First of all, you are each welcome to make your own lodging arrangements, independent of the group. However, we are willing facilitate and organize a group reservation in order to keep as many people together as is possible.
As a family, we are a little more open to a wider variety of lodging options than the past two years. In other words, if some of you HAVE to have your showers, or HAVE to have your RV hookups, etc. we are willing to pony up for a commercial campground so that the majority of us can stay in the same place... Mostly, that's for you mom ;) We still haven't given up on getting you out here for the Fall Moab Trip one of these years and we hope that throwing in a private cabin with a tv and private bath, while the rest of us can still tent camp, might get us one step closer to getting you out here!!
Please RSVP by 9/15/09 to let us know (1) if you're coming, (2) your lodging budget, and (3) your amenities requirements (i.e. - "I must have..." flush toilets, RV hookups, private cabin only, etc...). We will then choose a campground option that will best fit the majority of those who are committed.
If the majority of you are like us and are up for DIRT CHEAP and are willing to camp without running water, without electricity, and with outdoor pit toilets, we will choose a cheap BLM campground. Something like the Moonflower Campground ($8 per vehicle per night, but no picnic tables and no trailers or RVs allowed) or the Sand Flats Recreation Area ($10 per vehicle per night, includes picnic tables and some sites can accommodate large trailers or RVs).
On the other hand, if the majority of you require one or more of the following amenities: running water, electricity, covered tent pads, WiFi, flush toilets, showers, cable tv hookups, swimming pool, hot tub, heat, A/C, microwave, refrigerator, private bathroom, bicycle wash, small camp supply store, and/or a children's playground, then we will probably choose the Moab Valley RV Resort. Fee structure is as follows (all fees are for 2 guests, additional guests over 5 yrs old are $5 per night, tax rate is 13%):
- Tent site = $22 per night
- RV site = $30 per night for a basic site (add $7 more for cable tv hookups, add as much as $5 more for rigs between 35 and 60 feet long)
- Economy cabin = $50 per night (includes electricity, heat, A/C, and beds, but bring your own bedding - i.e. sleeping bag to lay out on top of the bare mattress)
- Standard cabin = $60-$65 per night (includes all economy cabin amenities plus bedding, television, and fridge)
- Cottage cabin = $75 per night (includes all standard cabin amenities plus microwave, private bathroom, and private shower)
If, however, we go with a BLM campground, the campsites are not reservable. They are available only on a first come, first served basis. If we know for certain you are coming, we can "squat" on your campsite for a short time until you arrive, at which time you can pay your own fees.
We will do everything in our effort to mix and match individuals from the various groups in order to maximize the occupancy of each site: to keep the costs as low as possible. In other words, if you want a cabin, but only have 2 people in your group, we will try and bunk you up with another group in order to maximize cost savings. If you desire. Although you are welcome to spend a little more for privacy if you choose.
For other lodging options...
Motels - Our favorite is the Moab Landmark Inn. It's right in the middle of all the downtown restaurants and shops and has the best kid-friendly swimming pool in town. They even have a couple of "Triple Queen" rooms: for extra large families! There are also plenty of other places to fit just about any budget. Check out Discover Moab's "Where to Stay" for the most comprehensive list of Moab lodging options that I know of. Also check out IHS Advantage - Moab for the most complete online central reservation system for the Moab area.
Modern camping - There are more than a dozen private campgrounds in town with tent and RV sites, rental cabins, hot showers, swimming pools, hot tubs, WiFi, and the like. Unfortunately, some of these campgrounds are quite trashy and not worth the $20+ ($40+ for a cabin) that they often cost, so choose your campground carefully. Our favorite, if you want to be within walking distance to downtown is Canyonlands Campground. We've never stayed at Moab Valley Campground, Spanish Trails Campground, or Riverside Oasis, but Trailer Life Magazine
rates each of the 4 campgrounds listed above with a 9 out of 10 or higher on bathroom/shower cleanliness and 8.5 out of 10 or above on visual appeal.
Primitive camping - If you want dirt cheap, don't mind a short drive into town, don't mind outdoor pit toilets, and no running water or electricity, we recommend the Sand Flats Recreation Area (9 campgrounds between 2 – 10 miles from town, $10 per night per vehicle). Or any of the many BLM campgrounds (16 campgrounds between 3 – 10 miles from town, $8 - $12 per night per vehicle). Sites are not reservable. They are available only on a first come, first served basis. See the Moab BLM campground guide or Discover Moab's Sand Flats Recreation Area guide for more details.
As an aside, our VERY favorite so far has been the "Moonflower Canyon" campground. Only 3.5 miles from the center of town. It is contained within the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. There is a very small creek that meanders through the campground. There is a ton of shade from gigantic cottonwood trees as well as from towering cliff walls on 3 sides. There is a nice 1/4 mile walk up the canyon to a small, tranquil pool. It's definitely one of the best options around for scenery and serenity alike. It is a "walk-in campground," which means that you must leave your vehicle in a parking lot and carry your camping gear at least 30 yards (and up to 150 yards) to your actual campsite. So it is not an option for those with trailers or RVs of any kind, and not really ideal for those who have extremely large, heavy tents or other heavy camping gear that they don't wish to leave in the car. rates all four campgrounds above with a 9 out of 10 or higher on bathroom/shower completeness and cleanliness and 8.5 out of 10 or higher on visual and environmental appeal.
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