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One-of-a-kind destinations can jump off the pages of travel guides, beckoning us to see if the images on print are replicas of the real thing. Lake Powell RV camping is one of those unique locations that will catch you by surprise upon arrival.
The desert’s azure skies are reflected in water so deep and boundless that they can barely be contained by the sandstone that surrounds them. It’s a place that will capture your free spirit and have you returning year after year, in search of its solace.
About Lake Powell
Created by the Glen Canyon Dam’s construction in 1966, the lake became a reality as 186 miles of the Colorado River was backed up. As the canyons filled with water, Lake Powell began to present over 2,000 miles of shoreline, meandering through the desert river basin topography to top out at 583 feet deep.
Above all, the lake was created to provide more consistent water supplies to the Lower Colorado River Basin, including Nevada, Arizona, and California. With its inception, Lake Powell has also become a vast recreation area, providing a spectacular playground for the more than 2 million people that visit each year.
Best Time of Year For Lake Powell RV Camping
Many campgrounds on the south end of the lake are open year-round at Lake Powell. Therefore, winter is a great time to get some sun, catch dinner in the lake and enjoy the daily warmth of the desert.
And if heat makes you sizzle with excitement, then the summer can be full of houseboat parties, swimming, and boating in the deep waters, surrounded by red rock canyons. There’s no wrong time to schedule a visit to this desert oasis!
Things To Do While RV Camping at Lake Powell
Virtually anyone can find an activity that they enjoy at Lake Powell, Utah. In other words, it offers houseboats to history hunting, hiking to offroading, and camping to exploring archaeological sites, the lake is home to outdoor adventure, scenic exploration, and quiet contemplation.
Water sports abound here, with boating, jet skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing available. In addition, several swim beaches are located near marinas along the lake’s shoreline, and RV campgrounds dot the landscape in common gathering areas. Many geologic anomalies lie up some of the side canyons here as well! Check out Rainbow Bridge, which used to take a day to hike to before boats made it easily accessible.
Camera shutters click steadily in this sandstone desert, as Navajo guides take visitors through the folds of rock at Antelope Canyon. Others clamor to photograph Horseshoe Bend or the engineering feats of Glen Canyon Dam. And the adventurous hunt for historic Hole in the Rock, where Mormon pioneers created a road down the face of a canyon wall, lowering people, livestock, and wagons to the floor of the desert back in 1880.
Lake Powell RV Camping
There are miles and miles of unofficial campsites within the Lake Powell National Recreation Area. However, if you are looking for more formal digs, check out these Lake Powell RV camping opportunities:
Bullfrog RV and Campground
4055 Bullfrog, Lake Powell, Utah 84533
Located 18 miles south of Ticaboo, Utah, Bullfrog RV and Campground sits on the northern half of Lake Powell. It offers 18 pull-thru and four back-in RV sites. In addition, all sites offer full hookups that can accommodate rigs up to 50’ in length.
In addition, each site has 30 amp power, a picnic table, and charcoal grills for outdoor entertainment. The campground provides showers and restrooms that are centrally located. Campsites have a great view of Bullfrog Bay. The nightly cost is $51.
Stanton Creek Campground
Stanton Creek Road, Lake Powell, UT 84533
There are no designated campsites in Stanton Creek Campground, but this primitive campground has beautiful sites overlooking the lake. Note that some of these sites are more difficult to access than others so 4-wheel-drive is a must for the primo spots. Vault toilets are available, but no other amenities can be found here, except stunning views. No reservations are taken, and the nightly cost is $12.
Halls Crossing RV and Campground
UT-276, Halls Crossing, UT 84533
Sitting just down the lake from Bullfrog Marina, you’ll find Halls Crossing RV and Campground. Accessing this campground isn’t your typical travel day. For instance, it is accessible via ferry boat from Bullfrog or Highway 276 out of Mexican Hat, Utah. There are 31 full hookup campsites that can accommodate RVs up to 60’ long.
In addition, these pull-thru sites have picnic tables and charcoal grills available, with restrooms and showers temporarily located in the dispersed camping area. The nightly cost is $47.
Lone Rock Beach Campground
GPS Coordinates: (37.016017 -111.545096)
Lone Rock Beach Campground is a primitive campground that has no designated sites. However, there are more than 2 miles of beachfront on which to set up your rig!
Stays are limited to 14 days. Additionally, the campground has micro-flush and vault toilets, an outdoor cold shower, and a dump station. There is even an off-road vehicle area. Nightly rates are $14.
Wahweap RV and Campground
Lake Shore Dr, Page, AZ 86040
Situated at the southern base of Lake Powell, Wahweap RV and Campground is a hop, skip, and jump to the lakefront. In other words, you’ll have plenty of water sports to partake in! You’ll find 139 full hookup campsites, along with a few set aside for dispersed campers.
Some of the amenities included are showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. The campground is part of Wahweap Marina, so campers have access to boat and water toy rentals. As well as a restaurant, gift shop, and swimming pool.
Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring to enjoy your outdoor area. There is WiFi available, but not incredibly dependable due to their rural location. The nightly cost is $68.
Take Your RV Camping to the Next Level at Lake Powell
Whether you come to play or just get away from it all, Lake Powell has your number. It not only offers a prized commodity of abundant water in the desert but the space to explore. Relish the fresh air and desert solitude, if only for a week or two.
Once you’ve had your fill of Lake Powell, head north into Utah and explore the beautiful Strawberry Resevoir.