Where to camp in Moab

[Paul the Kayaker]

So I am headed to Moab in 2 weeks and wanted some advice on where to camp. We are going to be hiking and mountain biking for a few days and need suggestions. Free camping would be great!! Let me know where you would go. Thanks.

[bosco]

Paul, check your pm's

[badkins]

Good luck with free camping, even if you drive out of town to the BLM sites you still have to shell out $5-$10 a night. Last September I stayed a week at Up the Creek Campground. It's 15 bucks a night for a single person, less per person for groups. Nice central location right in the heart of Moab. Very nice sites and probably not crowded this time of year. It includes hot showers, picnic tables, green grass, and a little creek running right next to the campground. I haven't done much hiking but check out the Porcupine Rim, Bartlett Wash, and Gold Bar/Portal trails for mountain biking.

[KSC]

You can only camp legally in designated camp grounds if you're within a 50 mi (or so) radius of town, so you'll probably have to pay. My vote is Negro Bill's campground, right across from Negro Bill's Canyon and the end of Porcupine Rim: cheap, trees, privacy, river, politically incorrect, and perfect bike & hike access.

[gapers]

Pfffft,and give away my fav spots. Yeah,right.

[El Flaco]

Last time I went at Bartlett Wash, maybe 2 years ago, there was free camping. Maybe that's changed, but worth checking into....

[WhiteLightning]

Check PM

[AndTheLab]

There is an undeveloped BLM campsite on the river road with out fees. It can be found near the turn off to onion creek, but on the river side of the road. From the road it is hard to see the campground because you have to take a dirt road over a very small hill. You do have to have your own toilet system and I have seen the BLM guys check sites for them. It's not to bad and most people do not know about it. You have to pay for the rest of the sites on the river road.

[Paul the Kayaker]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and tips, thanks for the PM's, I hope the trip is a blast.