Best National Parks Near Grand Junction, CO
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is about 70 miles southeast of Grand Junction. The name "Black Canyon" comes from the fact that the deepest parts of the gorge receive very little sunlight. It's possible to drive down to the Gunnison River via the East Portal Road, but note that your vehicle should not be more than 22 feet long. Other scenic drives include the South Rim Road and the North Rim Road. Activities in the park include hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. The South Rim Campground is the most developed in the park, with 88 sites, 23 of which have electrical hookups for RVs.
In Utah, roughly 110 miles southwest of Grand Junction, Arches National Park contains the largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world, at over 2,000. You can see some of the arches up close on a number of hikes, including the Landscape Arch Trail, the Double Arch Viewpoint and Trail, and the immensely popular Delicate Arch Trail, the end of which showcases the park's most famous arch that's featured on one of Utah's license plates. At the end of the park's main road is the Devils Garden Campground, which is open year-round but is busiest from March through October.
Canyonlands National Park in Utah is about 120 miles from Grand Junction but just 25 miles from Arches. It's possible to visit both parks on the same day. Canyonlands has a few main districts, with the Island in the Sky the most popular and accessible to RVers. Activities vary by district, but there are hiking trails at the Island in the Sky, including Mesa Arch and Grand View Point. Take your canoe out for a flatwater trip on either the Green or Colorado rivers. For something more adventurous, try a whitewater rafting trip at Cataract Canyon.
Popular State Parks Near Grand Junction, CO
Highline Lake State Park is roughly 25 miles northwest of Grand Junction. Bird watchers will love this park for the more than 200 species that inhabit it. Try to spot golden or bald eagles during your visit. Other activities here include boating, biking, swimming, hiking, and water skiing. You can also go ice fishing in the winter.
Fifty miles northeast of Grand Junction is Vega State Park. Go cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling here in the winter and swimming and boating in the summer. This park's elevation of around 8,000 feet means cooler temperatures throughout the year. Three of the park's four campgrounds offer pull-through and back-in spots for RVs, with electric and water hookups at the Early Settlers Campground.
Rifle Gap State Park, 70 miles northeast of Grand Junction, has a 350-acre reservoir ideal for windsurfing, boating, fishing, and swimming. Come winter, explore Rifle Gap on skis, via snowmobile, or with your snowshoes. All five of this park's campgrounds offer RV spots, and there's a dump station on-site as well.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Grand Junction, CO
The Colorado National Monument is the crown jewel of the Western Slope. It's just 15 miles west of Grand Junction, and it offers over 20,000 acres of high-desert red-rock plateaus as well as pinyon-juniper forests. The Saddlehorn Campground has RV sites but no hookups. Backcountry camping is also possible with a free permit. The 23-mile Rim Rock Drive has pullouts where you can get out of your RV and take pictures. Some short hikes in the monument include the CCC Trail, Otto's Trail, and the Alcove Nature Trail. More difficult backcountry hikes include the Black Ridge Trail and the Ute Canyon Trail.
Located 110 miles north of Grand Junction, Dinosaur National Monument preserves dinosaur fossils as well as petroglyphs made by people who once inhabited the region. Take a guided or self-guided whitewater rafting trip on the Green and Yampa rivers. Other activities include horseback riding, hiking, stargazing, and fishing. Note that the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall is on the Utah side of the monument.
Part of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail ran through what is now present-day Grand Junction. Visit the Museum of the West Old Spanish Trail North Branch in Grand Junction to learn more about the trail, the pioneers who traveled the route, and the Native Americans who lived in the region.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
The Grand Junction KOA, at 2819 Highway 50, features full hookups, back-in and pull-through sites, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, cable TV, showers, and miniature golf. This campground has 66 RV spots and is open year-round. Grand Junction KOA welcomes pets.
The pet-friendly Grand Mesa RV Park is about 30 miles east of Grand Junction and has 24 RV sites with full hookups and 30- or 50-amp power. Other amenities include cell reception, Wi-Fi, showers, back-in and pull-through spots, and laundry facilities.
The Canyon View RV Resort, located at 746 23 1/2 Road in Grand Junction, offers 161 total RV spots, with 30- and 50-amp power and full hookups. This pet-friendly campground also features showers, a pool, Wi-Fi and cell reception, Good Sam discounts, and back-in and pull-through sites.
RV Dump Stations Near Grand Junction, CO
The Pilot Travel Center #592, located at highways 6 and 50 in Grand Junction, is open 24/7. It costs $10 to use the dump station, although Flying J members get discounts. Also on-site are showers and a laundromat.
The Grand Junction KOA has its own dump station on-site. It's free for registered guests, while visitors pay a fee of $7.
The Junction West RV Park in Grand Junction offers free use of its dump station for registered guests. Visitors have to pay $10. This park also offers RV storage.
