Is dispersed camping free in Utah?

On most BLM and Forest Service land, yes. You can camp for free on public land outside developed campgrounds where camping is not otherwise restricted. The exceptions matter: parts of the Moab area are designated camping only with a per-night fee, some corridors require a permit, and national parks do not allow dispersed camping at all.

How long can you stay in one spot?

The standard limit is 14 days within a 28-day period on BLM land, after which you must move at least 25 miles. Forest Service districts use similar limits, and heavily used areas near Moab shorten it. Posted limits at the access road always take precedence.

Do you need a permit for dispersed camping in Utah?

Usually not for general BLM or Forest Service dispersed camping. You do need permits in specific places, including many Cedar Mesa and Bears Ears canyons, some river corridors, and any national park backcountry. A fire permit or a current fire restriction check is separate and applies statewide during the dry season.

Can you camp anywhere on BLM land in Utah?

No. Camp on previously used sites within a short distance of an established road, not on undisturbed desert soil. Biological soil crust takes decades to recover from a single set of tire tracks, and cryptobiotic crust is the reason so much of Utah asks you to stay on rock, sand, or bare dirt.

Where can you disperse camp near Moab?

Free dispersed camping is available on BLM roads outside the designated corridors, including the Willow Springs, Cotter Mine, and Dubinky Well areas northwest of town. Along the Colorado River on Highway 128 and much of Highway 191, camping is limited to numbered fee sites. Verify the current boundaries with the Moab Field Office before you drive out at dusk.

Is it safe to camp in a wash?

No. Utah monsoon season runs from roughly mid July through September, and flash floods arrive from storms you cannot see. Camp on benches and high ground, and never in a slot, wash bottom, or drainage, even under a clear sky.

Dispersed camping in Utah

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