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There is no better way to experience the natural beauty of Grand Junction quite like camping in the shadows of it. Grand Junction is home to some spectacular natural scenery, from the Colorado National Monument to the North Fruita Desert, Grand Mesa National Forest, and Dominguez Canyon.
Camping is the best way to get up close and personal with the miles upon miles of rugged natural beauty in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Catering to both tent and RV camping, places like Junction West RV Park, Canyon View RV Resort, and Grand Junction KOA Holiday offer conveniently located, well-equipped RV parks that are chock-full of amenities.
For the ultimate desert appeal and direct access to fabulous mountain biking trails, 18 Road BLM Campground gives you that wilderness vibe, but is within a short drive to the creature comforts of Grand Junction. If you’re a mountain biker, this is the campground for you, with some of the best single-track trails in Colorado at its doorstep.
Grand Junction even has camping within the Colorado National Monument, which gives overnighters a front-row seat to some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the red rock canyons that made this part of Colorado so famous.
No matter your style of camping, Grand Junction has something for everyone, from wilderness lovers to those who appreciate the creature comforts of a resort-style experience. Grand Junction happens to be near some of the best things to do in Colorado, so you’re definitely going to want to add it to your Colorado itinerary. Have a look through the best campgrounds in Grand Junction, CO, and stake your spot for the season.
1. Grand Junction KOA Holiday
KOA loyalists will love the impeccable grounds at Grand Junction KOA Holiday. In fact, the majority of past guests leave nothing but five-star reviews about the experience at this Western Colorado KOA.
The Grand Junction KOA Holiday features a variety of different site types, including RV, cabins, tent sites, and even accommodation for extended stays. The RV sites range from back-in to pull-through, with full hookups and 50/30/20 amps. Some feature deluxe patios with gas grills, while most have fire rings and seating areas.
Lodging includes camping cabins, some with bathrooms, and others without. Most have patios. The vacation rental options have a full bath with a shower, two bedrooms, and a partial kitchen.
For tent sites, guests have the choice between a gravel tent pad or a mulch tent pad. Both options include water and electricity.
When it comes to amenities, the Grand Junction KOA Holiday is well-stocked. The campground has cable TV, mini golf, bike rentals, a pool, Wi-Fi, propane, laundry, full restrooms, billiards, and movie rentals, to name a few. The campground even hosts a movie night every night of the week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
What’s great about Grand Junction KOA Holiday is that it is open year-round. That means four full seasons of Western Colorado adventure. You can book your stay at this KOA far in advance, right up through the end of the year.
Address: 2819 US-50, Grand Junction, Colorado
2. Junction West RV Park
You won’t have to go very far to see the Colorado National Monument if you set up shop at Junction West RV Park. This RV campground in Grand Junction is truly at the doorstep of one of Colorado’s most visited scenic attractions.
The site has RV spots for extra-wide, deluxe back-in, and pull-through sites, all with full hookups. Deluxe sites have 30/50 amps, while standards offer 30 amps. Propane is available seven days a week, as well.
You do not have to be in an RV to book accommodations here. The Junction West RV Park has two cabins (at 400 square feet each), as well as a grassy area for tent sites.
No matter how you choose to stay, all guests have access to the amenities of the park, which include free Wi-Fi, a convenience store, a playground, and laundry facilities. Direct TV service is provided at 32 of the sites, as well.
Guests should note that the RV park has little to no shade, and most sites are exposed. Grand Junction in general is heavily trafficked, so it may not be the most quiet spot to rest your head. But if you are looking for a convenient location and a spot that is chock-full of amenities, this would be the one to book.
The park offers a wide booking window, with opportunities to reserve your space through the end of the year.
Address: 793 22 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado
3. Canyon View RV Resort
Convenience is king at Canyon View RV Resort. Located right off I-70, Colorado’s most important artery, the RV park is at a perfect location from which to explore Grand Junction, as well as continue on your way to your next great adventure.
Canyon View is one of the most clean and well-kept RV parks in Grand Junction, with beautiful landscaping and top-notch amenities. As the name suggests, Canyon View is one of the best home bases from which to explore the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and the rust-colored canyons that surround them.
Canyon View has 160 sites, each with a concrete patio, private lawn, fire ring, and picnic table. Wi-Fi is provided for all guests, but you can choose to upgrade to fiber optic internet if you need a little more oomph.
Canyon View has a wide array of sites. Some can accommodate RVs that are 40 foot by 90 foot. Many sites have full hookups, while others provide 20-amp power and water. If you’re bringing your dog, a fenced-in dog run is also available.
Speaking of amenities, the RV park features a swimming pool, playground, clubhouse with game room, pavilion with barbecues, and individual bathrooms and showers. You’ll also find an espresso bar, store, laundry, and plenty of sports courts.
Of course, the park’s main draw is its location, which is at the gateway to the hiking trails and scenic drives around Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa National Forest, Powderhorn Mountain, and Canyon View Park. One thing to keep in mind for sensitive ears is the location on I-70, which can mean that noise can be an issue.
For those looking for more of a long-term stay, Canyon View has year-round extended stay opportunities. In fact, 62 sites are dedicated exclusively to extended stay and are in a separate part of the resort. These areas include full hookups, a concrete slab with a picnic table, a fire pit, and a private lawn at each site. Long-term rentals have a minimum of three months.
Address: 746 23 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado
4. Saddlehorn Campground
Saddlehorn Campground is one of those campgrounds you have to see to believe. It is the only campground located within the Colorado National Monument and is one of the best places to explore this red-rock canyon paradise.
Saddlehorn Campground is four miles from the west entrance of the park. It features 80 sites and direct access to some of the best hiking options in the area. What’s amazing about Saddlehorn Campground is, of course, its location – located high on a bluff that overlooks Fruita and Redlands. From the many paths and trails near the campground, you have a picture-perfect view into the rust-colored canyon. You can even see the park’s most iconic structure, Balanced Rock, from many of the areas within the campground.
Guests can reserve campgrounds in the A and B loops from the middle of March through the middle of October, up to six months in advance. You can also access these campsites for one night if you come on a first-come, first-served basis. Sites can accommodate vehicles up to 40 feet in length. No electric hookups or showers are available.
Facilities include flush toilets and water only during the summer season. Each site has a picnic table and grill.
Colorado National Monument has backcountry camping, as well. A permit is required from the visitor center.
5. James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park
James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park is split into five different sections that run from Fruita to Island Acres. The park has year-round camping at both the Island Acres and Fruita sections. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance.
At Island Acres, along the Colorado River within Debeque Canyon, the campground features full hookup or electric hookup sites. All electric sites are 30 amps. Sites 61, 62, 79, and 80 are full hookup sites that have 50 amps. But the campground features tent campsites, as well. Regardless of the campsite, all have fire rings, picnic tables, and grills.
The campground has coin showers and laundry, as well as three fishing lakes, and a swimming hole with a sandy beach.
The Fruita Section, in the city of Fruita near Grand Junction, is close to the Colorado National Monument. This campground has 57 sites: 22 full hookups, 22 electric, and 13 tents. It has walk-in tent camping, as well as sites that are 25, 36, and 30 amps. All sites have fire rings, picnic tables, and grills.
Additional amenities include coin showers and laundry, a visitor center, playgrounds, and a short distance to attractions like the Dinosaur Journey Museum.
6. Monument RV Resort
What’s fantastic about Monument RV Resort is stated right up front — it is one of the closest RV parks to the Colorado National Monument. Not only that, the RV park is right across the street from the James R. Robb State Park. This means that if outdoor scenery is on your list for your visit to Grand Junction, Monument RV Resort is one of the best located in the area.
Monument RV Resort has a slew of different site types, ranging from 95-foot pull-throughs to tent sites and cabins. No matter the site type, each space has a picnic table and access to free Wi-Fi, restrooms, and a laundry room. RV sites have 30/50-amp full hookups, as well.
Five cabins are available, all of which have air-conditioning and heating. They also include microwaves, small refrigerators, and porches with a swing. Additional amenities include a grocery store with supplies, a seasonal pool, games, a workout room, a dump station, a dog run, and a playground.
Of course, the best part about the RV resort is its location, with more than 15 restaurants within walking distance, as well as the Dinosaur Journey Museum. The entrance to the Colorado National Monument is just two miles from the park. This, combined with McInnis Canyons, provides miles of hiking trails, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
7. 18 Road BLM Campground
At the base of the mountains, surrounded by the North Fruita Desert, 18 Road campground feels like wilderness camping but is actually quite close to the comforts of Grand Junction.
The campground features 58 campsites, including two group sites, each with its own fire ring, picnic table, and parking. If you’re a mountain biker or simply a desert enthusiast, this is the campground for you. One of the best single-track mountain biking trails leads directly from the campsite at the base of the Bookcliffs, with the red rock of the Colorado National Monument in the distance.
The campground spans 40 acres in the heart of the 18 Road Mountain Bike Trail system, with seemingly endless desert landscapes in every direction. The campground has four toilets, but no water, electricity, or garbage services available. Additionally, the campground does not sell its own firewood.
Individual sites at this campground operate on a six-month rolling basis. Availability opens from March 15 through September 15, when the reservable season closes. But the facility can also be used between September 15 and December 31, though that is on a first-come, first-served basis.
8. Highline Lake State Park
Highline Lake State Park is a veritable oasis right in the heart of the Grand Valley’s desert. The state park has two lakes; plenty of trails; lush trees; and, of course, campgrounds. Surrounded by miles of explorable trails, and within an easy drive to the town of Grand Junction, Highline Lake State Park is a centrally located campground from which to explore the Grand Valley.
Open year-round, the Bookcliff Campground features 36 grassy campsites that can host tents or RVs. Each campsite has a grill, fire ring, and picnic table, and most sites have a mix of both sun and shade. Bear in mind that while RVs are permitted, electrical hookups are not available, and RVs (as well as other vehicles) are not permitted to park on the grass. Three of the sites are walk-in, tent-only.
Additional amenities include flush toilets, coin-operated showers, and laundry facilities, as well as a dump station and water spigots. The campground is open year-round but can max out early in the warmer months, so early reservations are imperative. Winter camping is also available, thanks to the relatively mild winters in this part of Colorado.
While the campground is open year-round, the booking window for reservations is from March 14 through September 14. Reservations can be made for today and up to six months in advance.