Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

View of Canyonlands National Park Needles District
Red and White Sandstone Spires in Chesler Park, Canyonlands National Park
Paul Bunyans Potty is a large pothole arch in The Needles district
A Sandstone Spire in the Chesler Park Area of Canyonlands Needles District
Comfort Station

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms

Available sites

11 total sites

About 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 4.9 ft (1494 m).  The Needles Campground offers limited services and is best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs. If you are looking for group campsites, visit the Needles District Group Campground page. 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.  Please, also read “Facilities” below and the “Need to Know” tab for important information. 

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Photography

Photography

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Mar 15 to Nov 15

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Restrooms Restrooms
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Restrooms
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

11 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 017, Loop: Loop B RV
Paved · Driveway entry: Parallel
🚐 018, Loop: Loop B RV
Paved · Back-in Site
⛺ 019, Loop: Loop B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 020, Loop: Loop B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 021, Loop: Loop B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 022, Loop: Loop B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Parallel
⛺ 023, Loop: Loop B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 024, Loop: Loop B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 025, Loop: Loop B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Parallel
🚐 026, Loop: Loop B RV
Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 027, Loop: Loop B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved

Reviews (851)

What Guests Are Saying

The Needles District Campground at Canyonlands National Park offers well-maintained, spacious sites with beautiful natural surroundings and clean facilities, including bathrooms with running water. Many visitors appreciated the quiet atmosphere, shade from rock overhangs, and proximity to hiking trails, making it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Some guests noted the heat during summer and the distance from other park areas, but overall, the campground is highly recommended for its scenic beauty and peaceful experience.

Review Summary

4.8
851 reviews
5
83.2%
708
4
13.2%
112
3
2.2%
19
2
1.1%
9
1
0.4%
3

Corey D

Verified

January 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

5

Campground is lovely and well taken care of. Bathrooms are clean. Park did a great job with night sky compliant lighting.

Rita C

Verified

January 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Loop B

5

We camped 2 nights in the Needles campground in early October. We had a great experience camping. Our camp site had little privacy, but neighboring campers were quiet, like us and the bathroom was clean. We were lucky with the weather as it was cold and gusty before and after our dates.

Corey D

Verified

January 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

5

Campground is lovely and well taken care of. Bathrooms are clean. Park did a great job with night sky compliant lighting.

Christine P

Verified

January 22, 2020 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: Loop B

5

We made a reservation at Needles District Campground for campsite 026, Loop B. It is a huge and absolut quiet site.... I think the most most beautiful site of our entire trip.
The park itself is fantastic, well developed (but not to much :)) with beautiful hikes for everybody.
The ranger were really friendly und helpful (as we experienced in all the parks). Many thanks for doing such a great job!

Christine P

Verified

January 22, 2020 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: Loop B

5

We made a reservation at Needles District Campground for campsite 026, Loop B. It is a huge and absolut quiet site.... I think the most most beautiful site of our entire trip.
The park itself is fantastic, well developed (but not to much :)) with beautiful hikes for everybody.
The ranger were really friendly und helpful (as we experienced in all the parks). Many thanks for doing such a great job!

Christine P

Verified

January 22, 2020 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: Loop B

5

We made a reservation at Needles District Campground for campsite 026, Loop B. It is a huge and absolut quiet site.... I think the most most beautiful site of our entire trip.
The park itself is fantastic, well developed (but not to much :)) with beautiful hikes for everybody.
The ranger were really friendly und helpful (as we experienced in all the parks). Many thanks for doing such a great job!

rick s

Verified

January 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

4

Overall I had a very good experience at Needles and the campground. The staff at the visitor center were quite helpful, both in trail guidance/recommendation for my afternoon hike, and in quick immediate response to having my reserved campsite cleared by the previous night's campers, who failed to check out and leave by 10 am. That weekend was UEA (Utah Education Association) break in Utah, so it was very busy at the visitor center and throughout the park, and the staff still provided plenty of attention to my concerns and questions. Keep this weekend in mind when planning a trip, as it is very busy. The next helpful couple was at the Elephant Hill trailhead, where I was directed to park very near the trail head in a small spot, ideal for a motorbike. The hike out to Druid Arch was fantastic, only missing the junction for the return trip by a small margin. Watch for the cairns, especially in the sandy washes. Campsite and outhouse were very clean. I'll be back. The hiking is great, and there are a number of loops that can be hiked within the Needles area, as the trails link together.

rick s

Verified

January 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

4

Overall I had a very good experience at Needles and the campground. The staff at the visitor center were quite helpful, both in trail guidance/recommendation for my afternoon hike, and in quick immediate response to having my reserved campsite cleared by the previous night's campers, who failed to check out and leave by 10 am. That weekend was UEA (Utah Education Association) break in Utah, so it was very busy at the visitor center and throughout the park, and the staff still provided plenty of attention to my concerns and questions. Keep this weekend in mind when planning a trip, as it is very busy. The next helpful couple was at the Elephant Hill trailhead, where I was directed to park very near the trail head in a small spot, ideal for a motorbike. The hike out to Druid Arch was fantastic, only missing the junction for the return trip by a small margin. Watch for the cairns, especially in the sandy washes. Campsite and outhouse were very clean. I'll be back. The hiking is great, and there are a number of loops that can be hiked within the Needles area, as the trails link together.

rick s

Verified

January 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

4

Overall I had a very good experience at Needles and the campground. The staff at the visitor center were quite helpful, both in trail guidance/recommendation for my afternoon hike, and in quick immediate response to having my reserved campsite cleared by the previous night's campers, who failed to check out and leave by 10 am. That weekend was UEA (Utah Education Association) break in Utah, so it was very busy at the visitor center and throughout the park, and the staff still provided plenty of attention to my concerns and questions. Keep this weekend in mind when planning a trip, as it is very busy. The next helpful couple was at the Elephant Hill trailhead, where I was directed to park very near the trail head in a small spot, ideal for a motorbike. The hike out to Druid Arch was fantastic, only missing the junction for the return trip by a small margin. Watch for the cairns, especially in the sandy washes. Campsite and outhouse were very clean. I'll be back. The hiking is great, and there are a number of loops that can be hiked within the Needles area, as the trails link together.

margaret c

Verified

January 27, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Loop B

5

We loved the Needles District. It's beauty, pristine condition and fun hiking options make it a real treat. The campgrounds were well tended and all park staff was friendly and helpful. The fact that Needles is more remote than other parts of Canyonlands meant that the park wasn't as crowded and that added to our enjoyment. The hike from Elephant Hill to Chesler Park and then thru the Joint rates as one of my all time favorite hikes. The Peek-a-Boo Trail gets honorable mention for it frolicking nature.

Location & Directions for Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

2282 Sw Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532 United States

Elevation: 1,496 ft

Getting There

<p>On US Highway 191, drive 40 mi (37.3 mi) south of Moab or 14 mi (13.7 mi) north of Monticello, then take Utah Highway 211 roughly 35 mi (34.8 mi) west. Highway 211 ends in the Needles, and is the only paved road leading in and out of the distri...

Nearest town

Moab, UT - 74 mi

About over 1 hr (86 min) to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

  • Loop A sites are first come, first served, especially busy in spring and fall.

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

Utilities

  • Electricity is not available at the campground.

Site capacity

  • The campground is suitable for tents and small RVs with a maximum length of 28 feet.

Safety & rules

  • Cell phone coverage is not available in the area.

Accessibility

  • Two accessible campsites are available in Loop A on a first come, first served basis; reservations can be made up to six months in advance.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 19, 2026

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Population: 5,312

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Grand Junction, CO

Approx. 90 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 4,049 ft

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