Moab is the gateway town to two of the country’s finest desert national parks, Arches and Canyonlands. Its close proximity to the parks makes camping in Moab, or snagging an Airbnb there, ideal. But with so many solid options for places to stay, knowing where to pitch your tent or which cabin, house, or yurt to rent can be a challenge. Whether your idea of must-have amenities includes a fire ring and picnic table or five bedrooms and a heated pool, we’ll highlight some of the best places to stay in Moab, including some of the best Airbnbs to rent in Moab and the town’s top camping spots.
Options for Staying Near Moab
Clocking in at a combined 334,159 acres, both Arches and Canyonlands encompass large swaths of breathtakingly beautiful high desert scenery. With so much to explore close by, Moab has lodging options to fit any budget. Between camping, RVing, house rentals, and glamping, Moab lodging options are plentiful.
Best Camping in Moab
There are many places to camp in and around Moab, including campsites inside the parks, in private campgrounds, and on public lands like those managed by the BLM. There are plenty of camping options in Moab that are ideal for couples, families, and larger groups. From tent sites to RV hookups, campers in Moab will be spoiled for choice.
Camping in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Both Arches and Canyonlands have public tent camping within the national parks. In Arches, the Devil’s Garden Campground offers limited tent and RV (dry camping) sites. Each one includes a fire ring, picnic table, and grill. Single sites are $25 per night. Canyonlands offers two campgrounds within the park boundaries, one at the Island in the Sky (Willow Flats) Campground and the other at the Needles Campground. Facilities at both include toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. The Island in the Sky Campground has no water, and water is available only seasonally in the Needles Campground, so plan accordingly. Both campgrounds are $15 per night. All campgrounds within the parks are reservable on Recreation.gov.
Check out these 9 amazing hikes in Canyonlands National Park for all levels.
Camping on BLM Land Near Moab
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) allows camping on much of the land it manages near Moab. The BLM has designated over a dozen camping areas close to Moab. Some are more primitive and remote than others. A couple of them accommodate RVs, while most are strictly for tent camping. The BLM’s digital guide to camping near Moab has all of the details for each camping area, so make sure to consult this resource and the local BLM office before pitching your tent. As a bonus, camping on BLM land is free!
Don’t forget to review the LNT ethics before your next desert camping trip.
Top Commercial Campground Near Moab
ACT Campground -- image used with permission.
There are many places to camp outside of the national parks closer to Moab. One of the best places to camp in Moab is at ACT Campground. This camp park has lodging options to suit all tastes. They offer tent sites, RV sites with full hookups, cabin-style rooms, and yurts. Each guest has access to a coin laundry, deluxe showers, the patio and grills, and a handy community kitchen for those times when you’re in the mood for more than just campfire-roasted hotdogs. This eco-minded outfit is committed to sustainability and uses solar energy, waste recycling, and water conservation practices to reduce their footprint in this fragile place. The stunning desert setting is just five minutes from Moab’s main drag, placing you within an easy drive of some of the best hikes in the area.
Luxury Moab Glamping
The Crooked Bindi Ranch just outside of Moab is our top pick for those who love to sleep under canvas but not on the ground. Their luxury tents feature real beds with hotel-caliber linens. If that’s not enough, each tent has its own private bathhouse with flush toilets and a hot water shower just a stone’s throw away. Each tent has a bedroom that opens onto a large covered deck that’s perfect for soaking in the beautiful red rock scenery Moab is famous for.
Best Airbnbs in Moab
Moab has many vacation rentals both in town and in the surrounding area. Airbnb is one of the best places to find them. The platform makes it easy to search using specific parameters like number of bedrooms and baths, location, and price. Each rental gets rated by past guests on a range of metrics, including how clean it was, the neighborhood, check-in process, and more. This makes it easy to learn what you can expect from fellow travelers who’ve already been there.
Here are our top picks for Moab Airbnbs, including the best options for couples, families, and large groups.
Octagon House: Best Option for Couples
This unique, eight-sided house is situated in the midst of some of Moab’s finest desert scenery. The Octagon House is a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home with just the right amount of seclusion and privacy to make it ideal for a couple’s getaway. The stunning views from the wraparound deck might even make it difficult to step inside! With less than fifteen minutes to downtown Moab, you’re close to all the action but still in a setting that gets you far from the crowds. Expect to pay $350 per night on average.
The Mt. Peale House: Best Option for Families
When it comes to effortlessly blending outdoor and indoor spaces, the Mt. Peale House gets it right. An extensive outdoor deck and large windows seamlessly blend everything together. The modern interior features all the creature comforts, including a soaker tub and a top-notch kitchen. With three bedrooms and two baths, this Airbnb in Moab averages around $289 per night. The 15-minute drive from Moab gets you out of the hustle and bustle of the main drag and into the desert stillness. It's an ideal place for a family to hang their hats for a week or two of exploring.
The Hideout at the Rim: Best Option for Groups
Looking for an Airbnb in Moab big enough to host a multi-family getaway? The Hideout at the Rim is an ideal choice. This home can sleep up to sixteen guests thanks to its six bedrooms with eight beds and five baths. It takes just a few minutes to drive from this rental to downtown Moab, but it feels like it’s miles from nowhere. It averages around $1,500 per night. That’s pretty expensive, but splitting it between 3-5 families or groups makes it manageable. Rich wood interior spaces, modern amenities, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous surroundings have made this one a favorite
Check out these 6 top hikes while in Utah and when you do get some downtime we recommend diving into Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, this is a must-read for any desert lover.
Erem + Deserts: Perfect Together
At Erem, we’re desert lovers at our core. The wide-open spaces, incredible beauty, and restorative stillness of desert environments keep us coming back to these special places time and time again. This passion is the motivating force behind our commitment to design and manufacture some of the world’s best desert hiking boots. Our hiking boots are built to handle the extremes we face each time we lace up our own boots to go exploring these unique places. Erem hiking and backpacking boots are designed to excel in extremes. Each pair is built with thick, durable soles and full-grain leather uppers, ideal for tackling the grading punishment of rocky, sandy terrain. Additionally, our boots are loose-lined with moisture-wicking, 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell, a material that regulates foot temperature and naturally prevents foot odor.
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