Community Forums

kb2ztx · 12-21-2021, 02:58 PM

So we are heading across the country next summer. Leaving CNY in July and heading to Grand Canyon and plan to head back home to east coast a week later.

Two questions - MOAB. We are hoping for a BLM camp site for the night but is there anywhere to leave a small camper so we can go and explore one day ? Really dont want to tow it around but if we need to leave camp site thats what we need to do.

Grand Canyon - Again plan to get a BLM camp site if possible.

Towing a off road style camper and hope to stop a few places across the country.

Guess looking for good or bad campgrounds in both those areas. If we can't get a BLM site most liekly need to book a commercial site soon.

beaverfever · 12-21-2021, 06:42 PM

before you get to far along in your plans you should check both the day and night temps where your are heading. hot and hotter and in moab you won't get cool nights,you will need your a/c at night

rfg9585 · 12-22-2021, 07:36 AM

We were atthe locations you mentioned in June\July this past summer. As mentioned the temps are crazy HOT. >100 almost all the days for the 2 weeks we were there. I'd get a site where you could run AC. Couldn't see going and boondocking this time of year.

UTTransplant · 12-22-2021, 08:05 AM

As others have said, Moab can be really, really hot in July. Temps above 100 and low at 5 am of 75 are not uncommon. I highly recommend a campground with electricity for that part of your trip. As for the Grand Canyon, it is a higher elevation and just hot in July (instead of “really, really hot”). The North Rim is higher yet, and pretty reasonable at that time of year. And you can leave your camper parked in a BLM dispersed site without much fear of it being stolen, if that is what you are worried about. The odds of that are so remote as to not be worth worrying about. If you are still worried, put a wheel lock through your wheels. Small, expensive items like generators and bicycles have been known to walk off if left outside with flimsy or no locks, but that is pretty easy to handle too. We always used two specialized, hardened chains to lock them to the trailer frame.

RoyF · 12-22-2021, 08:52 AM

Not a BLM, but we used the Forest Service Ten-X campground (not far from the south entrance to Grand Canyon) more than once in mid-summer. It may have been hot, but I don't remember being uncomfortable. During the day it is a "dry heat", and it cools down during the night.

For the Moab area, we have used the BLM Horse Thief campground. It's close enough to both Canyonlands NP and Arches NP.

Kash · 12-22-2021, 10:44 AM

A few suggestions. Just suggestions, you can do as you please. Do not drive your personal vehicle to the Grand Canyon. Parking is terrible, Restaurants are jammed, driving around can be a night mare. If this is going to be a one time destination, I again have suggestions. I suggest you find an RV park in Williams, AZ which is on Route 66. Great town to visit because it is (was) set up for back in the 50's and 60's with old cars and people dressed up. If you can afford it, take the Grand Canyon RR from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon and back. Book the Observation Car. Make sure you get the Box Lunch option so you don't have to try to squeeze into the restaurant at the Canyon. The box lunch is (was) a lot more than we expected and those that did not choose that option had to walk up to the restaurant for food. Book the Bus Tour so you don't have to walk around a lot. There will be enough walking from the various spots the bus parks at. The ride up the 60 miles on the train will be a great experience if you do the Observation Car and the same on the way back. Make sure you attend the cowboy show before you leave in the morning. There is a camp ground just outside the RR station and hotel. We stayed out further in a place called Railside RV where the trains pass twice a day for viewing only. You can book everything on line. It is not cheep but we found it worth it especially the Observation Car as they served finger food on the way up and on the way back. We did it some years ago when the Steam Engine was running but no more. I also knew the father of one of the engineers and we got a private tour of the steam engine. No matter what you do, have a safe trip and enjoy to the fullest because life is too short. Stay safe, Stay well and Happy Holidays.

mbridinger · 12-22-2021, 04:42 PM

Go to the north rim, day trip to moab. South rim sucks.

kb2ztx · 12-23-2021, 07:38 AM

Towing the teardrop with the Jeep so only vehicle we will have. teardrop doesn't have AC so thats not a major issue. Thanks for all the info so far. Still planning stuff but dates are set as i had to work with work and have no wiggle time