A Month Living Full-Time in a Camper in Moab
I spent a month living full-time in my camper in Moab, Utah.
After enduring a pretty harsh winter in Wyoming, I was looking for a warmer refuge somewhere I'd never been. Moab was next on the list.
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Why Moab, and why it felt so foreign
Not only had I never been to Moab, I'd never spent much time in the desert at all.
I grew up in New York. I usually spend my time in the mountains. The desert felt genuinely foreign to me, and that turned out to be the point.
Moab inspired a completely different kind of wonder. Endless opportunities to explore off-road, rock formations that don't look real, and some of the most incredible sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen.
I explored Arches and Canyonlands, and it really did feel like a different world.
The campsite
This was the most insane place I've ever camped. It genuinely looked like I was staying inside a Western movie.
Getting there required off-roading, which is exactly the setup a tow-behind trailer is built for. I could drop the camper and take the Jeep, and even the drive back to camp each night felt like an adventure of its own.
I tried to end most nights with a much-needed campfire.
What a normal day actually looked like
A month somewhere isn't all sunsets. Most days were logistics, and Moab handled them well.
The town has genuinely good coffee, a laundromat, groceries, and propane. I also bought a month-long pass at the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center for $50, mainly for the showers. When you're boondocking on a 23 gallon fresh tank, a gym pass is a water strategy more than a fitness one.
One of the best evenings of the whole month was chasing the full moon out to one of the arches to photograph it, discovering a handful of other photographers had the exact same idea, and spending the whole time talking with them instead of shooting. I wrote that day up in detail in A Day Off in Moab.
Why I left: the camper hit 90 degrees
Here's the honest ending.
It wouldn't be long before the cold of the mountains up north returned to something reasonable. And meanwhile the camper started reaching 90 degrees. That's when I knew it was time to go.
This is the part people underestimate about desert camper life. Campers are poorly insulated in both directions. Mine isn't a four-season rig, and while I've written plenty about how badly that performs below zero in Wyoming, it fails just as hard in heat. All those windows I love for the light are also where heat pours in.
Air conditioning isn't a real answer when you're boondocking either, because a rooftop AC unit pulls far too much off the inverter to run on solar for long. Realistically you need shore power to use it.
So in the desert, your cooling strategy is elevation and timing, not equipment. You chase comfortable temperatures the same way you chase good light.
Would I go back?
Absolutely. Moab was a special place and I can't wait to return, though I'd time it differently.
Go in spring or fall. Winter up north pushes you toward the desert, and the desert pushes you back out again once it warms up. That narrow window in between is when Moab is perfect.
Next stop was Grand Junction, Colorado.
FAQ
How long should you spend in Moab?
I spent a month and it didn't feel like enough, but the weather set the limit. Arches and Canyonlands alone can fill a week.
Can you boondock near Moab?
Yes, and some of the best sites require off-roading to reach, which is where a tow-behind trailer and a capable vehicle earn their keep.
Is it too hot to camp in Moab in summer?
For me, yes. My camper was reaching 90 degrees, which is when I left. Poorly insulated rigs heat up fast and rooftop AC needs shore power to run for any length of time.
Where do you shower in Moab?
The Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center. I paid $50 for a month-long pass, which also saves your fresh water tank.
Arches or Canyonlands?
Both. They're different experiences and they're close together.
Final thoughts
A month in a landscape I'd never seen, camped somewhere that looked like a film set, chased out by the heat.
Moab was special and I'll be back. Until then, I'll see you out there on the road.
Related:
Gear in this video
Everything I actually use out here, from this video’s description. These are affiliate links, so buying through them supports the channel at no extra cost to you.
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