Park an RV and Explore a Park in Utah’s Canyon Country

Whether you’ve got an RV of your own or you’re renting one for a few days of road tripping, truckin’ travelers have a lot of destinations to choose from once they get their wheels turning. In Utah, you can pretty much spin a compass, head in any direction and have the RV trip of a lifetime. But the southeast part of the state might end up pulling that needle the hardest, probably due to the magnetic pull of all the other happy RVers down there. 

From underrated attractions like Natural Bridges and Bears Ears National Monuments to well known destinations like Canyonlands National Park and Monument Valley, every day in Utah’s Canyon Country will be a new adventure. And every night will be a cozy stay at one of the best RV parks in Utah with all the amenities you need, some of the darkest skies in the country and a quick drive to the next adventure.

Stay at Gouldings and Visit Monument Valley

At the doorstep of Monument Valley you’ll find Goulding's Lodge and RV Park, a cozy and iconic place to rent a room or park your rig. It’s as close as can be to the main attractions of the valley. So close, in fact, that you can see many of the iconic buttes, mesas and towers of Monument Valley right from the RV park. 

But you didn’t tow yourself (and your trailer) all the way out here just to settle for the view from the site. Goulding’s offers a full slate of Monument Valley tours, from all-day excursions to quicker outings and sunrise/sunset tours. These tours are led by local Navajo guides, and some even offer access to areas that are usually closed to the public. They’re a great way to enjoy a unique and authentic Monument Valley experience, while seeing things other travelers won't.

Of course, you’ll get to see the other travelers at the main viewpoints. You know, the ones from the movies. Your tour will stop at John Ford Point, where many classic Western wanderers have stopped to look out and contemplate life in the harsh desert. On your way out, be sure to stop at Forrest Gump Point, where Forrest stopped to look around and contemplate his life of running. Maybe you’ll do some contemplating of your own. If you do, be sure to film it. 

Stay in Blanding and Visit Natural Bridges

With a name like Blanding, you’d be forgiven for thinking the RV park you’re pulling up to is just going to be a patch of dirt with a few hookups installed. But the good news is that Blanding’s name is kind of like when you call a big guy “Tiny.” 

Sitting at the doorstep of Natural Bridges and Bears Ears National Monuments, Blanding, Utah’s RV parks are anything but boring. Blue Mountain RV and Trading not only features tons of comfortable sites, but also has a dog park, a pickleball court and a trading post with handcrafted gifts and jewelry. How’s that for bland?

Meanwhile, just under an hour away along State Route 95, you’ll find Natural Bridges National Monument. Don’t know the difference between an arch and a natural bridge? That’s OK, some people don’t know the difference between a fifth wheel and a toy hauler. Natural bridges are formed by running water rather than frozen water, and at Natural Bridges, you’ll find three stunning bridges, Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo.

If you’ve got time, you can take a longer hike to a bridge (or three), but all bridges can be seen from viewpoints just off the road. Owachomo is the shortest hike at only a half-mile roundtrip, but Sipapu and Kachina are only around 1.5-miles roundtrip each. Any trek will be well worth it to stand beneath a bridge and fully understand its width, height and the awesome natural forces that created it.

Another highlight is the 700-year-old Horse Collar Ruin, an incredibly well preserved site that can be seen from an overlook. And if you’re up for it, you can also stay till sunset, or come back after supper. It’ll be worth it for a view of the stars, which earned the monument International Dark Sky Park status in 2007. Natural Bridges was actually the first such park of this kind, so a night under the stars here is practically a requirement. 

Stay in Bluff and Drive the Trail of the Ancients

There are few places in America with the same richness of both natural beauty and archaeological significance as Utah’s Canyon Country. And even fewer of those places have communities nestled between red-rock cliffs, featuring three cozy RV parks and an iconic Western river along its banks. Oh, and hand-picked itinerary for a drive through highlights of the past and present.

That’s what you’ll find at the RV parks in Bluff, Utah, home to Coral Sands, Cadillac Ranch and Cottonwood RV Parks. It’s also a convenient place to hop the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway that traverses the Four Corners region, highlighting Native American archaeological and cultural sites.

Since the Trail of the Ancients is over 1,200 miles through its four states, you can pretty much start it from anywhere. But our itinerary starts in Bluff, so you should start there. From your shady, full-hookup RV site, head west over to Goosenecks State Park, stopping at the Sand Island petroglyph panel and checking out a few other interesting geological sites out the window on the way.

From there, you’ll head north up the Moki Dugway, a dirt section of State Route 261 featuring stunning views and more than a few hairpin turns. If you’ve got a trailer, leaving it behind might be a good idea. Those in motorhomes might consider turning around after Goosenecks State Park and heading back through Bluff and Blanding to get to the next stop (Bears Ears). It’ll add about 40 minutes to your trip, but your palms will be a lot less sweaty. 

After the Moki Dugway, you’ll see the Bears Ears Buttes, which you can also drive to in a high clearance vehicle. Check out Natural Bridges if you haven’t done so already, then head back toward Bluff. But make sure to stop at Mule Canyon and take the short 1-mile hike to the incredible House on Fire, a well preserved archaeological site beneath a huge rock overhang that’s one of the more unique places in the region. The hike does require a permit, but a $5 day pass can easily be purchased online. You can also pay at the trailhead. 

Stay in Monticello and Visit the Needles District of Canyonlands

When you think of Canyonlands National Park, you probably think of Moab. And although Moab is the closest town to the Island in the Sky district, it’s over an hour from the unique Needles district. Not to mention, the average summer high temps in Moab are 93-98 degrees Fahrenheit. Gee, if only there were somewhere closer and more comfortable to stay … 

Oh, what’s that? Monticello is less than an hour from the Needles district and has both amazing mountain views and an average summer peak of 85 degrees Fahrenheit? Sounds great. If only there were cool RV parks within walking distance of downtown and a stunning and affordable golf course …

You get the picture. Monticello, Utah’s RV parks are a great place to basecamp while you explore an underrated part of a truly epic park. Stay at Old West, Westerner or Mountain View RV Parks. With comfortable sites, great views and cool nighttime temps, you can’t go wrong. There’s plenty of spots to walk to for dinner in town, too, and the Hideout Golf Course isn’t just scenic, it’s also affordable enough to not care about how many balls you’ve sliced. 

Over in the Needles district, there’s lots to do. On your way to the Needles Visitor Center, check out Newspaper Rock, a large group of rock faces adorned with over 650 (!) petroglyphs. The site features 2,000 years of contributions by Fremont, Ute and Ancestral Puebloan artists, and depicts everything from plants, animals and human figures to all kinds of abstract lines and shapes. Even though the meaning of the petroglyphs has been lost to time, any one place with this much ancient art was certainly a place of tremendous cultural significance.

Enjoy the view from the Wooden Shoe overlook near the visitor center, or take the long 11-mile round-trip trek to the Confluence Overlook. If you’re up for the hike and can get up early enough to beat the heat, you’ll be able to see the two mighty rivers collide as the light waters of the Green meet the darker currents of the Colorado. 

Quicker hikes include Cave Spring and Roadside Ruin, and if you’re up for a mid-distance challenge, travel to the panoramic overlook about 3 miles into the Chesler Park loop before turning around. On your way out of the park, you can turn south to Monticello or drive a half hour north to the Needles Overlook. There you’ll get to see the district’s spires and canyons from a higher vantage point.

Bonus: Stay Anywhere and Visit Mesa Verde

“Wait,” you ask, “Isn’t Mesa Verde in … Colorado??” Yes, this is Utah.com and yes, Mesa Verde National Park belongs to our neighbor to the east. But everyone’s cool in the Four Corners, and the parks and sites in the region are closely intertwined regardless of the state, thanks to their Ancestral Puebloan heritage.

A World Cultural Heritage Site and probably the most famous archaeological site in America, Mesa Verde is less than an hour and a half from Monticello, Blanding and Bluff. With 600 cliff dwellings, 4,000 points of interest and countless “oohs” and “aahs,” it’s well worth the trip. See how the Ancestral Puebloans created a home out of their landscape and take a moment to appreciate their taste in scenery. 

Several hikes take you to excellent viewpoints of the San Juan and La Plata mountains, as well as the Mancos and Montezuma valleys. You can also explore other cultural sites off the beaten path, and take on more strenuous hikes between boulders, up cliff faces and over stone staircases. 

And while cliff dwellings are cool, you’ll probably be happy to head back to your RV at the end of the day. Wherever you’re staying in Canyon Country, you’ll find everything you and your RV need, from water and septic to friendly faces and a good view. Start planning your trip to Utah’s Canyon Country today.