Best Campgrounds near Mancos, CO
Campgrounds around Mancos, Colorado range from established park facilities to primitive sites on public lands. The area includes Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park, which accommodates tents, RVs, and cabin camping with amenities including drinking water and toilets. Dispersed camping options exist on BLM land near the Mesa Verde National Park boundary and along Madden Peak Road, where free primitive camping is available. Riverwood RV Resort and Echo Basin Cabin and RV Resort provide more developed options with full hookups for RVs and cabin accommodations within easy reach of the town.
Mancos State Park Campground features 33 campsites positioned on both sides of a small lake, offering a no-wake boating environment popular for fishing rainbow trout and yellow perch. Most dispersed camping areas remain open year-round, while established campgrounds like Morefield operate seasonally from mid-April through October. Summer thunderstorms can create challenging conditions in July and August, particularly on dirt access roads to dispersed sites. Winter camping is possible at some locations but may require preparation for snow and subfreezing temperatures. According to one visitor, "Simple and clean facilities; hammock stand on my site was bonus. Quiet on a weeknight, I can see how it might have a much busier energy on summer weekends."
Proximity to Mesa Verde National Park represents a significant advantage for campers in this area, with several sites located within 10 miles of the park entrance. Riverwood RV Resort receives consistent praise for its maintenance and location, with one camper noting it's "only 1 1/2 hours from Telluride" and offers "paved road in campground along river, walking distance to town with cafe and bakery." The west side of Mancos State Park Campground is recommended by multiple reviewers for its spacious sites and quieter atmosphere compared to the east side. Cell service is generally available at developed campgrounds, though signal strength varies in more remote dispersed camping areas. Most primitive sites lack facilities but provide greater privacy and typically allow campfires when seasonal restrictions aren't in effect.
