Looking to go glamping near Hesperus and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. You're sure to find glamping for your Colorado camping adventure.
Morefield Campground is four miles from the park entrance. The 267 campsites are situated within a high-elevation, grassy canyon filled with Gambel oak, native flowers, deer, and wild turkeys. Each site has a picnic table, gravel tent pad, and fire pit/BBQ grill. A camp store offers registration, food, and camp supplies. Firewood, gasoline, showers, a coin-operated laundromat, and a kennel are located nearby. The campground is managed by park concessioner Aramark and is open between spring and fall.
Tent Sites: Tent sites have their own fire ring or grill. These sites can accommodate one small tent and one vehicle. Individual settings for your tent w/Picnic Table and Fire Ring. Basic RV Sites and Deluxe Patio Sites: Nestled in the pinon pines and junipers, with a propane fire pit. These sites have a hard surface patio with furniture. Nicely landscaped big Patio Sites with Furniture! Propane fire ring and Charcoal Grill. One camping unit and one vehicle per site. Treed sites, near the Cafe, where we serve up the best pancakes in the west. Basic and Deluxe Cottages: Deluxe Cabin lodges have a separate bedroom with a queen bed, a set of bunks and a futon. Full Bath, Kitchenette, TV, A/C & a nice deck to sit out on. There is a propane grill and fire pit available for your use. Perfect for glamping. Studio Cabin-Lodges sleep up to four people (queen bed in main room and set of bunks in separate room). Has a small fridge, microwave, a/c, heat, TV and a bathroom! , everything you need for glamping. Camping Cabins have 1 double bed and one set of bunks. A/C and heat control.
$47 - $197 / night
United Campground has been a family owned and operated park for over 40 years. Located on the banks of the Animas River, Trolley Line and on the north edge of city limits, just 4 miles from Downtown Durango. Our campground offers over 100 level RV sites with water, electric and sewer, many shade trees and over 90 grassy and shaded tent sites. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs right through the park. As your hosts, we want to help make your trip to Durango a memorable one.
We are a family friendly park so bring your kids, grandkids and furry kids- we can't wait to see you!
$45 - $70 / night
Mancos is a great place to camp. Set in a beautiful ponderosa forest, the upper loop of the main campground and both yurts remain open through the winter. The park is centrally located to a wide variety of local attractions.
The park has two campgrounds – Main and West – on two sides of the reservoir with a total of 32 campsites. Along the northwest side of the reservoir, the west campground has nine campsites (primarily for tent campers) with toilets but no drinking water nearby.
Mancos also offers yurts for a unique and cozy camping experience.
Yurt reservations are required year round.
Mancos State Park provides a great overnight stop or a beautiful location for an extended stay. Winter is a fun time to camp at Mancos State Park.
Come and enjoy a fun-filled, quiet and beautiful time at Mancos State Park!
Nestled in a protected box canyon surrounded by high cliffs of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine and just minutes to downtown Durango, the 27-acre HTR Durango (formerly Lightner Creek Campground) is located on a seasonal mountain stream, making it an ideal setting for nature lovers of all ages.
Haviland Lake Campground is situated on its beautiful namesake within the San Juan National Forest, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and hiking opportunities in a scenic, natural setting. The popular campground is beautiful any time of the year.
Haviland Lake is an 80-acre, no-wake lake with excellent boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. An accessible fishing dock is located on the lakeshore. Anglers cast for rainbow and brown trout. A Colorado Division of Wildlife fishing license is required to fish. Several trailheads are in the vicinity. The Forebay Lake Trail begins in the campground and leads to small Forebay Lake, just over a mile east of the campground. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Haviland and Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened.
The campground is situated on the shore of Haviland Lake, among shady, towering ponderosa pines, at an elevation of 8,705 feet. Many sites have lake views and easy shoreline access. Campers are awarded spectacular views of the Hermosa Cliffs across the lake.
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
$32 - $98 / night
This small campground has sites available for $15 a night on a first come first serve basis only. There is no water available at this campground. Tables and fire grates are at each site. A toilet is in the parking lot adjacent to the Hermosa Creek Trailhead. The parking lot is large enough for vehicles and horse trailers
$20 / night
This KOA has been closed and is reopened as Rjourney, find them on the Dyrt
Mesa Verde National Park is less than 15 minutes away from this KOA near the four corners where Colorado, and New Mexico. Arizona and Utah meet.
The campground has heated swimming pool, basketball, and horseshoes. Also has a 1-mile walking trail around Denny Lake, fishing, and an enclosed dog park.
The pool is open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
$43 / night
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! Navajo Dam has an awesome glamping setup on top of some cliffs overlooking the area. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!
Ranger
Lovely Campground! Scenic views and very clean park! Bathrooms are cleaner than mine at home. Laundry Facilities nice. Great community outdoor kitchen area. Glamping tents looked nice and positioned for fantastic views. Owners were very nice and Bentley the cat was a friendly mascot! Great sleeping here!
ScoutWe stayed in the “primitive” glamping tent, and were completely thrilled. The bed was comfy, the tent kept us dry during storms, and we had room to entertain our friends. We cooked out in the pavilion twice, used the laundry room and showers, and all were great. Best of all, Matt & team were so kind and accommodating. We wouldn’t have left if we didn’t have to, and we can’t wait to visit again!
Guide
I had to change course on a road trip last minute which kept me in Southern CO on my way to UT instead of going north of Telluride. I found a tent site here last minute and it was such a gem! My site was right on the river and it was super spacious. The amenities were SPOTLESS. The cleanest showers I’ve ever encountered whilst camping and the bathrooms were HEATED! After a couple days of Colorado BLM pit toilets, I felt like I was glamping. The staff is incredibly welcoming and the grounds were very dog friendly. Would 100% recommend staying here if you’re ever passing through.
GuideThis park is very well-kept and the views are amazing. Most sites are huge (center sites alittle close together) and they offer full hookup, pull thru, and back-in sites. There are trees for shade. Owners are onsite and extremely friendly and professional. There are modern, private restrooms with shower, toilet, and sink as well as a larger restroom with multiple stalls and private showers. There is a beautiful covered pavillion with great views, gas grills, gas fire pit, and picnic table that is available for anyone to use. They have glamping tents, laundry, and propane onsite. Tons to do nearby including the reservoir, Mesa Verde, and much more. Delores (10 min) is a smaller town with nice dining and shops. Cortez (15 min) has all modern amenities including Walmart, chain stores, and grocery. Park is very quiet and friendly. Nearby gas and diesel available. Beautiful and top notch...they even rake the gravel sites between guests! Highly recommend! Our favorite campground to date!
RangerPretty setting on the Dolores River. Sites are fairly close together even by Colorado standards but they are level. There is a couple of fishing ponds, river access, Yurts, cabins, and a few Covered wagons to rent.
Water pressure or lack of is the worst. The worst we have experienced in over 100 campgrounds.
GuideThis is a really pretty place with level sites. Full hookups. One end of the Campground has cabins, yurts, Prarie Schooner wagons, and triframe cabins. All along the gorgeous Dolores River. This would be the perfect spot to meet with friends or family who don't have an RV. We were at site 13 with our 30' Grand Design bumper pull trailer. Plenty of room. Our site backs up to a fishing pond (catch and release). Big, clean restrooms and showers. The town of Dolores is a 5 minute drive... plenty of restaurants and a brewery. Definitely coming back.
Traveler
This campground had so much to offer! Our original plan of camping in BLM land was foiled by the "elk and deer winter ranging" blocking off the majority of the dispersed camping areas around Mesa Verde National Park, but we were luckily able to land a spot at this amazing place! It may be lacking some cover, but it makes up for it in the large covered patio area that is packed with entertainment! They have foosball table, cornhole boards and ping pong to name a few! The kitchen was super handy so we didn't have to tap into our water tank for dishes. Owners were working hard on site to get the teepees up for the season and they were so friendly! A peaceful area that is just a quick drive from the park! All the main amenities were connected by concrete pathways that are lit by solar lights at night and you can tell they are continuously working and adding things to better the experience for future campers. They also have bunk cabins, teepees, sites with cover and I think we saw a yurt coming in. All in all, it was probably our favorite last minute campsite booking!
Scout
Mancos State Park has no-wake boating and is well-known for fishing, especially rainbow trout, a few brownies and yellow perch. There are 33 campsites on two sides of the lake, plus two all-season yurts. During the winter, it is a great place to use as a base for cross country skiing.
It is near the La Plata range to the east, and Mesa Verde National Park to the southwest. Durango is about 45 minutes to the east, and the City of Cortez about 25 minutes to the west. Telluride ski resort is about a two-hour drive. Both Cortez and Durango are full-service cities, with multiple supermarkets, other chains, etc. The town of Mancos, about a 12-minute drive from the park, has a full-service sit-down restaurant/bakery, a natural foods store, other restaurants, a community grocery store, shops, modern library and other amenities.
The park adjoins the San Juan National Forest, including multiple hiking trails, the Chicken Creek cross country ski area, the Sawtooth and Millwood trails, and other trails. The nearby forest (about a mile up the road) has dispersed camping as well as organized campgrounds accessible by a paved road.
There also is a dude ranch next to the park, and the approximate 1-mile trail around the park takes hikers over some beautiful scenery. There are no corrals, but horses are allowed on specific trails.
None of the campsites currently have water or electric hookups, but potable water is available at several connections on the east (main) side of the park. While there is no public WiFi, cell signals are strong.
Scout
I stayed at Haviland Lake near Durango, Colorado for three days, but could have stayed for a week or more! Very beautiful area and nice campsites next to a pristine mountain lake filled with trout and in a serene mountain setting. Hosts were very friendly and helpful and there were opportunities for paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking (no motorized watercraft). If you have time, go down into Durango and take the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Train ride through the majestic San Juan Mountains of Colorado, or drive to Silverton and spend the day back in the 19th Century!
Guide
This campground will always have a special place in my memories as my first camping trip in Colorado. Unfortunately being new to the state I was woefully unprepared for how cold and wet Memorial Day weekend camp trips in Colorado can be. However, the proximity to Durango meant that after a cold first night I could run into town and buy all the gear I should have thought to bring with me in the first place. The campground was relaxing and enjoyable and the lake was beautiful with the post rain fog rolling in off the surrounding hills. May was still too cold to go into the water but I am looking forward to going back this July.
Scout
We did 4 campgrounds during our trip in Colorado this summer. This one was the best: very clean, warm welcome, not that expensive… The Durango & Silverton train passes through the camp, it’s so fun. And you can the free trolley to go downtown Durango, very convenient. Thank you !
ScoutGreat RV park in SW Colorado. It’s sits at 7000’ so collects some cooler temps. Easy access to Delores and within reasonable distance of Mesa Verde National Park. About 50’ away from Four Corners National Monument. Would stay here again.
GuideMancos State Park is a convenient stop in SW Colorado just outside Mesa Verde NP. Dry campsites, some only small trailer or truck camper size. Plenty of room for tents in each site. Lake was very low for this time of year but scenic. Easy access from the LITTLE town of Mancos.
ScoutGreat campground in SW Colorado. The owners Matt and his wife run a beautiful operation. An RV park with class. Sites are huge with lots of shade, bathrooms immaculate, and a nice mile hiking path. Views are good from most lots
Scout
Vallecito Resort, situated near Durango, Colorado, caters to both full-time RV enthusiasts and vacationers seeking a mountain retreat. Nestled in the San Juan National Forest, it provides a serene natural setting with comprehensive amenities. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy spacious sites, immerse themselves in the forest ambiance, and plan their outdoor activities.
ScoutAn absolutely magical location on the Dolores river in SW Colorado. The owners are wonderful people who are very helpful and also operate a great gift shop with very reasonable prices. They bring in different food trucks every couple days that help keep bellys full and dishes clean! I can’t say enough good things. Come see for yourself!!
GuideEasily one of my favorite sites I have stayed at in Colorado! It is an incredible set up for tent camping. The pads are well manicured with very fine rock and very level. The bathrooms and laundry facility are A+, they are located right next to the tent sites. You will be hard pressed to find a more peaceful campground, I can’t wait to be back!
Guide
We had to overnight in Durango area for one night, on our way from Colorado to Arizona. The campground is clean, quiet, gorgeous, it is close to the highway though, we had a gorgeous spot with a view (so worth it). It has a pool, laundry, even a breakfast spot that is open on certain hours, times of the day. We did not get to experience it. You’re only 7 miles away (east) from Durango, which is a very amazing, cute small (walkable) city!
Legend
The Cortex/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado, was the best campground we stayed at (out of 10) on our #9parks12days road trip in June 2016. Not only was the site itself updated, it was the FIRST KOA we stayed at that had usable Wi-Fi - as in video streaming capabilities! When traveling with kids, this is such a HUGE amenity.
This campground has an updated playground, heated (seasonal) swimming pool, a 1-mile walking trail, dog park, and even tepees in addition to cabins for overnight camping. Not to mention, the campground is located a mere 15 minutes from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Other highlights: newer laundry facilities, of which we made use, and awesome mountain and mesa views right from your site.
Don't expect a ton of privacy - sites are very close together. The family next to ours had an outdoor living room set up that pretty much took the entire space between our RVs. However, the grounds were well-kept, and there was plenty of space to remove yourself from other people throughout the facility.
Traveler
This was the first stop of 3 - 2 night stays on this search to find great camping with easy access to water and preferably within a days drive of my house. I recreational kayak so access to water is at the top of my list of must haves if paddling is on the list of must do’s. This was a survey trip to see what’s out there for folks like me.
I booked two nights going to quite a bit of trouble of obtain them. I booked all three stays on the same day in March. Two weeks before my trip I receive an email from the Parks department cancelling my reservation, issuing a refund but offering no explanation or offer to assist in finding another spot. Getting to speak to an actual person… could not be done. I left voice mails at the dam, at the. State office and even the Governor’s office but apparently no one was at work. Two weeks later a really helpful gal called to say she had just started two days prior and discovered a full voice mail box. She was absolutely amazing at facilitating a solution within two days. Clarissa, you are a Goddess! Reserve America is a pain to navigate and I will leave it at that.
Now about the campground. It is exactly what one should expect in a desert landscape. Very few trees and very dusty and rocky. It was 100 degrees when I left for my trip deciding to wait until late afternoon to avoid setting up in the blazing heat. I arrived at 10:00pm or so. It was 73 degrees. I came in from the east side 64 to 527 and there were deer and elk EVERYWHERE!!!! Which is why I arrived so late, you just have to slow down. Mostly cedar and pine and natural gas oil wells EVERYWHERE!!!! I got to my appointed site and I simply could not navigate from where one parks to where the actual site was and which, by the way, while lakeside it was convenient to water it was not. If you have a few people to help haul everything down to where the actual water is great, but alone in 100 degrees. Also, I travel with two small dogs and shade is paramount. Well shade they do have such as it is. The showers were not available due to, you guessed, a water shortage! I just put up the tent and went to sleep which wasn’t too uncomfortable. Next morning at 5:30 the sun was out and the heat was building. I packed up and moved on up to Colorado where it would surely be much cooler.
I might like to visit Sims Mesa Marina at Navajo Lake again, if it ever fills again and perhaps in the spring or fall but NOT in summer. So many of our fine bodies of water boaters and anglers have come to rely on for recreation are in serious jeopardy due to a 10 year what is termed “Exceptional” drought conditions. It’s really such a shame.
Side note: be sure to take the Navajo Dam shortcut when leaving Sims. It’s a well maintained, but very dusty road. The views are spectacular and driving across the dam is a bit nerve racking. The drive down from the dam all along the San Juan drainage below the dam is well worth checking out for day use only but there are several “holes” they call them where the fishing is said to be amazing and the parking lot reflected it’s popularity.
So it’s on to Vallecito Lake outside Bayfield, Colorado. Specifically Pine Point USFS Campground. The search for paddling opportunities continues.
TravelerLast time I saw Vallecito Lake was in April of 2019. It was virtually empty of any water and that is not an exaggeration. Every bit had been drawn down and it being April the Spring melt had not yet started. However, the area around the lake had captured my soul and I had been hankering to return in early summer to it witness the lovely lady in all her glory. She did not disappoint.
I kayak and this trip was the second of 3 consecutive two day stays in search of the perfect padding spot. I recreational kayak and my area has one body of water close to me but it’s 65 miles away. I was seeking a place water play vacation.
There are two sides to Vallecito Lake. The public side and the private side. The public side is USFS managed the other is a free for all of vacation rentals, RV Parks and homes ranging from little woodsy to magnificent “cabins”. With a sprinkling of homes on the public side with outstanding water access and views for miles obviously been there for quite some time. All around is old forest with huge stands of ponderosa pine and Colorado blue spruce, wild roses and raspberry’s. Along with huge stands of burn scars from more than one, must have been terrifying, forest fires. The place is SPECTACULAR, not too “resorty” but busy. Even during the week while I was there.
There are several USFS campgrounds on Road 501A North Canyon, Graham, Pine Point and Middle Mountain. All of them offer the same shady, wooded campsites some of which are lakeside. Which would be great when the lake is at capacity. There are plenty of vault toilets and drinking water. No showers. There are picnic tables and fire pits at every site. We were able to have fires at the time of my visit but the fire restrictions were just going into affect the day after I left. In fact there was a wild land fire just a few miles away but was quickly dispatched. The camp hosts were very responsive and they take very good care of the property.
Not all sites are reserved at these campgrounds. About half are first come first served and many were vacant at my visit. But it was Monday - Thursday. I noticed it begin to fill up the night before my departure day and things got a bit more active but once darkness fell it was silent.
Now about the water. The lake was at 67% capacity and was not expected to exceed that this 2021 season. There was no snow on the surrounding peaks which should still have had observable snow pack on them in early June. McPhee Reservoir on the other side of Durango was at 47%. El Vado in New Mexico was at 17%!!! All of the bodies of water in the west are severely challenged. Lake Mead/Hoover Dam is being repeated all over the western states. It’s a real shame to see the changes that are occurring at all of our favorite spots. While water was accessible it was a good hike with a 48lb kayak and most of it was very rocky. But the water was magnificent and well worth the hike.
Did I mention it was in the high 90’s while I was there. Which is unheard of. It was brutally hot and chasing ice was a challenge. Most places close by ran out requiring a trip to Bayfield. Also, amazingly, while my cell phone was worthless my iPad rocked and I could send and receive texts and even water my lawn via the b-hyve app.
Be sure to check out Lemon Lake and the campgrounds above. The Lake looked to be at about 50% which was very sad. The campgrounds were not as heavily used and were offering all of the same as other USFS campgrounds.
I will be back again but I will make my stay much longer. I give it five stars just for the pure ambience.
Guide
We loved Lightner Creek. The creek was great, the pool was welcome relief for the kids and we enjoyed talking to fellow campers visiting from around the country and England! Hosts were kind and informative and the location was close to town and the places we wanted to visit. Clean restrooms and campground. We'd stay again!
GuideGreat camp sites for pull thru, back in and tents. Several cabins, bathrooms & showers also available, but closed our week (scary virus). Nice, clean, non-heated pool was a plus. Friendly, helpful campsite hosts. Trash pickup 10:30-11:30AM every day. No bears our week. Campground goes dark by 9:00PM. Very friendly folks our week. Creek contained minimal water, but expect it is nice when it’s “running.” 5 min drive to Durango; lots of hikes, drives & activities in the vicinity. Consider driving (carefully) to Ouray, very beautiful views and overlooks. Will return.
GuideVery nice campground with a creek running through it. Bonus if you can get the creek side so you hear it all night. Well kept grounds. Very quiet and shady. Would definitely stay here again.
TravelerWe decided to do a quick overnight here so that we could spend a day in Durango. It’s a cute little campground and we had a spot nestled in the trees which was nice. The only ding that I’d give this place is that there may be some power issues depending on the site. Thank God we had the surge protector and that I tested the outlet before plugging into the RV. The monitor indicated reverse polarity so we ended up having to move to another site. Always check your hookups before settling in. Otherwise, this is a great little spot for easy access to Durango.
GuideGreat spot away from the road. Steep hill into the campsite- but close to town if you have a toad/truck. We didn’t explore much but seems like a place just to hangout in your small COVID bubble blissfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hesperus, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hesperus, CO is Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 89 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hesperus, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Hesperus, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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