The best desert camping near Red Mesa

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Red Mesa’s desert campsites let you wake up to red rock horizons and quiet, open skies. With over 120 options here, you’ll find camps that put you right in the heart of sandstone canyons and wide, arid plateaus. Nights average $45, but you’ll spot spots as low as $18 if you book early. Arrowhead Campground (663 reviews), Humming Bird Campsite (397 reviews), and Sunset Campground on Ruin Road (289 reviews) top the list for desert stays. Most sites allow campfires and pets, and showers are common, so you won’t need to rough it unless you want to. Spend your days climbing, hiking, or cooling off with a swim—just don’t forget a sun hat and plenty of water. Desert camping here isn’t for the unprepared, but the pay-off is all in the views and silence.

96% (2K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Arrowhead Campground

1. Arrowhead Campground

96%
(1135)
42mi from Red Mesa · 7 sites · Tents, RVs · Monument Valley, UT
Greetings! Welcome to Arrowhead Campground! Arrowhead Campground is roughly 5 acres of land, sitting right in Monument Valley, Utah. Come stay with us to experience one of the most amazing views in the world! You'll get to experience a full 360 degree view of all the towering red sandstone buttes and mesas. This is great for capturing the best views in the area. You'll experience breathtaking sunsets and sunrises right from your campsite. Great for pictures and photoshoots. The campground offers one of the largest shade structures in the area, with durable white picnic tables. We do allow campfires, so there is a fire-pit for that. The campground is only 2 1/2 miles away from the tribal park and 1 1/4 miles from the nearest highway. It's tucked away and secluded from noise and light pollution. The stars at night are bright and shinny, so you can pitch your tent right underneath them. With that said, Arrowhead Campground will be one of the best campgrounds you'll ever stay at. If you have any other questions feel free to message me with any of your questions. Note: This is a dry campsite. Although, we do offer potable water to fill any water containers up to 10 gallons.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$40
 / night
Humming Bird Campsite

2. Humming Bird Campsite

92%
(651)
42mi from Red Mesa · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Oljato Monument Valley, UT
First day of my campsite I start with 2 campsites then I built 1 more campsite. I then made fire pit an after that I built an outhouse its a restroom so of the guest don't know what an outhouse is we tell them it doesn't take no water to flush. After that I built a wooden fence around the whole campsite from horses a cows get into our property. So that how I started a campsite. Now our guests love our campsite a some of them came back an we have a short hiking trail to the rims to overlook the whole valleys its beautiful to take pictures from there. Learn more about this land: Guest can pitch a tent or park RV within the campsite having access to own picnic table and fire pit. The Campsite is 10-15 mins to the Valley View of the Famous Monuments and close to Navajo Tribal Park. Access to Restroom (Outhouse) within the site. Guest can request Navajo Taco Dinner with Navajo Tea for extra cost to enlighten their stay here in Beautiful Monument Valley. Guest can bring pets as well. We are pet friendly and have one well behaved dogs name spike and diamond. Also we rv size will be 25 ft long .. 30 ft. Long is going to button out on the cattle guard. We don't have hookup.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$38
 / night
Sunset Over Bears Ears National Monument

5. Sunset Campground on Ruin Road

96%
(625)
44mi from Red Mesa · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Blanding, UT
Watch the sun come up over the Sleeping Ute Mountain in Colorado and enjoy a gorgeous sunset as the sun sets over the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. We are off the grid and have no electricity or water. Our graveled camping sites are easy to access. We are located next to a paved road. You do not need high clearance vehicles or 4-wheel drive. Camp in a natural high desert environment consisting of cedar and pinion trees, Brigham tea, sagebrush, etc. Great views of the night sky. An ancient Indian mound is on site. The Five Kiva Ruin and Nations Natural Bridge are within hiking distance. Minutes away is the town of Blanding with restaurants, hospital, gas stations and a dump station. Its only a short drive to five different National Monuments: Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Hovenweep, and Canyon of The Ancients. Take a scenic drive over the Blue Mountain and Elk Ridge. Southeastern Utah is full of archeology history to hike and explore.
Pets
Toilets
Picnic table
from 
$25
 / night
Mexican Hat Rocks

6. Mexican Hat Rocks

95%
(354)
30mi from Red Mesa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Mexican Hat, UT
We are temporarily closed! Must reserve at least one day prior using this booking engine and text your LICENSE plate number to allow access, two night minimum. Camp spots are not marked but are obvious, choose site when you arrive, refer to map. Please respect No Trespassing signs! Two (2) miles north of Mexican Hat, UT on Hwy 163, turn East, find your spot! Bigger Rigs: Keep to the right at the 'Y' as the road to the San Juan River is steep and a little bumpy! Next to the Bears Ears National Monument, between Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley along the San Juan River is Mexican Hat where you can camp on private property...as this is NOT on the Navajo Reservation, alcohol is allowed. So many things to see! Goosenecks State Park, Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, Cedar Mesa! Camp on this private estate that was founded in the 1890's by gold and oil prospectors and where John Wayne later crossed the river in several western movies! The night skies are unbeatable as is the quiet solitude that is sadly disappearing in other areas. Mexican Hat Rock and this portion of the San Juan River are accessible only through this estate that is open for your enjoyment, however, if you wish to camp we now ask for a small fee so we can keep it clean, maintain roads and continue our conservation efforts so all can enjoy it forever! Portable toilets are required!!! And please pick up after yourself, dogs and horses. Pack it in, pack it out. Respect your fellow campers and stay on obvious trails and roads, do know that part of this property is marked as 'No Trespassing', please respect signage. No fee is required for day trips to 'The Hat'.
Pets
Campfires
from 
$22
 / night
You will cross this bridge over McElmo Creek to enter the property.

8. Anasazi Sites @ Ancient Echoes

96%
(76)
41mi from Red Mesa · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Cortez, CO
This magical place, surrounded by over 500,000 acres of protected land, is a 38 acre desert oasis near Mesa Verde, Sand Canyon and Hovenweep. Pitch your tent or park your small pop up or tiny rv (car and pull behind must be under 20 ft total) in a heritage orchard under and alongside magnificent red cliffs. We also have super clean bathroom with hot shower designated for campers. We have a fully equipped community kitchen for cooking, and a gas grill as well. We border Canyons of the Ancients immediately to the North, a 174,000 acre National Monument with the largest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan ("cliff-dweller") and archeological sites in the United States. A favorite public access point to The Canyons of the Ancients is the Sand Canyon trailhead, a five minute drive from the property up the main road. It is visited by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. We are a genuine "oasis" on exquisite high desert land with profound ancient puebloan sites within steps. Ideal home base for your Southwest adventure.
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Toilets
from 
$70
 / night
Fall in the canyon. Taken from the Ladder Alcove, just around the corner from the Cliff House.

NOTE: the tipi is no longer on the property

9. Sage Canyon

100%
(7)
42mi from Red Mesa · 2 sites · Lodging · Towaoc, CO
Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. Our property features red rock cliff walls, a private rock alcove, comfortable amenities, internet, and sweeping mountain views. A perfect place to base yourself for your next creative endeavor or for rejuvenating and exploring in the wilds of the four corners. Head just 10 minutes down canyon to Sand Canyon—public access to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument—for hiking and mountain biking trails. Further down Road G is Hovenweep National Monument where you can view Pueblo ruins precariously built on top of boulders and canyon rims. At the end of the day, stop by our neighbor Sutcliffe Vineyards for year-round local wine tasting. Nearby - Telluride (2), Cedar Mesa and Monument Valley (1.5-2), the Four Corners Monument (45), Durango (1.25), Shiprock (45), Mesa Verde (40), Cortez (20), Hovenweep (45).
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from 
$163
 / night

Red Mesa’s desert campsites let you wake up to red rock horizons and quiet, open skies. With over 120 options here, you’ll find camps that put you right in the heart of sandstone canyons and wide, arid plateaus. Nights average $45, but you’ll spot spots as low as $18 if you book early. Arrowhead Campground (663 reviews), Humming Bird Campsite (397 reviews), and Sunset Campground on Ruin Road (289 reviews) top the list for desert stays. Most sites allow campfires and pets, and showers are common, so you won’t need to rough it unless you want to. Spend your days climbing, hiking, or cooling off with a swim—just don’t forget a sun hat and plenty of water. Desert camping here isn’t for the unprepared, but the pay-off is all in the views and silence.

96% (2K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Arrowhead Campground

1. Arrowhead Campground

96%
(1135)
42mi from Red Mesa · 7 sites · Tents, RVs · Monument Valley, UT
Greetings! Welcome to Arrowhead Campground! Arrowhead Campground is roughly 5 acres of land, sitting right in Monument Valley, Utah. Come stay with us to experience one of the most amazing views in the world! You'll get to experience a full 360 degree view of all the towering red sandstone buttes and mesas. This is great for capturing the best views in the area. You'll experience breathtaking sunsets and sunrises right from your campsite. Great for pictures and photoshoots. The campground offers one of the largest shade structures in the area, with durable white picnic tables. We do allow campfires, so there is a fire-pit for that. The campground is only 2 1/2 miles away from the tribal park and 1 1/4 miles from the nearest highway. It's tucked away and secluded from noise and light pollution. The stars at night are bright and shinny, so you can pitch your tent right underneath them. With that said, Arrowhead Campground will be one of the best campgrounds you'll ever stay at. If you have any other questions feel free to message me with any of your questions. Note: This is a dry campsite. Although, we do offer potable water to fill any water containers up to 10 gallons.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$40
 / night
Humming Bird Campsite

2. Humming Bird Campsite

92%
(651)
42mi from Red Mesa · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Oljato Monument Valley, UT
First day of my campsite I start with 2 campsites then I built 1 more campsite. I then made fire pit an after that I built an outhouse its a restroom so of the guest don't know what an outhouse is we tell them it doesn't take no water to flush. After that I built a wooden fence around the whole campsite from horses a cows get into our property. So that how I started a campsite. Now our guests love our campsite a some of them came back an we have a short hiking trail to the rims to overlook the whole valleys its beautiful to take pictures from there. Learn more about this land: Guest can pitch a tent or park RV within the campsite having access to own picnic table and fire pit. The Campsite is 10-15 mins to the Valley View of the Famous Monuments and close to Navajo Tribal Park. Access to Restroom (Outhouse) within the site. Guest can request Navajo Taco Dinner with Navajo Tea for extra cost to enlighten their stay here in Beautiful Monument Valley. Guest can bring pets as well. We are pet friendly and have one well behaved dogs name spike and diamond. Also we rv size will be 25 ft long .. 30 ft. Long is going to button out on the cattle guard. We don't have hookup.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$38
 / night
Sunset Over Bears Ears National Monument

5. Sunset Campground on Ruin Road

96%
(625)
44mi from Red Mesa · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Blanding, UT
Watch the sun come up over the Sleeping Ute Mountain in Colorado and enjoy a gorgeous sunset as the sun sets over the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. We are off the grid and have no electricity or water. Our graveled camping sites are easy to access. We are located next to a paved road. You do not need high clearance vehicles or 4-wheel drive. Camp in a natural high desert environment consisting of cedar and pinion trees, Brigham tea, sagebrush, etc. Great views of the night sky. An ancient Indian mound is on site. The Five Kiva Ruin and Nations Natural Bridge are within hiking distance. Minutes away is the town of Blanding with restaurants, hospital, gas stations and a dump station. Its only a short drive to five different National Monuments: Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Hovenweep, and Canyon of The Ancients. Take a scenic drive over the Blue Mountain and Elk Ridge. Southeastern Utah is full of archeology history to hike and explore.
Pets
Toilets
Picnic table
from 
$25
 / night
Mexican Hat Rocks

6. Mexican Hat Rocks

95%
(354)
30mi from Red Mesa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Mexican Hat, UT
We are temporarily closed! Must reserve at least one day prior using this booking engine and text your LICENSE plate number to allow access, two night minimum. Camp spots are not marked but are obvious, choose site when you arrive, refer to map. Please respect No Trespassing signs! Two (2) miles north of Mexican Hat, UT on Hwy 163, turn East, find your spot! Bigger Rigs: Keep to the right at the 'Y' as the road to the San Juan River is steep and a little bumpy! Next to the Bears Ears National Monument, between Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley along the San Juan River is Mexican Hat where you can camp on private property...as this is NOT on the Navajo Reservation, alcohol is allowed. So many things to see! Goosenecks State Park, Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, Cedar Mesa! Camp on this private estate that was founded in the 1890's by gold and oil prospectors and where John Wayne later crossed the river in several western movies! The night skies are unbeatable as is the quiet solitude that is sadly disappearing in other areas. Mexican Hat Rock and this portion of the San Juan River are accessible only through this estate that is open for your enjoyment, however, if you wish to camp we now ask for a small fee so we can keep it clean, maintain roads and continue our conservation efforts so all can enjoy it forever! Portable toilets are required!!! And please pick up after yourself, dogs and horses. Pack it in, pack it out. Respect your fellow campers and stay on obvious trails and roads, do know that part of this property is marked as 'No Trespassing', please respect signage. No fee is required for day trips to 'The Hat'.
Pets
Campfires
from 
$22
 / night
You will cross this bridge over McElmo Creek to enter the property.

8. Anasazi Sites @ Ancient Echoes

96%
(76)
41mi from Red Mesa · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Cortez, CO
This magical place, surrounded by over 500,000 acres of protected land, is a 38 acre desert oasis near Mesa Verde, Sand Canyon and Hovenweep. Pitch your tent or park your small pop up or tiny rv (car and pull behind must be under 20 ft total) in a heritage orchard under and alongside magnificent red cliffs. We also have super clean bathroom with hot shower designated for campers. We have a fully equipped community kitchen for cooking, and a gas grill as well. We border Canyons of the Ancients immediately to the North, a 174,000 acre National Monument with the largest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan ("cliff-dweller") and archeological sites in the United States. A favorite public access point to The Canyons of the Ancients is the Sand Canyon trailhead, a five minute drive from the property up the main road. It is visited by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. We are a genuine "oasis" on exquisite high desert land with profound ancient puebloan sites within steps. Ideal home base for your Southwest adventure.
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Toilets
from 
$70
 / night
Fall in the canyon. Taken from the Ladder Alcove, just around the corner from the Cliff House.

NOTE: the tipi is no longer on the property

9. Sage Canyon

100%
(7)
42mi from Red Mesa · 2 sites · Lodging · Towaoc, CO
Stay on the flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in historic McElmo Canyon just 40 minutes from Mesa Verde and 20 minutes from the town of Cortez. Our property features red rock cliff walls, a private rock alcove, comfortable amenities, internet, and sweeping mountain views. A perfect place to base yourself for your next creative endeavor or for rejuvenating and exploring in the wilds of the four corners. Head just 10 minutes down canyon to Sand Canyon—public access to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument—for hiking and mountain biking trails. Further down Road G is Hovenweep National Monument where you can view Pueblo ruins precariously built on top of boulders and canyon rims. At the end of the day, stop by our neighbor Sutcliffe Vineyards for year-round local wine tasting. Nearby - Telluride (2), Cedar Mesa and Monument Valley (1.5-2), the Four Corners Monument (45), Durango (1.25), Shiprock (45), Mesa Verde (40), Cortez (20), Hovenweep (45).
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from 
$163
 / night

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