Best Campgrounds near Mesa, CO

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.

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Best Camping Sites Near Mesa, Colorado (162)

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

    38 Reviews
    Grand Junction, CO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 464-0548

    $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."

    2. Palisade Basecamp RV Resort

    27 Reviews
    Palisade, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 462-9712

    $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!"

    3. Jumbo Campground

    10 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 268-5579

    $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."

    4. Pyramid Rock Camp

    15 Reviews
    De Beque, CO
    13 miles

    "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"

    5. Little Bear Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    12 miles
    Website

    "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."

    6. Ward Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    12 miles
    Website

    "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."

    7. Island Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    12 miles
    Website

    $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."

    8. Grand Junction KOA

    26 Reviews
    Grand Junction, CO
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 242-2527

    "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!"

    9. Cottonwood Lake Campground

    5 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    11 miles
    Website

    "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."

    10. Cobbett Lake

    5 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 874-6600

    $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."

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Showing results 1-10 of 162 campgrounds

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Recent Reviews near Mesa, CO

1000 Reviews of 162 Mesa Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Harvey Gap BLM Dispersed

    Great spot for free

    This is a great spot for free, dispersed camping! As others have stated, it is a bit rough getting into but I saw, regular street cars pulling into the …”parking lot”. Most were simply going over to the reservoir to fish or hike. I was up on the next to the highest spot and wasn’t bothered by any of this activity. The higher spot was too intimidating for me to pull my camper up to but later found there is another road up to it that’s not as steep(still daunting for most! One camper stayed a few nights in the…”parking lot” so If say that’s an option if you don’t want to head up any hills…. Bring lots of leveling blocks. I used all of mine to get my camper fairly level…

  • Jennifer N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Erickson Springs

    Hidden Gem!

    This is an Awesome CG heading down off Kebler Pass! I arrived mid-day Friday and plenty of sites available! It’s a smaller, clean CG right along the river! There’s hiking trails near by also - a great find!

  • Pete H.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Glenwood Springs West/Colorado River KOA

    Really crowded

    My least favorite part about this place is that they strictly forbid EV charging. Why? If I’m in a big camper with two a/c running plus big TV, fridge, etc then I’m pulling just as much power as my EV charger would. Plus it is so much more convenient charging overnight. I won’t be back to this place for this reason alone.

  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    BLM #174 Road Dispersed Camping

    BLM 174

    Aug 25 '25: directions to BLM 174 were right on target and areas to disperse camp is spacious with many level areas. At camping entrance there are two porta potties. Temps at arrival around 89 was overcast w/ short rain shower. No issues as terrain dried quickly. Only stayed one night and would definitely revisit is passing through again. There must be a project near by with construction trucks passing down road across from were campers were parked. Lastly keep fur babies on leash and close. There are coyotes. Heard them around 7pm and at sunrise.

  • Jaz C.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Black Canyon

    great site by black canyon

    this site was easy to find and not too far 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 to the black canyon national park north rim. note: signs say no camping 12/1-7/15

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Pyramid Rock Camp

    Don’t trust Waze!

    It was a great spot once I finally found it. Waze took me through privately owned land. Google had it right. There’s a T in the road just outside of De Beque. Don’t go on the road marked no outlet! Make the right instead.

  • A
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Nine Mile Hill

    Easy going, fun, free

    I brought my dog up there yesterday. We car camped overnight without any issues. Only saw a couple of cars, and one group camped 3/4 mile from me. I had a lovely time checking out the bouldering and climbing. While there we couldn't find a clean or easy route to the top of the hill, it made for an interesting charge over loose impediments and various cliff bands. If you go this route, I recommend hiking boots and a pretty good level of mountaineering ability as you could potentially slip or get in a tough cliff band.

    Only bummer is that there is no burn season right now (mid-August), so we just enjoyed the night sky.

  • Lilliana S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Four Mile Road Dispersed

    Handful of spots

    Visited here back in early season May 2025. There are probably less than 10 spots when you go all the way up the long drive, all with great views, most are on the small side. We ended up making camp in the large open area.

    Would recommend 4wd for the last part of the drive to the sites.

  • Eli M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    RV Ranch at Grand Junction

    Hidden gem in the Grand Valley

    Stayed four days, and had an awesome experience. Beautifully maintained park with all amenities you could ask for. The ladies in the front office were accommodating, and the maintenance team were fast and professional!


Guide to Mesa

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.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Grand Junction KOA. One reviewer said, "Well maintained facilities... Very clean."
  • Friendly Hosts: Many enjoy the welcoming atmosphere at campgrounds. A camper at Saddlehorn Campground mentioned, "Tim and Lily are very friendly campground hosts."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers at Palisade Basecamp RV Resort appreciate the roomy sites. One review stated, "Spacious, level sites with concrete patio and nice grass lawn."

What you should know:

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids, like Grand Junction KOA, which has a playground and mini-golf. A parent mentioned, "Great for kids (jump pad, pool, mini golf, playground)."
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on kids near water. At James M. Robb Colorado River - Island Acres Section Camping, a camper noted, "The highway/train noise is minimal inside a camper."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. One camper at Palisade Basecamp RV Resort enjoyed fresh peaches from staff, saying, "Staff rolled up on a golf cart with fresh peaches to try."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Ensure your chosen campground has the necessary hookups. A reviewer at Canyon View RV Resort mentioned, "The sites by the river are very nice and have covered patios."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds, like Glenwood Springs West/Colorado River KOA, are near highways. One camper noted, "It was right by a truck stop and the highway so it was a little noisy."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Campgrounds like North Fruita Desert Upper Campground are close to great biking trails. A visitor said, "The drive up is long and slow which is really the only downside."

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

What camping is available near Mesa, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mesa, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 162 campgrounds and RV parks near Mesa, CO and 41 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mesa, CO?

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.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 41 free dispersed camping spots near Mesa, CO.

What parks are 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.