Boondocking I-70 in Colorado?

[KazooTom]

We will be traveling from SW Michigan to Las Vegas, NV this summer. We want to spend a couple nights in the Vail area, but know that the area is not very RV friendly. Brother in law lives in Vail but has no room in his driveway for us (36' motorhome). I know there are a few nat forest campgrounds close by, but they are all booked up.

Noticed that at exit 168 there is a Walmart Super Center. Does anyone know if they allow overnighting there? We would have planned to stop at Tiger Run in Breckenridge but they are sold out for our dates.

We just need an overnight and some time to visit the next day then on our way. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[KazooTom]

I also rechecked Heaton Bay but could not find any electric sites available. We made the decision to use Gore Creek NFS campground at the east side of Vail. It is dry camping only, but that's ok with us. Made a reservation for Thursday (28th). Friday thru the weekend is booked up, BUT, there are 4 first come first served sites at the campground. We'll check with the host upon arrival to see if we can secure one of those for the second night. Since we would be dry camping anyway, this makes sense as it is only a mile or so from my brother in laws house.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions:)

[2gypsies1]

What is the exact date you need a site for one night?

You said Thursday at end of July so I chose July 28 at Heaton Bay national forest campground and checked on the reservation site. There are many available for that one night and if you could get there on Wednesday, you could have two nights. Naturally, Friday is pretty well taken.

July 28 - Site 1, 7, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 67, 68, 70, and many more.

Are you coming in a different date from the 28th?

[KazooTom]

We have no problem at all spending money for an RV park site. Problem is that there are none available in the area we want to travel. Our first choice was Tiger Run but they are sold out. Then we checked in Leadville, sold out for our dates. Even checked national forest in Frisco, also sold out.

So you understand, we're not really trying to avoid a campground, just that there is no space available for our dates.

2gypsies wrote:
This site says no parking overnight at rest areas in Colorado:

https://www.codot.gov/travel/state-highway-rest-areas

Can't you splurge and go to a RV park for a night? 🙂

[4runnerguy]

Off Pavement wrote:
If you don't mind a short drive, why not stay where the Army's famed 10th Mountain Division trained during WW2 at Camp Hale?

Other than the NFS CG, virtually all of the valley floor around Camp Hale was closed to camping when we were there last year. Big cleanup project involving both asbestos and unexploded munitions. We haven't been by there this spring to see if the closure is still in place, so a call to the FS might be warranted.

It's a bit of a grunt out of Minturn heading south. If you do want to go that way, Hornsilver NFS CG is before you get all the way to Camp Hale. Little in the way of trees, but it is at 8700'so it doesn't get real warm. First come first served, no reservations.

Depending on what days you will be there, you might check Sylvan Lake SP. They have some spotty days open during the week in July. Again no hookups, but at 8500'.

Maybe someone else with more up to date info can chime in here, but there used to be dispersed camping on the Shrine Pass Road off the top of Vail Pass. I don't know the current conditions of the road either. But something to investigate. You'd be around 11,000' so a/c would definitely not be needed.

[vermilye]

KazooTom wrote:
I have checked the Nat. Forest campground (Heaton Bay) and found it to be booked up, both electric and non electric for my size rig. I will keep checking in case of cancellations.

Leadville may be a possible alternative for us. I'll have to check on availability there too.

Can anyone advise if Colorado allows overnighting in the highway rest areas and welcome centers? If my figuring is correct we will be dropping into Colorado on I-76 at Julesburg late in the day. Looks like a nice spot to sleep for the night.

If you head for Leadville, there are a couple of commercial campgrounds in the city, and some nice Forest Service campgrounds around Turquoise Lake. While they do fill up with reservations on the weekends (at least in August), I had no problem finding sites during the week.

I've also stayed at Camp Hale...

[Off_Pavement]

If you don't mind a short drive, why not stay where the Army's famed 10th Mountain Division trained during WW2 at Camp Hale? This area is located north of Minturn and south of Leadville and Tennessee pass along US HWY 24. It will be comfortable during the day as long as you leave your windows open. Shaded areas can be found if you look just a little...

[Busskipper]

This information is all on target, we used to do Vail until it just got too crowded .. never get a spot the Wal*Mart is on the DO NOT list - BUT - still give the Manager a call, we have stayed at many after checking with the Manager - Leadville would be our Go To Spot as it has many options and the Drive up Rt 91 and then Rt 24 to Minturn is a Beautiful drive.

The Issue is $$$$$ just the DIRT just costs Too Much!

?? 4runnerguy and Thom are the local authority's there and I've always wondered about Camp Hale and Minturn over by the RR tracks - used to be a big contractor's yard (RR)??

Look HERE http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=41363&actid=29 I've driven by it and not noticed it being full.

Really frustrating to be in such a beautiful area with such a limited number of spots.

Busskipper

[2gypsies1]

This site says no parking overnight at rest areas in Colorado:

https://www.codot.gov/travel/state-highway-rest-areas

Can't you splurge and go to a RV park for a night? 🙂

[Oldtymeflyr]

We have not had any trouble resting a night in the I-25 rest areas.

Take a look at the Turquoise Lake area west of Leadville. This may be a good option.

[LenSatic]

Thom02099 wrote:

KazooTom wrote:
I have checked the Nat. Forest campground (Heaton Bay) and found it to be booked up, both electric and non electric for my size rig. I will keep checking in case of cancellations.

Leadville may be a possible alternative for us. I'll have to check on availability there too.

Can anyone advise if Colorado allows overnighting in the highway rest areas and welcome centers? If my figuring is correct we will be dropping into Colorado on I-76 at Julesburg late in the day. Looks like a nice spot to sleep for the night.

There is no overnight parking or camping allowed in any of the Colorado rest areas, per CDOT.

Our son lives in FTC and we do it all the time in CO. Not on I-25, we use truck stops, but, like I said above, on I-70 in Rifle. Yes, it's posted, but they do not enforce it unless it's abused or someone complains.

Just act like the courteous citizens that you are, leave the place cleaner than you found it, and there should be no hassle. If there is, move on. But we have never been hassled. Be polite if you are, though!

LS

[Thom02099]

KazooTom wrote:
I have checked the Nat. Forest campground (Heaton Bay) and found it to be booked up, both electric and non electric for my size rig. I will keep checking in case of cancellations.

Leadville may be a possible alternative for us. I'll have to check on availability there too.

Can anyone advise if Colorado allows overnighting in the highway rest areas and welcome centers? If my figuring is correct we will be dropping into Colorado on I-76 at Julesburg late in the day. Looks like a nice spot to sleep for the night.

There is no overnight parking or camping allowed in any of the Colorado rest areas, per CDOT. I know that, on I-25 in the Fort Collins area, this is enforced with patrols.

[KazooTom]

I have checked the Nat. Forest campground (Heaton Bay) and found it to be booked up, both electric and non electric for my size rig. I will keep checking in case of cancellations.

Leadville may be a possible alternative for us. I'll have to check on availability there too.

Can anyone advise if Colorado allows overnighting in the highway rest areas and welcome centers? If my figuring is correct we will be dropping into Colorado on I-76 at Julesburg late in the day. Looks like a nice spot to sleep for the night.

[2gypsies1]

You mentioned you'd want to use a national forest campground at Frisco. Have you checked this site? There are 3 in Frisco and a lot more in the area.

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/wr.htm

[avoidcrowds]

There are two NF campgrounds around Frisco - Heaton Bay (39.605, -106.07778), and Peak One (39.58472, -106.06944). Peak One has many sites available for two nights, beginning July 28. Also, many available the week before.

Non-electric, but it doesn't get sweltering in Frisco. If you have a powered vent you can leave open, along with a source for fresh air, your cats should be fine for the day.

There are a couple more campgrounds on Swan Mountain, just east of Frisco (Lowery, 39.59861, -106.03444, and Prospector (39.59583, -106.03444), but the road up from Frisco is steep and winding. You would be ahead to approach from the east, using the Dillon exit.