Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

$20.00/night

Show on map (435) 259-4711 keri_nelson@nps.gov

2282 SW Resource Blvd
Moab, UT 84532

Overview

The Needles is a remote district located within the southern portion of Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah. The Needles District is 1.25 hours driving time from Monticello, Utah, and 1.5 hours from Moab, Utah, and sits at an elevation of approximately 4,900 feet (1494 m).

The Needles Campground offers limited services and is best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the Needles District Group Campground page.

You may book individual campsites in Loop B up to six months in advance mid-March through mid-November.
Loop A is available first come, first served only.

Please, also read “Facilities” below and the “Need to Know” tab for important information.

Recreation

The Needles District's extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Confluence Overlook, Druid Arch, the Joint Trail and Chesler Park.

Facilities

The Needles is a remote district with limited services and no cell coverage. The Needles Campground and group sites are best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. A seasonal campground host (spring and fall) is located in Loop A of the campground.

Individual Campsites: Drinking water and flush toilets are available in the campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site. There are no RV hook-ups. The campground does not have electricity, showers or a dump station. Maximum combined vehicle and trailer length is 28 feet (8.5 m).
If you are looking for group campsites, visit the Needles District Group Campground page.

Natural Features

The campground contains stands of Utah juniper and pinyon pine. Flowering prickly pear cacti, yucca and other desert wildflowers dot the landscape in the spring, adding to the vivid colors of the surrounding red rock desert. The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters.

Nearby Attractions

Southeastern Utah offers breathtaking scenery, hiking, road and mountain biking opportunities, rafting and scenic driving routes. Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments and Dead Horse Point and Edge of the Cedars State Parks are all within three hours drive of the Needles Campground. Moab, Utah, (1.5 hours away) offers numerous restaurants, shops and museums.

Charges & Cancellations

Camp site features

Across 25 camp sites:

Fire pit: 20 of 25 sites
Picnic table: 14 of 25 sites
Pets allowed: 22 of 25 sites
ADA accessible: 2 of 25 sites
Longest RV: 80 ft
Largest party: 10 people
Equipment: CAR, CARAVAN/CAMPER VAN, PICKUP CAMPER, RV, SMALL TENT, Tent, Trailer, VEHICLE

Fees

Individual Camp Sites: 1-10 people, $20 For groups of 11 or more, please book a Group Campsite.

Directions

On US Highway 191, drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, then take Utah Highway 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. Highway 211 ends in the Needles, and is the only paved road leading in and out of the district. Needles District Campground From the entrance station follow the main park road until you see signs for the campground. Turn left into the campground and follow the signs into Loop B. For reservations and directions to group campsites (groups of 11 or more), please visit the Canyonlands National Park Needles District Group Campsites page. Important!! There are no lights on park roads or campsites. If you are unfamiliar with the Needles, the park recommends arriving before dark. Bring these driving directions with you.

Stay Limit

Check in from 11 AM, check out by 10 AM.

Reviews

311 reviews

5 stars

259

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Timothy D

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed 13 days ago

great

Catherine A

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed 17 days ago

Campsites are nicely spread apart. The tent sites are convenient and well maintained. The toilet block on B Loop is exceptionally clean and provides a handy outdoor sink area at which we could wash our dinner dishes. There are many hiking opportunities directly from the campgrounds.

Arlene L

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed 18 days ago

What a great site! The bathroom was extremely clean. Make sure to bring your headlight in the evening as the bathrooms have no lights.

Sophie W

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed 20 days ago

Overall, this campground is great! Would have appreciated signs in the loops themselves to designate which sites/pit vs. flush toilet (they have flush toilets!!!) locations and distances/etc were but it's not necessary. We heard coyotes at night and they were pretty close, so definitely make sure your food and belongings are in secure areas (also saw a raven pick up some food that was left out overnight by a neighboring camper, don't be these people). Bonus for the campground's location is the short distance to the Elephant Hill road - you're bound to get a spot at this trailhead if you camp here and start your day early. Otherwise, I love that you can hike from the campground into Elephant Hill if you want a much longer hike. Bonus for our site location, partnered with spot 20: there are several raised tent spots here so you could totally have multiple people with separate tents use these sites together, and these sites feel private with the rock walls behind them - couldn't hear the group on the other side at all.

Brent M

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Quite, spacious campsite. Friendly and helpful hosts.

Ken W

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Beautiful campsite. Secluded and quiet, with access to a large sandstone outcrop. The top of the sandstone outcrop offered an astounding 360 degree view. Nearby toilet was clean and generally odor-free. Thanks!

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in November, when about 18% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 5 years of reservations.