Create a notebook or computer file with the names, addresses and phone numbers of all the national, BLM and state parks in Utah that accommodate the type of camping you want to do. Not all public lands have spaces or hookups for RVs or fifth wheels; most accept tents and pickup campers. See Resources for a list of BLM campgrounds in Utah and their features.
Note the services that the public camping areas provide and their nightly charges. You will also need to know how long you can stay at each facility, as well as the maximum number of weeks you can spend at the camping site annually. The national parks in Utah limit camping to 14 days at a time and an annual total of 44 total days. If you depend on electricity or water, note the parks that offer these hookups. Some parks in Utah shut off the water in the fall, winter and part of the spring to prevent frozen pipes.
Chart the locations of the public campgrounds on a map and create a route to take advantage of the kinds of weather you want to experience. All the national parks are in southern Utah. The BLM land, national forests and state parks are scattered throughout the state. Northern Utah has cold winters with ample snow and mild summers; southern Utah has milder winters and hot summers.
Make reservations at the campgrounds on your route well ahead of time so that you always have somewhere to stay (see Resources).
Contact the U.S. Forest Service's national reservation system (see Resources) to reserve the rustic cabins or fire lookouts that you can rent in Utah. The Forest Service has cabins available in six national forests in Utah.
Plan your route based on when the cabins are available on a seasonal and on-demand basis. Some of the cabins are open almost all year long, although snow may make it difficult to get in and out of them. The water is usually shut off in the fall to avoid frozen pipes and turned back on in the spring. Some of the cabins have electricity; others rely on propane for cooking and light.
Bring blankets and cooking utensils, because most of the cabins are not furnished with these items. You may have to gather your own firewood as well, a challenge in the winter when snow is deep.
