Camping at Lone Rock Beach (Utah)
Camping at Lone Rock Beach in Utah was one of the most memorable experiences of my road trip through the Southwest! After all, waking up to views of the beautiful Lake Powell after a night under the stars is hard to beat!
I initially stumbled across this campground while searching for somewhere cheap and last-minute to stay near Page. This family-friendly campground, requiring no reservations, ticked a lot of boxes!
Whilst the campground is certainly popular for a reason, there are a few things you should know before camping at Lone Rock Beach, which I’ll cover in this post! Continue reading to find out everything you need.
About Lone Rock Beach
Lone Rock Beach is a picturesque camping spot on Lake Powell’s shores within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Named for the prominent sandstone monolith that rises from the water, the beach offers one of the few opportunities to camp right on the sand, with direct access to the lake. Here, you can enjoy a variety of activities including swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and stargazing.
FUN FACT: Part of ‘The Impossible Astronaut’ episode of Doctor Who was filmed on this beach.
How to get to Lone Rock Beach
Lone Rock Beach is located in Lake Powell’s Wahweap Bay on the Utah-Arizona border.
GPS coordinates: 37° 0′ 58.1760″ N 111° 32′ 25.2492″ W
Even though the nearest town is Page (Arizona) the campground on the beach itself is in Utah.
To get to Lone Rock Beach campground, turn off Highway 89 and follow the road straight down. If you’re driving north from Page or Glen Canyon Dam, this will be just after the Utah state line (and the iconic Utah sign).
How much is camping at Lone Rock Beach?
Camping at Lone Rock Beach costs $14 per vehicle per night.
There are no reservations, meaning the campsite is first come first served. You pay at the kiosk on the road down to the beach.
There is an additional entry fee of $30 per vehicle as the area belongs to a National Monument. However, I avoid this fee by using my America is Beautiful Pass 🙌.
What to expect: Lone Rock Beach Campground
Camping at Lone Rock Beach
Lone Rock Beach is a primitive campground, meaning there are no designated camping spots. You can essentially find a spot wherever you want and pitch up! If you plan to visit during peak season, I highly recommend arriving early to find a pitch.
- Camping on the beach: You will need 4WD to navigate the soft sand. You will be rewarded with a more comfortable pitch, the freedom of the whole beach, and a shorter walk to the shore!
- Camping above the beach: If you don’t want to risk getting stuck in the sand, there are more accessible spaces higher up (on the left as you enter Lone Rock Beach). You’ll still have awesome views, but you’re further away from the shore.
Given that Lone Rock Beach is a sandy. You will have a better camping experience if you own an RV or converted vehicle (or anything that can protect you well from the sand). If you plan to camp in a tent, come prepared!
Facilities at Lone Rock Beach
The facilities at Lone Rock Beach include:
- Vault toilets + (seasonal) micro-flush toilets
- Outdoor cold shower
- Dump station
- Potable water (seasonal)
There are no electric hookups, fires are permitted, there’s limited (or no) service, pets are allowed!
My experience camping at Lone Rock Beach
My experience camping at Lone Rock Beach was a tale of two halves!
On arrival it was bliss! We drove down the long road, past the kiosk until the road ran out.
As the road disappears, it becomes a bit of a free-for-all! We tried following existing tire tracks as we drove down to the compacted sand where we parked up to investigate the beach to see if we would sink. Since we had a 2WD car, it was a careful balance of getting close to the water without beaching ourselves and needing a tow!
We walked a bit further into the soft sand to set up camp. We were definitely in the minority with a tent.
Given the sand, it was one of the easiest (and most comfortable) pitches in our whole time touring the Southwest. The beach is a gentle slope down to the shore, however, there are several plateaus where it’s flatter. You will see that naturally, people begin to pitch in a row!
Once set up, Lone Rock Beach is an epic spot to sit back and relax. Such an expansive space means you can see for miles!
After taking a dip in the water we sat down, cracked a beer and watched the sunset! As the sun goes down, the red rocks in the distance are illuminated and glow a beautiful reddish colour!
Unfortunately, Lone Rock Beach is prone to wind. With no protection, we were hit with a lot of sand and had to retreat into our tent for cover. We tried pinning down our tent with rocks to avoid more sand coming in which helped a lot.
The soft sand allowed us to sleep well and waking up in the morning to a beach view was epic!
As much as we loved the views, we decided against another sandy night in the tent and opted for accommodation elsewhere (somewhere we could de-sand)!
| Positives of Lone Rock Beach | Negatives of Lone Rock Beach |
|---|---|
| Cheap + No reservation needed | Sandy (+ windy) |
| Incredible views | Limited signal |
| Loads of space | Busy during peak season |
| Easy and comfortable pitch | Most facilities are seasonal |
Tips for camping at Lone Rock Beach
- Enjoying the lake: Besides your usual camping gear, bring items to enjoy the beach like kayaks, paddleboards, frisbee, or even a BBQ!
- Handling windy conditions: Secure your tent with rocks or use windbreaks to protect your campsite.
- Managing sand: There’s no denying that sand gets everywhere! Try to use mats to keep sand out of the tent. Pack a brush to clean off gear and shake out clothes, towels and your tent whenever possible.
- Staying cool: There’s not much shade on the beach so pack something like a gazebo. Stay hydrated and take a few dips in the lake to cool off.
When to visit Lone Rock Beach?
Lone Rock Beach Campground is open all year round.
The best time to camp here is during the spring or autumn months. Summers can be extremely hot (reaching over 100F) whilst winters can be freezing!
If you are camping in a tent, I recommend checking the weather forecast before you go so it’s not too windy.
What to do near Lone Rock Beach
You won’t be short of things to do near Lone Rock Beach and Lake Powell. Below are some of the best things to do nearby:
- Alstrom Point
- The Wave (Coyotte Buttes)
- Horseshoe Bend
- Antelope Canyon (Upper and Lower)
- Toadstool Hoodoos
- White Pocket
- Old Paria Mesa
Or you could continue your road trip towards Bryce Canyon National Park or Zion National Park.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on camping at Lone Rock Beach in Utah. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
Happy camping!
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