How much does camping cost at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Camping fees at Gates Of Lodore Campground range from $12-$14/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Fees are typically paid at the campground entrance.

Is Gates Of Lodore Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Gates Of Lodore Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Gates Of Lodore Campground before I book?

Yes! Gates Of Lodore Campground has 13 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Gates Of Lodore Campground is open January 01 to December 31. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Gates Of Lodore Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Gates Of Lodore Campground have?

Gates Of Lodore Campground has 19 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Gates Of Lodore Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Gates Of Lodore Campground offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Popular activities at Gates Of Lodore Campground include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Gates Of Lodore Campground

Q: Can I have a campfire at Gates Of Lodore Campground?

Fire policies at Gates Of Lodore Campground: Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. Build campfires only in fire grates provided. Never leave fires unattended. Ensure fire is completely out and cold before leaving. Collecting wood from the ground or breaking it off trees/plants is prohibited. Use local firewood. Only burn wood, nothing else.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

4.36

51 reviews

Gates Of Lodore Campground

Top 5%Summer

Scenic ViewsStargazing

Featured in:Mountain Camping Colorado

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

5,338 ft

Price

$12 - $14/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

19 campsites

Season

Facilities are seaso...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on Dinosaur National Monument (National Park Service)Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

5,338 ft

Price

$12 - $14/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

19 campsites

Season

Facilities are seaso...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on Dinosaur National Monument (National Park Service)Official Website

Get Directions

Gates Of Lodore Campground

$12.00 - $14.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Summer Rate: $14.00; Winter Rate: $12.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

435-781-7700dino_information@nps.gov

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Gates Of Lodore Campground

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Campground Map

Gates Of Lodore Campground

40.7272, -108.8880

Nearby places

Quarry Visitor Center: 137 miles (220 km) from the campground

Canyon Visitor Center: 106 miles (170 km) from the campground.

Weather at Gates Of Lodore Campground

Current alerts(5)

All campers must Dinosaur National Monument's entrance fee in addition to the fees for camping. You may pay the entrance fees upon arrival at the monument's entrance station or visitor center or purchase in advance .
CAUTION: Dinosaur National Monument is home to black bears along with many other animals. Proper food storage is required in campgrounds. Don’t feed or approach wildlife.
Each site is limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles. Vehicles & trailers must stay on gravel roads and parking areas. Digging, leveling, clearing plants, and other site modifications are prohibited. UTVs, OHVs, and ATVs are prohibited. Stays are limited to 14 consecutive days.
Fireworks of any kind are prohibited.

Best Time to Camp at Gates Of Lodore Campground

Best season: summer. Summer offers the best combination of full services (running drinking water Memorial Day through early fall), warm weather and prime river access for boating and multi-day rafting trips through Lodore Canyon. Expect daytime highs commonly in the 80s–90s°F and cool nights in the 50s–60s at the campground's 5,338 ft elevation, making evenings pleasant for riverside campfires and stargazing. This is peak boating season, so plan for moderate to high crowds from late June through August and reserve a Peak months: June, July, August, September Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

5.0 / 5

Top 5% in US

Full services, potable water Memorial Day–early fall and best river access in summer.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: January 01 to December 31. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Facilities are seasonal: running drinking water is available during the summer. Access in winter may be difficult due to snow and road conditions.

About Gates Of Lodore Campground

Gates of Lodore Campground sits at the northern edge of Dinosaur National Monument where the Green River enters Lodore Canyon. Run by the National Park Service, this small campground serves as the put-in point for multi-day rafting trips and offers tent and RV sites with vault toilets, potable water during peak season, fire rings and picnic tables. Visitors come for the canyon scenery, riverside access and quiet atmosphere under large shade trees.

A small campground that accommodates both tent campers and RVs but does not provide RV utility hookups.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer offers the best combination of full services (running drinking water Memorial Day through early fall), warm weather and prime river access for boating and multi-day rafting trips through Lodore Canyon. Expect daytime highs commonly in the 80s–90s°F and cool nights in the 50s–60s at the campground's 5,338 ft elevation, making evenings pleasant for riverside campfires and stargazing. This is peak boating season, so plan for moderate to high crowds from late June through August and reserve a Peak months: June, July, August, September Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation5338 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe Green River changes personality at the campground's doorstep. Upstream it meanders. Then it narrows and crashes through rust-red canyon walls that rise into the Gates of Lodore, carving through rock formations over a billion years old. Cottonwoods provide scattered shade at riverside sites. A short interpretive trail climbs to an overlook where you can watch the transformation happen in real time. Canyon wrens call from the stone walls. At 5,338 feet, the elevation keeps summer nights cool enough for comfortable campfires under exceptional dark skies. Reviewers consistently describe the views as pristine and breathtaking.

Programs & ActivitiesThe monument includes visitor centers and numerous cultural sites (Fremont petroglyphs, historic ranches and cabins) for historical interpretation and self-guided education.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Amenities available

Small developed campground with 19 sites offering picnic tables at all sites, seasonal drinking water spigots, vault toilets, and a mix of grills and campfire rings at some sites. No showers and no utility hookups for RVs; access can be limited in winter. This is a Scan & Pay campground (no refunds/changes for Scan & Pay payments).

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Recreational opportunities focus on river-based activities and hiking within Dinosaur National Monument, with scenic drives and cultural/historical sites in the vicinity.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Cultural and Educational Programs

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Fire PolicyDon't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. Build campfires only in fire grates provided. Never leave fires unattended. Ensure fire is completely out and cold before leaving. Collecting wood from the ground or breaking it off trees/plants is prohibited. Use local firewood. Only burn wood, nothing else.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.4

51 reviews

Recommended

Gates Of Lodore Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers overwhelmingly love Gates of Lodore Campground, consistently giving it 5/5 stars and describing it as beautiful, quiet, and remote with pristine views. People highlight its riverside setting on the Green River, historical significance, and excellent stargazing. It’s especially popular as a put‑in and basecamp for Green River rafting trips and short hikes to the Gates of Lodore viewpoint.

Review Summaries

Based on 51 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers praise the stunning scenery, calling it “absolutely breathtaking” with pristine views of Lodore Canyon and the Green River. The campground is described as quiet, spacious, clean, and well...

Based on 51 reviews

Common Concerns

There are very few complaints in these reviews, but a few cautions appear: the access road is gravel and was “tricky on the motorcycle,” and the area is quite remote with no nearby services or cell...

Based on 51 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

No individual campsite numbers or specific site-by-site differences are mentioned. Reviewers speak generally of “spacious sites,” “plenty of camping available,” and the campground being “nice” and...

Based on 51 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reviewers strongly recommend planning for the remoteness: bring extra fuel because the nearest gas is about an hour away and expect little to no cell service. Pack plenty of water and sunscreen for...

Based on 51 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Quite possibly the best kept secret in the midwest and my very favorite place on Earth.” “An amazing place to camp with some pristine views, can be quite quiet; ranger and ranger house so there is...

Based on 51 reviews

Accessibility Features

Some terrain details are mentioned but not framed as formal accessibility information. The trail to see the Gates is described as fairly easy overall but with a bit of vertical at the beginning and...

Based on 51 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer notes that the short hiking trail near the campground is “not dog friendly” and that many main trails in Dinosaur National Monument are also not dog friendly (though some are). No other...

Based on 51 reviews

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4.4

(51)

Gates Of Lodore Campground

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Gates Of Lodore Campground sits at the northern edge of Dinosaur National Monument, where the Green River carves into the canyon country of northwest Colorado. Operated by the National Park Service, this small mid-elevation campground serves as a launch point for multi-day river trips and offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. The setting draws paddlers, stargazers, and visitors seeking quiet access to canyon scenery and the Green River corridor.