Photo: U.S. Forest Service (public domain)
Haviland Lake Campground
A lakeside Forest Service campground in the San Juan Mountains north of Durango, with 17 electric sites, trout fishing and no-wake paddling on Haviland Lake.
Durango, Colorado · off US-550, about 19 miles north of downtown
Season
May–Oct 18
2026 season extended to Oct 18
Elevation
About 8,100 ft
Cool nights all summer
Hookups
Electric only
17 sites; no water or sewer hookups
Big rigs
Up to 45 ft
Must fit the spur; no overflow
Updated October 7, 2026 · Details checked against the Forest Service website
A lake in the San Juans
The Haviland Lake experience
A Forest Service campground on the shore of Haviland Lake, about 19 miles north of Durango below the San Juan peaks, with 17 electric sites, trout fishing and quiet paddling.
Electric sites17 sites
Trout fishingStocked lake; license or SWA pass
PaddlingHand-launch, no gas motors
Drinking waterSpigots; no RV fill
Vault toilets6, accessible
Picnic tables & fire ringsFirewood sold
TrailsForebay Lake & Chris Park
Pets welcomeLeashed
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together: campers love the lake, the views and the clean, quiet grounds, while the spurs that limit bigger rigs and the busy summer weekends come up most.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report40 ft Sep 2020
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$32 Sep 2025
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Confirm fees, site lengths and rules with the Forest Service before you go.
Off US-550 north of Durango
Getting there
The campground is just east of US-550, about 19 miles north of downtown Durango: turn east on Haviland Lake Road (FR 671), cross the dam and the campground is on the left.
Route from Durango: US-550 north about 19 miles, then Haviland Lake RdFrom Silverton: US-550 south
US-550 · HAVILAND LAKE RD
Set your GPS
Haviland Lake Rd (FR 671), Durango, CO 81301
To the train depot*About 30 min
To Purgatory ResortAbout 15 min
To Mesa VerdeAbout 1 hr 15 min
From AlbuquerqueAbout 4 hr 5 min
Fishing needs a license or SWA pass. The lake is a State Wildlife Area: everyone 16+ needs a Colorado fishing or hunting license or an SWA pass.
About 8,100 ft elevation. July highs nearby average about 79°, with nights in the upper 40s.
*Drive times are approximate (OpenStreetMap routing). Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Out the gate
Around Haviland Lake
Purgatory Resort is about 15 minutes north, downtown Durango and the train depot are about half an hour south, and Silverton is up the highway over two passes.
Photo thanks to Mike McBey (CC BY 2.0)
Durango & Silverton Railroad
The coal-fired steam train leaves the downtown depot and climbs the Animas River canyon toward Silverton; book ahead in summer and fall.
Photo thanks to Frans-Banja Mulder (CC BY 3.0)
Historic downtown Durango
Main Avenue’s historic hotels, shops, breweries and restaurants, with the Animas River Trail running along the water.
Photo: National Park Service (public domain)
Aztec Ruins
Ancestral Pueblo great houses about 900 years old, with a self-guided trail through the West Ruin and a reconstructed great kiva.
Photo thanks to Tobi 87 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mesa Verde National Park
Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings on a high mesa; some, like Cliff Palace, are visited only on ranger-guided tours.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds we’ve reviewed around Durango, by drive time.
Photo thanks to JW Durango Riverside
JW Durango Riverside Resort
Riverfront full-hookup sites on the Animas north of town, with a pool, café, fishing pond and cabins.
Photo thanks to Westerly RV Park
Westerly RV Park
A small year-round park with full hookups next to Durango Hot Springs, north of town. No restrooms or showers.
Photo thanks to Alpen Rose RV Park
Alpen Rose RV Park
100 grassy full-hookup sites under the red cliffs north of town, with a pool, store, dog park and dog wash.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Haviland Lake fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a beautiful lakeside campground with electric sites, trout fishing and quiet paddling, handy for Purgatory and the San Juan Skyway. Rigs over about 40 ft will struggle, there are no water or sewer hookups or showers, and the lake needs a fishing license or SWA pass, so plan ahead.
Campground fees2026 fees · checked Oct 7, 2026
Standard site$32 /night
Premium site$40 /night
Electric hookup+$13 /night
Double site$64 /night
Double site electric+$18 /night
Stay limit14 days
Reserve through Recreation.gov; about 17 sites are first come, first served. Cancellation fees follow Recreation.gov rules. Up to 8 people per site.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (970) 884-2512.
Typical July afternoon
Haviland Lake79°
Phoenix107°
Mountain summers: 28° cooler than Phoenix in July, with cool nights.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers stay here.
Open
Site types
$32 a night, plus $13 for electric.
Open
Rates & policies
Season, reservations, fishing and fire rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
Haviland Lake Campground is a San Juan National Forest campground run by a concessionaire for the Forest Service, on an 80-acre lake within a State Wildlife Area north of Durango. It has 43 sites, 17 with electric hookups.
Best for
- Anglers and paddlers: a stocked, no-wake lake right at camp.
- Self-contained RVers who want a lake view in the mountains.
- Purgatory and San Juan Skyway trips.
- Budget trips: $32 a night, $45 with electric.
Consider this
- Rigs over about 40–45 ft won’t fit many spurs.
- No water or sewer hookups, no showers and no dump station.
- Fishing needs a Colorado license or SWA pass for everyone 16+.
- At about 8,100 ft, nights are cold even in summer.
Summer in Haviland Lake
Typical July afternoon
79°
Haviland Lake
Lemon Dam (NOAA station, about 8,000 ft)
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
28 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 49°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
All sites have a picnic table and fire ring; 17 have electric hookups. Fees are per night, set by the Forest Service.
Standard site $32/night
Most of the campground.
Premium site $40/night
Choicer sites, many near the water.
Electric site $45/night
The $32 fee plus the $13 electric surcharge.
Double site $64/night
For bigger groups.
Nightly$32–$40Electric +$13; double $64
SeasonMay–Oct 182026 season extended
ReservationsRecreation.govAbout 17 sites first come, first served
Check-in2 p.m.Out by noon
Cancellation$10 feePlus the first night if late; Recreation.gov rules
Stay limit14 daysForest-wide order
BoatingNo gas motorsHand-launch; electric, wind or paddle
FishingLicense or SWA passEveryone 16 and older
Generators1 hour at a timeQuiet hours about 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
BearsStore food safelyBear activity is high in the forest
Checked against the San Juan National Forest and Recreation.gov pages on October 7, 2026. Fees can change; for availability use Recreation.gov, and for general questions call the Columbine Ranger District at (970) 884-2512.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is my site electric? Only 17 sites have power.
- Will my rig fit the spur? The maximum is 45 ft.
- Is the water on? Some reviewers found it off late in the season.
- Are fire restrictions in effect? Check before you build a fire.
- Where do I dump? Needles Country Store on US-550 or stations in Durango.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: May–Oct 18
Ready for a lakeside night in the San Juans?
Paddle at sunrise, fish for trout and drive the Million Dollar Highway. Reserve on Recreation.gov or try for a first-come site.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: U.S. Forest Service (public domain) via the San Juan National Forest. Video and video stills: Campground Recon on YouTube. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Mike McBey (Durango & Silverton train; CC BY 2.0), Frans-Banja Mulder (Main Avenue; CC BY 3.0), the National Park Service (Aztec Ruins; public domain) and Tobi 87 (Cliff Palace; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: JW Durango Riverside Resort, Westerly RV Park and Alpen Rose RV Park. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Haviland Lake Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Forest Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the Forest Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Haviland Lake Campground at fs.usda.gov or (970) 884-2512. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.