Photo thanks to HTR Durango
HTR Durango Campground
Wooded creek and canyon sites in a quiet box canyon west of Durango, the former Lightner Creek Campground, with full hookups, a seasonal pool and cabins.
Durango, Colorado · Lightner Creek Road, about 5 miles west of downtown
Season
May 1–Oct 31
Full hookups May 15–Oct 11
Elevation
About 7,000 ft
Cooler canyon nights
Hookups
30/50 amp
Full or water & electric
Big rigs
Ask first
Tight, sloped sites; reviewers say under ~48 ft
Updated October 7, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
A quiet box canyon west of town
The HTR Durango experience
A wooded campground tucked into a box canyon along Lightner Creek, about 10 minutes west of downtown Durango, with creek, canyon and pull-thru full-hookup sites, a seasonal pool and cabins.
Full hookups30/50 amp creek, canyon & pull-thru
Water & electric sitesFor smaller rigs
Seasonal poolHeated, 10 a.m. to dusk
Dog parkUp to 2 pets per site
Free Wi-FiRecently upgraded
BathhousesKeypad access, 24/7
LaundryCoin-op
Camp storePropane fire pits for rent
PlaygroundPlus outdoor games
Trails nearbyPerins Peak & Twin Buttes
Cabins & lodgesFrom rustic to cottages
Dump stationOn site
Life at camp
What guests say
The park report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together: guests like the quiet, shady canyon and the setting, while tight, sloped sites and upkeep come up most, and Campendium scores are the lowest on our Durango list.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report35 ft May 2019
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$78 May 2026
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Confirm rates, site lengths and policies with the campground before you go.
Up Lightner Creek Road
Getting there
The campground sits about 1.5 miles up paved Lightner Creek Road (County Road 207) off US-160 West, about 5 miles from downtown Durango.
Route from Durango: US-160 west, then Lightner Creek Rd (CR 207)From Mesa Verde: US-160 east to CR 207
US-160 · LIGHTNER CREEK RD
Set your GPS
1567 County Road 207, Durango, CO 81301
To the train depot*About 10 min
To Mesa VerdeAbout 45 min
To Purgatory ResortAbout 40 min
From AlbuquerqueAbout 3 hr 50 min
Dry camping in the shoulder weeks. May 1–14 and Oct 12–31 are electric only, with no water or bathhouse, so arrive self-contained.
About 7,000 ft elevation. July highs in Durango average about 85°; the canyon cools off fast at night.
*Drive times are approximate (OpenStreetMap routing). Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Out the gate
Around HTR Durango
Downtown and the train depot are about 10 minutes east, Mesa Verde is about 45 minutes west, and Perins Peak trails start half a mile away.
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 United Campground of Durango
United Campground of Durango
Over 100 RV sites at the north edge of town, where the narrow-gauge steam train runs right through the park.
Photo thanks to Durango RV Resort
Durango RV Resort
A big family park east of town with a heated pool, mini golf, pickleball, cabins and pull-thrus.
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 HTR Durango fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a shady, quiet canyon campground with full hookups, a pool and cabins just 10 minutes from downtown. Sites are tight and some are sloped, reviews are mixed, rates aren’t published and the season ends in October, so it suits mid-size rigs that want trees over a big-rig resort.
Reported ratesHTR doesn’t publish rates · checked Oct 7, 2026
Last reported nightly (Campendium, May 2026)$78 /night
Good Sam listingFrom $62 /night
Extra vehicle (overflow lot)$5 /night
Extra equipment$10 /night
Good Sam, AAA, military, first responders10% off
Rates are nightly only (no weekly or monthly rates) and change by date in HTR’s booking system. Up to 6 guests 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) 247-5406.
Typical July afternoon
Durango85°
Phoenix107°
Mountain summers: 22° cooler than Phoenix in July, with cool nights.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why RVers stay here.
Open
Site types
Reported from about $62–$78 a night.
Open
Rates & policies
Season, cancellation, pets and fire rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
HTR Durango is the former Lightner Creek Campground, now run by HTR Resorts, in a wooded box canyon west of Durango. It has full-hookup and water-and-electric RV sites, tent sites and several kinds of cabins, and it’s open May through October.
Best for
- RVers who want shade, trees and a quiet canyon close to town.
- Hikers: Perins Peak State Wildlife Area and Twin Buttes trails are minutes away.
- Families: seasonal pool, playground and cabins.
- Mid-size rigs; there are water-and-electric sites for vans and small trailers.
Consider this
- Sites are tight and some are sloped; reviewers warn long rigs may stick out.
- Campendium scores are the lowest on our Durango list (3.3).
- Rates aren’t published.
- Dry camping only (no water or bathhouse) May 1–14 and Oct 12–31.
Summer in Durango
Typical July afternoon
85°
Durango
Durango (NOAA station)
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
22 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 53°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Rates depend on the site type and the date and are shown in HTR’s booking system. Full hookups run May 15 to Oct 11.
Water & electric Ask
For vans, truck campers and small trailers.
Creek site Ask
Beside seasonal Lightner Creek.
Canyon site Ask
Tucked against the canyon wall.
Pull-thru From about $62/night
The easiest sites for longer rigs.
NightlyAbout $62–$78Reported; nightly only
SeasonMay 1–Oct 31Full hookups May 15–Oct 11
Check-in3 p.m.Late arrivals: packet by the office
Cancellation14+ days: refund less $20Inside 14 days, deposits are forfeited
Early departureNo refundAfter check-in
PetsUp to 2Leashed; proof of vaccinations
Guests6 per siteOne RV and one vehicle
VehiclesExtra $5 a nightParked in the overflow lot
FiresNo wood firesPropane fire pits and charcoal grills only
Discounts10%Good Sam, AAA, military, first responders
Checked against htrresorts.com on October 7, 2026. HTR doesn’t publish rates; they’re only in its booking system and change by date. Call (970) 247-5406 for the latest rates.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Will my rig fit? Give your full length; the longest sites are the pull-thrus.
- Which site type should I book? Creek, canyon and pull-thru sites have full hookups.
- Is the pool open? It’s seasonal.
- What will my total be? Extra vehicles are $5 a night and extra equipment $10.
- How’s the cell signal? HTR says T-Mobile and AT&T work; Verizon is weak.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: May 1–Oct 31
Ready for a Durango trip by RV?
Park in the pines, cool off in the pool and hike Perins Peak before dinner downtown. Book direct with HTR for current rates and availability.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The campground photos come from HTR Durango, with our thanks. Video: Adventures of Scot and April 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: United Campground of Durango, Durango RV Resort 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 HTR Durango Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with HTR Durango Campground at htrresorts.com or (970) 247-5406. 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.