Don R.
Legend
LegendVernal / Dinosaurland KOA
Spacious sites. Quiet nights.
Clean and well maintained. Friendly staff. A mile from downtown Vernal. Close to Ashley National Forest and Dinosaur National Monument.
Cabin Camping near Dinosaur, CO
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Several state parks and private campgrounds near Dinosaur, Colorado provide cabin rentals with varying amenities and comfort levels. Steinaker State Park Campground features the highly-rated Dippy Cabin, which includes full-size bunk beds, a mini fridge, microwave, porch, and grill. "Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave. Full size bunk beds, porch, and grill. Absolutely fantastic," notes one visitor. Red Fleet State Park Campground offers cabin accommodations with access to bathroom facilities with running water. The Vernal/Dinosaurland KOA provides numerous furnished cabins with electricity and heating options. Colton Guard Station in Ashley National Forest features more rustic accommodations with wood-burning stoves, bunk beds, and a futon that folds out.
Pet-friendly cabins are available at several locations, though policies vary by site. The Colton Guard Station welcomes four-legged companions, while some other facilities may restrict pets or require additional fees. Reservations are essential, particularly during summer months when cabins fill quickly. According to one reviewer at Steinaker State Park, "You better book those way in advance cause they fill up fast." Most cabins are accessible by vehicle, though some rustic options like Grizzly Ridge Yurt require hiking, snowshoeing, or ATV access depending on the season. Winter cabin options are more limited, with some facilities closing seasonally, while others like Steinaker State Park remain open year-round.
Most rustic cabins provide basic furnishings but require visitors to bring their own bedding, water, and lighting. "Remember to bring your own bedding, plenty of water, and lighting," advises one Grizzly Ridge Yurt visitor. Cooking facilities vary widely between locations, from propane stoves and provided cookware at some forest cabins to simple grills at others. The KOA campgrounds typically offer more amenities, including access to camp stores with firewood and basic supplies. Outlaw Trail RV Park provides modern laundry facilities and clean restrooms with coin-operated showers. For extended stays, the town of Vernal (about 20 miles from Dinosaur) offers grocery stores and outdoor supply shops for more comprehensive provisions.
Best Cabin Campgrounds near Dinosaur (13)
1. Outlaw Trail RV Park
"Clean, modern laundry. $2/wash and $2/40 min of dryer. Clean restrooms. Showers 0.25 cents for 7 minutes. Level gravel sites."
"Play set, tons of grass, sand volleyball, tether ball, picnic/grilling areas. laundry and bathroom/shower very clean. And staff was great to work with."
2. Steinaker State Park Campground
"We spent 3 nights at Dippy Cabin and what a fantastic place! Amazing views, private drive, mini fridge, and microwave. Full size bunk beds, porch, and grill. Absolutely fantastic."
"Access to the park was easy as was check in. The camp hosts were super nice and very accommodating during our three night’s stay."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $150 / night
3. Red Fleet State Park Campground
"To keep it fairly brief, the camp sites are mainly situated around a large, open, slightly uneven grass area which is great for tent camping and day activities (volleyball, frisbee, catch, BBQing.)"
"This park was recently underwent a multi-million dollar update so reviews before November of 2024 may no longer be 100% accurate."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 - $200 / night
4. Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA
"Vernal Dinosoar Koa seems like it has a TON of spots crammed into a small are but all of them have green grass, picnic tables, and grills. Some sites have covered awnings some have large shade trees."
"Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table and chairs. Bathrooms were clean, water was hot."
Check Availabilityfrom $29 - $72 / night
5. KOA Campground Vernal
"Lots of activities for families (pool, play area), small dog area, clean restrooms, staff was very friendly."
"It's about a 30min drive from the dinosaur fossils, but its worth it for the amenities and the cute town."
6. Grizzly Ridge Yurt
"The Yurt is situated in a clearing at about 9000 feet. It's surrounded by pine and aspen trees, and at night from the front porch you can see the lights of Vernal in the distance."
"This yurt has 2 full sized bunk beds, no bedding. Has a fireplace, propane cook stove, pots, pans, and even a telescope located under one of the beds."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $50 / night
7. Iron Springs Group Campground - Ashley National Forest
"Many ATV trails. A couple bathroom facilities, picnic tables, a couple group fire pitsm room for RVs and Tents."
"The camp limit is 16 days and we pull our campers around this huge area when required. Circle Camp as we have named it is a popular site and your lucky to score it anytime during the summer months."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
8. East Park Campground - Ashley National Forest
"Campground Review: East Park is a great campground located right next to the lake. They have several bathroom facilities. Graveled road and sites available for RV or tents."
"Lake has the bathtub look as it is drawn down. Biggest negative is NO cell service of any provider, hence the 4 stars. I saw no sign of any camp host or vendor running this cg"
9. Colton Guard Station
"It's about a five mile snowshoe from Highway 40. There is a gate in the winter preventing you from going any further than the parking lot on Forest Road 020."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $60 / night
10. Grizzly Ridge Meadow Dispersed Area
"Lots of nice camping in the tree edges around this meadow area. Cell signal tower is up on the ridge above. I only had ATT signal, no Verizon or TMobile."
"Access to multiple sites 1 mile from the highway on a well maintained dirt road. Very quiet while we were there. Nice open meadow amongst trees. Definitely would return."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 50 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs 3 min from Provo, UT
- 3 hrs 19 min from Salt Lake City, UT
- 3 hrs 46 min from Ogden, UT
Recent Cabin Photos near Dinosaur, CO
3 Photos of 13 Dinosaur Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cabin Reviews near Dinosaur, CO
89 Reviews of 13 Dinosaur Campgrounds
- Don R.Legend
Steinaker State Park Campground
Great spot.
Very quiet and peaceful. Sites are spacious. Boat ramp and fishing. No swimming signs posted. Beautiful night skies.
Connie B.
RangerSteinaker State Park Campground
Close to the attractions
This is a nice campground in desert like surroundings. There is a central bathrooms with individual shower rooms that are really clean. There are vault toilets scattered throughout. The space are mostly drive through, which is nice. This campground is close to all the main scenic routes and hikes.
- RRichard K.
TravelerGrizzly Ridge Meadow Dispersed Area
Peaceful place
Access to multiple sites 1 mile from the highway on a well maintained dirt road. Very quiet while we were there. Nice open meadow amongst trees. Definitely would return.
- EEric W.
GuideRed Fleet State Park Campground
One of the Nicest State Parks
This park was recently underwent a multi-million dollar update so reviews before November of 2024 may no longer be 100% accurate. This is a smaller state park with 26 RV/tent sites, each with power and water hookups as well as a fire ring and covered picnic table. Several of the sites will accommodate pretty much any sized rig. We pull a 46+’ toy hauler fifth wheel and had no problems whatsoever. The shower house has 8 separate units that also contain a toilet and sink…all very clean. There are also several tiny homes available for rent, but we didn’t go in those. They look nice from the outside. There is a friendly onsite campground host and DNR law enforcement was on regularly in patrol which we liked to see to help keep those who tend to destroy beautiful places like this in check. The area has much to offer including fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, off-road trails, etc.
- KKirsten L.Guide
Outlaw Trail RV Park
One nighter
Laundry $2 washer and dryer each.$5 for showers if not staying there otherwise $0.25 for 7 minutes (clean and great pressure). Sites are tight and sewer is on your neighbors spot 😬🥴
- CCoral C.Traveler
Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA
Great location, but it Smells like fish?
This is in a GREAT location, and was perfect for a one-night stay on the road. I imagine it would also be great for a visit to the nearby Park. Main Street is 1 mile away, and has many restaurants and shops. Bathrooms were clean. Inexplicably, however, the park smelled like fish: like the leftovers from a fish-centric farmer’s market, or like someone had been cleaning fish all over the park.
- SStephen C.Traveler
Outlaw Trail RV Park
Gravel parking lot, modern bathrooms
There are a few trees here and there, but it’s largely just a big gravel parking lot.
On the plus side, the sites are decent size, with full hookup, and it’s a 6 minute drive to the Quarry Visitor Center of Dinosaur National Monument. There is a decent-sized grassy area by the road with a playground and area to walk your dog.
I’m the negative side, it’s still just a gravel parking lot, the showers are coin operated (though supposedly just $0.25 to start it and the 2nd $0.25 gets you ten minutes, which isn’t bad). WiFi is free, but each site is throttled to 5 Mbps (which is fine for basic streaming, but not HD or 4K).
No regrets on staying here, though…the location is great if you’re going to Dinosaur NM.
Heather C.TravelerKOA Campground Vernal
Nice amenities and cute town
The campground was really nice and so were the staff. It's about a 30min drive from the dinosaur fossils, but its worth it for the amenities and the cute town.
Guide to Dinosaur
Cabins near Dinosaur, Colorado sit at elevations between 5,000-9,000 feet in the Uinta Mountains, creating significant temperature variations between seasons. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, while summer highs reach the 90s. Most rustic rental structures in this high desert region remain accessible year-round via paved roads, though some remote accommodations require seasonal transport adjustments.
What to do
Dinosaur fossil viewing: 6 minutes from camp. Outlaw Trail RV Park provides convenient access to prehistoric attractions. "This place was very nice. Awesome spot to stop and launch off on adventures into Dinosaurs national monument," notes Andrew C.
Lake recreation: fishing and swimming. The reservoir at Red Fleet State Park Campground offers water activities within walking distance of cabins. "They rent kayaks, paddle boards and canoes. The bathrooms are clean and well kept. There is a boat launch and dock & fish cleaning station," says Tammy H.
Snowshoeing and winter trails: 5 miles from Highway 40. Winter cabin stays provide opportunities for snow recreation. "Last spring we snowshoed into the Colton Guard Station. It's about a five mile snowshoe from Highway 40. There is a gate in the winter preventing you from going any further than the parking lot," explains a visitor.
What campers like
Clean facilities with laundry: coin-operated. Visitors appreciate the practical amenities at many cabin sites. "Clean, modern laundry. $2/wash and $2/40 min of dryer. Clean restrooms. Showers 0.25 cents for 7 minutes," reports Cathy C. about Outlaw Trail RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: moose sightings nearby. Nature observation opportunities enhance cabin stays. "If you come here, make sure to take the time to drive Red Cloud Loop Scenic Byway. Within a few miles of the campground we saw 4 moose," shares Jennifer C. about East Park.
Hiking trails: around lakes and mountains. Grizzly Ridge Yurt provides access to numerous trails. "The hike itself is about 4.5 miles with a 1200 feet elevation gain, it is a good trail and easy to follow," explains Tammy H.
What you should know
Limited cell service: plan accordingly. Many cabin locations have connectivity challenges. "No cell signal of any provider," notes Greg L. about East Park Campground, adding "Biggest negative is NO cell service of any provider."
Bring essentials: water and supplies. Steinaker State Park Campground has limited facilities at some sites. "Campground of 31 sites, with pit toilets but also has a flush toilet/4 shower building," states Steve H., highlighting the mixed amenities.
Reservation timing: book early. Competition for cabin rentals intensifies during peak periods. "Pretty typical KOA. Bathhouses were clean but a bit worn. They were, however very adequate for the size of the camp," observes George L.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: playgrounds and recreational options. Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA offers numerous family amenities. "Play set, tons of grass, sand volleyball, tether ball, picnic/grilling areas. Laundry and bathroom/shower very clean," shares ammon L.
Educational opportunities: dinosaur tracks. Families can combine learning with adventure. "Our absolute favorite part of this campground is the ability to rent kayaks and kayak over to see the dinosaur footprints. This was our first time seeing anything of the like, and it absolutely blew our minds," enthuses Angela G.
Weather preparation: temperature fluctuations. Cabins offer protection from elements, but outdoor activities require planning. "My suggestions are to take some kind of extra shade. There are not a lot of trees for shade. Also lots of ice to keep food cool," advises Arnel O.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: request specific locations. Many cabins share property with RV sites. "This campground is only a few blocks from downtown Vernal, but out of town enough for a rural feel. I requested a spot by the bathroom/shower building & we got a patio site," explains Cynthia K. about KOA Campground Vernal.
Supply access: 15 minutes to stores. Cabin renters can easily restock. "This park is 15 minutes from Vernal so if you forget anything you can get it with a quick trip to town," shares an Arnel O.
Road conditions: seasonal access considerations. Access to some cabin rentals varies by season. "Accessible by hiking, skiing, and ATVs. This yurt is approximately 4 miles from paved road," notes Kam L. about remote accommodations.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Dinosaur, CO is Outlaw Trail RV Park with a 3.9-star rating from 10 reviews.
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