Needles OutpostCanyonlands · Utah
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Fires allowedDetails
Campfires are allowed in the established fire rings at your site. Please never leave one unattended, and drown it dead before you sleep or leave.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

If your question isn't here, ask the assistant in the corner of any page. If it doesn't know, it passes the question to us rather than guessing, and we'll email you back.

Arriving

How do I get there from Moab?
Take Highway 191 south for about 37 miles, then turn right onto US Highway 211. Do not take the earlier Needles Overlook turn. From there it is 12 miles to Newspaper Rock, which is worth a stop, and about another 22 miles on. Watch for the "Entering Canyonlands National Park" sign — we are roughly one mile past it, on the right. Allow about an hour and a half from Moab.
How do I get there from Monticello?
Take Highway 191 north for 15 miles, then turn left onto US Highway 211. From there it is the same as the Moab route: 12 miles to Newspaper Rock, then about 22 miles on, and we are roughly a mile past the "Entering Canyonlands National Park" sign, on the right.
Will my GPS get me there?
Often not. GPS systems have been wrong here by more than 20 miles, and there is no cell service in the canyon to look anything up once you are out of range. Screenshot your directions before you leave town, or write them down. This is the single most common way people end up lost on the way in.
What are the roads like?
The drive in is paved the whole way and does not need four-wheel drive — a regular car is fine. On our property the paved section has no parking. The gravel section is 10 mph and has potholes, and you will want to be down to 5 mph before the parking area.
Where do I park and check in?
Parking is immediately on the right next to the porch, before the gas pumps. Check in at the store inside.
What time do I need to arrive?
The store closes at 6 PM, so you need to reach us before then to check in. There are absolutely no check-ins after 8 PM. If you are running late, email us and we will hold your site. No amenities are available after hours.
How far are you from the park and from Moab?
We are 1.5 miles from the entrance to the Needles District of Canyonlands. Moab and Arches are about an hour and a half away, and the Island in the Sky district is about two hours. There is no public transport out here.
Do you lock the gate?
No, we do not lock or even close the gate during our open seasons. We just require guests to check in absolutely no later than 8 PM out of respect for us and consideration of other campers on the property. We ask that there not be any traffic in the campground at all after 9pm to keep it quiet and peaceful for all guests.
Why is it difficult to contact you?
We operate completely off-grid in the middle of the desert with no power lines or phone lines. We only have limited cell service and no receptionist to stay on the phones for us. P.S. if you would like to fill this position and work on trade, let us know. Until then, we are available via email if you cannot find the answers you are looking for here on our website. Thank you for your understanding.
What should I bring and prepare for?
- Bring your dry food in a tote so you have somewhere to store your food away from critters. - Bring a shade shelter of some kind if you camp with us in the summer. - Bring diesel cans if you expect to be out roaming (we only carry regular unleaded gasoline).

Booking

How do I change or cancel my reservation?
Your confirmation email has a private link to your reservation, where you can move your dates or cancel. A $10 change fee applies. If a change means we owe you money back, it comes to us to approve rather than happening instantly. If you have lost the email, you can look your booking up with your confirmation number and the email address you booked with.
What is our cancellation policy?
We offer a 100% refund minus the $10 processing fee 30 days prior to your check in date. 50% refund within 29-15 days of your check in date. Reservations are non-refundable within 14 days of your reservation. You may reschedule anytime prior to your reservation date with the understanding this negates any future cancellation refunds. There is a $10 fee for reservation changes. If you opted in for the travel protection plan you will communicate directly with them regarding cancellation refunds.
Can I extend my stay after check-in?
You must speak with the manager on duty at the time of check-in. Do not drop an envelope stating your extension without approval. This prevents us from overbooking.
Do you give refunds for bad weather?
No.

Facilities

Do you have WiFi and/or cell coverage?
Neither works inside the campground. They work inside and around the store only. There is a cell booster inside the store that picks up AT&T service only. Usually, texts come through and send out without issue, but calls are not guaranteed. WiFi is $5 a day or $10 for the entirety of your stay. No streaming or downloading large files. We are off-grid with satellite internet and have this service as a way of contact out here in the middle of nowhere. WIFI is $10 for anyone not paying for a campsite. © 2026
Do you have potable water?
No. There is a free refill station inside the park at the visitors center. We do sell gallons of water in the store during open hours 9am-6pm.
How do I purchase showers?
Guests must arrive at the store before 6 PM to purchase shower tokens at $3 for 5 minutes each. The bathhouse does not have any heating, AC, or power receptacles. The showers operate at a preset comfortably warm temperature.
Can I shower if I am not camping here?
Yes. Showers are available to people who are not camping with us, at $10 per token, between 9 AM and 6 PM.
Can I wash dishes?
You are welcome to collect water from the sink in the bathhouse, use a pot to boil water to wash your dishes. It is fine to dump the dirty water outside in the bushes, they could use the water as long as there was no bleach used to wash. No dishwashing inside the bathhouse to keep critters out and sinks clear from clogs.
Is there a laundry?
No. We are off-grid with limited resources.
Where can I fill my RV with water or dump gray/black water?
The closest place is Monticello to fill and empty tanks. Monticello is 45 minutes away. The park does not allow RV fills either. Water is scarce in the desert.
Do you have trash receptacles?
Yes, we do have trash cans outside of the bathhouse for our campers. We ask that you do not bring trash in from previous locations. We are so far from our local dumpster where we drive it out once a week and get overwhelmed when guests bring in extra. WE DO NOT TAKE TRASH FROM NON GUESTS.
Can I charge my phone or other electronics?
Yes — on the porch or inside the store during open hours.

General

How much is gas?
We only sell 87 octane at $10.00 per gallon. We do not carry diesel.
Can I run my generator
Generators can be operated during summer from 8am=9pm June 1st to September 1st. During spring and fall seasons generator hours are 9am - 9pm.
Can I book half the campground
You can book half the campground by booking the number of sites you wish to occupy. The rest of the campground will remain open to the public. You would need to coordinate with ownership if you want the sites to be adjacent, and that arrangement cannot be guaranteed, but we can make the attempt to accommodate.
Can I charge my car here
We do not have the electrical capacity to charge electric vehicles, unfortunately, as we rely solely on solar power.

Planning

When is the campground open?
The campground is open from March 1 through November 15. The camp store is open a little later in the spring, from March 15 through November 15. We cannot take bookings for dates outside the season.
Do I get to pick my own campsite?
Yes. You book a site TYPE rather than a numbered spot, and you choose whichever site you like when you arrive. The only exceptions are our glamping tents and the group site, which are specific units.
What kinds of sites do you have?
Standard dry camping for tents and any vehicle, medium RV sites for rigs 24ft and up, large RV sites for rigs 30ft and up, furnished glamping tents, and a group site. Rates and availability for your dates are on the booking page.

The store

What does the store sell?
Camp dinners and backpacking meals, snacks, cold drinks, ice cream, lunch meats, fresh produce, firewood, propane canisters, ice, toiletries, first aid, and souvenirs. We also rent books and board games. Open 9 AM to 6 PM.
Do you sell gas or diesel?
We have gasoline during open hours, 9 AM to 6 PM. We do not sell diesel at this time.
Do you sell propane?
Not at this time, we plan to get a new dispensing tank soon. We will update here when we do. We do sell the small green propane cans for camp stoves.
Do you sell hot food?
Not at this time, hopefully soon! We will announce it on our website when we do.
Do you sell alcohol or tobacco?
No, not at this time. We do not have a license to sell. If this changes, we will announce it.
Do you sell/rent camping gear?
We do have camping chairs, coolers, tents, sleeping pads, battery operated fans, buddy heaters, and sleeping bags for rent. You do not need to reserve them at this time; inquire at check-in. We currently do not have any gear for sale. We also have board games for rent.

Your site

How do we get sites next to each other?
Site selection is first come, first served, so arrive early if you want to be near each other. The surest option is to book the group site, which keeps your whole party together.
How many tents or RVs can I have on one site?
One RV per site, or two small tents. You may put a small tent beside a single RV, but not a full-sized family tent.
How many vehicles can I have in a single standard RV/tent site?
Up to two — truck, van or car — as long as they both fit in the parking area of the site you choose.
Do children count toward the six-person limit?
chilcren under 18 count as half a person toward the occupancy limit in an effort to accomodate larger families, however our sites are only so big, so we have to have a limit somewhere, so 2 adults plus up to 8 children is the limit, and even then you may want to consider booking two adjacent sites and arriving early to ensure the sites you get to choose are, in fact, adjacent, and even then you may want to consier booking the group site.
Is there an RV size limit?
More experienced guests are able to maneuver their 42 ft campers into our sites, some are not. If you are able to maneuver your camper around tighter turns and bumpy, sandy roads, you will be fine; if not, you may not want to attempt our campground.
Can I use a hammock?
We do not allow anything to be hung in the trees. We have found that hanging hammocks, clotheslines, trash bags, etc., caused damage to our trees. We will be installing poles for hanging hammocks in the near future. Free-standing hammocks are acceptable.
Can I fly a drone?
Let us know at check-in and we will show you the areas where flying is allowed.
Can we play acoustic instruments?
No, no music at all since the rocks echo too much. Not everyone likes to hear music when they come out to the middle of nowhere. This is a place to escape the noises of the towns and cities. We are happy to provide this peace and quiet for our guests. You are welcome to play on our covered porch that faces west with views of the park as well as the gorgeous sunsets.
Do you allow pets?
At this time, we still allow dogs. They must be on a leash and controlled at all times with no exceptions (not roaming free while dragging the leash around). No dogs inside the store or the bathhouse. They must be picked up after at all times. Please help us remain a dog-friendly campground by following these rules. This is the desert, and poop does not disintegrate.

Ready to book? Check availability — or contact the campground if you'd rather ask a person.