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Discover all of the best Lake Powell camping areas where you can camp right on the beach! With almost 2,000 miles of shoreline, Lake Powell makes for breathtaking waterfront outdoor adventures. Discover some of the best camping in Utah and Arizona located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA).

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Lake Powell Camping

Camping at Lake Powell is a fun desert escape! The entire area has incredible views full of red rock geology, sandstone, and blue skies. You can count on sunny days and drier weather in the arid West.

We’ll talk about all the best Lake Powell camping spots, including beach camping, primitive camping, how much it costs, and much more. Continue reading for details!

How Much Does It Cost to Enter Glen Canyon NRA?

It costs:

• $55 – for the annual Glen Canyon National Recreation Area pass
• America the Beautiful National Park Pass – is accepted
• $30 – entrance fee for one week if no annual pass

For more information on fees, visit the National Park Service.

Where to Beach Camp at Lake Powell

Beach camping at Lake Powell is one of the best things about recreating at Glen Canyon NRA.

The five campgrounds and camping areas below offer shoreline camping.

1. Stanton Creek Campground Details

• No reservations, first come, first serve
• Primitive camping in undesignated spots
• No facilities or electricity
• No water
• No showers
• Vault toilets seasonally; bring your own toilet paper
• A toilet is required within 200 yards of a campsite. If you don’t have an RV, bring wag bags or another portable toilet option.
• Cost $12 per night
• Dogs are allowed
• Campfires are allowed
• Not shaded
• Great for tent campers and car camping
• You can get an RV back here if you are OK taking it down gravel roads.

Depending on the water level, there are sandy beach areas at Stanton Creek.

You can also hike or mountain bike on the dirt roads in the area, which we love doing.

2. Lone Rock Beach Campground Details

• No reservations, first come, first serve
• Primitive camping in undesignated spots
• Water is seasonally available
• Outdoor cold shower seasonally available
• Vault toilets are seasonal. Bring your own toilet paper.
• Flush toilets are seasonal
• A toilet is required within 200 yards of a campsite. If you don’t have an RV, bring wag bags or another portable toilet option.
• Cost $14 per night
• Dogs are allowed
• Campfires are allowed

Depending on the time of year visiting and water levels, Lone Rock is the best place for camping in the sand.

3. Wahweap Campground and RV Park Details

• Reservations allowed – see www.lakepowell.com for reservations.
• Dry campsites and RV full hook-ups are available here.
• Water is available
• Showers are available year-round
• Flush toilets are available year-round
• Cost varies for dry campsites or full hookups
• Dogs are allowed
• Campfires are allowed

This is a great place for RV camping.

4. Bullfrog Campground Details

• No reservations to dry camp! First-come-first served
• Yes – reservations for RV hookup – see www.lakepowell.com for reservations and camping information.
• Dry campsites and RV full hook-ups
• Water is available
• Showers are available year-round
• Flush toilets are available year-round
• Cost varies for dry campsites or full hook-ups
• Dogs are allowed
• Campfires are allowed

This is another great place for RV camping.

5. Halls Crossing Campground and RV Park Details

You have to ride the ferry from Bullfrog Marina to get to the Halls Crossing Campground area.

Contact the Bullfrog Marina ahead of time to arrange travel to Halls Crossing.

• No reservations to dry camp! First come, first serve
• Yes – reservations for RV hook up – see www.lakepowell.com for reservations
• Dry campsites and RV full hookups are available
• Water available seasonally
• No showers
• Flush toilets available seasonally
• Cost varies for dry campsites or full hook-ups
• Dogs are allowed
• Campfires are allowed

This is a great place for RV camping.

Best Primitive Beach Camping at Lake Powell

The two absolute best places for primitive camping on the beach of Lake Powell are:

• Stanton Creek Campground
• Lone Rock Beach Campground

Lake Powell Shoreline Camping

With almost 2,000 miles of shoreline, visitors can camp along the shores almost anywhere at Lake Powell (except Rainbow Bridge).

The National Park Service does allow camping in undeveloped areas along the shore.

Visitors just have to be able to access undeveloped locations via boat, watercraft, or by hiking in, if not an already designated campground or primitive camping area.

Best Places to Camp at Lake Powell Map

When is the Best Time of Year to Camp at Lake Powell?

The best time of year to camp at Lake Powell is definitely during the spring and fall. If you are dry camping without any facilities, the summer temperatures can be scorching in the triple digits (100 degrees Fahrenheit or more), so it can be uncomfortable if you aren’t in the water all day.

If you are staying at one of the campgrounds with an RV and electricity, summer camping is more comfortable if you can get a break from the heat or enjoy water activities most of the day.

Late spring, summer, and early fall are excellent times of the year for being in the water and going on a camping vacation.

Is There Cell Phone Reception at Lake Powell?

Most of the primitive camping locations do not have cell phone reception. From our experience, unless you are close to one of the marinas, cell phone reception is hit-and-miss.

For all of you digital nomads, the Wahweap and Bullfrog campgrounds have cell phone reception.

What to Pack

To camp at Lake Powell, you’ll want to be sure to bring all the basics:

• Simple Camp Kitchen
• Tent Camping Gear
• Shade
• Sunscreen – environmentally friendly brands
• Water sandals
• Layers to accommodate temperature swings
• Bathing suit
• Quick-dry camping towel
• Headlamp
• Water bottles and lots of water (one gallon per person per day in the desert)
• Wag bags if you’re camping further than 200 feet away from a bathroom

Final Thoughts

In case you decided to skip through the details, below are the five best campgrounds on the beach at Lake Powell:

• Stanton Creek Campground
• Lone Rock Beach Campground
• Wahweap Campground and RV Park
• Bullfrog Campground
• Halls Crossing Campground and RV Park

Camping at Lake Powell is an outdoor lover’s dream. With crystal clear water, picturesque red rock cliffs, and miles of undeveloped shoreline to explore, it’s hard not to be enchanted by this desert oasis. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or this is your first time sleeping under the stars, we hope our information helps make your camping trip planning a little bit easier.

Thanks for reading.

Ashlee & Pablo

You might also enjoy…

Are you planning on exploring Utah and the Lake Powell area?

You might also enjoy our other articles:

• Stanton Creek Camping on the Shore of Lake Powell
• Farley Canyon Campground | Camp and SUP at Lake Powell
• How to Visit Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• Primitive Camping on BLM Land
• 25 Best Amazon Camping Gear Must-Haves

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We would love to hear from you!

When are you going camping at Lake Powell?

If you have been, where was your favorite area?