Thanh H.
Guide
GuideKendall Camping Area
Fee camping with cell signal
, 30 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort. There's 1 toilet, no tp. Can get busy. If you're lucky, try to get a spot right next to the creek, it's beautiful
Dog-Friendly Camping near Purgatory, CO
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Alpen Rose RV Park's spacious two-acre dog park provides ample off-leash exercise for pets camping near Purgatory. The designated pet area includes a dog bathing station, allowing campers to clean their four-legged companions after outdoor adventures. Junction Creek Campground and United Campground of Durango also welcome pets with designated pet-friendly sites available for tent campers and RV travelers. Most campgrounds in the area enforce standard leash policies, typically requiring dogs to be kept on leashes no longer than six feet except in designated off-leash areas. Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping permits dogs throughout its free camping areas without additional pet fees. Accommodations range from basic tent sites on lush grass to full-hookup RV sites and pet-friendly cabin rentals. The HTR Durango Campground and Oasis RV Resort accept pets in their cabin units with proper vaccination records. Camping with multiple dogs is permitted at most sites without breed restrictions.
Numerous hiking trails surrounding the campgrounds welcome leashed dogs, with the Animas River Trail offering paved paths suitable for dog walking directly accessible from several properties. During summer months, pets have water access at Haviland Lake Campground where dogs can cool off while their owners fish or paddle. The narrow gauge railway runs directly through United Campground, providing unique photo opportunities with pets as the historic train passes by. Durango's varied elevation means significant temperature changes throughout the day, requiring campers to monitor their pets for signs of altitude sickness or heat exhaustion. Several campgrounds provide disposal stations specifically for pet waste, and full-service veterinary clinics operate in Durango, approximately 10-15 minutes from most camping locations. The campground dog park remains meticulously maintained year-round and is particularly appreciated by travelers with energetic dogs after long road trips.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Purgatory (187)
1. Junction Creek Campground
"Very nice campground in a beautiful area near Durango. The bathrooms were very clean and the lots were all in good spots. Very close to part of the Colorado Trail!"
"The double site allowed us to put our 24-foot trailer across both spots with our front door facing the back of the campsite with nothing but beautiful national forest behind us!"
from $32 - $150 / night
Check Availability2. United Campground of Durango
"No dog park but enough area to do their business. Tight spaces. We're 43 feet fifth wheel. Barely enough room to park truck in the site. We would stay again."
"Its really close to the Durango old Town area (like 10 min drive or less) and about 45 minutes to mesa verde."
from $45 - $70 / night
Check Availability3. Durango RV Resort
"Dog park was large enough with a shaded tree and benches. Pickle ball, movie night, pool, playground ect included."
"They have a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a small dog park, and a very basic playground."
from $47 - $197 / night
Check Availability4. Alpen Rose RV Park
"Pond, 2 Acre dog park- beautiful sites and quick drive to town or off-road. We stayed here twice because a bad experience in Silverton"
"About 5 miles drive to town which is fine for us. We stayed in a shady spot near the back. Bathrooms are clean and decorated with a country/western vibe, and a 2 acre dog park !"
from $65 - $1 / night
Check Availability5. HTR Durango Campground
"I loveeee that they have a dog park! I was super bummed you can't have a normal fire pit, you can only rent a propane one. We will be back for sure!!!"
"Great spot away from the road. Steep hill into the campsite- but close to town if you have a toad/truck."
6. Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping
"Relatively convenient for access to the town and activities in the area. The main road into the area is very easy navigable by any vehicle. Some of the side roads get significantly tougher."
"A residential area with no access to BLM land. Instead, search for Durfield dispersed camping nearby and it will take you to the correct place."
7. Durango North-Riverside KOA
"A beautiful location with river front sites, a pool, amazing pizza, ice cream, clean facilities, and kind staff. Wonderful stay, no complaints! My dogs enjoyed it too!"
"Outside of Durango, away from the road, all you hear is the river running by. The sites are all large and the grounds are immaculate. We stayed 5 nights and were very sad to leave."
8. Haviland Lake Campground
"I stayed at Haviland Lake near Durango, Colorado for three days, but could have stayed for a week or more!"
"The area was so peaceful and the Lake Loop trail was the perfect thing to wipe out our dogs for the day."
from $32 - $98 / night
Check Availability9. Lower Hermosa Campground
"Right next to Hermosa Creek trail. Such a beautiful place. The bathrooms are clean, the camp host is an awesome guy. Would definitely stay again."
"It’s also a great spot to set up base and go straight to the trails for hiking and dirt biking."
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Madden Peak Road - Dispersed
"We decided to drive further up the mountain, gaining some elevation but it was much more secluded."
"Driving up the road there are spaces on either side of the road. When I came I saw at least 30 people and I didn't go too far. There was still plenty of places though."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 1 min from Farmington, NM
- 3 hrs 12 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs 25 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 41 min from Santa Fe, NM
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Purgatory, CO
124 Photos of 187 Purgatory Campgrounds
mary F.
United Campground of Durango
Aubrey V.
Tumbling Rock Lane
Jared T.
Alpen Rose RV Park
Tabitha M.
Junction Creek Campground
Jared T.
HTR Durango Campground
Julie S.
Durango RV Resort
Toni K.
Lower Hermosa Campground
Kat P.
Bay City Campground
Lorena W.
Fourth Sister Farm
Paulina B.
Madden Peak Road - Dispersed
Matt B.
Blue Spruce RV Park & Cabins
Dan B.
Forest Road 316 Roadside Camp
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Purgatory, CO
1629 Reviews of 187 Purgatory Campgrounds
- Jared T.Guide
Alpen Rose RV Park
Literally- words can’t describe
Our family vacation destination- would provide 6 stars if a could. Main features- pool, great family play areas, huge lots and shaded lots- not really a bad spot. Pond, 2 Acre dog park- beautiful sites and quick drive to town or off-road. We stayed here twice because a bad experience in Silverton
Karl G.
RangerTelluride Town Park Campground
Telluride Town Park
This campsite is great if you want to do Telluride on a budget - it's free. It's right next to the town and is used a lot for Telluride's summer festivals. Its more than a campground it is also where a lot of town events are held and also has sports venues. There's also grills, bathrooms, picnic tables, a dog park, and a pond. Unless you're at a festival, the campground isn't where you will want to spend your time though. The campground is very close to Bridal Veil Falls, a huge free fall waterfall. You can drive or hike up to it, and climb around on the rocks and get blasted by cold water from the falls. It's huge. There's also a bunch of awesome hikes around Telluride - the San Juans are my favorite part of Colorado.
- MMelody C.Guide
Echo Basin Cabin and RV Resort
GORGEOUS Campground!
Loved loved loved our stay here! Tucked away from the highway and far enough from any big city, you want nature and stars at night? This is the place! We backed up to a huge green field. The gentleman that helped us back our 42 foot rig into our site gave PERFECT directions, telling my husband which was to turn our wheel which make this a first try back in. The owner was the kindest man we enjoyed getting to know. No dog park, but a large open field we're allowed to utilize, letting the pups off leash. They LOVED it! Mesa Verde NP with the cliff dwellings are a short drive away, perfect day trip. We should have stayed here a whole week!
- llaura
ScoutDurango RV Resort
Excellent amenities and staff
Incredibly friendly staff, great store with camping necessities and fun swag. Dog park was large enough with a shaded tree and benches. Pickle ball, movie night, pool, playground ect included. Almost every space was filled but it was quiet because the activities are spread nicely away from where we were. Pull through sites with enough room. Good price for the location.
Kari T.
LegendCortez, Mesa Verde KOA
This KOA is the Best in the West
The Cortex/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado, was the best campground we stayed at (out of 10) on our #9parks12days road trip in June 2016. Not only was the site itself updated, it was the FIRST KOA we stayed at that had usable Wi-Fi - as in video streaming capabilities! When traveling with kids, this is such a HUGE amenity.
This campground has an updated playground, heated (seasonal) swimming pool, a 1-mile walking trail, dog park, and even tepees in addition to cabins for overnight camping. Not to mention, the campground is located a mere 15 minutes from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Other highlights: newer laundry facilities, of which we made use, and awesome mountain and mesa views right from your site.
Don't expect a ton of privacy - sites are very close together. The family next to ours had an outdoor living room set up that pretty much took the entire space between our RVs. However, the grounds were well-kept, and there was plenty of space to remove yourself from other people throughout the facility.
- DDenise F.Guide
Alpen Rose RV Park
Friendly staff
About 5 miles drive to town which is fine for us. We stayed in a shady spot near the back. Bathrooms are clean and decorated with a country/western vibe, and a 2 acre dog park !
Hillary J.GuideSundance RV Park
Very clean and nice campground.
I just parked in the car park for the night and I would stay the price is a bit much for just a parking spot with no amenities but the staff was amazing and the bathrooms were extremely clean and nice!! Also a very nice dog park!! The spot I was in was next to the entrance and had some road noise as well as bright light from the Park sign.
Erin S.LegendAncient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Park
Rustic resort on the doorstep of Mesa Verde National Park
My family and I stayed here for 3 nights in late July in a 34-foot travel trailer. We made reservations over the phone and found the customer service to be exemplary (I called at the last minute to both cancel and then later to re-instate my reservation when we had car trouble on the way). When we arrived the check-in process was straight forward and easy. The roads are gravel but well-graded and the majority of the sites are pull-thru. We had no trouble getting into ours, however, we found rather quickly that sites are extremely close together. Our back-side neighbors had to move their picnic table back in order to accommodate our driver-side slide (the distance between our extended slide and their trailer is about 8 feet. But... we all made it work. There is a 10 pm lights-out policy to cut down on light pollution and see the stars. And the people who camped next to us were considerate.
The campground has lots of amenities. A log cabin (rec center) with pool, video games, TV with DVD library, books, and board games. Laundry with decent pricing. Mini-golf ($3 per person). A nice pool and hot tub. A dog park with agility obstacles. Nice playground. Wifi signal is strong with decent bandwidth (they discourage streaming). Next door is a horseriding stables ($40 an hour, $25 for a half hour); the horses come up to the fence and love to be petted. The store in the office is small but has the basic amenities. Groceries can be purchased in Cortez, a 15-minute drive away. And, of course, Mesa Verde National Park is right across the road, less than 5 minutes to the visitor center. The only downside (besides the tightness of the spaces) is that dumpster was very full and near to overflowing.
Overall we enjoyed our stay here, and thought the location to the park and local area was perfect. Would recommend and definitely stay here again.
Guide to Purgatory
Camping near Purgatory, Colorado offers diverse experiences from creekside tent sites to high-elevation dispersed camping. Most campgrounds in the area sit between 6,500-8,000 feet elevation, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 45°F at night to 80°F during day. Weather can change rapidly, with afternoon thunderstorms common during July and August.
What to do
Creek access for fishing: Junction Creek Campground provides direct access to fishing opportunities. "The whole experience was very good with well spaced sites and flat ground all between the trees. There is great walking and mountain biking right from camp too!" shares Matt H., highlighting the multi-recreational opportunities available.
Lake activities: Haviland Lake Campground offers non-motorized water activities approximately 30 minutes from Durango. "Great fishing and kayaking/SUPing on the lake. It can get crowded with day users," notes Elizabeth V. The lake provides a peaceful mountain setting for water recreation without requiring long drives.
Trail system exploration: Mountain biking and hiking trails can be accessed directly from several campgrounds. "Nice hiking trails around the park and lake that leave right from the campground," explains one visitor at Haviland Lake. At Lower Hermosa Campground, campers appreciate that "several trails leave from the area, so you can go for nice evening hikes. These trails are also mountain bike friendly!"
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Purgatory feature well-separated campsites. "Junction Creek campground is a lovely place to stay... The site was even swept clean of pine needles as the toilets are very fresh," reports Matt H. Another camper notes the campground has "spacious, well kept campsites with fire ring, picnic tables, restrooms and potable water available."
Historic train views: United Campground of Durango offers a unique attraction for train enthusiasts. "The greatest thing about this campground though is that the Durango steam train goes right through the campground. To see the historic train right from your camper or tent window is pretty great," explains Nick S. The campground provides convenient access to downtown via public transportation.
Free dispersed camping options: Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping provides no-cost alternatives with varying levels of privacy. "There are spots up front i stayed at a spot on one of the road forks towards the end," notes Kylee T. Another camper adds, "The sites are pretty level and spacious and lots of trees to add privacy."
What you should know
Elevation and weather concerns: Campgrounds near Purgatory range from 6,500 to 8,000 feet, making weather preparation essential. Pack for temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night. Afternoon thunderstorms occur frequently in summer, especially July-August.
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Was very lucky to get a FCFS site for Memorial Day weekend. The campground was full by Thursday afternoon," shares Kate A. about Junction Creek. Most established campgrounds accept reservations 6 months in advance.
Service limitations: Lower Hermosa Campground has basic facilities but lacks some amenities. "This is a pack in pack out camp ground with vault/pit toilet. No water or shower. Sites have picnic table and fire pit with grill," explains David A. Cell service varies widely between locations, with some campgrounds having spotty coverage.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools as a family-friendly amenity. At Lightner Creek Campground, one visitor noted, "The creek was great, the pool was welcome relief for the kids and we enjoyed talking to fellow campers." Another camper adds, "Nice, clean, non-heated pool was a plus."
Kid-friendly activities: HTR Durango Campground (formerly Lightner Creek) provides creekside camping that children enjoy. "We loved Lightner Creek. The creek was great, the pool was welcome relief for the kids and we enjoyed talking to fellow campers visiting from around the country and England!" shares Tracy C. Consider campgrounds with recreation areas away from road traffic.
Altitude adjustment: Children may experience altitude effects more quickly than adults. Schedule arrival early in the day, increase water intake for the first 48 hours, and plan rest periods for the first day. Most campgrounds sit between 6,500-8,000 feet elevation.
RV tips
Site selection: At popular dog-friendly campgrounds near Purgatory with RV accommodations, some sites work better for larger vehicles. "The sites are huge. Electric at some sites, double sites available also," notes Maureen A. about Junction Creek Campground. For larger rigs, request sites away from tight turns and confirm actual site lengths.
Utility hookups: Durango RV Resort offers full hookup sites but varies by location. "Full service, laundry facilities, pickleball court, grills in the public area, pool during summer months. We chose a mountain view site, which does have lovely views," shares Grace D., though noting highway noise at some sites.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds lack onsite dump stations. Research local options in Durango or along Highway 550. La Plata County Fairgrounds offers electric and water hookups but no sewer: "Basically a gravel lot with electric and water at each of the six slots. Good location close to the center of town."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Purgatory, CO?
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Purgatory, CO is Junction Creek Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 27 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
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What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Purgatory, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 187 dog-friendly camping locations near Purgatory, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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