Hovenweep National Monument — hiking
Location: Cortez, CO, CO
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (214 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Hovenweep Campground is nestled within the beautiful, sweeping landscape of the Colorado Plateau in Southeast Utah, at an elevation of approximately 5300 ft. The campground is located alongside two converging canyons and is only 1/4 mile (.4 km) from the park’s visitor center. Stunning views of mountains, canyons, and sandstone ledges adorned with desert plants make for a spectacular camping experience!
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hovenweep-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Hovenweep Campground offers stunning views of mountains, canyons, and sandstone ledges on the Colorado Plateau at 5,300 ft elevation, with direct access to historic ruins and a nearby visitor center. Campers praise the scenic sites, clean facilities, and excellent hiking trails.
Wildlife alert: Long-nosed Leopard Lizard, Great Basin Gopher Snake, Eastern Collared Lizard, Greater Roadrunner, American Beaver, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet present in the area.
Insider tips for Hovenweep Campground: Book reservations in advance—this is now a reservation-based campground, not first-come, first-served. Visitor center has WiFi and water is available at outdoor faucets with a 5-gallon maximum fill. Length of stay is limited to 7 consecutive or non-consecutive nights. Campground is only 1/4 mile from the visitor center and park trails lead directly to ruins.
Skip Hovenweep Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You prefer spontaneous camping—book early, as this federal campground has limited availability..
Best time to visit Hovenweep Campground: Year-round — Campground operates year-round, though book early as it is a federal campground with high demand..
Nearby campgrounds: Mcphee Recreation Complex (Dolores, CO), Devils Canyon (Monticello, UT), Sand Island Recreation Area (Monticello, UT), House Creek (Dolores, CO).
Cell signal at Hovenweep Campground (Cortez, 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.
Hovenweep Campground is nestled within the beautiful, sweeping landscape of the Colorado Plateau in Southeast Utah, at an elevation of approximately 5300 ft. The campground is located alongside two converging canyons and is only 1/4 mile (.4 km) from the park’s visitor center. Stunning views of mountains, canyons, and sandstone ledges adorned with desert plants make for a spectacular camping experience!
Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Book reservations in advance
this is now a reservation-based campground, not first-come, first-served.
Visitor center has WiFi and water is available at outdoor faucets with a 5-gallon maximum fill.
Length of stay is limited to 7 consecutive or non-consecutive nights.
Campground is only 1/4 mile from the visitor center and park trails lead directly to ruins.
Campground operates year-round, though book early as it is a federal campground with high demand.
FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.









Turn by turn directions from Cortez, Blanding, or Bluff can be found on the Directions and Transportation page of Hovenweep's website.
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