Hovenweep Campground
4.5115 reviewsMcElmo Route, Cortez, CO 81321, USA
Hovenweep Campground
$10.00 - $20.00 / night
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$20.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
The nightly camping fee is $20 for standard sites all year. Seniors or Access pass holders receive a discounted rate of $10 per night.
About this campground
Nestled in the heart of the Colorado Plateau's high desert, Hovenweep Campground invites you to experience the tranquility of ancient lands under endless starlit skies. This intimate 31-site facility, conveniently located near the visitor center, offers modern comforts in a timeless setting. Each campsite comes equipped with fire rings and picnic tables, perfect for evening gatherings and morning coffee rituals. While primarily designed for tent camping, adventurers with RVs up to 36 feet can find their perfect spot here. The campground provides essential amenities including flush toilets and seasonal drinking water, though hookups aren't available – encouraging a more authentic connection with the desert landscape.
The campground accommodates tent and RV camping but is primarily designed for tents. Sites are first-come, first-served, and there are no group sites, cabins, or glamping options.
Historical SignificanceHovenweep National Monument stands as a testament to the ingenuity of the ancestral Puebloan people, whose remarkable stone towers and structures have weathered centuries atop canyon rims and rocky outcrops. From your campsite, you're perfectly positioned to explore a network of trails that wind through time itself, leading to these architectural marvels that once served as homes, ceremonial spaces, and astronomical observatories. Each structure tells a story of adaptation, community, and deep connection to the land – stories waiting to be discovered by curious visitors willing to walk in ancient footsteps.
Weather and SeasonsThe high desert climate at Hovenweep creates a dramatic symphony of seasons, each offering its own unique camping experience. Spring and fall emerge as the golden seasons, with comfortable daytime temperatures dancing between 60-80°F, while crisp nights dip to 30-50°F – perfect for campfire stories and sleeping under quilts of stars. Summer transforms the landscape into a sun-drenched canvas where temperatures can soar past 100°F, rewarding early risers with spectacular sunrises and peaceful morning hikes. Winter brings its own stark beauty, with nighttime temperatures plunging between 0-20°F, creating crystalline mornings and intimate camping experiences for the well-prepared adventurer.
ElevationPerched at 5,300 feet above sea level, Hovenweep Campground offers a refreshing escape from the heat of lower desert regions. This elevation creates a unique microclimate where high desert meets mountain influence, resulting in cooler temperatures that make summer camping more bearable and extend the comfortable camping season well into autumn. The thin, clear air at this altitude reveals breathtaking night skies unmarred by light pollution, while daytime views stretch endlessly across the Colorado Plateau's painted landscape.
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground rests in a natural amphitheater of Utah Juniper trees, their twisted trunks and sage-green foliage providing both shade and character to each campsite. Spring awakens the desert floor with a painter's palette of wildflowers – vibrant pink, deep blue, and royal purple penstemons creating carpets of color against red sandstone backdrops. As autumn arrives, golden rabbit brush illuminates the landscape like nature's own lanterns. This living desert ecosystem pulses with wildlife activity: coyotes sing their haunting melodies at dusk, black-tailed jackrabbits bound between sagebrush, ravens patrol the skies with intelligent eyes, and a chorus of songbirds greets each dawn.
Geological RegionYour camping adventure unfolds within the magnificent Colorado Plateau, a geological wonderland where time has carved its story into stone. This high desert realm stretches beyond the horizon, revealing layer upon layer of Earth's history in sweeping vistas of sandstone ledges and converging canyons. The landscape reads like an ancient manuscript – red rock pages inscribed with millions of years of wind, water, and weather. Desert flora dots the terrain with surprising resilience, from hardy junipers clinging to cliff edges to delicate wildflowers finding life in seemingly impossible places. This is a land that demands pause and contemplation, where every sunset paints the rocks in new hues and every sunrise reveals shadows and shapes you missed the day before.
Campsite details
AccessibilityThere is one wheelchair-accessible campsite (Site 30), which includes paved access and proximity to accessible restrooms. The campground roads are paved, and the slopes are gentle, making it generally wheelchair-friendly.
Sites SizeSites can accommodate RVs up to 36 feet in length. Tent pads are present at most sites.
Sites PrivacyCampsites are described as well-spaced, offering a reasonable level of privacy. Some campers noted that while sites are close together, they do not feel crowded.
Total Campsites31 campsites
Recommended CampsitesArriving early is advised for securing preferred sites. Site 14 is recommended for mountain views.
Best CampsitesSite 14 is particularly praised for its views of Sleeping Ute Mountain.
Reserving a campsite
Check-in
11:00 AM
Check-out
10:00 AM
Stay Limit
Stay is limited to 7 nights consecutively or non-consecutively in any 30-day period and a total of 14 nights per year.
Guests Allowed Per Site
Each campsite is limited to 8 persons, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles.
Groups
There are no designated group camping sites.
Tents
Tents are allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are allowed
Primitive
Primitive are not allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed
Site layoutThe campground is a paved, one-way loop with campsites located on the inner and outer sides, offering various views.
Open and Closed SeasonOpen year-round.
Reservation PlatformsReservations can be made through Recreation.gov.
Walk-in AvailabilitySites are first-come, first-served, and availability may be limited during peak periods.
Cancellation PolicyChanges to reservations can be made with a $10 fee for new stay dates outside of original ones. Cancellations incur a $10 fee plus any reservation fees. Late cancellations may have additional penalties including forfeiture of the first night's recreation use fee.
Amenities available
Potable water
Fire rings
Picnic tables
Flush toilets
Activities you can enjoy
The campground offers a variety of recreational activities including hiking, stargazing, birding, and photography. The trails offer access to nearby archaeological sites and scenic views.
Hiking
The Square Tower Group trail is a popular 2-mile walking loop that features ancestral Puebloan structures. An 8-mile Holly Trail starts at the campground and passes through slot canyons, offering extended hiking opportunities.Wildlife viewing
Hovenweep is home to a variety of wildlife, including jack rabbits, coyotes, lizards, songbirds, and ground squirrels. Bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts often find inspiration from the rich biodiversity.Cultural and Educational Programs
The visitor center sometimes hosts educational programs, such as star telescope shows after dark, offering insights into astronomy and local history.Winter Activities
Winter activities may include heated restrooms for cold-season camping and stargazing under clear skies.Water Sports
No water sports are available due to the arid environment of the campground.Campground rules
- Pets are allowed
- Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. Wood gathering is prohibited, and charcoal cooking fires are allowed in fire pans and grills.
- Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 8 AM.
Hazards
General hazardsHot summers, cold winters, and desert wildlife (e.g., coyotes, jackrabbits). Mice have been noted as common.
Weather forecast
89
°F
Aug 25
Monday
Clear sky
Precipitation: 0%
Moderate wind, may affect light items
Humidity: 23%
Very dry conditions, stay hydrated
Wind: 4.2 mph
Moderate wind, may affect light items
Clear sky
7-Day Forecast
Access to 7-day forecasts tailored to each campground—covering temperature, precipitation, wind, and sky conditions.
Daily & Hourly Insights
View hourly forecasts with expected weather patterns throughout the day.
Temperature Trends
Visualize how temperatures shift over the month to help pick the most comfortable days for your trip.
Precipitation Trends
Plan around rain or snow with monthly visualizations of expected precipitation patterns.
Weather Summaries
Assess conditions with visuals for easier decision-making on when and where to camp.
Weather data powered by Open-Meteo
Emergency Services
Emergency services are located in Cortez, CO, approximately 40-45 miles away. The nearest hospital is likely in Cortez.
Good to know
Peak season datesJanuary 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 (Peak Season)
Trash and recyclingTrash and recycling facilities are located by the restrooms. Additionally, there are pet waste bag receptacles for responsible pet management.
Proximity to water featuresNo water features are explicitly mentioned within close proximity.
Common complaintsSome visitors have noted campsites can be closely spaced and COVID-related closures of certain sites in the past.
HostRangers periodically check campsite tags and provide additional information about the area.
Campground Map
McElmo Route, Cortez, CO 81321, USA
Driving directionsDo not use GPS to find your way. There are numerous paved and dirt roads intersecting each other in this remote corner of Utah. The Hovenweep Visitor Center is located 40-45 miles from Cortez, Colorado, and Blanding and Bluff, Utah. Follow driving directions on our webpage.
The roads to the campground include paved and dirt roads with intersecting paths. It is recommended not to rely on GPS due to navigation challenges in the area.Nearby places
Cortez, CO: 40-45 miles
Blanding, UT: 40-45 miles
Bluff, UT: 40-45 miles
Nearby supplies
The nearest gas station is in Aneth, Utah, approximately 20 miles away. Restaurants and shopping are located 45 miles away in Cortez, CO.
Camper Reviews
4.5
15 reviews
Hovenweep Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviews generally praise the campground's cleanliness, quiet atmosphere, and stunning desert views. Visitors find the tent pads, covered picnic tables, and fire pits to be well-maintained. Some appreciate the close proximity to hiking trails and the visitor center.
Review Summaries
Based on 15 reviews
What Campers Love
Clean and modern restrooms; well-spaced campsites; scenic views of Sleeping Ute Mountain; peaceful and quiet; ideal for stargazing due to its designation as a Dark Sky Park.
Based on 15 reviewsCommon Concerns
Lack of showers and cell phone reception. Some sites are noted as being too close for those seeking complete seclusion.
Based on 15 reviewsPro Tips & Recommendations
Arrive early to secure a first-come, first-served site. Bring your own firewood, as it is not sold on-site. The Holly Trail offers a more challenging hiking experience.
Based on 15 reviewsSeasonal Insights
The campground is busiest during spring and fall when temperatures are mild. Summer can be extremely hot, and winters are cold but quiet and less crowded.
Based on 15 reviewsCamper Quotes
"Nice campground, spots are close but not on top of each other. No showers, flush toilets, clean bathrooms." - Trypp Adams. "Love it. My view at site 14 is Sleeping Ute Mountain. The sites are clean,...
Based on 15 reviewsShow more
Site-Specific Reviews
Site 14 offers views of Sleeping Ute Mountain. Site 30 is ADA compliant and easily accessible.
Based on 15 reviewsAccessibility Features
The paved roads and accessible restroom facilities make the campground generally wheelchair-friendly. Site 30 is specifically designed for accessibility.
Based on 15 reviewsPet-Friendly Features
Pets are allowed, and the presence of pet waste stations encourages responsible pet ownership.
Based on 15 reviewsLast updated August 10, 2025