Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
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. 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.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Utah · reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · dark sky in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 21 |
| Tent-only | 4 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 28 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
25 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 007 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 46 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 38 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 011 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 012 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 013 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 014 | Loop A | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 80 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Individual Camp Sites: 1-10 people, $20 For groups of 11 or more, please book a Group Campsite. |
| Dark sky | Inside Canyonlands National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Sites 005 ADA, 006 ADA are listed accessible |
- 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).
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Moab, Utah |
| Coordinates | 38.1688° N, 109.7600° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Gearheads Outdoor Store ↗ | 29.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Needles District Campground - Canyonlands National Park, UT
Public land it sits in
Manti-La Sal National Forest begins about 0.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.9 miManti-La Sal National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,414,386 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- D.C.C. & P. Inscription "B"Site · Moab · 7 mi
- Julien InscriptionSite · Moab · 9.1 mi
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.
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.
Nearby
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.
Guidebooks for Canyonlands National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Moon Utah: with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National ParksMaya Silver, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Individual Camp Sites: 1-10 people, $20 For groups of 11 or more, please book a Group Campsite.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground have?
26 sites, including 21 standard sites without power and 4 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Individual Campsites: Drinking water and flush toilets are available in the campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Sites 005 ADA and 006 ADA are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground sits inside Canyonlands National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
The Needles District's extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?
Moab, Utah. Southeastern Utah offers breathtaking scenery, hiking, road and mountain biking opportunities, rafting and scenic driving routes.
Source: Getting there