Featured amenities
About Sand Island Recreation Area
Campground Amenities
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Pet Friendly
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River Access
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Reviews (13)
What Guests Are Saying
The Sand Island Recreation Area is a great overnight stop with interesting sites and quiet surroundings, featuring accessible petroglyphs and large, shady campsites by the river. While payment issues and some highway noise were noted, the campground offers conveniences like clean bathrooms, a picnic table, and proximity to hiking trails. Overall, it serves as a solid base for outdoor activities, despite minor drawbacks like noisy neighbors and mosquitoes.
What Guests Are Saying
The Sand Island Recreation Area is a great overnight stop with interesting sites and quiet surroundings, featuring accessible petroglyphs and large, shady campsites by the river. While payment issues and some highway noise were noted, the campground offers conveniences like clean bathrooms, a picnic table, and proximity to hiking trails. Overall, it serves as a solid base for outdoor activities, despite minor drawbacks like noisy neighbors and mosquitoes.
Review Summary
Jason N
April 11, 2026
Great stop for the night with some interesting sites to view. Very quiet.
john c
April 1, 2026
So it was tricky to pay for the campsite, on the app it would not go thru, so I paid cash, then later I got charged again for the site, when I had better coverage, after I paid I saw the sign explaining this would happen. Tough for seniors!
Joe M
March 31, 2026
Nice location but a bit of highway noise.
What’s the deal with the 1.50$ service fee to use recreation.gov?
georgia h
October 21, 2025
We only stayed for a quick overnight stay. I loved the petroglyphs which were very accessible. They were a very easy walk from our campsite.
Laurel L
August 4, 2025
Shady, large sites near river- very convenient for river trips. Electronic payment through Rec.gov is a nice perk. Only downside is highway noise but it’s mostly quiet after dark. We did have to move after an RV next to us started up a generator- would be nice to prohibit generators or at least limit to before 10pm.
Michael K
May 29, 2025
You would not accept my discount pass.
Todd B
May 16, 2025
This was a good home base for day hiking around Comb Ridge. It was nice having a toilet, even just a pit toilet. And a picnic table, and water. The main downside, as with most campgrounds like this, was noisy neighbors.
william o
October 11, 2024
clean bathrooms. maybe not the best for pitching tent though it's fine. close to town of bluff. some mosquitoes. we would stay here again.
Stefanie K
March 18, 2024
This is a great campground with basic amenities (toilet) by the San Juan River and very close to the town of Bluff, as well as Bears Ears National Monument. It's a starting point for San Juan river trips. The sites are great for tent camping, there are tables and fire rings. Overall a favorite stop over.
Malin A
February 21, 2024
Take spots 1 or 2 in the north of the site to camp right next to petroglyphs
Location Sand Island Recreation Area
Address:
Blm Monticello Field Office
Monticello, UT, 84535
United States
The recreation area is located off U.S. Route 191 approximately three miles west of Bluff, UT and approximately one mile east of the junction of U.S. Routes 163 and 191. It is accessible by all passenger vehicles.
Latitude & Longitude: 37.2626 / -109.61
Elevation: 1309 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
A permit is required in advance for floating on the San Juan River. |
| General |
Drinking water is seasonal and is typically available March through October. |
