Outback RV

OUTBACK RV 

Cortez, CO 

37.38128210,-108.49380530 

6,337’ elev 

Stay 7/24-9/24, Site#3 

I almost hate to write this review as with only 8 spots I don't want it to get so busy we can't get a reservation! 

On it's surface the description may not sound like much, gravel parking lot, no‘park type’ amenities etc., but it is truly amazing here. If you're looking for pickle ball courts, pools and crowds, this probably isn't the place for you. If you're looking for the closest thing to boondocking with FHUs and the nicest owners, this is it! 

So what makes it so special? 

With only 8 spots in a center row, there is no one in front or behind blocking your view. We had Point Lookout, Lone Cone, and Knife Edge of Mesa Verde NP out our front window, high desert BLM out our rear window, and Sleeping Ute Mtn. out our campside windows. 

Minimal lighting makes Dark Sky stargazing amazing! 

We had views everywhere, gorgeous sunsets and wildlife of some sort every morning and evening. The owner, Bill, passes through daily for trash pickup and is a wealth of information on things to do locally. His wife Judy even shared some of the garden harvest with us. All this is before even mentioning everything there is to do within 100yds to 30m of this centralized location. 

About the Park: 

Open Seasonally April- September, reservations open in January. 

NO OTA Channels but a Clear sky for DISH/Starlink and Verizon(3b without a booster). 

8 LONG level gravel pull through sites that are very well maintained… great for longer 5th wheels, large motorhomes with cargo trailers, double tows, or new RVers not wanting to back in after a long day of travel. 

Sites are set up Buddy Style, but are well spaced and have a picnic table in a covered pavillion on cement pad between sites. End spots have their own Pavillion. 

Daily trash pickup. Fire pit, Horseshoe pit, and large covered communal table in a centralized location. 

FHU had no issues, even water pressure was good. 

No bathroom/shower ammenities, so only self contained units permitted. 

It's close enough to 160 to be easily accessible for an overnight, but far enough to not hear it. Road L gets some traffic, but quites down at night. There is a racetrack on 160 that you might hear on Friday& Saturdays during race season, but it wasn't bad. We slept with the windows open most nights with no issues. 

Roads in are good till the last unpaved bit. The unpaved road is good, just a little bump at the transition. No overhead obstacles for us taller rigs. 

Discounts available on weekly and monthly stays make it a good deal for spending some time exploring the area. 

Area Attractions: Phil's World hiking/biking/ATV trails is maybe 100yds from the entrance. Mesa Verde NP is a 10min drive, Canyons of the Ancients visitor center is about 20min, Yucca House about 30min, town of Cortez about 8 min, Delores about 25min, and Durango about 35min(where you can take the Silverton Train). We spent 2 months here and still didn't see everything! 

The BLM land behind us presented a show of wildlife every morning/evening and plenty of hiking. Deer almost daily. Our neighbor spent his evenings walking the land scouting ruins which are pretty much everywhere around here. 

Several stores in Cortez… City Market, Safeway, Walmart, Autozone, O’Reillys, well stocked liquor store, several fast foods and some really great resturants. Definitely try The Wigglin Pig and Once Upon A Sandwich. Great RV repair shop in Mancos, about 15m away, Kodiak RV. They offer mobile tech services as well. Free dump at the Maverick if you're boondocking in the area. Cortez Maverick is much easier than the Durango Maverick to maneuver for dumping. 

Farmer's Market in Cortez on Saturdays in season. 

Fiesta Twin has$5.00 movies on Tuesdays, new releases. 

Laundromat by the Subway is the most economical. 

Large Rec Center in town with day passes.

This park was an unexpected gem we found when the high heat this summer nixed

 some of our boondocking plans. What was supposed to be a 3nt stay, turned into 2 months. 

We would definitely stay here again…. Probably next summer😀 

NOTE: Site#’s are in reverse order from entrance.#8 closest to the entrance,#1 furthest. Even# sites have their nose facing BLM and rear facing Mesa Verde NP. 

Odd# sites have their nose facing Mesa Verde NP, and their rear facing BLM.

I attempted to camp in San Juan National Forest but had trouble finding a spot with clearance for Starlink.  Ended up coming here as a backup.

Owners are super friendly and happy to provide information about the area.

There's probably about a dozen sites & they're huge and very level.  There's a couple covered pavilions with picnic tables which separate the sites, other than that it's mostly just a massive gravel lot.  Everything is new and well maintained.  Great views of Mesa Verde.

Overall, this is just a great no-frills FHU park for an awesome price.  Nothing you don't need, everything you do.  Definitely will be back next time I'm in the area!

Forgot to take pictures, my bad.

We really enjoyed our stay at Outback. Bill is very friendly and helpful. He offers lots of reading materials for things you can do around the area. The lot itself is very pretty and quiet. We were looking for an affordable and easy stay in between city parks, and we were very pleased with what we got. The location is perfect for both Phil’s World and Mesa Verde. We would absolutely stay here again

This is a small campground, only 8 sites, outside of Cortez, CO with easy access to Mesa Verde National Park and to Cortez for supplies.  It is a gravel lot with each site being a pull through; big rig friendly (45'x75').  There are shared covered picnic tables.  Full hookups with 20/30/50 electric.  We had good AT&T cell coverage.  The property is surrounded by BLM land and close to Phil's World with bike trails.  It is centrally located for all of the areas attractions: Mesa Verde, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep, Telluride, Durango (Durango to Silverton scenic train).  There are weekly and monthly rates which reduces the nightly rate.  The owner, Bill, was very nice and even stopped by with local brochures and maps.  We will definitely stop here again when out this way.