A Beginner’s Guide to RVing in Colorado Part 2: Western Highlights

There’s a lot of hype about RVing in Colorado…for good reason! There are so many great towns, attractions, and amazing campgrounds that we couldn’t even fit it all in to one episode, so we are bringing you a two-part series packed full of recommendations. Last week, we told you all about the RVing highlights in Eastern Colorado, and this week we are continuing on to Western Colorado with information from our friend Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy.

Last week, we talked about Denver, Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, but we aren’t quite done! This week, we will head west in the mountains of central Colorado west of the national park, learn about several more NPS sights, and hear about how the landscape changes near the Utah border.

Here is a guest post from Kerri complete with all the information and links you’ll need as you begin thinking about RVing in Colorado:

Last week, we talked about how the Colorado Tourism Office has divided the state into 8 regions, which we are using as our road map to journey through the state from east to west, starting in central Colorado.

6) Rockies Playground (NW Central CO)

While towns like Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, and Winter Park are usually associated with winter fun in Colorado, this region should not be overlooked in the summer. The cute mountain towns have pleasant summer weather and are super stroll-able, with lots of local shops, galleries, breweries, and restaurants. Plus, the views never end when you’re surrounded by this many peaks!

Travel Highlights Great Towns

• Leadville – notable as the highest incorporated city in North America (at over 10,000 feet in elevation)
• Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Frisco, Winter Park – take your pick from any of the state’s most famous ski towns to enjoy walkable downtowns and outdoor recreation any time of year; the ski lifts operate and offer great views, and the mountainsides are covered in hiking trails
• Glenwood Springs – the drive on I-70 to this town on the western side is famous for the awe-inspiring cantilevered sections through the river canyon, and once you reach Glenwood Springs itself, you’ll find a lot to do centered around the town

Attractions & Adventures

• Maroon Bells – these wine-colored peaks rise 14,000 feet in elevation, creating one of the state’s most iconic views
• Glenwood Springs hot springs – take in the waters in your choice of spots, with several resorts offering access to a variety of pool types and temperatures

Great Campgrounds

• Tiger Run Resort – Expect to pay premium prices, but it’s hard to find full hookups and modern campgrounds in this region. Tiger Run is exceptionally well-maintained with lots of manicured landscaping. (hear my full review here)
• Prospector Campground White River National Forest – no hookups but has beautiful waterfront sites on Lake Dillon and easy access to I-70 and ski towns
• Carbondale-Crystal River KOA – located on the banks of the Crystal River and earns great reviews for natural beauty and services
• Rifle Gap State Park – offers some full hookup, waterfront campsites on a large reservoir 
• Lots of other national forest campgrounds and dispersed camping with great reviews

Press play on the media player above to hear a lot more details about RVing in Colorado.

6) Mystic San Luis Valley (SW Central CO)

Photo by Shellie Bailey-Shah

Surrounded by the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains, this region is home to the world’s largest high-altitude desert valley, with the Great Sand Dunes being the top draw. You can find quirky spots around every bend. 

Travel Highlights Great Towns

• Crestone – teeny tiny town considered a spiritual hub
• Alamosa – the largest town in the region, close to GSDNP
• San Luis – the state’s oldest town; known for Hispanic culture

Attractions & Adventures

• Great Sand Dunes National Park – home to the tallest dunes in North America, this park’s sand mounds are spellbinding. You can go sand sledding, float in a seasonal creek, or just take in the views. Certified Dark Sky Park for amazing stargazing (find lots of tips from Shellie Bailey-Shah)
• UFO Watchtower – if you’re like me and love a good roadside attraction, stop here and keep an eye on the skies
• Stations of the Cross – architecture, history, art, and landscape come together 
• Lots of hot springs in the area
• Amazing wildlife opportunities, including bat and sandhill crane migrations

Great Campgrounds in SW Central Colorado

• Piñon Flats Campground – there are no hookups, but you have the best access to the GSDNP and a beautiful view  (hear a full review here)
• Woods & River RV Park – exactly as its name describes, this park offers spacious, shady sites along the headwaters of the Rio Grande

7) Mountains & Mesas (SW CO)

The lush greenery of the Rocky Mountains eventually give way to scrubrush-covered mesas in Colorado’s southwestern corner, which borders southern Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. In addition to cool mountain towns, this region has several National Park Service sites to explore.

Travel Highlights  Great Towns

• Ouray – called the “Switzerland of America” for its prime location right amid the towering peaks
• Durango – great basecamp for outdoor adventures across the region, especially the train
• Telluride – famed ski town, known for its Victorian & Wild West architecture
• Crested Butte – known for aspens in the fall and hillsides of wildflowers in the summer
• Grand Junction – largest town in Western Colorado; nearly on the Utah border; considered Colorado’s wine country

Attractions & Adventures

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – from eastern Colorado, it takes extra time and effort to reach this park, but I’ve never heard anyone say it wasn’t worth it. This massive canyon is quite different from the Grand Canyon but awe-inspiring in its own right
• Mesa Verde National Park – Home to the cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo people who have called this region home for over 700 years; make sure to book a tour in advance for the best access
• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad– the best way to travel between Durango and Silverton is on the steam train, which runs along the Animas River through some stunning scenery
• Colorado National Monument – when I picture the landscapes in old Western movies, this is the landscape that comes to mind

Great Campgrounds in Southwest Colorado

• Camp Eddy – campground offering Airstream rentals, RV sits, and tiny homes; offers easy access to Grand Junction and the Colorado River (find a full review from Jeremy and Stephanie here!)
• Ouray KOA and Ouray Riverside Resort – both earn high marks for being nice campgrounds with great access to town (hear a full review of the Riverside Resort)
• Ridgway State Park – located between Ouray and Montrose, this park is great for visiting the towns, as well as Black Canyon of the Gunnison; offers nearly 300 campsites in a beautiful landscape
• Mesa Verde RV Resort – full-service campground near park entrance

7) The Great West (NW CO)

Located in the northwest corner of the state, this region runs from the Utah border to the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. It offers a mixture of open frontiers, grand rivers, and charming mountain towns, with the most open, sparsely populated areas to the west and the mountainous region to the east.

Side note: If you’re trying to decide whether to stay on the eastern side or western side of Rocky Mountain National Park, check out my post. There are true advantages to picking a basecamp on each side of the park.

Travel Highlights Great Towns

• Grand Lake and Granby – popular base camps for RMNP adventures. Grand Lake is right outside the Kawuneeche Entrance to RMNP and appropriately named for a large lake that butts up against mountain peaks, while Granby is further out but has a lot to offer.

• Steamboat Springs and Winter Park – ski towns that offer year-round activities.

Attractions & Adventures

• • Dinosaur National Monument – showcases over 1500 fossilized dinosaur remains along the dramatic Yampa River Canyon.
  • RMNP Kawuneeche Entrance – the quieter western side of this busy park is the best area for moose spotting
  • Flyfishing, whitewater rafting, boating, and kayaking along the Colorado, Blue, and Yampa rivers and in beautiful alpine lakes 
  • Soaking in hot springs
  • Hiking – The 16-mile Fraser-to-Granby trail connects cool towns and runs through beautiful scenery; many trails both in and out of RMNP

Great Campgrounds in Northwest Colorado

• Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains: Great for resort-level camping with beautiful open views, around 20 minutes from the western entrance to RMNP (hear a full review from me here)
• Winding River Resort: Just outside the western entrance of RMNP in the cute town of Grand Lake, has “natural” sites with hookups
• Gates of Lordore Campground: remote rustic camping with exceptional views and access to Dinosaur National Monument

Final Thoughts

As you can tell, RVing in Colorado is simply sublime! Though I’ve visited Colorado many, many times since our first trip back in 2011, I still haven’t come close to seeing the majority of the highlights! In fact, putting these posts together helped me find even more I want to see. For me, Colorado is more of a feeling than a vacation, and that’s what makes me go back again and again.

Don’t forget to check out Part 1: Eastern Highlights to hear more recommendations for RVing in Colorado. And, if you haven’t already and make sure to click on the campground reviews linked above to find full descriptions of many of these awesome RV parks.

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