondock in Utah, please comment below. I know some people get frustrated when others share boondocking locations but most of the spots I talk about can be found on travel apps so you could find these locations either way. Please remember to take out what you pack in and always leave a camp site better than how you found it so others can continue to enjoy these beautiful spots as well.