One of the fun things about road tripping, or traveling in general, is finding cool spots to stay along the way. Our cross country trip this year was no different. It can be a bit more challenging to find places that are open or accessible during the colder months of the year but you also have the benefit of being able to find spots without reservations when you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. We were fortunate enough to snag prime spots in beautiful locations in Kansas, Tennessee, Indiana, New Mexico, and Utah. Probably our most favorite? Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park.

couple with their two dogs posing at Arches National Park at a campground site. They are dressed warmly because it is December.

How it happened

When we arrived in Moab, our intent was to find a spot to boondock near the Colorado River. Before doing that, we wanted to go through Arches National Park since we hadn’t been able to earlier in the year. In December, the usually busy area was pretty quiet. Alex had looked at the campground located inside the park but thought it was probably completely booked. We decided to check it out anyway since we’d be exploring the park. Imagine our surprise and excitement when we turned in off the main road about 18 miles from the park’s entrance and found the campground almost completely empty.

Sunset at Devils Garden Campground with an empty camp site in the foreground

Normally, there are 51 campsites you can reserve (waaaay in advanceโ€ฆ.usually 6 month at least) but that is between March 1st and October 31st. After that, sites are available on a first come first serve basis and not all of them are available. The lower loop closes around the first part of December which cuts the number of sites to less than half. We got there December 3rd.

We snagged a prime site close to the clean bathrooms with beautiful views. We couldnโ€™t believe our luck!

About the campground

Open year ’round, this campground is awesome. Not only does it have flush toilets and drinking water, but the sites have picnic tables, and fire rings with paved spurs for vehicles to pull into and park. Oh yeahโ€ฆ.and it’s surrounded by beautiful views of the landscape and rock formations. You won’t miss the fact there aren’t showers, hookups for RVs, or dump stationsโ€ฆ.you’ll be too busy exploring the campground itself and the park. Did you know Broken Arch trailโ€ฆ.and the arch itselfโ€ฆ.is located inside the campground? Pretty cool!

Man standing in winter clothes to the left of Broken Arch in Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park

The cost for individual sites is a mere $25/night. There are a couple large group sites that can be reserved up to a year in advance. Keep in mind these group sites are tent only and start at $75/night.

Looking forward to roasting marshmallows over the camp fire? Be prepared to bring your own firewood. You are not allowed to gather wood inside the park and they do not sell any firewood in the campground. You can purchase a coupon for firewood at the Visitor Center.

Man sitting at a picnic table with two dogs at sunset in Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park

Dogs are allowed in the campground, which is great. We walked Ovi and Frodo along the paved road and watched the sunset turning the sky incredible shades of pink, orange, and purple. The rock formations turn a fiery orange and the park itself is silent.

Book your site at Recreation.gov here: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234059

Nearby Hikes

Sunset at Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park

 You are a short walk or drive to the Devils Garden Trailhead where you can hike along Devils Garden Trail to seven arches including Tunnel Arch, Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch, and Double O Arch. The entire trail is 7.2 miles long and difficult in some areas.

As mentioned earlier, Broken Arch trail is also nearby; the arch itself is located inside the campground next to the amphitheater. Hikes to other popular arches and other rock formations are available in close proximity to one another so a short drive will get you to a variety of options.

Parade of Elephants in Windows section of Arches National Park

We were so stoked to experience camping in this national park and will definitely plan to return.

Going in the offseason really does open up many more options to you – camping or exploring. We encourage you to go if you can. Just remember to come prepared for the colder weather. We talk a bit more about this here https://idahovantasticvoyages.com/best-time-to-visit-arches-national-park/.

Sprinter van in parking lot overlooking rock formations in Arches National Park.

Stay tuned for info on a few of the other fabulous camping spots we scored during this road trip. Happy exploring!