Campvue

Reviewed: Aug 15, 2026

5 out of 5

I have camped here at Arches a few times in my life, always on the loop at the end of the drive. Site 44 to date is my favorite site I've stayed at. I favor sites up against the large rocks. I love the aesthetic, but also the practicality. Especially in summer when monsoon storms are common, these large rock structures can serve as good shields against the full brunt of winds. And they can cast shade on some sites during the hottest hours of the afternoon, which was the case at site 44. Since Arches National Park sits in exposed, open desert terrain, another factor I enjoyed was how at some sites, like you have here at 44, there are trees that also provide much needed shade. In the photo and video snippet above, you can see my tent, the yellow one, which I pitched under that pine tree. It was a nice little refuge after a long day of exploring the surrounding desert. I camped here in July, which is one of the hottest, and stormiest monsoon months here in Utah. We did get storms almost every evening, and one night, there were some very close by lightening strikes that compelled me to seek temporary shelter in my truck, but I, as well as all other campers, came out unscathed. One thing I really like about this site, and the campground in general, are the restrooms with running water and flushing toilets. But, even more than that, I enjoy the utility sinks, as many campgrounds do not have these, and when you cook like I do, being able to wash your dishes and easily dispose of grey water properly is very much appreciated. I thought the campsites here, including 44, were amply spread out. You also have trees and other shrubs that help break up site lines to other sites, so I'd rate 44's privacy as good. One great thing about staying here are the nearby trail systems, which you can take to access several lesser-travelled arches in the park. This is a huge selling point for me. The popular Devil's Garden trail is also right next door, which is one of the most popular hiking trails in the park (for good reason). Do be prepared though... in the summer, as was the case on all my trips, fire danger is high, so no campfires allowed. You are allowed to use small, single-burner style propane cooking solutions, but the host clarified that some people bring large propane grills (like the kind many have at home in their backyards) and those are prohibited and they will shut you down if you try to use them. They seemed no-nonsense about that. As for me, I just have a small single burner solution, so was fine. The only issues I had were two things. First, the tree I pitched my tent under dripped lots of super sticky sap on my tent. I accepted the trade off though for the shade the tree provided, but it makes for a sticky mess for sure. And second... ants. It is probably mostly a summer thing, but lots of ants. That is common in the entire region though, but the ones to watch out for are the large red ones that make large mounds. They are harvester ants (although many refer to them as "fire ants"). Technically though, they are known as harvester ants. But I will tell you, one bit me and it did feel like my ankle was on fire. Wowza! That said, they mostly do not bother you and I was not near a mound, although they seem to explore all over. You'll see individuals foraging for scraps around campsite picnic tables, so keep things clean! It was one of those little rogues that bit me. Just be wary of them is all, they won't ruin your trip or anything.