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A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

National Park Service campground

Hovenweep Campground

National Park Service campground in Hovenweep National Monument, San Juan County, Utah. About 5,300 feet. 29.4 miles from Blanding.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service Hovenweep National Monument
Elevation
About 5,300 ft As the National Park Service states
Sites
29 13 standard non-electric, 9 rv non-electric, 7 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
55 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
San Juan County

Overview

Hovenweep Campground is nestled within the beautiful, sweeping landscape of the Colorado Plateau in Southeast Utah, at an elevation of approximately 5300 ft. (1615 m). The campground is located alongside two converging canyons and is only 1/4 mile (.4 km) from the park's visitor center. Stunning views of mountains, canyons, and sandstone ledges adorned with desert plants make for a spectacular camping experience!

Length of stay is limited to seven (7) nights (consecutively or non-consecutively) in any 30-day period or a total of 14 nights per year.

Recreation

Hovenweep offers multiple hikes, with the most popular being the Square Tower Group's 2-mile (3.2km) walking loop. This hike has the densest population of ancestral Puebloan structures within Hovenweep and allows visitors to get within 5-10 feet (1.5 - 3 m) of them, creating an intimate and humbling experience with fantastic opportunities for photography. For visitors seeking a longer hike, the Holly Trail is conveniently located at the back of the campground and is roughly 8 miles (12.9 km) round-trip, traversing through 2 slot canyons within Keely Canyon and leading visitors to Hovenweep's outlying site, Holly. Additional hikes to Hovenweep's remaining outlying sites are also available, but generally require a higher-clearance vehicle to access and are subject to variable road conditions. Visitors can also enjoy the majesty and vastness of the dark skies and glowing stars here at our certified International Dark Sky Park!

Facilities

Hovenweep Campground contains 31 campsites that are available for reservation. 10 sites are RV-specific (including 1 handicap-accessible site), while the remaining 21 sites have tent pads. Sites provide a wonderful opportunity for a variety of visitors to stay overnight in a peaceful national monument. The campground road is a paved, one-way loop with campsites located on the inner and outer sides, offering a variety of views for campers! Flush toilets are available, but there are no showers. Drinking water is available from May 1 - November 1 (water is available at the visitor center year-round). All campsites contain picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates. All but 4 campsites have shade structures over the picnic tables. The park does not have dump stations or any hook-ups for RVs. Firewood is not available at the campground. Trash, recycling bins, and a receptacle for pet waste bags are located by the restrooms.

Natural Features

The campground is forested with beautiful, established Utah Juniper trees along with many desert wildflowers and plants, dotting the landscape and offering vivid color to the surrounding sandstone ledges and canyons. Spring reveals the majesty of Veined Penstemon, painting our park with pinks, blues and purples, while Fall sparkles with yellow rabbit brush accents. The park is within an arid, high desert environment with hot summers and cold winters. Hovenweep is home to many species of wildlife, ranging from antelope ground squirrels, ravens, and songbirds to coyotes, jack rabbits and lizards. Many nights and mornings are filled with the calls and songs of our local wildlife! This area piques the interest of many wildlife viewers, birders, and artists as they pull inspiration from the natural beauty and welcoming peace of Hovenweep!

Nearby Attractions

Hovenweep is located roughly 45 miles (72 km) from the nearest town with restaurants and shopping. The closest gas station is located 20 miles from the park, in Aneth, Utah. Our park is located next to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Canyons of the Ancients offers mountain biking/horseback riding trails, as well as archaeological sites and other areas of interest for visitors to explore. There are also multiple state, national, and tribal parks located within an hour or two's driving distance from Hovenweep.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • birding
  • camping
  • hiking
  • historic & cultural site
  • interpretive programs
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • star gazing
  • visitor center

The land around Hovenweep Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated May 7, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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