While looking for camping that was convenient to Mesa Verde National Park, we found a little strip of public land just off of Forest Service Road 316 outside of Mancos, Colorado. This section of the San Juan National Forest is an ideal launching point when exploring not only Mesa Verde National Park but also the nearby Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.
The area was pretty popular, judging by the arriving and departing rigs during the two weeks we were there. However, there were still plenty of “spots.” We didn’t feel crowded and everyone had decent privacy. We found a “pull-through” spot not too far in, but it wasn’t the only spot that could comfortably accommodate a rig of our size. Several spots we saw, however, would have worked better as back-in only. As always, it’s best to scout in a toad or other smaller vehicle before taking your rig in. According to reports, the road thins out after a few miles and doesn’t have the room to turn a bigger rig around. You should also be careful not to go onto the private land or saw mill. Just keep straight until you pass the second gate.
Amenities Around FS Road 316
Unfortunately, there aren’t any RV facilities terribly close to the campground. On our way in, we stopped at a Maverik in Cortez, about 25 minutes away, for water. We used the same Maverick to dump on our way out.
There are several small grocery stores and a laundromat in Durango, about 30 minutes east, but also down a pretty steep grade, so something you’ll want to leave the rig behind for.
