Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Austin, CO is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Austin is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Austin, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
A camping trip to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park makes for a beautiful getaway for sightseeing, stargazing, and hiking. The park protects the most dramatic section of the Gunnison River Canyon; no other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths of Black Canyon.
Take one of many spectacular hiking trails such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail and watch for birds like the black-billed magpie. In summer, catch an evening educational program in the campground amphitheater.______ Winter activities include snowshoeing on Rim Rock Trail or go cross country skiing on South Rim Drive (South Rim Campground is first-come, first-served in winter).
Take one of many spectacular hiking trails such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail and watch for birds like the black-billed magpie. In summer, catch an evening educational program in the campground amphitheater.______ Winter activities include snowshoeing on Rim Rock Trail or go cross country skiing on South Rim Drive (South Rim Campground is first-come, first-served in winter).
Perched on the South Rim of the Black Canyon, this campground is surrounded by scrub oak forests and sits atop ancient hard rocks. Deer, grouse, bears, and bobcats are known to frequent the area.
Visit the Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit to see railcars and the last remaining railroad trestle on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route. Head upstream to Curecanti National Recreation Area to enjoy water recreation on Colorado's largest reservoir.
$34 / night
Official NPS North Rim Website The North Rim campground is remote and has 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Elevation: 7767 ft (2367.4 m). The ranger station is open intermittently in the summer and closed in the winter. In the summer, maps and newspapers are available on the ranger station porch. The ranger station also has a self-pay station for the park entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits.
$20 / night
Situated among mature cottonwood trees along the Gunnison River, this campground has six campsites, including one ADA accessible site with an adjacent accessible fishing pier. Site amenities include a boat ramp (non-motorized watercraft only), shade structures, picnic tables, fire rings and a vault toilet. Camping is free with a 7 day/6 night maximum stay length. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact the Montrose Public Lands Center at 970-240-5300. __
Palisade Basecamp RV Resort, your premier camping destination offers Cabins, RV Sites, and Riverside Tent Camping. Nestled between fruit orchards and wine vineyards along the river in picturesque Palisade, Colorado.
The 14-acre campground and RV resort is conveniently located near I-70 and Highway 6, directly off the Fruit and Wine Byway of North River Road. We are only one mile from historic downtown Palisade and located near the world-renowned mountain bike trails, wineries, orchards, and festivals of western Colorado.
Choose your site along a vineyard, down along the river, or up on the bluff looking over the river and surrounding peach orchards, and encounter a one-of-a-kind camping experience.
$39 - $136 / night
$15 - $32 / night
The RV Park offers 30 RV sites and 4 Tent sites, all providing water, sewer and electricity. The sites provide 20, 30 or 50 Amp services.
All sites are private and well defined. The park offers a diversity of shade trees and grassy areas, together with 1285 feet of Gunnison River frontage, all contributing to the welcoming setting to travelers and guests.
The Inn is reminiscent of the days of “Route 66” – both in its pleasing appearance and its prominent location, fronting U.S. 50 as it intersects the Gunnison River. There are eleven spacious motel units containing kitchenettes and varied accommodations with up to three full sized beds. Also, a cozy cabin offers a weekend getaway for you and that special someone.
Saddlehorn Campground is located within Colorado National Monument which preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Much more than a monument, towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.
Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. Hikers flock to the miles of maintained trails, photographers come year round to capture the spectacular views, and geologists study the unique landscape for its scientific value. Climbers come for the towering sandstone, and wildlife lovers may spot Desert Bighorn sheep, golden eagles, collared lizards, and many other special creatures.
The campground is nestled within large red rock formations, with pinyon and juniper trees providing adequate shade. There are spectacular views of the Grand Valley to the northwest, and some of the park's most scenic monoliths and canyons to the southeast
For facility specific information, please call (970) 858-2800.
The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument. Among these are McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, Highline Lake State Park, and many Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service areas.
$11 / night
A camping trip to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park makes for a beautiful getaway for sightseeing, stargazing, and hiking. The park protects the most dramatic section of the Gunnison River Canyon; no other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths of Black Canyon.
Take one of many spectacular hiking trails such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail and watch for birds like the black-billed magpie. In summer, catch an evening educational program in the campground amphitheater.______ Winter activities include snowshoeing on Rim Rock Trail or go cross country skiing on South Rim Drive (South Rim Campground is first-come, first-served in winter).
Take one of many spectacular hiking trails such as the Oak Flat Loop Trail and watch for birds like the black-billed magpie. In summer, catch an evening educational program in the campground amphitheater.______ Winter activities include snowshoeing on Rim Rock Trail or go cross country skiing on South Rim Drive (South Rim Campground is first-come, first-served in winter).
Perched on the South Rim of the Black Canyon, this campground is surrounded by scrub oak forests and sits atop ancient hard rocks. Deer, grouse, bears, and bobcats are known to frequent the area.
Visit the Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit to see railcars and the last remaining railroad trestle on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route. Head upstream to Curecanti National Recreation Area to enjoy water recreation on Colorado's largest reservoir.
$34 / night
Official NPS North Rim Website The North Rim campground is remote and has 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Elevation: 7767 ft (2367.4 m). The ranger station is open intermittently in the summer and closed in the winter. In the summer, maps and newspapers are available on the ranger station porch. The ranger station also has a self-pay station for the park entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits.
$20 / night
Palisade Basecamp RV Resort, your premier camping destination offers Cabins, RV Sites, and Riverside Tent Camping. Nestled between fruit orchards and wine vineyards along the river in picturesque Palisade, Colorado.
The 14-acre campground and RV resort is conveniently located near I-70 and Highway 6, directly off the Fruit and Wine Byway of North River Road. We are only one mile from historic downtown Palisade and located near the world-renowned mountain bike trails, wineries, orchards, and festivals of western Colorado.
Choose your site along a vineyard, down along the river, or up on the bluff looking over the river and surrounding peach orchards, and encounter a one-of-a-kind camping experience.
$39 - $136 / night
$15 - $32 / night
Traveler
Stayed for 2 night in Sept 24 while traveling with my mother. The bit of AT&T was my mom's favorite part of the site other than the views which it had and a lovely trailhead out of the campground.
Pros: The trailhead/views, flush toilets, WiFi(At least at our site faceing towards Fruita), trash cans, tables
Cons: Sites were real close together so it really depends on who your next to, for someone like myself with a roof top tent wished the parking spot had been a little flatter, Rec.gov reservations, sandy
The big con of this campground was we had so much difficulty with the Rec.gov app getting a site, but the very helpful folk at the visitor center helped us get a site.
Would definately go there again, just beautiful and jawdropping views, and easy access to the rest of the monument early in the morning
Scout
Tent camping is pricey but the amenities r almost with it. Close to black canyon and in town food and booze with in walking distance. What more could u ask for. A pool, they got that.
Traveler
We loved our stay at the South Rim Campground. It was the perfect spot to explore the national park and take in its stunning views. The drive down towards the East Portal Campground was amazing and led us right to the beautiful Gunnison River, where we enjoyed some great fly fishing. Highly recommend
TravelerWe had an amazing stay at Basecamp 550. The campground’s location is perfect, with easy access to Ouray, Montrose, Telluride, and other nearby areas. The amenities were excellent, including quarter-operated hot showers and laundry, restrooms, Wi-Fi, full hookups, and a clubhouse with coffee + tea, kitchen access, and a great workspace. Our site had a beautiful view and was right next to a ranch where cows would come right up to the fence. The communal fire pit was a nice touch, and the private, fenced-in setting made us feel safe and comfortable. They also offer glamping tents and casitas on the property. Highly recommend!
GuideCame to Grand Junction to get my new Timberleaf Teardrop camper and stayed here three nights. Was so thankful that there was still running water and working toilets! Site was slightly sloped but not bad. Super quiet at night. Saw the Milky Way last night! The park is amazing and offers great views and hikes.
Scout
This is my second time here and it is always such a great experience. I don’t even want to brag about it because I want to keep it to myself.
Guide
Convenient ( quick off highway and close to Colorado NM) park but not much for advenure. Clean bathrooms. Sites were clean and well maintained and not too close together. I imagine it could be warm in summer. Friendly staff.
Scout
As locals, we love the North Rim of BCNP. It's closed from November through April/May. Can be surprisingly cold in May with temps below freezing. Lots of interesting fellow campers as many are big wall climbers from all over the globe. The nature trail in the campground offers nice viewpoints. The trail to Explanation Point is a level and very beautiful 5k hike, BUT no dogs. Same goes for Green Mountain trail past the point. The SOB trail starts from the road near the campground and is a difficult route dropping a few thousand feet, rocky, and steep with poison ivy to greet you near the bottom. Rewards are in store for the hearty hikers with great trout fishing a super river access. Campground is tight for spaces, some are not pull through. Gravel biking during winter closures on the roads in BCNP is full of wildlife and wonder.
ScoutAs part of Crawford Lake State Park, this campground offers great water access to a small reservoir for SUPs, motorboats and sailing. Decent fishing in the spring with some northerns, bass, and crappie. Excellent walking trails and a sandy swimming beach plus two boat ramps nearby. Rarely full capacity, it's a nice relaxing place to hang. The town of Crawford is right over the hill with a great coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and restaurants. Good jumping off spot to visit the North Rim of the Black Canyon NP (one of the gems of Western Colorado and much less visited than the South Rim near Montrose).
Scout
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. The fishing platform is really a good addition for those physically compromised. Brown and rainbow fishing (rainbows should be immediately returned to the river). Very peaceful and out of the way. Can be used all seasons as it rarely gets snow.
Legend
Not to much space between rigs, but is very quiet and bit expensive. Very close to the Monument State Park.
Traveler
Easy to find with Google maps. Plenty of open space. 15min off 70.
Dirt road, a bit bumpy, but we easily pulled our 21ft Micro Minnie
and it was doable for almost any vehicle. We didn't go to far up into the sites so I can't speak to further in. Rolled in at midnight and was still simple to find in the dark.
Ranger
Stayed in spot 18 which was close to vault toilets, but they were stinky and full of bugs. Very buggy in general, not all are mosquitos but there are some of those too. Sites 1, 2, 4, 18, 21, 23 were all decent looking with some shade in the afternoon and relatively level pads. Lakes in area, one adjacent to campground and one that is down a trail to a day use area that is covered by the camp fee. Good spacing between sites. Some have electric. A little warm for July, probably 80 degrees in afternoon. Lots of aspen trees in the area might be good for a fall visit. Bear cans available for trash.
Ranger
Stayed in site 5 Loop A which is right on the river. Could hear and see trains going by occasionally on the other side of river. Sites are pretty well spaced out and have a good shade structure over the picnic table. Lots of flying bugs and it was hot in early July. Have electric hookups but still quite warm. Flush toilets were okay, nothing special. Also have to buy a CO Park Pass, so thats another $10 on top of the reservation fee.
Food aside: Ate Kikkoman teriyaki rice noodles and Kalua pork, yum!!
Scout
It is a little bit of a maze of roads, some are gonna need vehicles with higher clearance, careful not to commit too much on a road if you're unsure about your vehicle's offroading capability. If you get to a site, most have room for 1/2 vehicles and tents. Beautiful trees, each spot feels pretty secluded from others. Plenty of downed trees for firewood if fire danger is low. Will definitely come back.
Traveler
Found this spot and was very happy with the setup. Like other reviews, the highway noise was a bit loud but nothing too crazy, especially really late. There were other campers spread out nicely, you wouldn’t even know they were there. The road is a bit iffy so snagging a spot at the front would be best if you don’t have 4WD (my Nissan car struggled, we had to back up & turn around). Overall great spot for tent camping! Remember to leave no trace 🫶🏼🏕️🌎
Guide
Some of the roads were really rutted out, but we were lucky and everything was dry so we were able to get thru in my forester. There are some spots at the beginning of the property but there are more if you follow the dirt road back another two miles or so. Beautiful views, quiet and secluded. We did find a few deer legs left behind, so keep an eye out for Mountain Lion
Scout
Easy to find BLM land with decent roads and lots of spots. I stayed here 3 days and never saw or heard another person. It’s only 5 miles from the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park. Crawford is about 8 miles away and has some restaurants with good home cooking.
TravelerVisited the first week of October 2024. Had beautiful weather, no bugs and few campers. Sites are dirt so I can see it be being messy when wet. Only few sites at entrance for larger campers. We got into with a Bean teardrop np.
Traveler
We stated here one night arriving without a reservation. The office was closed and no one was answering the phone but we were able to register for a site online. That worked reasonably well and we had a quiet relaxing evening. The RV sites are all on gravel but there is a large grassy area near the office. The site is on the edge of town but was fairly quiet.
Nice clean laundry and restrooms. Good base for exploring Black Canyon NP.
Traveler
This place had great reviews and lived up to them. Nice and quiet area along the river with plenty of shade and grass. The manager was very friendly and helpful. Close to town but it mostly a small farming town with few shops or restaurants. There is nice trail along the river to stretch your legs.
GuideKathy (the owner) was awesome. Cedaredge is a great little spot, really quiet. Not a big RV park, don’t bring truckloads of kids and your off road vehicles. Really happy with what we had here.
Traveler
I came down to Marble, CO from Carbondale with the intention of staying at the Marble campground on a Wednesday but it was full so I went up the road about 10 miles to the McClure campground and was very pleasantly surprised at how much nicer it was than the Marble campground. While Marble did have showers and some sites with water and electricity it was much more crowded and uneven than McClure. McClures sites were all nice and level and several were pull through that could handle fair sized rigs. McClure was a dispersed site at one time but now costs $14/night compared to Marbles $40+ fee. Of course Marble has showers which are worth the extra price to some but McClure had the most important item which was a clean vault toilet. When I got to the campground there were only a couple of other sites occupied so I picked a beautiful level spot only about 150' from the toilet, which is very important to an old man with artificial knees and a weak bladder. By Friday night all the sites were taken and as most other campgrounds were also full there were lots of campers coming through the campground looking for a spot to camp. I had only planned to stay a couple of days but I liked the site so much I stayed for 5 nights. I used it as my base to drive the Crystal River trail which is about 10 miles down the road at Marble. Let me warn you right now, don't do the Crystal River trail unless you have a strong heart and a very sturdy mid sized or smaller vehicle or off-road vehicle because it is very narrow and extremely rough. I've driven some rough country and have a big 4x4 pickup but that trail was all my rig could handle and I left lots of paint on the rocks and trees at the narrower spots. I'm sure half my tires on the drop-off side were in mid air at times and since it is a single track trail if you met someone coming from the other direction one of you would have to back up to a spot that you could pass each other. Very scary. Anyway, back to McClure. The nearest place to get cell service and supplies is Carbondale which is about 20 miles away but if you are self contained and don't need to be on the internet every few minutes this place is great. There was lots of wildlife sharing my site which was fun to watch. I had a doe deer and her boyfriend show up before I even got my tent set up and squirrels and chipmunks were everywhere as were the hummingbirds. I had hummingbirds buzzing up to a foot away from my face to check out my red cap thinking it might be some kind of giant exotic new flower lol. The only reason I didn't give the camp 5 stars is that it is right next to route 133 which it turns out is a main road through this area and traffic noise is sometimes pretty loud, especially early in the mornings on week days. If I am back near that area I will definitely stay in this campground. Almost forgot one other thing. The elevation is high enough that it gets pretty cool most nights, even in July and rain showers came through almost every early morning but the rain never amounted to anything and by mid morning it was beautiful. Camp fees are on the honor system and you need to have cash or checks.
TravelerGot in pretty easy on a Tuesday at noon. The place was full by the evening. Access to a nice trail just under 4 miles. No cell service.
TravelerStayed one night on the way to Colorado. Super easy to find right off the highway and plenty of spots. I was the only one there when I stayed. Highway noise isn’t too much of an issue but I did have some loud and strong winds all night.
TravelerApple map directions are spot on. Lots of room - I chose to go up a rutted road a ways, for privacy. There was one camper at the flat bottom. Check weather for rain chance if you don’t have 4x4.
Guide
Has both tent and rv sites and facilities were very well taken carry of and clean.
Camping near Austin, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking for a cozy spot to pitch a tent or a place to park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping around Austin, Colorado, offers a variety of experiences, from established campgrounds to dispersed sites. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Austin, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 206 campgrounds and RV parks near Austin, CO and 48 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 4.5-star rating from 62 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 48 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.
