220 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Austin, Colorado encompass a mix of developed facilities and dispersed sites across public lands. The region includes established campgrounds like Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park's South Rim Campground, which accommodates both tents and RVs with amenities such as electric hookups and drinking water. For those seeking a more primitive experience, Black Canyon Dispersed Camping provides free camping on Bureau of Land Management property near Montrose. Additionally, several sites like Uncompaghre River Resort and Four Seasons River Inn & RV Park offer cabin accommodations along with traditional camping spaces.
Public lands in the area feature varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Many dispersed camping areas like Escalante Canyon Road provide free camping with minimal facilities, though roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. The terrain around Black Canyon ranges from river valleys to higher elevation areas, creating diverse camping environments. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with some campgrounds operating year-round while others like North Rim Campground are only open from April to mid-November. A visitor to Black Canyon Dispersed Camping noted, "Great location right next to the park! There are plenty of sites and the views are beautiful. Entrance was slightly rutted so make sure you can off-road just a bit!"
Several campgrounds in the area feature riverside settings, particularly along the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Crawford State Park campgrounds provide access to reservoir recreation, while sites within the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offer dramatic views of the steep canyon walls. Visitors frequently mention the striking landscape as a highlight, though experiences vary by location. As one camper wrote about the North Rim Campground, "Sites were average size and offered great views. It looked like mostly a tent zone which was nice." Cell service is generally available at developed campgrounds but can be spotty in more remote areas. Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the region balance recreational access with varying levels of amenities, from basic vault toilets to full hookup sites for RVs.
"The South Rim Campground is similar to other national park campground in that it provides convenient access to park activities and trails, but it stands apart due to the fact that the camping fees are"
"Most of the outer sites are tucked into the forest so there is a decent level of privacy. Lots of deer frequent the area, we saw several on each trip."
from $20 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Great location right next to the park! There are plenty of sites and the views are beautiful. Entrance was slightly rutted so make sure you can off-road just a bit!"
"A few minutes outside the south gate of the park. Multiple sites, most of which are on dirt. Paths to and from can be a bit rough for most passenger vehicles. But it’s quite and close to the park."
"This campground is a gem as other reviewers have cited, BUT the road in is dangerous when wet as there is a lot of exposure off the edge. An AWD would be ok but still dicey on the downhills."
"Stunning scenery and right next to the river. The road coming in is not for the faint of heart, but it was very doable in my minivan going slow."
"The campground is situated below the road keeping road noise low. The entrance is at a busy location on the highway and steep so take care while entering."
"Pretty campground with grass at the sites, a river a short walk away (there's a good portion of the campground with riverside sites, but limited for larger rigs)."
"Hiking trails nearby. Multiple campgrounds along the road but the road is bumpy and one way so occasionally someone has to pull over to let others pass."
"It's one car width and has some drop offs next to it but people were driving RVs on the road. Managed it fine in a Honda HR-V. Might be tough if it's muddy."
"Man, we love these blm lands in colorado!!"
"Location was right off the road but once you drive about 5 minutes down the road you cannot hear any traffic. No other campers. Road was packed gravel almost like highway."
"Driving through Colorado in the fall there is nothing which can compare. "
"Camped one night on our road trip throughout southwestern Colorado. Campsites over look the canyon."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"It is quiet even though away from the highway but just minutes through town to Highway 50. Several trail options to walk the dog along the river from the park. "
"The Uncompaghre River was about 30 yards behind the camp site - a short walk through the tall tree line. The North Section of the campground are pull-through sits with great shade. "
"Nice place, near railroad track. Didn’t hear train at night. Walking distance to a few restaurants. WiFi, 3 bars on sprint, 3 bars on Verizon. Propane fill up on site, full hook ups with cable."
"Great view of the lake but the lake level was down so we weren't as close as you could be but still a great lake & mountain view. I have Verizon I had 2 to 3 bars & could stream Pandora."
"Many vineyards close by. Joe Cocker (rock singer) had a ranch nearby."
from $36 / night
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TravelerWe enjoyed our 2 nights at Hawsapple campground. Unfortunately, water level was too low to access the reservoir. Our camp site was great despite all the mosquitoes. It is located by a road, but noise at night was not bad. It's a clean, well kept campground in a beautiful canyon.
ScoutSmall 8 site campground. No water or services. Has a put toilet. New Picnic tables, fire rings and gravel at each site.
GuideThe gardens and pools are beautiful. Be sure to check the websites for cleaning days so you don't show up on a day when the pools you want are being cleaned. I didn't stay on site, and instead camped at nearby Ridgway State Park.
GuideWhile traveling I-70, this is a nice place to spend the night with minimal hassle. Like most CO state parks, it’s clean, well maintained with a great staff. Note you will be close to train tracks, and if you are in a tent, you might notice the train in the middle of the night.
TravelerRight off of the main road, there are several spots to camp at. Camping areas are relatively close but they aren’t right on top of each other. There were only two other people camping while we were there
GuideBeautiful views and decently spacious sites. Bummer is you have to take a vehicle to get to the water.
ScoutSurprisingly empty and quiet.
GuideThere are sites all along the road as pullouts with markers that show 14 day camp limit. Some are just small enough for a van while others are large enough for multi vehicle or large trailer. I had no problem finding a huge spot to park jeep and trailer.
Lots of cattle graze area but they left me alone. Wish they would rotate out of area for a bit because the smell of cattle can be strong.
Most sites are parallel and marked next to stream which is funny because of signage about not camping next to stream. Just be sure to pack out everything and if you can, treat camping next to stream as wilderness camping and pack out your bio waste too so we don’t taint the waters.
unsure if there are fish in stream so i can’t answer that. Water isn’t snow melt so it’s easy to splash in and cross as it’s not fresh melt frigid.
This area was once the largest industrialized area of Colorado in the 1900s so if you filter water, filter well. Coal mining and coke burning at a massive scale here with remnants of it everywhere.
I was able to find a spot to point starlink north and get 99.9% coverage through canyon and trees no problem. No cell service here, iPhone and Garmin in reach were able to connect to satellites for updates and messaging with SOS.
LegendAfter almost a month in the road and campgrounds of rock and dust, it’s nice to find a place with grass and shade trees. Some of the trees are looking poor and the sites are still oo close together, but it’s better than average for our current trip. 30/50 amp electric, water & sewer. Lever concrete pads. Pool, playground and clubhouse. The showers and bathrooms have recently renovated. The Internet is slow.
Camping near Austin, Colorado provides access to diverse terrain from river valleys at 5,000 feet elevation to the steep walls of Black Canyon at over 8,200 feet. The area experiences wide temperature swings, with summer highs reaching 90°F during the day while dropping to the 50s at night. Many camping locations around Austin require visitors to bring their own water due to limited facilities.
River recreation access: Crawford State Park's Iron Creek Campground sits adjacent to a reservoir perfect for fishing and swimming. A camper noted, "Tons of fish jumping and can watch beavers swimming in and out of the marsh in the evening" while staying at this waterfront location.
Canyon rim hiking: The North Rim Campground at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers direct trail access. "There is a nice hike from the campground to the visitor center and around down a little ways into a canyon," reports a visitor, though permits are required for deeper canyon exploration.
Off-road exploring: Routes through Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed camping areas provide scenic drives. "The road to the camp site from the I-50 road is rather long (12 miles, cca 30 min), but very easy and quite picturesque," explains one camper who visited during Memorial Day weekend.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location away from city lights makes for excellent night viewing. At Cottonwood Grove Campground, campers report, "At night we watched the bats swooping around and it's a great place to star gaze!"
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to see local animals. At Four Seasons River Inn & RV Park, visitors appreciate its "premium location right on the Arkansas River" with access to "hefty browns and wary rainbows" for fishing enthusiasts.
Quiet camping: The dispersed sites at Black Canyon Dispersed Camping provide solitude just outside park boundaries. One camper shared, "Tons of open spots even getting in on the afternoon of the 4th of July. Great views & lots of space! I have Verizon & had decent cell service."
Road conditions: Access to many camping areas requires careful driving. The BLM Cottonwood Grove Campground has "a little rough" drive in. A visitor cautions, "The road is narrow and it drops off in places but the views are spectacular."
Water availability: Bring your own water to most locations. At South Rim Campground, "Campsites are open year round, but drinking water is only available mid-May through mid-October... There are no water hookups or dump stations."
Weather preparedness: The area experiences sudden weather changes. Campers at Gunnison Gorge National Conservation noted, "The wind was pretty intense when the skies got grey but we managed to set up camp."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely. A camper at Escalante Canyon Road reports service is available, while most areas in Black Canyon of the Gunnison have none, with a visitor noting "No cell connectivity, extremely limited water (best to bring what you need)."
Insect protection: Bugs can be problematic in summer months. A visitor to Gunnison Gorge warns, "Be prepared with all your tricks for mosquitos because they were everywhere."
Space for activities: Look for campgrounds with open areas. At Uncompaghre River Resort, a camper appreciated that "The spots are level concrete pad with full hook up. Most spots have shade and space between on the outer ring is about 10 feet each side."
Kid-friendly biking: Some campgrounds offer safe cycling options. A family staying at Crawford State Park mentioned, "Great loops for biking with kids, very clean campsites and nice bathrooms, great trails for biking or walking between the camp loops."
Sun protection: Shade can be limited in summer. One family warns about Crawford State Park: "The only problem we have ran into here is the sun. We used a sun shade with a tarp on one side that we would keep rotating during the day to create shade."
Site selection: Many dispersed areas have limited RV access. A visitor to Black Canyon Dispersed Camping advised, "Some paths are also very muddy and shouldn't be challenged unless you have AWD or 4WD."
Hookup availability: Full services are limited to specific campgrounds. Valley Sunset RV Ranch offers "full hook ups with cable" and a camper reported: "WiFi, 3 bars on sprint, 3 bars on Verizon. Propane fill up on site."
Size restrictions: Check site dimensions before arrival. At Black Canyon's South Rim Campground, a host recommends: "Pay attention to the driveway length figures in rec.gov as they are pretty accurate."
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment for proper setup. At Four Seasons River Inn, a camper noted, "Pretty campground with grass at the sites, a river a short walk away. We were up by the highway, so the traffic was loud and the neighbors were fairly close."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Austin, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 220 campgrounds and RV parks near Austin, CO and 51 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Austin, CO is South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 68 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 51 free dispersed camping spots near Austin, CO.
What parks are near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Austin, CO that allow camping, notably Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
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