Sand Island Recreation Area
Bears Ears National Monument — riverside, hiking
Location: Monticello, UT, UT
Price: From $15 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (15 reviews)
Season: May through October
Sand Island Recreation Area is a good camping option for visitors launching San Juan River float trips , or wishing to camp close to the town of Bluff or the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. The campground provides 21 campsites that each feature a tent/trailer space, a picnic table, a fire ring, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available seasonally (typically March through October).
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/sand-island-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Sand Island Recreation Area is an excellent base for San Juan River float trips and offers close access to Bluff and the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. Well-maintained sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets at an affordable $15/night rate.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Shiras Moose, and Mule Deer present in the area. Also expect Desert Spiny Lizard, Plateau Side-blotched Lizard, Western Painted Turtle, and birds including Western Bluebird, Greater Roadrunner, and Belted Kingfisher.
Insider tips for Sand Island Recreation Area: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited availability. Petroglyphs accessible nearby; some high-quality sites require more effort to reach. Sites are level, well-marked, and numbered with good tree shade along the San Juan River. Each site accommodates 8 people and 2 vehicles.
Skip Sand Island Recreation Area if: You need hookups — no hookups available at sites.. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only.. You're sensitive to road noise — some reviewers noted minor Highway 191 noise..
Best time to visit Sand Island Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates May through October with drinking water available seasonally (typically March through October)..
Nearby campgrounds: Sand Island Group Sites (Monticello, UT), Hovenweep Campground (Cortez, CO), Natural Bridges Campground (Lake Powell, UT), Devils Canyon (Monticello, UT).
Cell Phone Coverage at Sand Island Recreation Area
Cell signal at Sand Island Recreation Area (Monticello, UT): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Sand Island Recreation Area is a good camping option for visitors launching San Juan River float trips , or wishing to camp close to the town of Bluff or the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. The campground provides 21 campsites that each feature a tent/trailer space, a picnic table, a fire ring, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available seasonally (typically March through October).
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with limited availability.
Petroglyphs accessible nearby; some high-quality sites require more effort to reach.
Sites are level, well-marked, and numbered with good tree shade along the San Juan River.
Each site accommodates 8 people and 2 vehicles.
Campground operates May through October with drinking water available seasonally (typically March through October).
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Bears Ears National Monument fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Bears Ears National Monument before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Sand Island Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Sand Island Recreation Area open?+
Does Sand Island Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Sand Island Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Sand Island Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Sand Island Recreation Area?+
What season is Sand Island Recreation Area open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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