Best Campgrounds near Towaoc, CO

The Towaoc area in southwestern Colorado offers camping options primarily centered around Mesa Verde National Park and nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Morefield Campground within Mesa Verde National Park provides tent, RV, cabin and glamping accommodations with standard amenities including toilets, drinking water, and a camp store. Just outside the park boundary, several dispersed camping areas on BLM land such as Mesa Verde National Park Boundary and Chutes and Ladders provide free primitive camping. These sites serve as convenient basecamps for exploring ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and other archaeological sites in the region.

Road conditions vary seasonally throughout the area, with most developed campgrounds accessible via paved routes. The dispersed BLM sites near Mesa Verde have rutted access roads that may present challenges after rain. As one camper noted, "15 designated sites. Close to Hwy 160, so easy to access. Campsite access road ok, rutted a bit in some places from prior mud which has since dried." Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October due to winter weather conditions at elevations around 7,000 feet. Cell service is variable, with limited connectivity at most dispersed sites and better coverage at developed campgrounds.

Proximity to Mesa Verde National Park represents the primary draw for most campers visiting this region. Several RV parks and campgrounds in nearby Cortez and Mancos provide convenient access to the park entrance, which is approximately 10 miles from Towaoc. Campers frequently mention the area's archaeological significance and mountain views as highlights. The region experiences typical high desert conditions with substantial temperature fluctuations between day and night, particularly during spring and fall. For those seeking more amenities, developed campgrounds like Cortez Mesa Verde KOA and Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Park provide full hookups, showers, and other facilities. The dispersed camping areas offer more solitude but lack services, making them better suited for self-contained camping setups.

Best Camping Sites Near Towaoc, Colorado (127)

    1. Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park

    103 Reviews
    Mancos, CO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 449-2288

    "Good showers, some of the camp sites have decent WiFi connection, fairly quiet, and wildlife (deer and prairie dogs) in camp side. Toilets not the best, lots of wasps"

    "I'm not sure what the hook-up situation is for campers. We were able to enjoy cool evening walks; where we would often spot deer."

    2. Cortez, Mesa Verde KOA

    20 Reviews
    Cortez, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 565-9301

    "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."

    "They even had Easter candy and eggs in the office and outside the door for the kiddos. They directed us to our site which was located just behind the teepees."

    3. Mesa Verde National Park Boundary (BLM Land)

    31 Reviews
    Mesa Verde National Park, CO
    19 miles

    "This is BLM Land outside of Mesa Verde National Park. Has quite a few different sites that are all free and have fairly easy access to."

    "This was such a nice spot super close to Mesa Verde national park. It was about a 5 minute drive from the park entrance."

    4. Sundance RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Cortez, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 565-0997

    "Municipal Pool within walking distance that we used and enjoyed $5 each. Mesa Verde was a 12 min drive.

    ATT & Verizon service wasn’t great, but was usable."

    "The spot I was in was next to the entrance and had some road noise as well as bright light from the Park sign."

    5. The Views RV Park & Campground

    25 Reviews
    Dolores, CO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 749-6489

    "Easily one of my favorite sites I have stayed at in Colorado! It is an incredible set up for tent camping. The pads are well manicured with very fine rock and very level."

    "Great campground in SW Colorado. The owners Matt and his wife run a beautiful operation. An RV park with class. Sites are huge with lots of shade, bathrooms immaculate, and a nice mile hiking path."

    6. Sleeping Ute RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Towaoc, CO
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 565-6544

    $50 - $75 / night

    7. Bright Star Campground

    10 Reviews
    Cortez, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 564-0420

    $35 - $99 / night

    "We woke up to a rainbow with a beautiful view of the Ute Mountains in the distance."

    "It’s like college dorm style living, but outside. Hot showers, pit toilets, and a fully appointed public kitchen with an ice machine really bring it all together."

    8. Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Park

    20 Reviews
    Mancos, CO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 565-3517

    "This rv park is right next to the entrance to mesa verde. It was a nice park and showers were included! There’s also a pool and mini golf if you’re interested in that."

    "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."

    9. BLM across from Mesa Verde

    18 Reviews
    Mesa Verde National Park, CO
    19 miles
    Website

    "It is close to the highway and you can hear the traffic but it’s nothing too bad, in my opinion. The sites seem pretty well spaced out for a little bit of privacy."

    "This campsite is right outside of Mesa Verde and is easy to locate. Campsites are located along a dirt road and they are clearly marked."

    10. Chutes and Ladders Dipsersed

    16 Reviews
    Mesa Verde National Park, CO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 882-7296

    "Close to Hwy 160, so easy to access. Campsite access road ok, rutted abit in some places from prior mud which has since dried."

    "We picked a site close to the entrance for medical reasons but did travel up the dirt road past site 13. Absolutely Beautiful. Sitting by the camp fire as we speak and just enjoying pure nature."

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Recent Reviews near Towaoc, CO

766 Reviews of 127 Towaoc Campgrounds


  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Junction Creek Campground

    Excellent Campground! 10/10

    One of the nicest BLM campgrounds I have stayed in. Spacious sites, super clean vault toilets, and even has electrical hookups, which is partially why I decided to stay here since I needed to top off my batteries. T electrical was shut off due to the government shut down, but was still the same price, so that sucks, but that’s not the fault of the host. Still an excellent campground.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Sundance RV Park

    Super Nice

    The park is very clean, well maintained and quiet. The pull through we had was very wide. Laundry and bath house super clean and nice. Very nice dog park area. Really enjoyed it. Only issue was we arrived at 1230 so they charge me an early arrival fee of $5.00. It’s not about the five bucks, just the thought about 30 minutes. Oh well, I would stay again but make sure I show up at 1pm 😊u

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Bay City Campground

    Perfect for what I needed

    The road starts our residential and then eventually becomes unpaved but quite nice. I’m in a Corolla and had no problems. I was surprised that I was able to roll up at dusk and get a spot no problem - there seem to have a handful of pullouts here (with fire rings!). Maybe because it was mid week after elk season closed. The creek adds lovely background noise. Service is good enough you can text your family you made it without issue, but photos will be slow to send (Verizon).

  • Randy S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Cottonwood RV Park

    Very clean and quiet campground

    The host Nancy is very nice and great to work with. She had a lot of suggestions for things to do in the area. The campground is very clean and organized. We had full hookups and the site was fairly level

  • johny R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Blanding Dump Station

    Public can use for small fee

    Right off the highway as soon as you pull into the rv lot. There is a sign with instructions and fees. You have to pay next door at the 7/11. It is a little tight if other vehicles are trying to get through as this is right in the main drive area so you have to take up as little space as possible. It is a dump site and potable water site. Dumping was a bit pricey at $10 and water was $5 for 50 gallons when I was there. There are no hoses at all just the water pump. Fills up fairly fast but not amazing. Decent spot if you are in a pinch but not the best deal it you can wait a few towns.

  • Hans V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park

    Big but spread out

    Deer walking around on the campsite is always nice. It is a big campsite but very spread out. Showers and laundry were a bit far to walk, so we drove there. Toilets near every site.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Abandonded Bridge on San Juan River

    Pick your spot!

    Gravel road right off 162, not too rough and high clearance isn’t needed. Sites are scattered, some loops some back-ins. One just past me has three large rigs. My GPS says 37.28180° N, 109.49523° W. Great views of canyon walls and San Juan might be walking distance. Unfortunately I won’t be here long enough to find out.

  • Julie K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Boggy Draw 1

    Boggy Draw Dispersed

    Many spots available on Boggy Draw Rd. Our spot was right on Boggy Draw Loop and we could watch bikes going by during the day. No bugs by late August. No cell service.


Guide to Towaoc

The Towaoc area sits at approximately 7,000 feet elevation in southwestern Colorado's high desert, characterized by dramatic temperature fluctuations that can drop below freezing even in spring. Camping sites near Towaoc, Colorado provide access to ancestral Puebloan cultural sites with most dispersed camping areas implementing seasonal closures for wildlife management. The clay soil throughout the region creates particularly challenging conditions during and after rainfall.

What to do

Archaeological exploration at Mesa Verde: Just 10 miles from Towaoc, Mesa Verde National Park offers cliff dwelling tours that require advance planning. According to one camper at Morefield Campground, "Staying here makes for an easy morning before some ranger led tours. The park is big. If you have the option to stay here, stay here."

Hiking nearby trails: Point Lookout Trail provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. As noted by a visitor to Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Park: "Highly recommend the far view site and farming terrace hikes. Also the hike down and back from step house was awesome!"

Horseback riding: Stables located next to some campgrounds offer riding options. "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," shared a camper at Ancient Cedars.

Bird watching: The desert ecosystem supports diverse bird species. A camper at Cortez Mesa Verde KOA mentioned: "The on site caretaker is a bird lover so feeders are set up around the office & his own site. I enjoyed watching the birds."

What campers like

Free shower facilities: Unusually for a national park campground, Morefield offers complimentary shower access. "A national park campground with free showers!!! There's laundry and a store as well. Ranger talks at the amphitheater," notes one visitor to Morefield Campground.

Communal amenities: Many campgrounds offer shared facilities that enhance self-contained camping. A visitor to Bright Star Campground explained: "It's like college dorm style living, but outside. Hot showers, pit toilets, and a fully appointed public kitchen with an ice machine really bring it all together."

Clean facilities: Maintenance standards at established campgrounds receive consistent praise. One camper at Sundance RV Park remarked: "This happy accident had the cleanest laundry and shower facility I've seen and we took advantage of it since we had it available to us."

Dog amenities: Several camping options feature designated pet areas. "I don't have a dog but I did notice a really nice dog area," mentioned one visitor about Cortez Mesa Verde KOA, while another noted Sundance RV Park has "a very nice dog park!"

What you should know

Seasonal closures: BLM dispersed camping areas implement wildlife management restrictions. A camper at BLM across from Mesa Verde reported: "This place is closed Dec-April due to it being considered elk habitat."

Road conditions: Access roads to dispersed sites can become problematic after precipitation. "The road is pretty good and I made it in fine with my Nissan Versa," noted one BLM camper, but another at Chutes and Ladders warned: "It ended up raining overnight. We're from Minnesota so I had no idea the mud was going to be so horrible."

Weather preparedness: The high elevation brings significant overnight temperature drops. A Morefield Campground visitor explained: "There were lots of sites in mid May probably bc it is cold. We left a night early bc we're not prepared for below freezing."

Map discrepancies: GPS navigation systems sometimes provide conflicting directions. "For iPhone users use google maps. Or it will take you to a dead end private road," advised a Chutes and Ladders camper.

Tips for camping with families

Recreation facilities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated family activities. "This KOA 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," noted a visitor at Cortez Mesa Verde KOA.

Centralized bathroom access: Consider site proximity to restrooms when traveling with children. A camper at Morefield Campground observed: "Campgrounds are gorgeous. If you're in the lumi loop you're a walk to the camp store. Bathrooms are close by."

Entertainment options: Some facilities provide rainy day alternatives. One camper at Bright Star noted: "They even have a fun house with ping pong, fooseball and other games."

Food amenities: On-site dining options reduce meal planning stress. "The all you can eat pancakes for $10 is a pretty good steal," mentioned a Morefield visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site selection challenges: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. A camper at The Views RV Park & Campground advised: "This park is very well-kept and the views are amazing. Most sites are huge (center sites alittle close together) and they offer full hookup, pull thru, and back-in sites."

Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "My site did not have a bear box. We liked being in Mesa Verde Park. Free showers. The people running the camp store were friendly," noted a Morefield Campground visitor.

Hookup variations: Available services differ significantly between locations. "We had a full hook up site. Some of the sites were a little tricky to get in for big campers. We were in site 171 and have a 33 ft 5th wheel," reported another Morefield camper.

Awning limitations: Tree placement can restrict full setup. "Our 41' Montana's 5 slides fit but the spaces (and trees) prevented us from opening our awning," explained a visitor to Ancient Cedars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Towaoc, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Towaoc, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Towaoc, CO and 36 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Towaoc, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Towaoc, CO is Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 103 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Towaoc, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 36 free dispersed camping spots near Towaoc, CO.

What parks are near Towaoc, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Towaoc, CO that allow camping, notably Mesa Verde National Park and San Juan National Forest.