Searching for the best camping near Mesa, CO? 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. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mesa and user-submitted reviews.
$26 - $41 / night
"Great walking path along the river for evening or morning stroll. Tucked in the canyon, surrounded by cliffs."
"Add $9 daily for Colorado State parks. Full hookups (near I70/some road noise), and Electric only, and, Tent
Pit long-drop toilets (fly haven)
Lovely park on banks of Colorado river."
$43 - $137 / night
"Located on the Colorado River. Winery’s & Distillery’s close by. Clean restrooms & laundry, a general store with just about everything you might have forgotten."
"Super clean and close to endless Colorado adventures!"
$26 - $72 / night
"This is a beautiful small hosted Forest Service campground just off Colorado Hwy 65 (Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway) in the Grand Mesa National Forest https://bit.ly/3iywM8z."
"Jumbo is set at at the park for Mesa Lakes. There are multiple little lakes, walking paths and hiking trails. This is also one of my favorite places to snowshoe in the winter."
"It is a designated OHV area so no worries about people stopping you from ripping around and exploring."
"Nothing extreme or crazy with this site, you get privacy, open space and 360 views of the surrounding scenery and free range cows. Road relatively easy to pass through"
"Always enjoy camping in Grand Mesa. It’s not as busy as the Front Range and most spots are easy to get to"
"We went searching for a free camping spot near Gunnison and got horribly stuck in mud on roads that were too awful for our car, even with 4wheel drive."
"Grand mesa is the largest mesa in the world. For over 150 years cattle have roamed here. They need to go. It is time. The diversity and wildlife will slowly be destroyed and it is exponential."
"Campground Review: We stayed at Ward Lake on Colorado's Grand Mesa. Ward Lake sits at about 10,000 feet. So, depending on time of year, it can get a little chilly."
$26 - $190 / night
"Located adjacent to Island Lake, this campground is beautiful, but watch out for the mosquitos! We took a non electric pull-through as a stopover for the night. Our 35 ft 5th wheel fit easily. "
"The campground is tucked away and a little hard to find. We chose it because it had electric hookup, had availability on Labor Day weekend and it was near a lake. We were on site #2."
"Although this KOA is closely adjacent to US 50 as it enters the Grand Junction area, it is spacious, super-well-kept, nicely located for access to both Colorado River bridges (29 Rd. and Hwy 50), just"
"Close to the highway, so some noise, but not enough to ruin your time. Best part if this KOA is being close to Colorado National Monument!! One of our favorite places we’ve ever been!"
"A lush forest surrounding beautiful Cottonwood lakes 1 &4 great fishing access good for kayak / small boats ."
"We found we had privacy and still had great hiking spots near by. May need a car that has AWD if you’re going up the hill to more dispersed spots as we had difficult in our smaller car."
$22 - $24 / night
"I 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."
"There is a nice lake that you can fish on and the visitors center is just on the side of the lake. There were quite a few sites but we were tucked back a little."
TravelerPlenty of dispersed sites along this road.
TravelerI was up there on a Tuesday-Wednesday so it was very quiet and there was no one else at the site. It’s right on the water although there is a drop off you have to climb down, but it’s not bad. There were some cattle that walked through as I was setting up but otherwise very chill. All sites had areas for parking and fire rings. Driving off the forest road and onto the small road getting up to the campsite, 4WD isn’t required but highly recommended, it is a very rough road. High clearance is necessary. The sites seemed kinda close to each other however there are trees and stumps that define each site. Amazing views, light rain, and still my favorite forest.
GuideThe campground is built on the side of a mountain so the individual sites are tiered. I could see it making a few people nervous to back in but it’s no big deal. The bathrooms are clean. Two toilets and two showers in men’s and women’s. Highway is loud. Quirky because there are old downhill skis nailed to posts, wagon wheels on either side of the porch swing I’m on. Duck and mushroom figurines. You get the picture. Built in tables on each site are nice.
TravelerGreat little campground off of I-70. Fishing swimming and plenty of walking. While the campground doesn't have a store on site there is a gas station less than a mile away. Would come again! They have no hookups, electric only and full hookups. Great service with Tmobile. Enough open space for starlink as well.
GuideWe went back to Island Lake Campground two times this year. The campground continues to be great and has potable water. Be aware that the campground next to the lake, the day use area, and lower road are all closed through the 2026 season for construction. The upper road is narrow and steep, and the day use people fill the shoulder of the road trying to park. We walked our paddleboards across the road down to the lake and did not have to worry about parking. This year our group used the last three sites in the campground, which worked out perfectly. Sun was ample for the solar panels and we used a Starlink this year instead of messing around with cellular antennas. Sites 36 and 38 are definitely our favorites. The lake was a bit low this year but the fishing was great. We plan to try and get back again next year. I did confirm their tent pads are 20x20 for sites with double pads and 20x40 for those with a single pad. I think I found other sizes listed online.
ScoutUsed to love camping here in the orchards but the pricing is no longer worth it and the gouging during events is BS, greed. +$30 premium for a primative tent site during Cider Fest, after fees and taxes you're looking at $84 a night, to put up a tent.
TravelerWe stopped here for an overnight on our way to Moab. It’s definitely HOT right now in July without a ton of tree coverage but once the sun started to set it was fine. There was only one other camper here besides us. Road is fairly easy to get back to the sites. We only saw like 5 sites but there may have been more somewhere? Views were wonderful and stars were popping at night.
LegendThis CG is on a long gravel road access and is a sort of rundown place. Many sites are overgrown and not maintained, every picnic table needs painting. One old pit toilet. No cell and lake is just going to be drained in summer. $16/$9 senior, CG host on site and run buy a pvt concession.
RangerNot worth the reviews I saw previously.
View isn’t that great (compared to what you COULD have)
The sites are on gravel ? And there were like 2.
Just don’t do it if you’re seeking views, adventure and solitude.
Camping near Mesa, Colorado, offers a fantastic mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or rolling in with an RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping around Mesa, CO, offers a variety of experiences, from serene nature to family-friendly fun. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Mesa, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 161 campgrounds and RV parks near Mesa, CO and 40 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mesa, CO is Island Acres Section Camping — James M. Robb Colorado River State Park with a 3.9-star rating from 38 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 40 free dispersed camping spots near Mesa, CO.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Mesa, CO that allow camping, notably Colorado National Monument and Gunnison National Forest.
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