Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

Canyonlands National Park — hiking

Location: Moab, UT, UT

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (266 reviews)

Season: May through October

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 4,900 feet (1494 m). The Needles Campground offers limited services and is best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Camp Host

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/canyonlands-national-park-needles-district-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Remote Needles District offers incredible views and quiet solitude with a 4.9/5 rating from 68 campers. Best suited for tents and self-contained RVs seeking wilderness experience with activities like hiking, biking, photography, and star gazing.

Wildlife alert: Bobcat, Mule Deer, Desert Cottontail, Common Raven, Juniper Titmouse, Midget Faded Rattlesnake, and Long-nosed Leopard Lizard present in area.

Insider tips for Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground: Site A2 has the best afternoon shade according to camper reviews. Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites. Visit Tuesday-Thursday for fewer crowds.

Skip Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground if: Seeking full hookups; no hookups available at most sites.. Unable to handle extreme heat; campground lacks adequate shade.. Requiring high-service amenities; this is a remote, limited-service facility.. Visiting outside May-October; campground operates seasonally..

Best time to visit Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground: May-October — Official operating season for the campground.. Early May or October — Avoid extreme heat; campers report very hot conditions during peak summer months..

Nearby campgrounds: Hamburger Rock Campground (Monticello, UT), Indian Creek Falls Group Site (Monticello, UT), Creek Pasture Group Site (Monticello, UT), Superbowl Campground (Monticello, UT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

Cell signal at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground (Moab, UT): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Canyonlands National Park — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

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Moab, UT, UT★ 4.8 (266 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

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 4,900 feet (1494 m). The Needles Campground offers limited services and is best suited to tents and small, self-contained campers and RVs.

Best for:HikersFamiliesBackpackersSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV28 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites1 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesShowersCamp Host
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsDump Station

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ Seeking full hookups; no hookups available at most sites.✕ Unable to handle extreme heat; campground lacks adequate shade.✕ Requiring high-service amenities; this is a remote, limited-service facility.✕ Visiting outside May-October; campground operates seasonally.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Site A2 has the best afternoon shade according to camper reviews.

Book early as this is a popular federal campground with only 11 sites.

Visit Tuesday-Thursday for fewer crowds.

Best: May-October

Official operating season for the campground.

Best: Early May or October

Avoid extreme heat; campers report very hot conditions during peak summer months.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Bobcat, Mule Deer, Desert Cottontail, Common Raven, Juniper Titmouse, Midget Faded Rattlesnake, and Long-nosed Leopard Lizard present in area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
(435) 259-4711· Canyonlands National Park
Getting there →

On US Highway 191, drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, then take Utah Highway 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. Highway 211 ends in the Needles, and is the only paved road leading in and out of the district. Needles District Campground From the entrance station follow the main park road until you see signs for the campground. Turn left into the campground and follow the signs into Loop B. For reservations and directions to group campsites (groups of 11

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Canyonlands National Park fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Canyonlands National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground cost per night?+
Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground open?+
Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?+
Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground can accommodate RVs up to 28 feet.
How do I make reservations at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?+
Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4.8 (266)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground cost per night?+
What season is Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground open?+
Does Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Hamburger Rock Campground

Monticello, UT

From $15/night

Indian Creek Falls Group Site

Monticello, UT

From $65/night

Creek Pasture Group Site

Monticello, UT

From $65/night

Superbowl Campground

Monticello, UT

From $15/night

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