The best camping near Moab with horseback riding

On the banks of the Colorado River, just west of the La Sal Mountains, Moab is an excellent base for exploring some of eastern Utah's most impressive outdoor attractions, drawing hikers, campers, and ATV and mountain-biking enthusiasts, particularly in the summer months. It's the gateway to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, and while the national parks are certainly the big draw here, there are plenty of other Moab-area spots to explore, including the Sand Flats Recreation Area and Dead Horse Point State Park. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also operates a couple of dozen first-come, first-served campgrounds near Moab.

While you’re unlikely to find any free camping in Moab itself, free camping can be found well outside town in Manti LaSal National Forest.  Although the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees more than 20 campgrounds around Moab, most of these developed campsites require a fee to stay overnight. (When within 20 miles of Moab, camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds, making free camping a rarity) Arches National Park requires entry fees, so you won’t find free camping in the park either.

Yes, you can camp on BLM land in Utah, where 42% of the state is considered BLM land (some 22.9 million acres). Most developed BLM campgrounds in the state require a fee, while dispersed campsites on Utah BLM land are more often free. Popular spots include the Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Byway (BCB) outside the Bonneville Salt Flats, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest outside Gunnison, and Ashley National Forest.