Camping near Durango and Bayfield, around Vallecito Reservoir

Durango is a beautiful, bustling mountain town tucked away near the Four Corners, with ample reasons to visit and camp nearby. This southwest community of 20,000 is surrounded by forests and mountains. The warmer days of spring, summer, and fall attract campers to enjoy the unique sights around Durango and Bayfield.

Many of the nearby campgrounds are managed by the San Juan National Forest, which holds a treasure trove of recreation. There are also several RV parks close to town. Most campers should find what they are looking for here in La Plata County.

List of campgrounds near Durango and Bayfield, CO, in order of proxmity:

Camping near Durango, Hermosa, and Hesperus

Both tent campers and RVs will find suitable campgrounds relatively close to town. You can also venture further out from town to get into nature even further. The town of Durango features a significant downtown stretch with a plenty of cool sights and sounds.

United Campgrounds of Durango

Not looking to stray too far from the historic town of Durango? The United Campgrounds of Durango is a spacious RV and tent campground featuring tons of amenities, like a game room and heated pool, to keep the whole family entertained while visiting the Western Slope.

• Closest Town: Durango (4mi), Hermosa (7mi)
• Specs: 100+ pull-thru and back-in sites w/ full hookups, 90+ tent camping sites
• Amenities: Bath house, laundry, game room, heated pool, WiFi, closest campground to the city of Durango
• Reservations: Yes, call 970-247-3853
• Address: 1322 Animas View Dr, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-550 north for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Animas View Dr, then continue for another mile and a third. Make a slight right, and then the campground will be on your right.

Alpen Rose RV Park

RVers who want to absorb everything that both Durango and Hermosa have to offer gush about Alpen Rose RV Park. In addition to fabulous amenities like a swimming pool and onsite dog walking service, this park is also quite close to both Hermosa and Durango to help you enjoy area attractions.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (5mi), Durango (6mi)
• Specs: 100 full-hookup RV sites, great for big rigs
• Amenities: Bath house, swimming pool, WiFi, laundry room, dog wash, pet walking service
• Reservations: Yes, call (970) 247-5540
• Address: 27847 US-550, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-550 N for about 5.5 miles, then turn left to arrive at Alpen Rose RV Park.

Lightner Creek Campground and Cabins

A riverside camping experience always soothes the soul, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Lightner Creek Campground. With cabins for those who want to be a bit cozier, this camprgound also features tons of amenities like a heated pool and a playground for the little ones.

• Closest Town: Durango (6mi), Hesperus (9mi)
• Specs: 97 RV and tent camping sites, many with river access and mountain views
• Amenities: Restrooms, showers, heated swimming pool, laundry, playground, camp store, pet park, close to hiking trails and Durango attractions
• Reservations: Yes, call 970-247-5406
• Address: 1567 Co Rd 207, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-160 W for about 4 miles. Turn right onto Lightner Creek Rd, then continue for about 1.5 miles to arrive at the campground.

Junction Creek Campground

Just six miles from Durango you will find Junction Creek Campground, one of the few Forest Service campgrounds in the area with electric hookups as well as two spacious group camping areas. You’ll never tire of the recreation opportunities at Junction Creek, like horseshoe and volleyball courts, fishing, and just a short drive to Durango and its myriad attractions.

• Closest Town: Durango (6mi)
• Specs: 44 RV and tent camping sites, 14 w/ electric hookups, and 2 group camping areas
• Amenities: Vault toilets, horseshoe and volleyball courts, fishing on Junction Creek, near Durango for area attractions
• Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
• Address: 1499 FDR 171, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take Main Ave north until you hit 25th St, then turn left. 25th St becomes Junction St–continue to follow this road for about 1 mile, then it will become Junction Creek Rd/Co Rd 204. Follow this for about 4 miles, then make a left. Follow the road for a quarter mile, then the campground will be on your right.

Westerly RV Park

If you’re rolling down CO-160 with a large trailer or in a big rig RV, Westerly RV Park is a suitable stopping point for you. Their sites provide ample room for large rigs, all on a well-landscaped and gorgeous site that is quite close to the town of Hermosa for quick and easy resupply runs.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (2mi), Durango (8mi)
• Specs: 25 full hookup RV sites suitable for big rigs
• Amenities: Laundry, WiFi, firepits, picnic tables, dog run, close to area attractions
• Reservations: Yes, call (970) 247-1275
• Address: 6440 Co Rd 203, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-550 N for about 8 miles, then turn left onto Trimble Ln. Make a right onto Co Rd 203, then a few blocks later Westerly RV Park will be on your right.

Durango North/ Riverside KOA

You will almost never be disappointed when you arrive at a KOA, but Durango North’s Riverside KOA is a gem situated right on the Animas River, complete with an observation deck to watch the fast waters of the Animas pass you by. With a game room, swimming pool, playground, and movie center, you and the family will never be bored at this campground.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (4mi), Durango (14mi)
• Specs: 93 total sites, including full hookup RV sites, tent camping sites, and cabins
• Amenities: Bathrooms, showers, laundry, game room, swimming pool, playground, observation deck on the Animas River
• Reservations: Yes, at KOA.com
• Address: 13391 Co Rd 250, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, head north on US-550 for about 13.5 miles. Then, make a right and continue onto Co Rd 250. The KOA will be on your right.

Lower Hermosa Campground

Prefer to be a bit closer to nature? Lower Hermosa Campground, located close to the Hermosa Creek Trailhead, is a primitive campground with only 20 sites that fill up quickly during the summer season. If you love being beneath the trees, this is the campground for you.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (4mi), Durango (15mi)
• Specs: 20 primitive campsites
• Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire grates, close to Hermosa Creek Trailhead
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: Forest Rd 576, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-550 N for about 10 miles. Then, turn left toward Co Rd 201. Turn right onto Co Rd 201, then follow this for about 3/4ths of a mile. Continue straight onto Forest Rd 578 and head down this road for 3 miles. Turn left, then make the next left, and you will arrive at the campground.

Haviland Lake Campground

A luxurious spot along Haviland Lake is the Haviland Lake Campground, a Forest Service site that offers campsites with electrical hookups just off the lake. With easy access to Haviland Lake to fulfill all of your recreational needs, this campground fills up quick, so be sure to reserve your spot.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (10mi), Durango (20mi)
• Specs: 43 total campsites, 15 w/ electric hookups
• Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, access to Haviland Lake for boating, fishing, and water recreation
• Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
• Address: Haviland Lake Rd, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, follow US-550 N for about 19 miles. Turn right onto Haviland Lake Rd, then follow this road for a mile. The campground will then be on your right.

La Plata City Campground

Free dispersed camping gets harder and harder to find each year, but not so near Durango. The La Plata City Campground, located just off of the La Plata River, is a dispersed camping gem that’s worth a visit. With easy access to hiking at Animas City Mountain as well as fishing on the river, you’ll never be bored at this campground.

• Closest Town: Hesperus (9mi), Durango (20mi)
• Specs: Primitive dispersed camping on the La Plata River, no facilities
• Amenities: Mountain views, hiking, fishing on the La Plata River
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: Co Rd 124, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, take US-160 west for 11.5 miles. Turn right onto Co Rd 124–you will stay on this road for the next 8 miles, then the campground will be on your left.

Sig Creek Campground

Those who want to get away from the crowds and the tourists in downtown Durango will fall in love with the remote location of Sig Creek Campground. This site is also a gem for mountain bikers, as it is located close to one of the best mountain biking trails in the Western Slope.

• Closest Town: Hermosa (22mi), Durango (33mi)
• Specs: 9 primitive campsites close to Hermosa Creek
• Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits, mountain-biking trails, fishing
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: Sig Creek Campground Rd, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Durango, head north on US-550 for about 26 miles. Turn left onto Purgatory Blvd and a half-mile later, continue onto Hermosa Park Rd. After about 3 miles, turn left to stay on Hermosa Park Rd, then the campground will be on your right.

Camping near Bayfield and Vallecito Reservoir

About 20 minutes east of Durango sits the sleepy, rural town of Bayfield. There are a few amenities in town to get you by, but the main draw is Vallecito Lake, anther 20 minutes from town. The village of Vallecito has a few restaurants of its own, plus plenty of opportunities to camp.

Outdoorsy Bayfield

Can’t get enough of the gorgeous small town of Bayfield? Outdoorsy Bayfield might just be the place to hang your head in that case, as it not only features a plethora of campsites to accommodate RVers and campers, but it also offers easy access to Durango’s nearby attractions.

• Closest Town: Bayfield (>1mi)
• Specs: 100+ campsites including full hookup RV sites and tent campsites
• Amenities: Bathrooms, showers, cable TV, WiFi, laundry, access to trails and close to Bayfield for area attractions
• Reservations: Yes, call 888-884-2475
• Address: 41743 US-160, Bayfield, CO 81122 (Map)
• Directions: In Bayfield, take US-160 W,  then exit onto Bayfield Hwy and make a right. Turn left onto Co Rd 501, then turn left at the first cross-street. The RV park will be  .3 miles down, on your right.

Miller Creek Campground

Located just off of Miller Creek, this gorgeous campground is in close range to all 3 tourist towns in the area–Vallectio Reservoir, Bayfield, and Durango. Although this campground is small and not equipped for long stays, its gorgeous location keeps it well-used.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (10mi), Bayfield (16mi), Durango (18mi)
• Specs: 12 primitive campsites for RV and tent camping
• Amenities: 3 vault toilets, drinking water, fire pits, access to creek for boating and fishing
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: Co Rd 243, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, head north onto Co Rd 501 for 8.5 miles. Take the left onto Co Rd 240, then follow this road for almost 3 miles. Turn right onto Co Rd 243 and continue for about 3 miles until you reach the campground.

Pine Point Campground

If you’d like to stay as close as possible to Vallecito and the reservoir, Pine Point Campground would be a great option for your stay. Because this campground’s sites are quite small, it wouldn’t be appropriate for larger trailers and RVs.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (4mi), Bayfield (18mi)
• Specs: 30 campsites suitable for small trailers and RVs
• Amenities: Vault toilets, drinking water, fire pits and picnic tables, access to water for boating on Vallecito Reservoir
• Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
• Address: Forest Rd 603,  Bayfield, CO 81122 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, take the northbound Co Rd 501 for about 13 miles, then make a right and continue for almost a mile. Take a slight right onto Forest Rd 603 and head down this road for about 3 miles–after a slight left, the campground will be on your left.

Blue Spruce RV Park and Cabins

Need all the amenities of home while you enjoy the gorgeous Western Slope area? The Blue Spruce RV Park more than delivers in this aspect, with not only full amenities like WiFi and hot showers, but also featuring a game room as well as horseshoe and basketball courts to keep you entertained.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (8mi), Bayfield (21mi)
• Specs: 100+ sites w/ full hookups for RV and tent camping, cabin and apartment rentals available
• Amenities: Bathrooms, showers, WiFi, playground, laundry, game room, horseshoe and basketball courts
• Reservations: Yes, at BlueSpruceRVPark.com
• Address: 1875 Co Rd 500, Bayfield, CO 81122 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, head north on Co Rd 501 for about 18 miles, then turn left onto Co Rd 500. After almost 2 miles, the RV Park will be on the left.

Vallecito Campground

Vallectio Reservoir is a gorgeous spot to camp for a few nights, and Vallecito Campground offers easy access to this gorgeous lake. While there is fishing allowed on the reservoir, there are regulations in place to stop overfishing from happening, so check the posted rules before partaking in fishing and fly fishing.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (9mi), Bayfield (22mi)
• Specs: 80 shaded and level campsites (3 w/ electric hookups) on Vallecito Reservoir
• Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, fishing on reservoir (note rules), horseback riding (no overnight horse camping)
• Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.gov
• Address: Co Rd 500, Bayfield, CO 81122 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, take Co Rd 501 north for about 18 miles, then turn left onto Co Rd 500. Continue for almost 3 miles, then turn left and continue for .2 miles. The campground will be on the left.

Middle Mountain Campground

Want a great view of the mountains? Middle Mountain Campground is aptly named, and this campground also comes along with some good-sized sites that will fit larger trailers and RVs. With easy access to the reservoir for water recreation, you’ll want to stay in this Ponderosa pine paradise forever.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (9mi), Bayfield (22mi)
• Specs: 24 campsites, some w/ space for large RVs
• Amenities: Vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits (gather your own wood), access to Vallecito Reservoir for recreation
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: San Juan National Forest, Forest Rd 603, Bayfield, CO 81122 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, take Co Rd 501 north for 22 miles, then take a slight right onto Co Rd 501/Forest Rd 603. Take another slight right, then continue for a third of a mile–the campground will be on the right.

Transfer Park Campground

If you want to get away from it all and escape to the mountains, Transfer Park Campground is about as far as you can drive without needing to break out the backpacking equipment to find solace. Although this campground isn’t equipped with luxurious amenities, its location more than makes up for its primitive accommodations.

• Closest Town: Vallecito (15mi), Durango (23mi)
• Specs: 25 campsites w/ 2 larger sites on the lower loop for large RVs and trailers
• Amenities: Vault toilets, fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water in season
• Reservations: No, first come, first serve
• Address: Forest Rd 596, Durango, CO 81301 (Map)
• Directions: From Bayfield, take Co Rd 501 north for almost 9 miles, then make a right onto Co Rd 240. Continue down this road for almost 3 miles, then turn right onto Co Rd 243. Head north for another 7 miles, then turn left onto Forest Rd 596. Stay on Forest Rd 596 for a little over a mile, then turn left. The campground will then be on your right.

Consider Pagosa Springs, Cortez or Silverton

One hour to the east of Durango is Pagosa Springs. It sits in a valley to the west of Wolf Creek Pass. There are many places to camp near Pagosa Springs, including dispersed camping. The town of Pagosa is a hot springs mecca so relaxation is waiting.

Between Cortez and Mancos sits Mesa Verde Country. You can reach this monumental park and its own campground in about forty minutes from Durango. There’s plenty of places to camp near Mesa Verde, with the southwestern towns of Cortez and Mancos offering charming bases.

One hour north of Durango is Silverton, its sister train town. The much smaller but more alpine town of Silverton is right in the heart of the San Juans. Camping can be found in all directions, including back along Highway 550, which connects to the north with Ouray, and south to Durango.

That’s a roundup of the best camping near Durango and Bayfield, Colorado. Enjoy your time in the Great Outdoors of La Plata County.