Free Camping in Utah
Discover 49 free and dispersed camping spots
Best Seasons
Spring, Fall, Winter
Climate
Desert and semi-arid with regional variations
Terrain
Red Rock, Desert
Free Spots
49 locations
Complete Guide to Free Camping in Utah
Overview
Utah is a premier destination for free dispersed camping, offering over 22 million acres of public land managed by the BLM and several national forests. The state's diverse landscape ranges from red rock deserts to alpine forests, providing countless opportunities for backcountry camping. Popular areas include the San Rafael Swell, Cedar Mesa, and the vast expanses surrounding Moab.
Best Times to Visit
Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer ideal camping conditions with moderate temperatures. Summer is excellent for high-elevation sites in the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, while winter camping is possible in southern Utah's lower deserts.
Popular Camping Areas
The Moab area offers endless dispersed camping opportunities along the Colorado River. San Rafael Swell provides remote desert camping with dramatic geology. Cedar Mesa in Bears Ears features ancient ruins and pristine wilderness.
Regulations & Important Information
Utah follows the standard 14-day stay limit on most BLM and Forest Service lands. Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings but may be restricted during dry seasons. Always check for current fire restrictions before heading out.
Camping Spots (49)
Burr Trail Dispersed Zones
"Free dispersed camping around Boulder Backroads Utah. Canyon views and slickrock benches with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Long Canyon/Boulder. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Narrow shoulders; limited shade Arrive early to claim a legal
Caineville Desert BLM Flats
"Free dispersed camping around Henry Mountains/BLM Utah. Badlands benches and wide open flats with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Factory Butte. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Strong winds; no shade Arrive early to claim a legal
Cathedral Valley Road Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping at Cathedral Valley Road Pullouts in Utah. Bentonite flats and monolith views with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Temple of the Sun and Moon. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Impassable when wet Arrive early
Cedar Breaks Plateau Spurs
"Free dispersed camping around Dixie NF Utah. High alpine meadows and bristlecone with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Cedar Breaks vicinity. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Cold nights; afternoon storms Arrive early to claim a legal
Diamond Fork/5th Water Corridor
"Free dispersed camping around Uinta–Wasatch–Cache NF Utah. Canyon benches and creek pullouts with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Spanish Fork Canyon. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Seasonal closures; heavy use Arrive early to claim a legal
Gemini Bridges Road Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping at Gemini Bridges Road Dispersed in Utah. Slickrock mesas and juniper flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Gemini Bridges. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. OHV traffic and dust Arrive early
Goblin Valley BLM Corridors
"Free dispersed camping around Central Utah BLM Utah. Desert flats near hoodoos with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Goblin Valley area. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Pack out all water and waste Arrive early to claim a legal
Gooseberry Mesa Vicinity
"Free dispersed camping around Hurricane Mesa BLM Utah. Rim-country camping with bike trails with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Gooseberry Mesa. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Soft sand; respect closures Arrive early to claim a legal
Goosenecks State Park Vicinity BLM
"Free dispersed camping at Goosenecks State Park Vicinity BLM in Utah. Desert benches above river meanders with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Goosenecks. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Cliff edges; no guardrails Arrive early
Hole-in-the-Rock Road Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping around Grand Staircase–Escalante
Kane Creek Road Corridors
"Free dispersed camping at Kane Creek Road Corridors in Utah. Canyon bottoms and cottonwoods with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Kane Creek. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Flooding after storms Arrive early
Kolob Terrace Road Pullouts (outside NPS)
"Free dispersed camping at Kolob Terrace Road Pullouts (outside NPS) in Utah. Ponderosa and meadow edges with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Kolob Terrace. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Private inholdings nearby Arrive early
Koosharem/Monroe Mountain Roads
"Free dispersed camping around Fishlake NF Utah. Aspen high country and meadows with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Monroe Mountain. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Monsoons rut roads Arrive early to claim a legal
La Sal Mountains Dispersed Camping
"Free dispersed camping around Manti–La Sal National Forest
Lockhart Basin Corridor
"Free dispersed camping at Lockhart Basin Corridor in Utah. Rugged canyon country and benches with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Lockhart Basin. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. 4WD high clearance Arrive early
Manti Skyline Drive Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping around Manti–La Sal NF Utah. High-elevation ridge with lakes with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Fairview–Huntington divide. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Snow into July some years Arrive early to claim a legal
Mineral Bottom Road Benches
"Free dispersed camping at Mineral Bottom Road Benches in Utah. Canyon benches above the Green River with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Mineral Bottom switchbacks. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Steep grades; shelf roads Arrive early
Mirror Lake Highway Spurs
"Free dispersed camping around Uinta Mountains Utah. Subalpine forests and lakes with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Bald Mountain/Provo River. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Cold nights; storms Arrive early to claim a legal
Mirror Lake Hwy – Bear River Corridors
"Free dispersed camping at Mirror Lake Hwy – Bear River Corridors in Utah. Subalpine forests and river flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Bear River. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Cold nights; mosquitoes Arrive early
Nine Mile Canyon Access BLM
"Free dispersed camping at Nine Mile Canyon Access BLM in Utah. Desert benches near rock art canyons with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Nine Mile Canyon. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Respect cultural sites Arrive early
North Fork Uinta Backroads
"Free dispersed camping around Uinta–Wasatch–Cache NF Utah. Primitive creekside sites with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by North Fork River. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Narrow
North Klondike Bluff BLM Corridors
"Free dispersed camping around Moab BLM Utah. Red rock mesas and singletrack access with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Klondike Bluff trails. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Crowded on weekends Arrive early to claim a legal
Notom–Bullfrog Road Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping at Notom–Bullfrog Road Dispersed in Utah. Desert benches below the Waterpocket Fold with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Capitol Reef east side. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Flash flood risk in washes Arrive early
Onion Creek Road Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping at Onion Creek Road Pullouts in Utah. Colorful canyon walls and flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Fisher Towers. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Narrow crossings Arrive early
Pine Valley Mountain Backroads
"Free dispersed camping around Dixie NF Utah. Pine forests and cooler temps with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Pine Valley. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Seasonal closures Arrive early to claim a legal
San Rafael Desert Rim Sites
"Free dispersed camping around San Rafael Desert Utah. Remote rim benches and open views with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Green River/Temple Mountain. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Very limited cell coverage Arrive early to claim a legal
San Rafael Swell – Buckhorn Wash Corridors – North Spurs
"Free dispersed camping around San Rafael Swell Utah. Canyon walls and benchlands with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Buckhorn Wash. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Remote; no water Arrive early to claim a legal
San Rafael Swell – Buckhorn Wash Corridors – South Spurs
"Free dispersed camping around San Rafael Swell Utah. Canyon walls and benchlands with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Buckhorn Wash. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Remote; no water Arrive early to claim a legal
Sand Flats Road Outside Fee Area
"Free dispersed camping at Sand Flats Road Outside Fee Area in Utah. Pinyon-juniper flats near slickrock with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Sand Flats area. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Popular on weekends Arrive early
Skutumpah Road Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping at Skutumpah Road Dispersed in Utah. Canyon country with hoodoos and slots with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Cannonville and Kodachrome. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Road slick when wet Arrive early
Smoky Mountain Road Corridors
"Free dispersed camping at Smoky Mountain Road Corridors in Utah. Remote benches and badlands with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Big Water to Escalante. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Very remote; carry water Arrive early
Snow Canyon Backroads (designated)
"Free dispersed camping at Snow Canyon Backroads (designated) in Utah. Red sandstone and lava fields with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Snow Canyon vicinity. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Day-use limits nearby Arrive early
Strawberry Ridge FR 083 Spurs
"Free dispersed camping at Strawberry Ridge FR 083 Spurs in Utah. High-country meadows and spruce with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Strawberry Reservoir. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Cold nights; summer storms Arrive early
Temple Mountain Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping around San Rafael Swell Utah. Rugged reef walls and wide benches with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Temple Mountain Wash. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Remote; no services Arrive early to claim a legal
Uinta – Bear River Corridor Spurs
"Free dispersed camping at Uinta – Bear River Corridor Spurs in Utah. Subalpine forests and river flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Bear River. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Cold nights Arrive early
Valley of the Gods East Bench
"Free dispersed camping around BLM Valley of the Gods Utah. Wide pullouts with iconic views with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Cedar Mesa. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Limited shade; soft sand Arrive early to claim a legal
Valley of the Gods Roadside Camping
"Free dispersed camping around BLM Valley of the Gods Utah. Sandstone buttes and open desert benches with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Mexican Hat and Monument Valley. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Flash floods and strong winds Arrive early to claim a legal
Valley of the Gods (BLM)
Monument Valley-like buttes. Many large pullouts. Very scenic. 14-day limit.
Muley Point Overlook
San Juan River canyon & Monument Valley views. Large flat pullouts. Windy.
Goosenecks SP vicinity (BLM)
Incredible river meanders. Several pullouts nearby outside park. 14-day limit.
Canyonlands – Needles vicinity (BLM)
Desert solitude. Many pullouts along BLM roads near park. 14-day limit.
Hanksville – Burr Trail dispersed
Stunning Waterpocket Fold views. Several pullouts along route. Remote.
San Rafael Swell – Temple Mountain vicinity
Reef & slot canyons. Many pullouts & graded roads. Popular OHV area.
Factory Butte & Caineville area (BLM)
Striking badlands & Henry Mtns backdrop. Large open pullouts.
Wedge Overlook – Little Grand Canyon rim
Colorado River views. Several large pullouts. Very scenic.
The Pinnacles – Swell vicinity
Unique rock formations. Several pullouts along graded roads.
Cottonwood Canyon Rd (Kodachrome to Hwy 12)
Colorful cliffs & cottonwoods. Many pullouts. Scenic route.
Hell’s Gate – Hole-in-the-Rock Rd vicinity
Remote desert. Several pullouts before park boundary. Very quiet.
Paria Movie Set & Toadstools area (BLM)
Historic film set & hoodoos. Several pullouts along Paria Rd.
Popular Camping Areas
- Moab BLM Areas
- Capitol Reef Area
- Zion Area
- Bryce Canyon Area
Important Regulations
- 14-day limit on BLM lands
- Fire restrictions common
- Flash flood awareness
Permits: Most BLM camping is free
Complete Guide to Free Camping in Utah
Utah is a world-renowned boondocking destination with red rock landscapes, national parks area camping, and extensive BLM lands for free camping.
Best Free Camping Areas in Utah
Utah offers diverse free camping opportunities across red rock, desert, mountains, canyons, arches. The most popular areas include Moab BLM Areas, Capitol Reef Area, Zion Area, each offering unique landscapes and camping experiences.
When to Visit Utah for Camping
The best times for free camping in Utah are during spring, fall, winter. The state's desert and semi-arid with regional variations means weather conditions vary throughout the year, so planning your visit during optimal seasons ensures the best camping experience.
Utah Camping Regulations
Before camping in Utah, it's important to understand local regulations. Most BLM camping is freeMost dispersed camping follows standard federal guidelines, but some areas may have specific restrictions.
What to Expect
Free camping in Utah typically involves camping on public lands managed by the Forest Service, BLM, or state agencies. Expect primitive conditions with no hookups, but incredible natural beauty and the freedom to explore red rock, desert, mountains, canyons, arches at your own pace.