Last summer we were lucky enough to snag a camp site for a weekend at Colorado National Monument! Neither one of us had been there before so we were really excited to get out and explore the Monument. We’ve put together an itinerary and some tips for you so you can have the best experience!
First things first, we learned the (very) hard way to not tent camp here in the summer months. We learned very quickly that it is too hot all day and all night to make this trip overly enjoyable. Unless you love sleeping in 90 degrees, that is, or have a camper that can run AC. Unlike a lot of areas in summer, this place did not cool down at night. We were miserably hot all weekend. So, tip #1: go in the fall or spring months.
If you love to hike, you could easily spend the weekend here. If you only want to do one hike and do the drive from one entrance over to the other, one night will be plenty.
Tip #2: If you want to camp in the park and want a glorious view from your camping spot, pick a spot on B Loop, along the outer edge. warning - if you are afraid of heights and/or have kids/pets that are known to wander, this might not be the best spot for you as there is a very steep drop off on the back of the camp sites (see photos below). But if you don’t have those concerns, the views are stunning! Also note that there are plenty of camping spots in the Grand Junction area that are free and/or cheaper than camping in the park. When we went, reservations were required. There were no first come/first serve sites available.
If you are not a camper, never fear! The monument is a very short drive from Grand Junction which has a lot of hotel and Airbnb options.
Tip #3: you are in the desert so bring plenty of water and a lot of sunscreen! There is very little shade in this park so make sure you are coming prepared for a lot of direct sun. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeves/pants (if it’s not summer), etc. are all great things to have readily available.
If you decide to go in summer, come prepared for 100 degree days. Bring a lot of extra water, some salty snacks, and even some electrolytes.
Tip #4: no wood fires were allowed which was a bummer for us as we love a good campfire while camping. Charcoal grills were provided at each campsite however so you could easily make your meals. Come prepared knowing you won’t be able to have a fire.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at campsite and set up camp and chill out.
Day 2: Plan to drive the entire park road then enjoy an afternoon beer and snack at a local brewery.
We stopped at every pull off for the viewing spots and I highly recommend that you do. The views are unreal! It took us about 3 hours to do, and we loved every minute of it.
At this point you’re probably hungry and thirsty. Head into Grand Junction to Edgewater Brewery for a cold craft beer and a snack. It’s about 15 minutes from Colorado National Monument.
Head back into the park to your campsite. Cook up dinner and enjoy the evening doing what you love most at campsites.
Day 3: Pack up camp and head to your next destination.
All in, we loved Colorado National Monument and would absolutely go back, ideally in the late spring or fall. Our rankings:
Views: 5/5 - absolutely stunning.
Campsite: 4/5 - no fire allowed which is a bummer, but it had actual running water bathrooms, large sites, and stunning views
Proximity: 5/5 - we love camping while exploring somewhere new as it’s way cheaper than renting an airbnb.
This was the back edge of our campsite!
One of the many pull offs for views!
