Best RV Parks & Resorts near Palisade, CO

After driving 4-10 hour days from Canada in our 16’ travel trailer, staying at Harvest Hosts, we decided to stop here to prep and regroup for the next leg of our journey. Full hook ups allowed us to flush our water systems, recharge all batteries and devices, and wait out some seriously nasty wind, like lift the trailer right off the ground wind (well felt like it I swear!). The place is super clean, easy to access, has great views and a helpful staff. Pet friendly with a small off-leash dog area even. Looks good for families too with a pool and water park, playground. Wifi was good and cell service at 2 bars. Not cheap but easy access to supplies and touristy spots.

I typically rate campgrounds as they fit into 1 of 5 categories. This campground will be rated as a Regional/Public Park — Grounds that are on public lands, and have a cost for entry and/or overnight stay. Ratings for this category are based on: Cost: 5 Allure of the park/lands: 4 Amenities as available (bathrooms, showers, hookups, etc): 5 Layout and privacy of sites: 5

We have come to love camping in state parks. This park fits the bill of our now high expectations. Reasonable cost ($30 for electric & water + State Park fees), good layout with nice privacy, clean facilities (laundry, bathrooms, Rec rooms) and easy access.

It’s about 15 minutes from Main Street in Grand Junction and very close to groceries, gas and restaurants. It is right off a main highway and has some ambient road noise but the biggest disturbance is the trains that come by around 11pm and blare the horns. We experienced it both nights, but after that... peaceful. We enjoyed the stars one night, but the glowing Taco Bell sign across the street was a little imposing. All good. The park is right at the bottom of the foothills to Colorado National Monument... less than 3 miles to the entrance station. It’s also right along the River Trail for cycling and walking/running.

Each site is paved and level with a large gravel area with a shaded structure, picnic bench and fire pit. The roads are wide and very easy to navigate to your site. It’s a popular park for camping, so make reservations.

This campground is near the visitor center just off the rim road, about a 25 mile road from one entrance to the other. There are several hiking trails for exploring the Colorado National Monument; you could keep busy for a couple days or more, depending on how much you enjoy hiking. There is also rock climbing.

The campground has 3 loops:

• A: no reservations, open year round

• B: reservations and walkup. If you have a reservation, your site will have a "Reserved" sign along with dates and your last name. No check in is required. Open sites have an "Open" sign.

• C: doesn't show up on recreation.gov so it looks like it is also walkup. I think groups can reserve it. There are tent pads which I didn't see in A and B (but you can pitch a tent in A and B). Only tents and truck campers are allowed, and no generators are allowed in loop C.

Bathrooms seem fairly new with auto flush toilets, motion sensor faucets and hand dryers. There is potable water at various locations clearly marked with a "water" sign. No electric, water or sewer at sites.

There are a few "driveway" styles in loops A and B: back in/pull in, pull alongside and pull through. Picnic tables and grills are back among juniper and pine trees, and you can pitch a tent. I would stay in loop C if I had a tent...very nice sites.

And the views are beautiful, especially at sunset.

Loved this place!!! Very clean, friendly and have huge sites. Looks fairly new. It’s close to everything including sites. The mountains are beautiful. Night sky was jaw dropping. The resort was very quiet which was SO nice and relaxing. We didn’t use any amenities but I have no doubt they would be flawless. Grand Junction is worth a 2 night stay it has some incredible things to see. Good restaurants and we had perfect weather. It’s very pet friendly and even have small pet runs in some sites which we got. Nice dog park too. Grand Junction itself is very pet friendly.

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. Beside that, the Forrest and lakes were wonderful. The fishing was great. Lots of folks catching there limits.

The campsites are hit or miss if you are tent camping. Some of them are on slopes and are only good for an RV however we did sent you tents in the pull through sites. We reserved sites 1, 9, 10, 11.

Site 1 is fabulous, on the lake and great for tents or a pop up.

Site 9 is a pull through site. Has one flat spot for a tent but besides that it is next to the hiking trail and the wildlife is all around. Morning deer to chipmunks :)

Site 10 is very large for a group site per say.

Site 11 was nice and held 3 tents.

Each site has modern camp fire rings. The campground offers large wood bundles for $10.