Best Campgrounds near Crawford, CO

Crawford, Colorado provides access to both developed campgrounds and dispersed options across varied elevations and landscapes. Crawford State Park offers two campground areas, Iron Creek and Clear Fork, with waterfront sites that accommodate both tents and RVs with electric hookups. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park presents more primitive camping at North Rim Campground, located approximately 15 miles from Crawford. Dispersed camping opportunities exist on BLM land near Black Canyon with several free sites available for self-contained camping.

Accessibility varies significantly by location and season in this region. The North Rim Campground operates from April to mid-November, while many Crawford State Park sites remain open year-round. Roads to the North Rim campground consist of dirt and gravel, potentially challenging during wet weather. Most developed campgrounds provide water access and toilets, though amenities differ between locations. Permit requirements are minimal for dispersed camping on BLM land, but park entrance fees apply at Crawford State Park and Black Canyon. One visitor noted, "The North Rim campground was pretty and quiet. I arrived right at 1 to make sure I could get a spot the Friday of Father's Day weekend. By 5:30, all the spots were full."

Waterfront sites at Crawford State Park consistently receive high ratings for their views and access to recreation. The reservoir supports fishing, swimming, and boating activities, making lakeside sites particularly desirable during summer months. Sites with shade are limited in many areas, particularly at Iron Creek Campground. According to reviews, "We love this campground for many reasons. Great loops for biking with kids, very clean campsites and nice bathrooms, great trails for biking or walking between the camp loops, nice reservoir for water activities." Mixed-use campgrounds in the area balance recreational access with natural features. The North Rim Campground offers a more secluded experience with exceptional canyon views but fewer amenities than state park options. For visitors seeking extreme solitude, the dispersed BLM sites near Black Canyon provide primitive camping where, as one camper reported, "I stayed here 3 days and never saw or heard another person."

Best Camping Sites Near Crawford, Colorado (245)

    1. South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    67 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 249-1914

    $20 - $34 / night

    "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."

    2. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

    60 Reviews
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO
    13 miles
    Website

    "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."

    3. Iron Creek Campground — Crawford State Park

    15 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (970) 921-5721

    $36 / night

    "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."

    4. North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    20 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 641-2337

    $20 / night

    "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."

    5. East Portal Campground — Curecanti National Recreation Area

    9 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    13 miles
    +1 (970) 641-2337

    $20 / night

    "down the road, you park in the sites facing the river, and walk your stuff down a little embankment to very cool, quiet, shady sites that I really liked."

    "There are fifteen spots, 7 of those have drive in access, the other 8 are a park and walk down a small embankment - but oh, what a setting - set in a grove of trees, it was beautiful."

    6. BLM Cottonwood Grove Campground

    11 Reviews
    Lazear, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 240-5300

    "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."

    "Plenty of distance between campsites. No electricity or water. 1 satellite toilet... and a great fishing dock and a small beach."

    7. Black Canyon

    2 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    5 miles

    "Crawford is about 8 miles away and has some restaurants with good home cooking."

    "from the main road but very quiet. we arrived at night and there was plenty of spots. we camped in the car just for the night but plenty of flat land for tents and we say a fire pit. only a 15 minute drive"

    8. The Campground at Big B’s Delicious Orchards

    6 Reviews
    Paonia, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 527-1110

    $25 - $170 / night

    "Campsites are a small piece of grassy area next to a pond or on an outside loop. Portable toilets only. Traffic noise at night."

    "Our only complaint was that it was quite hot (topped out near 100 degrees)."

    9. Clear Fork Campground — Crawford State Park

    1 Review
    Crawford, CO
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 921-5721

    $28 - $41 / night

    "As part of Crawford Lake State Park, this campground offers great water access to a small reservoir for SUPs, motorboats and sailing."

    10. Dispersed River Site - Gunnison Gorge National Conservation

    5 Reviews
    Lazear, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 240-5300

    "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."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 245 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Crawford, CO

1254 Reviews of 245 Crawford Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Flat Tops OHV Area

    Quite with great views

    Tons of parking spots with expansive views. City lights in the valley but dark and peaceful on the hill. Other people were respectful and no road noise. Slept in my truck and was perfect!

  • MP M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

    Right outside the National Park Entrance

    A few easy spots right off main road and then it gets real tight and 4WD

  • Hillary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Oh Be Joyful Campground

    Beautiful quiet campground

    This is a beautiful small campground with great trails nearby. Feels far from town, but really it's just a 20ish min drive into Crested Butte. There are also trails to bike or run into town. We filled water here. https://townofcrestedbutte.colorado.gov/rv-dump-station

    Docked it a star because the host really isn't around much. She was on site just one of our 4 days there. We talked to cyclists who spend a lot of time there and it sounds like that's about typical for her. It didn't impact our stay, but some others were complaining that someone else was occupying their spot despite them having a reservation. Since nobody is there to monitor, they get a lot of squatters.

  • Michael S.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    BLM Cottonwood Grove Campground

    Cottonwood Campground

    The road here is a bit rough but it is manageable for most vehicles its just sections that are rocky, the campsite is awesome you get some signal a bathroom lots of trails on the road and there's a river right beside you. Also firepits and not busy at all. There is no water hookup but thats fine

  • Julie F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Ouray Riverside Resort

    Close to town but noisy

    We normally like to stay in campgrounds or disperse camp but as we are in October in Colorado, a lot of the campgrounds were closed so we chose this RV campground. It is super close to town and has a lovely path (loop almost 2 miles) by the river. The RV park is so noisy :( So much come and go through the park which is gravel so it’s noisy, also close to the hwy which is non stop. Sadly not really relaxing to sit outside. All spots are super close and not private.

  • Katharina J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Dry Creek Ditch Camp off Forest Road 90

    Good for a night

    The space directly after the hairpin turn was taken so I stayed further up directly off the road, space for 2 or 3. Some traffic, but quiet at night. Exposed to wind, some trash & a firering made out of stones.

  • j
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Island Acres Section Camping — James M. Robb Colorado River State Park

    Loud

    This is a beautiful location right on the Colorado river. My girlfriend and I decided it would be a beautiful place to camp and we were only 20 feet from the river. There was a beautiful cliff on the other side of the river. There was a beautiful cliff behind us. Unfortunately, we discovered that we were about 100 feet from a railroad track on the other side of the river. Trains went by all night every half hour or so. On the back side was I-70. Semi trucks went by all night long. In the middle of the night we had jets flying directly overhead. Being as we were between two cliffs, we were sleeping in a giant echo chamber. It was, without a doubt, the loudest campground I have ever been in. If you want a good night’s sleep, I would suggest you find a campsite elsewhere.


Guide to Crawford

Camping spots near Crawford, Colorado range in elevation from 7,000 to 8,200 feet, creating diverse environments from high desert to mountain terrain. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F during daytime and drop to 45-55°F at night. Road conditions to remote camping areas often deteriorate after rainfall, with some dispersed sites requiring vehicles with higher clearance.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At BLM Cottonwood Grove Campground, anglers can access the Gunnison River directly from camp. "There is a handicap accessible pier for fishing... Brown and rainbow fishing (rainbows should be immediately returned to the river)," notes Dave K. The campground provides both shore fishing and wading options.

Hiking trails: The South Rim area offers multiple short trails that connect camping to viewpoints. "Rim Rock Trail and Uplands Trail (two mile roundtrip for each) lead to the visitor center from the campground. From the visitor center, the Oak Flat Loop is a 2 mile hike with some great views and a 400 foot drop in elevation," explains Mary S.

Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk provide optimal wildlife viewing times in the canyon areas. "My girlfriend and I got extremely lucky while sitting on the river. We saw 5-6 different bears come down to take a drink! They'd come down and head right back up it was incredible," shares Cody W. at East Portal Campground.

What campers like

High elevation cooling: The elevation provides relief from summer heat, especially at Black Canyon sites. "High (8,200) and deep—dramatic landscape carved by Gunnison River. Wonderful hiking trail along the rim and interesting plant community of the high plateau," reports Deborah D. Temperatures at this elevation can be 10-15 degrees cooler than lower elevations.

River proximity: Many campers value the sound of flowing water and cooling effects. "We stayed in a huge site with a big tree in the middle right on the river. The scenery is terrific. A real oasis in the desert," explains Donella L. "The river is mostly shallow on the campground side and perfect for cooling off."

Stargazing conditions: Black Canyon Dispersed Camping provides excellent night sky viewing. "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," states Kevin S. Clear skies and minimal light pollution make for outstanding astronomical observation.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Many camping areas have rough access roads that become problematic in wet conditions. "The dirt road is very rutted if you continue straight and I wouldn't gamble it in a low vehicle or in rains," warns Mackenzie S. about dispersed river sites. Several reviewers recommend avoiding these roads after rainfall.

Shade availability: Limited shade is common at many Crawford area campgrounds. At Iron Creek Campground, "The tent sites were small and the only trees weren't big enough to provide shade. Everybody seemed to be here for water activities," notes Eric H. Bringing portable shade structures is recommended.

Reservation timing: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "The North Rim campground was pretty and quiet. I arrived right at 1 to make sure I could get a spot... By 5:30, all the spots were full," reports Jordan L. For weekend camping between June and August, arrive by early afternoon or make advance reservations where available.

Tips for camping with families

Biking options: Clear Fork Campground provides family-friendly cycling. "Excellent walking trails and a sandy swimming beach plus two boat ramps nearby. The town of Crawford is right over the hill with a great coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and restaurants," explains Dave K.

Wildlife education: Bring binoculars and wildlife identification guides for family learning opportunities. "We watched guys fly fishing by our site, which is definitely an art form. At night we watched the bats swooping around and it's a great place to star gaze," shares Donella L. about riverside camping experiences.

Temperature planning: Pack clothing for wide temperature ranges, especially when camping with children. "Be prepared for any type of weather. We had a wild thunder, lightning and wind storm with violent downdrafts—typical for this country," warns Deborah D. Temperature swings of 40+ degrees within 24 hours are common.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Many campgrounds and access roads have vehicle length restrictions. "Signs at top note vehicles over 22ft prohibited. CG is small and very limited for anything larger than van, trucks, tenters and small Class Cs," explains Greg L. about East Portal area.

Leveling needs: Bring leveling blocks as many sites have uneven terrain. "The ground is fairly uneven in most of the camping spots we saw," notes Greg about orchard camping areas near Crawford. Sites directly along water often have the most level options.

Early arrival strategy: For RVers needing specific site accommodations, arrive before midday. "Got to site and turned into 6 inches of mud! This place is not set up for trailers or RVs maybe van would be ok," cautions Jo F. Scout potential sites on foot before attempting to navigate larger vehicles into position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Crawford, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Crawford, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 245 campgrounds and RV parks near Crawford, CO and 53 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Crawford, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Crawford, CO is South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 67 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Crawford, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 53 free dispersed camping spots near Crawford, CO.

What parks are near Crawford, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Crawford, CO that allow camping, notably Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests.