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Valley of the Gods in a Campervan: Is the 17-Mile Loop Worth an Overnight? · Boondocking Tips: Off-Grid Camping, RV Travel & Van Life

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Valley of the Gods in a camper van.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Is the 17-mile loop worth in overnight?
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, for one dry weather night, Valley of the Gods is worth it in a van or small RV near Bluff.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: The 17-mile drive takes one to two hours, and the best part starts when you park and watch the light change, not when you hurry through on the way somewhere else.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Current Road Note, U.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: Dots November 3rd, 2026 Alert lists SR-163 closed between mileposts 41 and 25 because of flooding.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: That affects the usual bluffside approach, so don't take that entrance while the closure is in place.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: The drive is the way in, not the whole visit.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: County Road 242 is graded gravel and clay, with sharp turns and several wash crossings.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: BLM estimates 1 to 2 hours for the drive and says passenger cars are suitable when the road is dry.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's scenic road time.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: Slow down, look around, and leave room to find a place to stop.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: The road passes formations with names like Seven Sailors, Setting Hen Butte, Battleship Rock, and Castle Butte.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: From US 163, the BLM brochure places them about 0.5, 1.5, 5, and 7 miles into the route.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: They're good landmarks, but don't turn the whole visit into a race to tick them off.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: What makes an overnight worthwhile is having time to settle in.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Park at an existing camp spot, step outside, and stay put while the buttes change color.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Then wake up to the morning light.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: The BLM brochure says evening and morning are the best times for photos, with morning sun shining directly on the valley and its towers.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: Pick the entrance that fits your route coming from Bluff.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Follow US 163 toward Mexican Hat.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: The Valley of the Gods entrance is about 15 miles west of Bluff and 7 miles east of Mexican Hat.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Coming from Highway 261, the other entrance is about 10 miles northeast of Mexican Hat.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: It meets SR-261 below Moki Dugway, so you don't need to drive the Dugway just to reach the valley road.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: You can travel the route in either direction.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Give yourself more than the drive time.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: If you want to camp before sunset, arrive with enough daylight to drive the route, look for an existing spot, and park without rushing.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: A last-minute search in the dark is a poor train for a few extra miles on the highway.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: A sunset to morning plan.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: A few hours before sunset.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Enter from the highway that makes sense for your trip.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Take the 17 miles slowly.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Use the named formations as landmarks, but don't stop in a way that blocks the narrow road.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Before dark, choose a spot that has already been used.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: The BLM map says dispersed camping is allowed only in previously impacted sites, away from ponds and corrals.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Keep your vehicle in the existing area rather than making a new track.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: BLM lists no entrance fee, several car camps, and no campfires.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: At sunset, put the phone away and stay a while.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Cook or pack dinner that doesn't depend on a campfire.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: The point of staying is to enjoy the valley when you're no longer watching the odometer.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: In the morning, make coffee at camp and give the light time to reach the rock towers.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: Then finish the route and continue on SR261 or US-163.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: For remote workers, I'd finish calls and file uploads in bluff.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: Then treat this as an evening off.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: A workday spent chasing a signal or watching the clock would waste the best part.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: When a big RV or wet weather changes the plan, for a camper van or small RV, I'd say yes in dry conditions.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: For a long trailer or large motorhome, I'd choose another place to sleep.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: The road has sharp turns and washes, and the BLM describes the places along it as car camps, not large RV campground sites.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: That is enough for me to avoid making a big rig squeeze into this overnight plan.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: If your route continues north on SR 261 over Mokey Dugway, take vehicle size seriously.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: UDOT lists oversize and overweight vehicles as prohibited on that section.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: The valley entrance is below the Dugway, but going north over it is a separate choice.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: If rain is forecast, skip the loop.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: The gravel and clay road can become difficult or impassable when wet.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: Four-wheel drive is no reason to count on getting through.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: For a simpler overnight, Gooseneck State Park is the better pick.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: It has primitive camping, picnic tables, and vault toilets.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: The listed camping fee is$10 per night, with sights first come, first served, and no reservations.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: What three nights can cost for two?
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: Here's a simple bluff area plan for two people in one van.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Spend one night in Valley of the Gods, then two nights at Gooseneck State Park.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: The Valley has no fee.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: Goosenecks lists camping at$10 per night.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: That makes the total$20 in camping fees for three nights before food and fuel.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, save the BLM Valley map for offline use, arrive with daylight to spare, and give the 17 miles a full night on either side.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: All links to sources are available in the text version of this article.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: You can find the full article at boondocking.tipslash blog.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: For more research driven boondocking guides, off grid camping tips, RV travel advice, and van life strategies, visit boondocking.tips.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: That's boondocking.tips for the full written research and new camping updates.