The best camping near San Juan National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next San Juan National Forest adventure.

The best camping near San Juan National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next San Juan National Forest adventure.
97% (35 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next San Juan National Forest adventure.

Hike through the rugged wilderness or take a scenic drive in this expansive national forest.  

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Community favorites near San Juan National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in San Juan National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near San Juan National Forest

Booked 4 times

HTR Durango

74 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Durango, CO
Nestled in a protected box canyon surrounded by high cliffs of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine and just minutes to downtown Durango, HTR Durango, formerly Lightner Creek Campground, is located on a seasonal mountain stream, making it an ideal setting for nature lovers of all ages. The paved county road off HWY 160W to our campground is well maintained, making the 1.5-mile drive easily accessible, regardless of what you bring. Enjoy various recreational activities in the Durango area, including many hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing, river rafting, rock climbing, zip-lining, off-roading, horseback riding, shopping, dining, breweries, and much more. There is so much to see and do in the Four Corners Area! If you want a memorable vacation experience in Durango, look no further than HTR Durango. Dry Camping (October 14-31, 2024, May 1-15, 2025 and October 13-30, 2025): During dry camping, only RV sites are open, with no tents or cabins. The only water available is at the front of the park at the fill-up station. The RV sites do not have water or sewer, but they do have electricity. Our staff is available on-call.
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$35
 / night
98%
(689)

Bright Star Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Cortez, CO
We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15! There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES. WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here. We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events. We have a private covered group site as well. Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy! We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces. Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc. Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well. Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks. The best/nearest airport is in Durango. Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix. The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.
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$38
 / night
96%
(81)

Creede Camp Site

18 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Creede, CO
Learn more about this land: At the head waters of the Rio Grande River, Mineral County is 96% National Forest with 4.5M acres of National Forest lands surrounding us.  You can see the largest wilderness area in the United States from your camp site, at 9,000 ft. we are an out door enthusiasts playground. Wolf Creek ski area 'The Most Snow In Colorado'. Creede Repertory Theater rivals Off Broadway. We offer cabins, RV sites and Campsites at Broken Arrow Ranch. Please call our office or visit our website. brokenarrowcreede.com. RV Sites are NOT booked through hipcamp, they run $50-$60 nightly and can only be reserved through the broken arrow website.  We are 32728 hwy 149 Creede. 11 miles towards Lake City on hwy 149. Pull all through the Cabins and either turn left up the little hill camping anywhere, but keep the fire pit open for everyone. Or drive through the green gate past cabin #7 and camp in the pasture. Bathhouse is in the middle of the cabins. (No Bathhouse or water after September 15th.) Fire pit and picnic table are on the hill.  You can have dogs off leash anywhere away from the cabins and RV sites, just be careful as we have horses, we don't want the pup's getting kicked.  Let me know if you need anything. NO BATHHOUSE BETWEEN SEPT 15-JUNE 1 PRICE $30 BATHHOUSE AVAILABLE JUNE 1 - SEPTEMBER 14 Price $35 Dale, Anne, and Susan.
Pets
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from 
$30
 / night

The best camping near San Juan National Forest guide

Overview

About

Encompassing a 1.8-million-acre swathe of southwestern Colorado and home to four wilderness areas, San Juan National Forest offers ample opportunities to get out and play. Recreation options abound here, particularly in the summertime, when outdoor enthusiasts descend upon the area for climbing, fishing, hiking, water sports, and off-roading. The forest is also home to some pretty spectacular scenic drives, including the 232-mile San Juan Skyway. While the forest can be visited as a day trip from Durango, it’s worth spending the night at one of the developed campgrounds or primitive dispersed camping areas, most of which have vault toilets and fire rings.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for camping with your boat: Miller Creek Campground offers direct access to the Lemon Reservoir and has its own concrete boat ramp.
  • Best for wilderness hikers: Vallecito Campground is situated at the entrance to the Vallecito Trail, which leads out into the Weminuche Wilderness.
  • Best for off-roaders: Williams Creek Campground offers easy access to a number of area all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Many of the campsites in the San Juan National Forest can be reserved in advance. Individual sites are released at 8am Mountain Time, six months in advance, while group sites go live 12 months in advance. If you're trying to book a cabin or popular spot, be ready to book online right when it becomes available.
  2. To get a first-come, first-served spot, choose a harder-to-reach campground to increase your chances, particularly on summer weekends.
  3. If you have a flexible schedule, try to arrive mid-week when campgrounds are less crowded.

When to go

You are best off visiting the San Juan National Forest from late-spring or summer, when the weather is at its warmest and much of the area's winter snowpack has melted. Many people do come to the area for winter recreation, and while the forest offers some spectacular opportunities for sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling, conditions can be treacherous and may be difficult to navigate for all but the most experienced outdoors people.

Know before you go

  • Cell service is not always reliable in the San Juan National Forest. Make sure to download offline maps or get paper maps before you set out.
  • Dogs must remain leashed when in campgrounds and under voice command in backcountry areas. Never allow your pet to get near wildlife.
  • Black bears live in the San Juan forest. For your protection and theirs, familiarize yourself with bear-safe protocols before heading out and make sure to store all food, cookware, and garbage in a hard-sided vehicle or in a bear-proof container.
  • If you’re visiting in the winter, make sure to bring chains or snow tires.
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