319 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Summer fills campgrounds in this corridor months before arrival. Telluride sits in a box canyon at over 8,700 feet, and the surrounding San Juan National Forest land holds both the developed campgrounds that serve the town and the dispersed options further out on forest roads. Camping near Telluride ranges from developed sites with water and vault toilets to free dispersed campsites on national forest roads, giving campers real options at different price points and comfort levels. Private campgrounds in the valley floor book fast for summer festivals and peak weekends, so planning well ahead is realistic rather than optional.
Telluride-area dispersed sites spread across national forest roads outside the canyon for those willing to trade convenience for no reservation requirement and no cost. Developed sites inside the valley have water and vault toilets but limited site counts. The drive up from Ridgway, about 20 miles, is another base option if Telluride sites are sold out.
Fall brings quieter weekends and better availability across the board. Snow arrives early at this elevation, and most higher-elevation sites close by late October.
"Beautiful camping spot high in the San Juan’s about 25 minutes from Telluride. Access via rugged dirt road."
"Dirt road to high alpine setting, big views and lakes - mountain camping at its finest! 4WD recommended for the drive up - water crossings and some good ruts."
"It's a pretty park with a small waterfall just steps from it, and right along the San Miguel river, but the obvious draw is being steps from Telluride's Main Street and its park complex. "
"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."
"It is only 15 minute drive from Telluride, but once you are there you are immersed in wilderness. Great for car camping, solid fishing, bonfire pits and bathrooms available."
"Several trailheads are nearby. Scenery is absolutely gorgeous and is situated at 10k feet next to Priest Lake which is just a big pond."
"I took the upper road from 62 and yes, it was a bit rocky, but I read that the other way from Telluride was rutted out as well. It's only 3mi of true 4x4 road to get up to the bluff."
"Highly recommend coming from Telluride side if your vehicle not high clearance with GOOD tires and 4x4. Anyways, the campsite is amazing! Awesome views with a few fire pits."
"the sites are full, or snag a hotel near 550 when we don't want to chance a night on a slope."
"It's near the town of Ouray which IMHO beats Telluride's pretentiousbess in spades which I is just over the Imogene Pass a popular 4x4 trail. An easier 4x4 trail is the Alpine Loop also nearby."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"Fairly small campground, most sites located really close to the road, but some had some privacy and were tucked away in the trees."
"In pursuit of the perfect campground in Colorado, Telluride has so many to choose from it makes it near impossible to select just one."
"This place is close to Telluride Mountain and fairly close to Telluride. You can take two gondola rides from Telluride Mountain down into Telluride."
"The review says it’s 7 miles from Telluride but I believe it’s a few more than that. The road is in excellent condition. I would absolutely stay here again if only for the colder weather."
from $26 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Was a really nice area with a ton of campsites off the dirt path or close to the river."
"Lots of fire rings scattered around the rocky area. This site can get very full and very loud as it is very popular and close to Silverton."
"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
"The best thing about this park was the location. It is located close to Ouray and many activities in the area."
"I've spent quite a bit of time at various sites around this campground during annual vacations and using it as a base for geological field work nearby."
"Small lake with non-motorized boating and fishing. Level sites, pit toilets, tables, fire rings, and camp store. Kayaks for rent."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability
TravelerThere are approximately 8-10 spots along this stretch of road that are all relatively flat. The road is slightly bumpy but most vehicles should be able to tolerate just fine. The views are amazing. We were the only ones here and it was a nice quiet spot. A little bit of road noise from a few passing cars overnight but not too noticeable.
ScoutGreat campground! Clean, quiet, and well maintained with spotless bathrooms and showers. It was nice having laundry, water, and even a Little Free Library. Not every site has a mountain or reservoir view, but I’m pretty sure they all have some shade, which was really nice. I’d definitely stay here again.
TravelerAbsolutely lovely spot to spend a night or a few days! I was concerned at first due to the large number of campers, but the space is so vast that we felt like we were alone as soon as we parked. No service (Verizon or T Mobile) but so close to town that it will probably be covered in the coming years
GuideI had to run south to the auto parts store so on the way back north I wanted to see for myself what this looked like.
First off let’s say this is a lovely setting. Far off the main road (though you’ll get some local traffic noise), you’re in a fairly narrow canyon butting up against a river. The scenery is beautiful. I’d also guess that given the canyon nature, full sun exposure is pretty limited towards the middle of the day.
Basically a figure-8 campground with the main loop having a few power hookups in the center spaces. Expect zero privacy. On the outside loop, and the northern loop, there are some nice sites that afford privacy with some backing immediately up to the river.
Several water spigots.
I didn’t check out the bathrooms but it looked like pit toilets.
There was zero ATT cell service and I’d bet no cell service works there.
I’d definitely stay here!
GuideI did not stay here, but wanted to drive through just to see it for myself. This one is located just up the road from the Marveeso campground (I wrote a review on that as well).
I can think of nothing nicer than a campground in a valley abutting a river. This is yet another one.
The major difference is this feels a bit more spread out and more of a circle in nature. I didn’t catch if it had sites with electric, but there were scattered water spigots. Also pit toilets, though I didn’t check not inspect them.
Don’t expect cell service here.
I would definitely stay here!
ScoutLike most busier camp sites, expect a couple of generators, last time the one next door started at 1:00am, that is simply I don’t care about others!!! Having said that you’re surrounded by amazing 13k peaks and the stream is right there…
ScoutI’m staying in spot 16 and I love it. close to the lake and beautiful views. But the drive up here was very rough. Very spacious for camping but not much going on. It’s definitely a one time thing for me.
GuideThis was a nice spot. Very quiet and we got a first come first serve spot mid day on a Wednesday. The hosts were so kind, friendly, and helpful! We actually overpaid and he came over and gave us some of the money back! Walking distance to the river and the lake was drivable distance. We caught so many fish at the lake, even a salmon! Potable water was easily accessible and the vault bathroom was okay… the host said they were closing it down to repaint and fix them up a bit 😊. We also had lots of animal visitors (deer and chipmunks). The deer are definitely used to being fed because they took food from our hands with no hesitation. Overall it was a nice experience for 4 days.
GuideI was randomly suggested this campground by another traveler at a gas station. Could not have been happier!
I had been staying in Ridgway State Park. It amazingly had hit the mid 90’s and the smoke from the fires kept rolling in and out. I really wanted cool weather, and was able to get in here for a week of 60’s/40’s (days/nights) and lots of intermittent showers. Loving it!
There are about 25 spots here, with a few having full power/water in the center of the park. These also have your least privacy if that’s a concern. The ones on the outer side of the loop are much more private.
There’s an older updated common bathroom that is kept EXCEPTIONALLY clean! Hot water showers too. The two women working as camp hosts are wonderful and very responsive!
The camp itself is nested amongst trees with some views across a valley towards peaks. I personally really love it.
The review says it’s 7 miles from Telluride but I believe it’s a few more than that. The road is in excellent condition.
I would absolutely stay here again if only for the colder weather.
Dispersed camping areas and established campgrounds surround Telluride at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 11,500 feet, creating distinct temperature and weather patterns throughout the camping season. Many camping locations near Telluride require navigating on dirt Forest Service roads with changing conditions based on recent weather and snowmelt. Telluride camping opportunities typically open in late May, though higher elevation sites may remain snowy into June.
Hiking to mountain lakes: At Matterhorn Campground, campers can access nearby trails to alpine lakes. "One of the campground's standout features is its proximity to the Uncompahgre Wilderness and nearby trails, such as the iconic Ice Lake Basin or Blue Lakes hikes," notes Paulina B. who stayed there in 2024.
Fishing in stocked lakes: The Molas Lake Park & Campground offers fishing opportunities right from camp. A 2021 visitor mentioned, "This camp ground really has it all. Lake, hiking, mountains, stars! Must make reservations. This camp ground has a little shop as well with some essentials and firewood ect."
Exploring ghost towns: Near Alta Lakes Campground, visitors can discover abandoned mining structures. One camper shared, "The ghost town comes before the campground and we did attempt to go to the campground but in one spot we couldn't see what was on the other side of our hood of our truck and chose to turn around...You can't explore any of the buildings, at least not legally, but you can see them and experience what used to be."
Using free gondola transportation: When camping at sites like Matterhorn, you can access Telluride via the free gondola. As Josh L. mentioned, the campground offers "Great place to stay with hot showers and awesome views. Close to the free gondola in Mountain village as well."
Creekside camping: At Kendall Camping Area near Silverton, many sites sit along Mineral Creek. A recent visitor noted, "We were able to get a site right on Mineral Creek, and found ourselves within a great community of people, many of them 'Jeep' owners who make the mountain roads nearly every day."
Mountain views: The Last Dollar Road dispersed camping area provides some of the most panoramic vistas near Telluride. As one camper put it, "Amazing views and good cell service. There is not a ton of campsites once you get up here. But there are a handful that have absolutely amazing views. Some of the best in Colorado."
Town proximity: The Telluride Town Park Campground allows campers to walk directly into downtown. A visitor mentioned, "This campground rocks. Helpful staff, amazing views of the mountains, and 5 minute walk to the Telluride shops, restaurants and galleries. Bathrooms and showers are super nice and have hot water."
Hot showers: Some established campgrounds in the area offer shower facilities, highly valued after days of outdoor activities. At Matterhorn Campground, one visitor highlighted "Great location! Showers a big plus. Sites vary from private to not so much, shaded to sunny and small to larger."
Weather changes quickly: At high elevations, Telluride camping conditions can shift rapidly. A camper at Molas Lake noted, "Only thing that caught me up was the campsite is over 10,000 feet, weather can change quickly and it got cold during the night."
Access road conditions: Many campgrounds require driving on dirt roads with varying conditions. For Alta Lakes, one visitor warned, "The road up is a bit rough. We managed it barely in all wheel drive vehicles but did get stuck for a bit at one point when we had to stop for someone on their way down."
Limited cell service: Most camping areas have spotty or no cell coverage. Last Dollar Road is an exception, with one camper noting, "I had good cell service too (working remotely)."
Toilet availability varies: Facilities range from none at some dispersed sites to flush toilets at developed campgrounds. At Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area, "There is one vault toilet, bring your own tp. Its not the prettiest vault but it works."
Fishing ponds for kids: Some campgrounds feature easy fishing access for children. At Telluride Town Park, a visitor mentioned, "The nearby park has a kids fishing pond with a sign that says you can rent gear, but we didn't have time to use it."
Swimming opportunities: Alta Lakes offers swimming during summer months. One camper described it as "One of those classic colorado vistas, with outdoors feel, safe swimming for children and all round good times."
Gondola rides: When camping near Telluride with kids, the free gondola provides entertainment. A Telluride Town Park camper shared, "The access to town and the ability to let the teenagers have some freedom wandering town and taking the gondola to Mountain Village was more than worth it."
Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas provide opportunities to see local animals. At Kendall Camping Area, a visitor reported, "Saw Moose in the creek, very cool!! Bathroom was unlocked a couple days after I got there and it was well maintained and clean."
Size limitations: Most dispersed sites can't accommodate larger RVs. At Last Dollar Road, a camper with a truck and trailer noted, "We made the mistake of coming from the east end of Last Dollar Road with a stock F150 and a backpack camper. We made to the campsites but only because my husband is an expert!"
Hookup availability: Only a few campgrounds offer electric, water, or sewer connections. At Matterhorn Campground, "Some of the campsites here are appealing because they have power outlets for RV's although many of those sites don't have much shade or privacy."
Level sites: Finding level parking can be challenging in this mountainous terrain. At Alta Lakes, one visitor mentioned, "This campsite fills up quite quickly. We arrived relatively early, but were unable to find a site and it was just as well because we would have been hard pressed to find level ground for our overland tents."
Reservation requirements: For RVs, securing a spot at established campgrounds is recommended. At Molas Lake, a visitor advised, "This camp ground has a great location and if you are lucky enough to get a lakefront site, the view is wonderful!"
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does camping in Telluride cost?
Camping costs around Telluride vary widely based on amenities and location. Mary E Campground - Norwood RD charges $14 per site, providing picnic tables, fire rings, and basic facilities like portable toilets. Firewood is available for purchase at $10 per bundle. For those seeking full hookups, Riverwood RV Resort costs approximately $50 per night for gravel spots with full hookups, offering paved roads, river access, and walking distance to town amenities. State park options like Dakota Terraces Campground at Ridgway State Park typically range from $20-36 per night depending on hookups and season. Dispersed camping areas may be free but often lack amenities. Telluride Town Park Campground, being centrally located, typically charges higher rates during peak season.
Where are the best campgrounds near Telluride?
Several excellent campgrounds exist within a short drive of Telluride. Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed) offers beautiful high-elevation camping about 25 minutes from town, though access requires high clearance and 4WD on rugged dirt roads. It features 20 designated sites with fire rings and nearby porta-potties. For those seeking easier access, Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area is just a 15-minute drive from Telluride, providing wilderness immersion with bonfire pits and bathrooms. Other notable options include Matterhorn Campground (nestled in trees near Telluride Mountain) and Caddis Flats (a small riverside campground with three designated sites). For those willing to drive further, Ridgway State Park offers more amenities.
Is tent camping available in Telluride?
Tent camping is readily available throughout the Telluride area. Caddis Flats offers a small, intimate tent camping experience with three designated sites next to the San Miguel River. The location is gorgeous, though limited in capacity. For more adventurous campers, Last Dollar Road provides dispersed tent camping opportunities with stunning views, though access requires navigating rocky terrain (best approached from the correct direction). Multiple dispersed camping options exist around Telluride that accommodate tents, including Alta Lakes and Priest Lake areas. For those preferring established campgrounds, Matterhorn Campground provides tent sites nestled among trees. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tents and RVs, though tent campers have more flexibility with site selection.
When is the best season for camping in Telluride?
The prime camping season in Telluride runs from late June through early September when temperatures are mild and access roads are clear. Matterhorn — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National Forest is particularly pleasant during summer months, offering shaded sites among the trees. At Dakota Terraces Campground — Ridgway State Park, summer camping can be warm with limited shade, while spring and fall offer more comfortable temperatures. Many campgrounds, especially those at higher elevations like Alta Lakes, are inaccessible during winter due to snow. Shoulder seasons (late May/early June and September/early October) offer fewer crowds but come with risks of unpredictable mountain weather. Note that water hookups at some campgrounds may be unavailable during designated winter months.
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