Dry Lake Campground (Co)

Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, hiking

Location: Steamboat Springs, CO, CO

Price: From $26 per night

Price range: $26–$50 per night

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (9 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Dry Lake Trailhead is located off County Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) and is near the Dry Lake Campground. This trailhead provides access to both non-motorized and motorized trails. Access for dirt bikes and other recreational vehicles on Buffalo Pass Road.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Bear Boxes

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/dry-lake-campground-co to be notified when sites open up.

Recently remodeled USFS campground with 22 brand-new sites featuring tables, fire pits, and improved infrastructure. Campers praise it as quiet, dark at night, and well-maintained with excellent access to hiking, biking, and mountain activities in the Park Range.

Wildlife alert: Black bears present in area—use bear boxes provided. Also watch for moose, porcupines, martens, and minks.

Insider tips for Dry Lake Campground (Co): Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand. Bring bug spray; mosquitoes are present and active during camping season. No hookups available; suitable only for self-contained RVs or tent camping. High-use trailhead with access to both motorized and non-motorized trails via Buffalo Pass Road.

Skip Dry Lake Campground (Co) if: You need RV hookups—none are available.. You prefer larger, more developed campgrounds—only 22 sites total..

Best time to visit Dry Lake Campground (Co): Year-round — Campground operates year-round per verified data, though seasonal operations noted as a consideration..

Nearby campgrounds: Hidden Lakes Campground (WY), Teal Lake Group Campsite (Walden, CO), Grizzly Creek Guard Station (WALDEN, CO), Meadows Campground (Co) (Steamboat Springs, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Dry Lake Campground (Co)

Cell signal at Dry Lake Campground (Co) (Steamboat Springs, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Dry Lake Campground (Co)

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Steamboat Springs, CO, CO★ 3.8 (9 reviews)From $26/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Dry Lake Trailhead is located off County Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) and is near the Dry Lake Campground. This trailhead provides access to both non-motorized and motorized trails. Access for dirt bikes and other recreational vehicles on Buffalo Pass Road.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonYear-round
Stay limit14 days
Max RV92 ft
Hookups22 electric sites
Bear boxesYes — at every site
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsBear Boxes
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—none are available.✕ You prefer larger, more developed campgrounds—only 22 sites total.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand.

Bring bug spray; mosquitoes are present and active during camping season.

No hookups available; suitable only for self-contained RVs or tent camping.

High-use trailhead with access to both motorized and non-motorized trails via Buffalo Pass Road.

Best: Year-round

Campground operates year-round per verified data, though seasonal operations noted as a consideration.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Black bears present in area—use bear boxes provided. Also watch for moose, porcupines, martens, and minks.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
{}· Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
Getting there →

Directions from Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Travel 4 miles north of Steamboat Springs on Routt County Road #36 (Strawberry Park Rd), then 3.6 miles east on Routt County Road #38 (Buffalo Pass Rd). The campground is located to the north of the road.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Dry Lake Campground (Co) cost per night?+
Dry Lake Campground (Co) costs $26–$50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Dry Lake Campground (Co) open?+
Dry Lake Campground (Co) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Dry Lake Campground (Co) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Dry Lake Campground (Co)?+
Dry Lake Campground (Co) can accommodate RVs up to 92 feet.
How do I make reservations at Dry Lake Campground (Co)?+
Dry Lake Campground (Co) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Dry Lake Campground (Co)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Dry Lake Campground (Co) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Dry Lake Campground (Co) open, and what are check-in times?+
Dry Lake Campground (Co) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$26 /night★ 3.8 (9)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Dry Lake Campground (Co) cost per night?+
What season is Dry Lake Campground (Co) open?+
Does Dry Lake Campground (Co) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Hidden Lakes Campground

WY

From $20/night

Teal Lake Group Campsite

Walden, CO

From $20/night

Grizzly Creek Guard Station

WALDEN, CO

From $90/night

Meadows Campground (Co)

Steamboat Springs, CO

From $26/night

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