Arches National Park near Moab in eastern Utah holds more than 2,000 natural stone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch on the state's license plate. Sleeping inside or just outside the park lets you catch sunrise at Delicate Arch and stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the country. But options are limited and fill fast, so planning your Arches National Park camping ahead of time is essential.
Devils Garden Campground: The Only Campground Inside the Park
Arches has just one developed campground, Devils Garden, located 18 miles inside the park at the end of the main scenic drive. Its 51 sites are tucked among red rock fins and slickrock, with picnic tables, fire grates, and potable water but no showers or hookups. Because it is the only in-park option, it books out months ahead. Reservations are required from roughly March through October and are released on a rolling six-month window through Recreation.gov. The trailhead for the Devils Garden hike to Landscape Arch starts right at the campground, which is a major perk.
BLM Camping Near Moab
If Devils Garden is full, the Bureau of Land Management runs a string of campgrounds along Highway 128 beside the Colorado River and along Highway 313 toward Canyonlands. These include Goose Island, Drinks Canyon, and Hittle Bottom, most first-come, first-served with vault toilets and fire rings. They are cheap, scenic, and only 10 to 20 minutes from the Arches entrance. There is also dispersed free camping on BLM land farther out, though Moab's popularity means designated sites fill quickly on weekends.
Private Campgrounds and RV Parks in Moab
The town of Moab, five minutes from the park entrance, has several private campgrounds and RV parks with showers, laundry, pools, and full hookups. These are the most comfortable option if you are traveling by RV or want amenities after a hot day of hiking.
Best Time to Camp at Arches
Spring and fall are by far the best seasons for camping at Arches. Daytime highs in April, May, September, and October sit in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, with cool nights perfect for sleeping. Summer brings brutal heat over 100 degrees with little shade, making tent camping uncomfortable. Winter is quiet and cold but offers solitude and a chance at snow-dusted arches.
Camping Tips for Arches
- Book Devils Garden early: Reservations open six months out and the campground sells out almost immediately for peak months.
- Bring all your water: The desert is dry and there are no stores inside the park.
- Watch for the timed-entry system: Arches uses seasonal timed-entry reservations to enter the park during peak hours, separate from camping reservations.
- Beat the heat: Hike Delicate Arch and Devils Garden at sunrise or sunset, not midday.
- Protect the cryptobiotic soil: Stay on trails and slickrock to preserve the fragile living crust.
Pairing Arches with Canyonlands
Arches sits just 30 minutes from the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, so most travelers base in or near Moab and visit both. The dark skies here are spectacular for night photography around Balanced Rock and Garden of Eden.
Arches and Canyonlands are the eastern anchor of Utah's park loop. To connect them with Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef on a single road trip, follow our Utah Mighty Five road trip itinerary, which includes lodging and camping suggestions for each leg.
