Can you reserve a site at Horsethief Campground?

No. Horsethief Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Horsethief Campground

Campground · Utah ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Moab Field Office (Bureau of Land Management UT) · Open Access

5,836 ft
Elevation

Horsethief Campground View — Photo: Moab BLM · Recreation.gov

Campsites are tucked in the pygmy pinyon-juniper forest on the mesas above Moab, yet offer great views. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground has four loops: Appaloosa, Buckskin, Cayuse, and Dapple. Appaloosa, Buckskin, and Cayuse loops have 56 campsites that can accommodate RVs. Dapple loop has 28 tent campsites with no generators allowed. There are five group campsites available for reservation through Recreation.gov. The area has many mountain bike trails and 4WD roads nearby. The campground is close to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Individual Sites: 83 (limited to 10 people & two vehicles per site); Group Sites: 5 (reservable); Water: No; Toilets: Yes; Hook-ups: No. (Note: this is a different recreation site from the "Horsethief Camp" located in the Needles, CA area).

Getting there

From the center of Moab (at Center and Main) head north on Hwy. 191 to Hwy. 313. Turn left (west) on Hwy. 313 and drive 12 miles. You will see the campground sign on the right. Turn on the gravel road and you will see the campground entrance on your left.

38.58429, -109.81421 · 38°35'3.4"N 109°48'51.2"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Official map for this area

Typical weather

Typically 91°F in Jul, down to 37°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	37	43	54	62	72	85	91	88	79	65	49	37
Low °F	22	27	35	40	50	62	68	66	57	44	33	23
Precip in	0.6	0.6	0.8	0.7	0.9	0.4	0.9	1.2	1.0	1.2	0.6	0.7

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

$20.00 per site per night camping fee payable at self service fee station at campground (only exact cash or check accepted)

Stay limit: 14 nights in a 30 consecutive day period

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

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Common questions about Horsethief Campground

Can you reserve a site at Horsethief Campground?: No. Horsethief Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
How long can you stay at Horsethief Campground?: 14 nights in a 30 consecutive day period

Camping near Horsethief Campground

Horsethief Group Sites less than 0.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lone Mesa Group Sites 3.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Gemini Bridges Trailhead 1.4 mi · Facility
Cowboy Camp Campground 2 mi · Campground
Big Mesa (State Route 313) Recreation Area 2.5 mi · Facility
Jewel Tibbetts Arch Trailhead 2.7 mi · Facility
Metal Masher Trailhead 6.3 mi · Facility
Island in the Sky Visitor Center 8.6 mi · Facility
Moab Brands Trailhead 9.2 mi · Facility
Bartlett Slickrock Jedi Trailhead 9.6 mi · Facility
Jeep Arch (Gold Bar) Trailhead 9.6 mi · Facility
Gold Bar Recreation Site 9.8 mi · Facility

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Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.