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Best Campgrounds near Montrose, CO

1,245 Reviews

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.

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Best Camping Sites Near Montrose, Colorado (276)

    1. South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    67 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 249-1914

    $20 - $34 / night

    "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."

    2. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

    57 Reviews
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO
    8 miles
    Website

    "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."

    3. North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    20 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 641-2337

    $20 / night

    "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."

    4. Cedar Creek RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (970) 249-3884

    "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."

    5. Elk Ridge Campground — Ridgway State Park

    32 Reviews
    Ridgway, CO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 626-5822

    $28 - $36 / night

    "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."

    6. Riverbend RV Park & Cabins

    7 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 249-8235

    $42 - $149 / night

    "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."

    7. East Portal Campground — Curecanti National Recreation Area

    9 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    12 miles
    +1 (970) 641-2337

    $20 / night

    "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."

    8. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground — Ridgway State Park

    16 Reviews
    Ridgway, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 626-5822

    $28 - $615 / 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."

    9. Montrose / Black Canyon Nat'l Park KOA

    4 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (970) 249-9177

    "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."

    10. Dakota Terraces Campground — Ridgway State Park

    19 Reviews
    Ridgway, CO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 626-5822

    $36 - $90 / night

    "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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Montrose, CO

434 Photos of 276 Montrose Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Montrose, CO

1245 Reviews of 276 Montrose Campgrounds

  • Ricky R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground — Ridgway State Park

    3 nights on full hookup

    The park was well maintained, and patrolled by park staff. The sites were well spaced and generally level. 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. It is not included when you make a reservation online even though it asks for the number of vehicles you have. You must pay the vehicle fee onsite.

  • Trish M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Horse Ranch Park (dispersed)-paonia Rd

    Stunning & secluded

    Found this place late afternoon and fell in love with Gunnison National Forest! Lost Lake was right across the road from where we camped. Found a beautiful spot with a great view! Most of the other spots were taken so we were blessed. Can't wait to go back again.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    4J + 1+ 1 RV Park

    Nice campground

    Full hook up ,sewer hook up on each sight laundry room 2$ per load quarters needed

  • I
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Mill Creek

    Camping

    Beautiful views, clean toilets and fresh drinking water available

  • 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!

  • Gina G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Sultan Dispersed

    Dispersed camping

    Came here on a Friday around 3pm for Labor Day Weekend after trying to go to two other spots on the same road but those were pretty packed. This spot is also very busy but we were able to snag one of the last spots facing the creek.

  • Jonathan M.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Red Creek Campground

    Group camping or day use only

    This is for day use (front site) and group camping (back area) only. I called and asked how to pay for the site and was told that info, and he said for camping to go further up the forestry road... plenty of spots to fit any size rig

  • 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

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Red Mountain Creek

    Red Mtn creek

    Settle traffic of 550 with a maze of nooks riddled with car campers sleeping out to sprinter vans galore and some areas plenty of room for a toy hauler. Dirt bikes roll by slowly on their way wherever. Red river flow is small stream big cool. My spot nestled in the pines was quite nice.

Guide to Montrose

Camping near Montrose, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are numerous trails nearby, including the Chasm Trail, which starts right at the North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. One camper mentioned, "The trail to the rim is right behind the campground. It's a nice and cool spot during a hot summer."
  • Star Gazing: The area is known for its dark skies, perfect for stargazing. A visitor at the South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park shared, "This is a dark sky park. Took photos of the stars."
  • Fishing and Boating: If you enjoy fishing, the Elk Creek Campground is close to Blue Mesa Reservoir, where you can fish and swim. One reviewer noted, "Fly fishing in the Gunnison as well as great fishing and swimming in Blue Mesa Reservoir is a short walk or drive."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and clean campsites. A visitor at the Ouray Riverside Resort said, "The bathrooms were clean and the showers looked ok."
  • Beautiful Views: Many campgrounds offer stunning mountain views. One camper at the Ouray KOA mentioned, "Gorgeous views and they have some huge pull-through sites for big rigs."
  • Proximity to Town: Being close to Montrose is a plus. A reviewer at the Telluride Town Park Campground stated, "Perfect little campground, reasonably priced for its location, very clean bathrooms and within walking distance to town."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Sites: Some campgrounds can be busy, especially during peak season. A camper at the Ouray KOA noted, "Very busy and lots of out-of-state campers at this campground."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at the North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park mentioned, "Most of the camping sites are placed fairly close together."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife. One camper at the Elk Creek Campground shared, "We saw moose in the afternoon into evening."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Bring Shade: Many campgrounds lack shade, so consider bringing a shade tent. A reviewer at the South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park advised, "It's a bit noisy because of how close sites are to one another, and there's not a ton of shade."
  • Plan Activities: With hiking and fishing nearby, plan family-friendly activities. A camper at the Black Canyon Dispersed Camping mentioned, "Camp sites are neatly nestled into the trees to provide a decent level of privacy."
  • Safety First: Keep food secured to avoid attracting wildlife. A visitor at the North Rim Campground warned about yellowjackets, saying, "Lots of yellowjackets which was an annoyance."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A camper at the Last Dollar Road cautioned, "Do not go if you have a 2WD or a low sitting vehicle."
  • Space Considerations: Sites can be close together, so choose wisely. A reviewer at the Ouray Riverside Resort noted, "The downside is the sites are very close together."
  • Plan for Wind: Some areas can get windy, so be prepared. A camper at the Elk Creek Campground mentioned, "The wind is pretty bad. Seems like it gets windy every day from 12pm to 6pm like clockwork."

Camping in Montrose, CO, offers a unique blend of nature and adventure. Whether you're tent camping or RVing, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

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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