Canyonlands National Park guide · 1 min read
No Lodging Inside: Choosing Your Gateway Town
Canyonlands National Park has no lodging inside its boundaries, so every visit starts with a decision about where to sleep.
Inside the park, your choices are camping in one of its campgrounds or staying outside the boundaries. Your main option for lodging outside the park is the gateway town of Moab.
Moab is a small town where you will find plenty of hotels and restaurants, plus gas stations and grocery stores for stocking up. It also serves as a convenient base for trips to Arches National Park, which is nearby. Two places to consider are the Hoodoo Moab, a higher-end hotel in the city center, and 57 Robber's Roost, where the apartments come with full kitchens and suit families or small groups.
The three land districts, Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze, are not linked by roads inside the park. The Island in the Sky looks out over the other two, while the Needles and the Maze are more rugged and remote. Plan your stay around the district you want to explore first, since you cannot drive straight from one to another within the park.
The Island in the Sky campground sits in its own district. Start by turning onto Utah 313, about 10 miles north of Moab, and follow it roughly 22 miles to the Island in the Sky entrance. From there, drive about 7 miles on the park road before swinging right toward Upheaval Dome, where signs point the way to the campground.
For a deeper stay, you can camp in the backcountry of the Needles and the Maze, two rugged districts known for strong hiking routes. Pack for a remote setting, and plan your route before you leave the pavement.
