293 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Montrose includes Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which has both South Rim and North Rim campgrounds. South Rim sites come with vault toilets and drinking water, while North Rim gives you more privacy and better canyon views. Ridgway State Park has two main camping areas - Elk Ridge Campground with good scenery and family facilities, and Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground where RVs can get full hookups. The area around Montrose puts you close to both the Rockies and Colorado River, making it good for hiking, fishing and boating trips. You can even drive to the Great Sand Dunes if you want something different. Cedar Creek RV Park works well if you want to stay near town services. The higher elevation around Montrose means summers stay cooler than many other places. Winter camping is possible but snow blocks some roads and areas. Most remote camping spots have poor or no cell service. The Montrose area has campgrounds for pretty much everyone - from quiet, basic sites to more developed family campgrounds.
"A few minutes outside the south gate of the park. Multiple sites, most of which are on dirt. Paths to and from can be a bit rough for most passenger vehicles. But it’s quite and close to the park."
"This is a really pretty campground near Montrose and Black Canyon NP entrance."
"The South Rim Campground is similar to other national park campground in that it provides convenient access to park activities and trails, but it stands apart due to the fact that the camping fees are"
"Most of the outer sites are tucked into the forest so there is a decent level of privacy. Lots of deer frequent the area, we saw several on each trip."
from $20 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Driving through Colorado in the fall there is nothing which can compare. "
"Camped one night on our road trip throughout southwestern Colorado. Campsites over look the canyon."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Clean rv park in good location in Montrose, CO."
"This is a cute rv park right in the middle of Montrose. It is about 20 min to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park."
"Nice paths down to the lake and around but the lake level is still low."
"The site was big and a real short walk from the car. It was nice that the road didn't go next to the campsite like usual so it cut down on noise."
from $28 - $36 / night
Check Availability"My girlfriend and I took a trip to Utah in January and found ourselves in a snowy Montrose en route to Moab."
"The staff were extremely friendly, this sites were clean, dog park great, river amazing, and location to Montrose perfect.
The laundry rooms was clean with new equipment."
from $42 - $149 / night
Check Availability"down the road, you park in the sites facing the river, and walk your stuff down a little embankment to very cool, quiet, shady sites that I really liked."
"There are fifteen spots, 7 of those have drive in access, the other 8 are a park and walk down a small embankment - but oh, what a setting - set in a grove of trees, it was beautiful."
from $20 / night
"Close to Montrose Ridgway and Ouray CO."
"The sites next to the highway received a lot of road noise 24 hours a day. Beware that Colorado State Parks charges a $10 per day vehicle fee on top of the camping fee."
from $28 - $615 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful swimming beach, plenty of hiking trails. Restrooms were always clean. Close to Black Canyon of the Gunnison ( main reason we booked it), Ouray,Telluride, Silverton."
"Pro: Nice clean campground by a lake. Free showers. Clean bathrooms. Laundry facilities on site. Just a short drive to Montrose (Walmart, Target, etc) and Black Hills of the Gunnison National Park."
from $36 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Very close to black canyon national park and downtown montrose."
"We camped at Montrose/ Black Canyon Nat'l Park KOA Journey in a Travel Trailer."
GuideEasy access, just a tough road for my jeep and trailer to climb driving up. The dirt roads are well manicured and any vehicle should have no problem getting in and finding sites.
Very peaceful and quiet and perfect cool temps compared to grand junctions summer heat.
ScoutWe have stayed here before and had a wonderful experience, which made this visit especially disappointing. Since the property changed ownership, our experience was completely different, and unfortunately we will not be returning. We booked our stay online, accurately disclosed the number of people and pets, and drove more than 800 miles to get there. Our first night was great. The employee who checked us in was friendly, helped us get situated at our site, and answered all of our questions. The following morning, however, the new owner, Christina, approached our campsite in a very confrontational manner. Her first words were,“Oh no, I’m going to have to charge you for two sites.” She then told us we couldn’t have our dogs and became increasingly rude throughout the conversation. She explained that she was trying to set up new glamping tents and had already turned away other campers because, according to her, we were taking up too much space. This was confusing because the site we reserved was advertised as 100’ x 50’, and our setup occupied only a small portion of that area—approximately 20’ x 30’. When I tried to explain that our reservation and site description matched what we had booked, she interrupted me and said she didn’t care because she was the owner and made the rules. At that point, we decided we no longer wanted to stay. We informed her that we would be checking out and requested a refund since we were unable to receive the accommodations we had reserved under the terms presented at booking. She told us she would refund what we had paid and walked away. Given how the interaction had unfolded, I recorded that conversation. Later that day, she sent me a text stating that she would not be issuing a full refund after all. Rather than continue arguing, I filed a chargeback with my credit card company. It’s unfortunate because we genuinely enjoyed this campground under its previous ownership. Based on this experience, however, I cannot recommend it. If you’re considering staying here, be aware that your experience may be very different than reviews from before the ownership change.
GuideQuiet close to town by bicycle
GuideWas a nice little spot 6 or 7 spots along the road. Saw a bear cruising across the mountain. Nice little creek running
GuideFirst, I want to admit that I have vertigo and mountain highways are challenging. 550 is the only way in and out and is called “The Million Dollar Highway” for its dramatic scenery. I had shaky knees and clenched teeth after the drive from Durango to Silverton. Our 41’ fifth wheel pulled by our 3500 Chevy dually handled the road but we were advised against traveling north of Silverton as the road got narrower, had even sharper drop offs and the elevation changes were steeper. We went back down to Durango both because of the warning and because the highway north was closed at Ouray due to a major Forest fire.
This dispersed campground is only 3 miles out of Silverton on a county road. It provides access to one other large dispersed area up the canyon a couple of miles and two official Forest Service campgrounds (Anvil and Mineral Springs). There is a sign to “Bear Campground” and a two rut road, but it probably needs 4 wheel drive to get there. I suspect its name tells a story. The road itself is washboard and rocky, narrow and with some blind curves as it follows Mineral River. Shake, rattle and roll at your own risk. There are multiple pull offs that fit a van, small bumper pull, or car camper and/or serve walk-in tent camping spots on the riverbank.
Our campground was pretty full and got crammed as the 4th of July approached. Most of the larger spots along the river bank and in open parking areas had already been claimed. The rest of the sites were tucked into the pines. Lots of fire rings. We were able to set up after some creative backing and had to work at getting the rig level. Our views were gorgeous. We walked a few hundred feet to dip toes into the shallows but the river runs fast and ice cold and we watched in awe as some hardy youngsters splashed about. I saw kayaks on some vehicles but did not see any actually in the river. A few anglers were spotted and many hikers were taking advantage of established trails.
If it were an easier trip into Silverton we would definitely return—but not on a holiday week.
GuideGreat location close to Ouray! We arrived on a Thursday at the end of June without a reservation and were glad to find at least 2 electric hookup sites for a camper. This location was very clean and had great amenities. It was pretty quiet at night and morning considering how busy it was! Definitely on the pricier side for camping, but can’t complain when you get WiFi, electric and a shower!!
ScoutStay at spot 22. It’s got the best view and an open sky for your solar panels and Starlink. But more importantly, the view! Awesome.
GuideLots of spots along this road, some 2WD accessible, some not. Chose a spot I could get to with my small car - a few fire pits around evidenced past campers. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of trash around. Smoky because of fires, but good views and not many other campers around.
ScoutPerfect little spot with really nicely spaced out sites with metal fire rings and nice metal tables. The lake was nice and serene! Great tree coverage incase of wind. Still spaces available at 7:30pm on Saturday. Saving to come back soon!
Camping near Montrose, Colorado offers unique advantages with its location at 5,800 feet elevation, placing it between the high mountains and lower desert terrain. The area serves as an ideal base camp for exploring western Colorado's diverse landscapes while avoiding extreme temperatures. Montrose camping provides access to both developed campgrounds and remote dispersed sites with variable amenities.
Fishing below the dam: At Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground, anglers find excellent opportunities in the tailwaters. "Great fishing in the tailwaters below the dam, 5 minute walk from campground to the river or two stocked ponds. River is catch and release," notes John D.
Canyon bottom exploration: Access the Gunnison River at East Portal Campground for a unique perspective from below. "The East Portal, this camping ground, offers the only easy access to the river, since most of the roads and whatnot are a couple thousand feet up along the rim. The Gunnison here is gold medal trout water," explains Joe J.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. "I've always loved this place ever since I got to bear watch here for hours. My girlfriend and I got extremely lucky while sitting on the river. We saw 5-6 different bears come down to take a drink!" shares Cody W. about East Portal Campground.
Remote North Rim sites: North Rim Campground offers a quieter alternative to the busier South Rim. "The North Rim campground was pretty and quiet... by 5:30, all the spots were full and were full earlier the following night, so be sure to arrive early," advises Jordan L.
Dispersed camping convenience: The BLM land outside Black Canyon provides free camping close to the national park. "BLM land just outside the south (main) entrance to Black Canyon National Park. Road can be rough, especially slippery mud after rain. Many dispersed sites with cleared space and fire rings along the road, which goes for miles," explains Todd B.
Tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds offer dedicated tent sections with added privacy. "Loop H is part of Pa-Co-Chu-Puk site at Ridgeway State Park. This loop deserves a special review since it is a totally different place than the other camp sites at the park. This is a Walk-in camp site for tents only," notes Fabio O.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by campground and carrier. "No cell connectivity, extremely limited water (best to bring what you need) and well-maintained vault toilets," reports Sarah about South Rim Campground.
Road conditions to remote areas: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating challenging roads. At Black Canyon Dispersed Camping, "Some of the roads were really rutted out, but we were lucky and everything was dry so we were able to get thru in my forester. There are some spots at the beginning of the property but there are more if you follow the dirt road back another two miles or so," advises Grace S.
Elevation changes: Moving between campgrounds means significant elevation shifts. "This campground is right at the edge of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but because you take a steep, twisty ride down to the river, the elevation went from over 9000 to under 7000, a welcome change if you aren't acclimated to the altitude," explains Shelley K. about East Portal.
Water activities: Dakota Terraces Campground offers water recreation options for families. "This park is a great place for families because there is so much to do, from the endless bike trails to fishing and water access. All of the sites are large and have plenty of space from the next site," shares Jason S.
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Look for stocked ponds that provide reliable catches for young anglers. "There are a couple ponds nearby that are heavily stocked with hungry rainbow trout. We saw quite a few kids leave with their limit of 9-11" stockers," notes Zachary K. about Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground.
Consider campground patrols: Some sites have better security oversight. "The park was well maintained, and patrolled by park staff. The sites were well spaced and generally level," mentions Ricky R. about Pa-Co-Chu-Puk.
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the Montrose area require leveling equipment. "Stayed for just one night at site 55. Needed all our levelers as the site is sloped downhill," shares Ursula about Dakota Terraces Campground.
Size restrictions: Not all roads to campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. "Well, very steep twisty road to access. CG is small and very limited for anything larger than van, trucks, tenters and small Class Cs. Signs at top note vehicles over 22ft prohibited," warns Greg L. about East Portal.
In-town alternative: Cedar Creek RV Park provides easier access to services. "This RV park is close to a bowling alley and several restaurants. It's great for a quick stay. There does appear to be many long-term residents, but they are separate from the retro campers. Friendly staff, reasonable prices," notes Sarah S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds in Montrose, CO?
Montrose offers diverse camping options within and around the city. Montrose / Black Canyon Nat'l Park KOA provides convenient access to both downtown Montrose and Black Canyon National Park. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Black Canyon Dispersed Camping is located just minutes from the national park's south entrance with multiple sites on dirt paths. Flat Top OHV Recreation Area is another nearby option with ample space, pit toilets, and proximity to town. Cedar Creek RV Park sits within Montrose city limits, while a short drive opens up additional options at Crawford and Ridgway State Parks, both within 30 minutes of town.
Are there tent camping options available near Montrose?
Tent campers have several excellent options near Montrose. Owl Creek Pass offers a magical dispersed camping experience with beautiful aspen groves, flowing rivers, and stunning mountain views. Springhill Mesa Dispersed Campsite provides free camping with nice trees and walking paths, though some sites may be challenging to access. For those preferring established campgrounds, Clear Fork Campground at Crawford State Park features water access for swimming and paddling, plus walking trails. Soap Creek Corral provides a quieter, more isolated experience about 40 minutes from Montrose with vault toilets but no hookups. Most dispersed areas require pack-in, pack-out ethics and may have seasonal access restrictions.
What campgrounds in Montrose offer electrical hookups?
Elk Ridge Campground — Ridgway State Park offers water and electrical hookups in a high desert setting. The campground is well-maintained with showers (quarter-operated), washers, and dryers available. BASECAMP 550 provides full hookups along with excellent amenities including hot showers, laundry facilities, restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a clubhouse with coffee and tea. Its strategic location offers easy access to Montrose and surrounding areas. Centennial RV Park is another excellent option with spacious pull-through RV spaces with hookups, located between Ridgway and Montrose with views of the San Juan mountain range. Cedar Creek RV Park in Montrose also offers electrical connections, though spaces may be tight.
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