Hovenweep Campground
Hovenweep Campground is nestled within the beautiful, sweeping landscape of the Colorado Plateau in Southeast Utah, at an elevation of approximately 5300 ft. (1615 m). The campground is located alongside two converging canyons and is only 1/4 mile (.4 km) from the park's visitor center. Stunning views of mountains, canyons, and sandstone ledges adorned with desert plants make for a spectacular camping experience! Length of stay is limited to seven (7) nights (consecutively or non-consecutively) in any 30-day period or a total of 14 nights per year.
More like this: 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 | 13 |
| RV, no hookups | 9 |
| Tent-only | 7 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
29 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site 1 | RV | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| Site 2 | RV | Back-in | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| Site 3 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| Site 4 | RV | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| Site 5 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| Site 6 | Standard | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| Site 8 | Standard | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| Site 9 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| Site 10 | Standard | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| Site 11 | Standard | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 10:00 AM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 58 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | Inside Hovenweep National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site Site 30 is listed accessible |
Hovenweep Campground contains 31 campsites that are available for reservation. 10 sites are RV-specific (including 1 handicap-accessible site), while the remaining 21 sites have tent pads. Sites provide a wonderful opportunity for a variety of visitors to stay overnight in a peaceful national monument. The campground road is a paved, one-way loop with campsites located on the inner and outer sides, offering a variety of views for campers! Flush toilets are available, but there are no showers. Drinking water is available from May 1 - November 1 (water is available at the visitor center year-round). All campsites contain picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates. All but 4 campsites have shade structures over the picnic tables. The park does not have dump stations or any hook-ups for RVs. Trash, recycling bins, and a receptacle for pet waste bags are located by the restrooms.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Turn by turn directions from Cortez, Blanding, or Bluff can be found on the Directions and Transportation page of Hovenweep's website.
| Nearest town | Cortez, Utah |
| Coordinates | 37.3832° N, 109.0708° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood is not available at the campground.
Explore
Video
Hovenweep National Monument campground drive through and review
Public land it sits in
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument begins under a tenth of a mile away, and it is the closest of these.
- under 0.1 miCanyons of the Ancients National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 182,568 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground is forested with beautiful, established Utah Juniper trees along with many desert wildflowers and plants, dotting the landscape and offering vivid color to the surrounding sandstone ledges and canyons. Spring reveals the majesty of Veined Penstemon, painting our park with pinks, blues and purples, while Fall sparkles with yellow rabbit brush accents. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters. Hovenweep is home to many species of wildlife, ranging from antelope ground squirrels, ravens, and songbirds to coyotes, jack rabbits and lizards. Many nights and mornings are filled with the calls and songs of our local wildlife! This area piques the interest of many wildlife viewers, birders, and artists as they pull inspiration from the natural beauty and welcoming peace of Hovenweep!
Recreation
Hovenweep offers multiple hikes, with the most popular being the Square Tower Group's 2-mile (3.2km) walking loop. This hike has the densest population of ancestral Puebloan structures within Hovenweep and allows visitors to get within 5-10 feet (1.5 - 3 m) of them, creating an intimate and humbling experience with fantastic opportunities for photography. For visitors seeking a longer hike, the Holly Trail is conveniently located at the back of the campground and is roughly 8 miles (12.9 km) round-trip, traversing through 2 slot canyons within Keely Canyon and leading visitors to Hovenweep's outlying site, Holly. Additional hikes to Hovenweep's remaining outlying sites are also available, but generally require a higher-clearance vehicle to access and are subject to variable road conditions. Visitors can also enjoy the majesty and vastness of the dark skies and glowing stars here at our certified International Dark Sky Park!
Nearby
Hovenweep is located roughly 45 miles (72 km) from the nearest town with restaurants and shopping. The closest gas station is located 20 miles from the park, in Aneth, Utah. Our park is located next to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Canyons of the Ancients offers mountain biking/horseback riding trails, as well as archaeological sites and other areas of interest for visitors to explore. There are also multiple state, national, and tribal parks located within an hour or two's driving distance from Hovenweep.
Guidebooks for Utah
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Hovenweep Campground?
Sites at Hovenweep Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hovenweep Campground?
Check-in 10:00 AM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Hovenweep Campground have?
31 sites, including 13 standard sites without power, 9 RV sites without hookups, and 7 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Hovenweep Campground?
The longest site here provides 58 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. 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 Hovenweep Campground?
Flush toilets are available, but there are no showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Hovenweep Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Hovenweep Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Hovenweep Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Hovenweep Campground?
Site Site 30 is 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 Hovenweep Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Hovenweep Campground sits inside Hovenweep National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Hovenweep Campground?
Hovenweep offers multiple hikes, with the most popular being the Square Tower Group's 2-mile (3.2km) walking loop. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hovenweep Campground?
Cortez, Utah. Hovenweep is located roughly 45 miles (72 km) from the nearest town with restaurants and shopping.
Source: Getting there
What if Hovenweep Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Mcphee Recreation Complex (29.7 mi), Devils Canyon (30.7 mi), and Sand Island Recreation Area (30.8 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby