Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Clifton, CO has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Colorado camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Clifton. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"We stayed at the Grand Junction KOA when driving cross country from CA to NY a few years back."
"We stayed here in the tent camping spots for two nights. The restrooms were clean and the site had a light over the picnic table which was really nice for setting up in the dark."
"This campground is off road. Has no bathrooms nor water source. But offers hiking, rockclimbing and just peace and quiet."
"Beautiful drive to get there. If you take the Yampa Bench Road to get there, you will need 4WD. Expect a solid three hour drive with beautiful views."
"Driving for a few miles along a fairly compact but slightly washed out dirt road will drop you off right at a vista above the CO river. 2WD is probably fine but low clearance vehicles will likely struggle"
"I was wondering expecting dispersed camping at this site but there are individual with tent pads and vault toilets. The view overlooking the Colorado River was exceptional."
"No water or trash but pit toilets that are very clean. All sites are pretty large and have fire rings and a picnic table but very little shade to be found."
"⭐️No highway noise."
"Carson Lake was closed for a couple years to reconstruct the dam."
"Pretty spot with stream water right behind the sites. You have to drive over a stream when you come in but it was easily crossed when we visited."
"As in the description, very quiet, and accessibility can be tricky when weather comes into play."
"My wife and I did the Rattlesnake Arches hike and camped nearby. There were three campsites we found on the way to Rattlesnake Arches."
"limited services in the area. no bathrooms, no tables, just nature. incredible canyon views of gorgeous geography 360º. good mountain biking trails and endless walking trails.."
LegendThis campground is near the visitor center just off the rim road, about a 25 mile road from one entrance to the other. There are several hiking trails for exploring the Colorado National Monument; you could keep busy for a couple days or more, depending on how much you enjoy hiking. There is also rock climbing.
The campground has 3 loops:
A: no reservations, open year round
B: reservations and walkup. If you have a reservation, your site will have a "Reserved" sign along with dates and your last name. No check in is required. Open sites have an "Open" sign.
C: doesn't show up on recreation.gov so it looks like it is also walkup. I think groups can reserve it. There are tent pads which I didn't see in A and B (but you can pitch a tent in A and B). Only tents and truck campers are allowed, and no generators are allowed in loop C.
Bathrooms seem fairly new with auto flush toilets, motion sensor faucets and hand dryers. There is potable water at various locations clearly marked with a "water" sign. No electric, water or sewer at sites.
There are a few "driveway" styles in loops A and B: back in/pull in, pull alongside and pull through. Picnic tables and grills are back among juniper and pine trees, and you can pitch a tent. I would stay in loop C if I had a tent...very nice sites.
And the views are beautiful, especially at sunset.
GuideWe went on a Monday in July and only saw a handful of people in the campground. The BLM “improved” the campground and now charges $20 a night. No water. Leave no trace and stay off the fragile soil.
TravelerFound 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 🫶🏼🏕️🌎
LegendThis is one of several campgrounds noted in the larger Rabbit Valley Area. This CG is on the north side of the I70 interchange and seems to be more for the nonmotorized folks. However, the gravel road up to the top of the ridge was very steep and a couple sections gave me pause hauling my 18 ft TT. Total of 15 sites. In 2023 a new fee and reservation system started ($20/$10), no FCFS...7 day camping limit, with picnic tables and fire rings. One vault toilet. NO trash dumpsters noted, NO WATER, no RV DUMP. CG roads on top are all improved gravel and cabling keeps vehicles restricted. Cell signal is great, 5 bars LTE all carriers due to proximity to the freeway. Negative is truck noise constant in background from I70, so only three star rating, because of reservation system and no FCFS sites, a one nite stay will cost ya $8 reservation fee!
LegendWe stayed at the Grand Junction KOA when driving cross country from CA to NY a few years back. We drove to Grand Junction CO after a long day of hiking and tubing in Zion National Park - we arrived very late, and without a reservation. Even though it was after hours, we were able to choose a tent site then pay for the night at an iron ranger at the front office.
Our site had a patch of green grass to set our tent up on, as well as a picnic table and fire pit (that we never utilized, we just set up our tent and fell into our sleeping bags). The sites had little log fences separating the spaces.
The GJ KOA had very nice, clean facilities - having a hot shower in a clean locker room was a great way to start the morning. Wifi was available, which is always a plus.
The campground (kampground, haha) is pretty far outside of Grand Junction, and is in an industrial area, so we were initially a little sketched out and hesitant about stopping, since we were two women in their early 20s traveling alone. But once we got inside the campground and saw the layout of the grounds, we felt very safe and secure.
We were glad we decided to stop at the Grand Junction KOA, as it was a nice, clean, and safe place to stop for the night. KOAs are not my go-to type of campground for camping, but they are an easy, safe, and cheap spot to stop for the night if you don’t want to spend money on a hotel.
CAMPSITE SPECS
Fees: $26/night
Plumbed Toilets: Yes
Drinking Water: Yes
Showers: Yes (no coins needed)
Picnic Table: Yes
Firepit: Yes
Cooking Grates: ?
Shade: Yes
Cell Service: Yes + Wifi
Animal Bins/Food Lockers: NO
Trash: Yes
RangerThis is a good, strong 4WD space only. There are some campsites closer to the highway, but if you are intrepid you can travel a little further down and really nestle into some rocks in a small canyon. This is all about having access to some of the best MTB trails in Colorado and Utah.
Leave no trace.
GuideStopped here for a night on my way through to St.Louis. Great spots with fire ring and lots of open space between places. The road is a bit rough when you get in pass the 3rd site. RV and Tent friendly. No water or electric but excellent phone service.
GuideI arrived at this campground on top the Mesa. First I always thought the Mesa would be flat and by god it’s more than flat, it’s beautiful. The mosquitos were like mini vampires. Beside that, the Forrest and lakes were wonderful. The fishing was great. Lots of folks catching there limits.
The campsites are hit or miss if you are tent camping. Some of them are on slopes and are only good for an RV however we did sent you tents in the pull through sites. We reserved sites 1, 9, 10, 11.
Site 1 is fabulous, on the lake and great for tents or a pop up.
Site 9 is a pull through site. Has one flat spot for a tent but besides that it is next to the hiking trail and the wildlife is all around. Morning deer to chipmunks :)
Site 10 is very large for a group site per say.
Site 11 was nice and held 3 tents.
Each site has modern camp fire rings. The campground offers large wood bundles for $10.
TravelerGreat location with amazing views of the distant book cliffs across the Fruita/Grand Junction valley. Not a lot of tree cover, make sure to bring a portable toilet/"luggable loo" type thing, and plenty of water. Drove in with a teardrop trailer and enjoyed our time in the area.
Tent camping near Clifton, Colorado offers a variety of scenic locations and outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts. With well-maintained facilities and beautiful landscapes, campers can enjoy a memorable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clifton, CO is Grand Junction KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 26 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Clifton, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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