Secluded in the middle of the Rockies, Gunnison is a remote and welcoming destination for Colorado campers. Between the national forest and Curecanti National Recreation Area, there’s no shortage of incredible campgrounds to call home.
You can access any recreation you’re looking for, from ATV trails to rock climbing, within the Gunnison National Forest. For water sports, look no further than Blue Mesa Reservoir, part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, beginning just ten minutes west of town. There are some fantastic forest service campgrounds and free dispersed camping to be found around Gunnison County.
List of campgrounds by Gunnison, CO, in order of proximity:
Camping near Gunnison
At four hours from Denver, Gunnison is far enough to ward off the masses, but close enough to escape for an extended weekend. It boasts more than 6500 people, so you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants to accommodate. There are RV parks in town and a myriad of campgrounds located in the wilderness outside of it. Gunny is located along the West Elk Loop, which loops around an impressive portion of the western slope.
Palisades Senior RV Park
As the name implies, this campground is operated by the Gunnison Home Association for senior citizens camping in the area. Ample room for slide-outs, RV lengths to 70 feet and 50 amp service, with Wifi, make this site home, away from home for senior-aged campers.
- Closest town: Gunnison (1mi)
- Specs: 60 RV sites, water, restrooms, open May 15 to September 21; reservable
- Amenities: 30/50 amp service, full hookups, 27-pull-through sites, Wifi, partial handicapped access
- Address: 470 North 3rd Street, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Gunnison KOA Journey
Located in the Gunnison City limits, this full-functioning KOA RV park is the perfect base camp for fun in the Colorado wilderness. RV lengths up to 100 feet, back-in, nose-in and pull-through sites offer a variety of RV camping opportunities. A dog park, Wifi, a pavilion, propane, and firewood for sale at the park are all popular amenities.
- Closest town: Gunnison (2mi)
- Specs: 103 RV sites, 6 tent sites, restrooms, water, open year-round; reservable
- Amenities: 30/50 amp service, full hookups, laundry, showers, game room, propane
- Address: 105 County Road 50, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Tall Texan RV Park and Cabins
This established RV park has been in operation for over three decades. The clean, well-maintained property, restrooms showers offer a comfortable stay for a day, a week or more. The Gunnison River is just a few minutes’ walk. A playground offers recreation for the youngsters in your group.
- Closest town: Gunnison (3mi)
- Specs: 52 RV sites, six tent sites, water, restrooms, open year-round; reservable
- Amenities: Lodge, game room, gift shop, laundry, showers, propane services, playground
- Address: 194 County Road 11, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Mesa Campground
This huge, full-function RV park is popular with summertime visitors and hunters in the autumn. An on-site RV repair shop offers help to campers experiencing issues with their RV. Located close to downtown Gunnison this RV park offers solitude with access to local shops, restaurants, and recreation.
- Closest town: Gunnison (4mi)
- Specs: 144 RV sites, 5 tent sites, water, restroom, open year-round; reservable
- Amenities: Propane, clubhouse, camp store, 30 / 50 amp service, full hookups, RV repair shop
- Address: 36128 US Highway 50, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Hartman Rocks Recreation Area
Operated by the Bureau of Land Management this site abounds in single-track trails wind throughout the area, making it a popular destination for mountain biking, dirt bikes, hiking, and trail running. All-terrain vehicles and 4-wheel drives also find good opportunities on the 45 miles of roads. In the winter months cross country skiing, along with skate skiing are popular activities at Hartman Rocks.
- Closest town: Gunnison (5mi)
- Specs: 50 designated dispersed campsites, no water, no toilet, open year-round; first-come, first-serve
- Address: County Road 32C, Gunnison, CO 82230 (Map)
Stevens Creek Campground
Located on Blue Mesa Reservoir this is a fisherman’s campground. With a boat ramp inside the campground onto the reservoir and a convenient fish cleaning station, the weekends in the summer months see the reservoir lined with anglers in boats and onshore. This campground is operated by the National Park Service.
- Closest town: Gunnison (11mi)
- Specs: 53 sites, water, vault toilet, open late May to late September; reservable
- Amenities: Boat ramp, fish cleaning station, handicapped accessible sites
- Address: 29070-29174 US Highway 50, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Oasis RV Resort & Cottages Gunnison
Just a two-minute walk from Blue Mesa Reservoir, this RV park is extremely popular for anglers seeking the Kokanee salmon. Bule Mesa is the largest, and deepest lake in Colorado. The Colorado state lake trout record was taken from this reservoir. Large shade trees offer cool afternoons in the often warm summer afternoons.
- Closest town: Gunnison (12mi)
- Specs: 83 RV sites, 4 tent sites, water, restrooms, open year-round; reservable
- Amenities: Full hookups, laundry, propane, showers, store, horseshoe pits, playground
- Address: 28357 US Highway 50, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Elk Creek Campground
This simple campground offers scenic views in a lightly wooded area with native grass dominating the landscape. Anglers can work nearby Elk Creek for brown and rainbow trout, or check out the Crystal, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa reservoirs. Much of the campground is sagebrush with few trees. Swimming, boating, kayaking, and windsurfing are all popular activities.
- Closest town: Gunnison (15mi)
- Specs: 156 single sites, 4 double sites, water, toilet, open Memorial Day to Labor Day; reservable
- Amenities: Triple loop arrangement with 6 pull-through sites, 27 electric sites
- Address: 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
East Elk Creek Group Campsite
Looking for a larger area for a family reunion, corporate getaway or just a chance to bring friends together in the wilderness? This group campsite could be just what you’re looking for. With space for up to 50 people, its location in the rugged mountains west of Gunnison, near Blue Mesa Reservoir offers ample recreational opportunities to just about any age group.
- Closest town: Gunnison (17mi)
- Specs: 1 group campsite, water, vault toilet, open mid-May to mid-September; reservable
- Amenities: Picnic shelter, can accommodate groups up to 50 people
- Address: County Road 723E, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Dry Gulch Campground
This dry campground is nestled in a protective gorge that provides relief from high winds that often blow through the area. It’s a short drive to Crystal, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa Reservoirs. Large trees provide shade in the hot summer afternoons.
- Closest town: Gunnison (17mi)
- Specs: Dispersed camping, no water, vault toilet, open Memorial Day to Labor Day; first-come, first-serve
- Address: County Road 723D, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Lake Fork Campground
Located near the dam on Blue Mesa Reservoir, this is a popular campground for boating, hiking, and fishing. Water skiing, jet skiing, and canoeing are all popular on the reservoir. The campground has areas of sagebrush with patches of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and aspen groves.
- Closest town: Gunnison (27mi)
- Specs: 90 sites, 4 tent only, water, flush toilets, open April to mid-October; reservable
- Amenities: Showers, marina, boat ramp, fish cleaning station
- Address: US Highway-50, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Ponderosa Campground
Located on Blue Mesa Reservoir this basic campground can accommodate small to medium-sized RVs. Soap Creek Road, which leads to the campground can become impassable after heavy rains.
- Closest town: Gunnison (35mi)
- Specs: 28 sites, 10 tent-only, water, flush toilet, open mid-May to mid-September; first-come, first-serve
- Amenities: Boat ramp, horse corral,
- Address: County Road 721D, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Soap Creek Corral / Coal Mesa Horse Camp
Though lightly used, this campground is perfect for horseback adventures in the nearby West Elk Wilderness Area. The campground offers access to the southern trails in the wilderness are and is adjacent to Soap Creek.
- Closest town: Gunnison (36mi)
- Specs: 60 single-sites for horse campers, no water, vault toilet, open May to snow closure; first-come, first-serve
- Amenities: Horse corral
- Address: County Road 721 E, Gunnison, CO 81230 (Map)
Consider Almont or Crested Butte
Twenty minutes north of Gunny on CO-135 sits the gateway to Taylor Park Reservoir, Almont. This small village is easy to miss, but it has a few places to eat and get supplies before venturing off to your campsite. Almont’s got a convenient location between Crested Butte and Gunnison. The are many campgrounds near Almont that put you amongst the Great Outdoors.
About thirty-five minutes north of Gunnison on CO-135 is the resort town of Crested Butte. It has both a fabulous downtown and a mountain village to stroll. Between May and October, weather pending, you can drive up (and camp) on Kebler Pass, which connects with Paonia, all part of the West Elk Loop. There are several campgrounds in Crested Butte, which make for a terrific base for those wanting a look more city life close at hand.
Those are among the best places to camp around Gunnison, Colorado. Whether you opt for a lakeside campsite overlooking Blue Mesa Reservoir, or a free dispersed site on BLM land at Hartman Rocks, you’ll be happy you came out to the “Base Camp Of The Rocky Mountains.”
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