Details
Along the border between southeast Utah and southwest Colorado, Cortez, CO, 81321
National Park ServiceLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Table Of Contents
Campground Overview
Introduction
A 31-site campground near the visitor center is open year-round and fully reservable through Recreation.gov. The campground is designed for tent camping, though a few sites will accommodate RVs up to 36 feet long. Groups are limited to eight people and two vehicles. Sites include tent pads, fire rings and picnic tables with shade structures; there are no hookups available. One campsite is wheelchair-accessible but is not designed for tent camping.
Campsite Details
Operating Hours
Hovenweep Campground is open year-round.
Weather
Hovenweep is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.
Amenities
Trash & Recycling Collection
Toilets
Potable Water
Directions
Do 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.
Rates & Fees
Standard Camping Fee
The nightly camping fee at Hovenweep is $20, all year. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Senior/ Access Rate
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10 per site, all year. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Rules & Regulations
Fire/Stove Policy
Wood fires in grates only. Wood gathering is prohibited. Do not leave garbage in fire grates. Charcoal cooking fires are allowed in fire pans and grills. Place ashes in fire grates. Properly extinguish all fires.Regulations Overview
Camping is only permitted in the designated campground. Campsites may not be held for parties arriving later. Visitors are prohibited from soliciting other campers to share their campsites. Each campsite is limited to 8 persons, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles. (A trailer counts as vehicle). Campsites may not be left unattended for over 24 hours. All motor vehicles must be parked on designated vehicle pads and must not extend into the roadway. Vehicle barriers may not be moved to enlarge the available parking space. Camping structures must be on tent pads (if provided) or hardened/impacted places within the designated site area. Use of generators is restricted to between 8 am and 10 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm. Quiet hours must be adhered to between 10 pm and 8 am. Quiet hours require that no unreasonable noise be created or sustained. Checkout time is 10 am. Length of stay is limited to seven (7) nights (consecutively or non-consecutively) in any 30-day period or a total of 14 nights per year.Accessibility
Wheelchair Access
The road through the campground is paved with a gentle slope. The trail to the amphitheater has rocky stairs and is not accessible to a wheelchair. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
RV Allowed
Yes
RV Information
The 31-site campground is designed for tent camping, though a few sites will accommodate RVs up to 36 feet long.
RV Maximum Length
36
Trailer Maximum Length
0
ADA Information
The campground and all of its facilities are ADA compliant, except for the amphitheater, which has an unpaved, rocky trail leading to it. There is one ADA campsite, Site 30.
Trailer Allowed
Yes
Access Roads
Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Classifications
Limited Development Campground
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