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Ryan Robinson takes you for a ride in the passenger seat of his RV, off the grid, deep among the dramatic rock formations of the Utah Desert. Robinson and friends chill by the fire, tell stories, and of course, rig a one of a kind highline over the Looking Glass Arch in Moab, UT.
Winter is when most campgrounds across the northern third of the U.S. shut down due to snow and subfreezing temperatures. But, a growing number of campgrounds are open in winter, both to accommodate travelers and winter recreation enthusiasts, as well as people who work from their RVs.
Some parks offer extended-stay campsites for RVers in winter while others offer a mix of RV sites with or without amenities like water. If you’ll be camping in winter, make sure you understand what amenities your campground offers and make sure your rig is properly outfitted and/or winterized.
Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has an online listing of its campgrounds that are open in winter. But outside the KOA network, it requires a lot more research to find out not only which campgrounds are open in winter, but which ones are suitable base camps for winter recreation enthusiasts.
To streamline your planning for RV trips in snow country, we’ve identified nearly 50 campgrounds across the country that can serve as base camps for your winter recreation pursuits.
Winter camping is popular with RVers and winter sports enthusiasts. Photo courtesy of Park City RV Resort.
Our Recommendations
Village Camp Flagstaff in Flagstaff: This park is open year-round and features RV sites as well as park model RV rentals. The mountain base camp includes modern amenities like a luxury clubhouse with a bar, bistro, general store, event lawn, and year-round hot tub.
Village Camp Truckee-Tahoe in Truckee: This RV park is located only a few minutes away from world-class ski destinations including Northstar California and Palisades Tahoe and has RV sites and cabin rentals. The park also offers monthly rates in the winter.
High Sierra RV & Mobile Home Park in Oakhurst: This park is located just outside the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park and is just over an hour’s drive from the Badger Pass Ski Area, which offers downhill skiing in addition to being next to several trails suitable for cross-country skiers.
Inn Town Campground in Nevada City: This Sierra Foothills campground is open in winter and can serve as a base camp for ski trips to Sugar Bowl and Boreal Mountain, both of which are about an hour away, depending on road conditions.
Mammoth Mountain RV Park & Campground in Mammoth Lakes: This park features plowed RV sites with electric hookups as well as a water filling station and dump station. Other amenities include restrooms with hot showers and an indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Activities in the Mammoth Lakes area include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.
Tahoe Valley RV Resort in South Lake Tahoe: This park offers RV sites as well rental accommodations, including park models and convenient access to Tahoe area ski resorts, including Heavenly Valley.
Yosemite Lakes RV Campground in Groveland: Located just outside the western entrance to Yosemite National Park, this campground offers a variety of RV sites as well as furnished park model rentals for visitors seeking winter recreation activities in Yosemite.
Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging in Groveland: Located just outside Yosemite National Park, this campground can serve as a base camp for day trips into Yosemite to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities.
Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon at Black Hawk: Located at 9,230 feet, this campground has no running water for RVers at this time of year, but restrooms and shower facilities are available. The campground also offers 12 cabins. Nearby winter activities include skiing and snowboarding at the Echo Mountain and Eldora Mountain ski resorts, scenic winter drives along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, and gambling in the nearby communities of Black Hawk and Central City.
Canyon View RV Resort in Grand Junction: RV enthusiasts can use this park as a base camp for downhill skiing day trips to Powderhorn Resort or to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing atop Grand Mesa. Long-term stays in the winter are available.
Garden of the Gods RV Resort in Colorado Springs: This park, which has views of Pikes Peak, has RV sites and rental accommodations. Nearby attractions include the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center with sandstone rock formations, hiking and mountain biking trails as well as a variety of organized activities.
The campground can also be used as a basecamp for visits to downtown Colorado Springs and to the scenic and historic mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor as well as Manitou, which is famous for its hot springs. The road to 14,115-foot Pikes Peak is also open in winter but sometimes closes briefly based on weather conditions.
Lake John Resort in Walden: This 8,200-foot, family-owned campground has an ice fishing contest every January. The park also rents out ice fishing huts with or without equipment. The resort offers RV and tent sites and furnished rental cabins. While ice fishing is a big attraction here, other nearby activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
The resort is close to Delaney Butte Lakes, Big Creek Lake, Cowdrey Lake, and the many alpine lakes of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness as well as the Grizzly Helena Trail. Steamboat Ski Resort is about an hour away.
Middlefork RV Park in Fairplay: Situated at 9,900 feet, this campground is only 23 miles from Breckenridge and within an hour and 15 minutes of several other major ski resorts at Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Vail. A dump station and water are available during the winter months, but water and sewer services aren’t available at individual campsites.
Oasis Durango RV Resort in Durango: This Roberts Resorts park is 25 minutes from Durango Hot Springs and 40 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort. Park amenities include a hot tub and spacious sites. Extended winter stays are also available.
Ouray Riverside Resort in Ouray: Winter visitors include RVers and park model campers wishing to attend the annual Ouray Ice Festival and Competition, typically in mid-January. The Ouray Ice Park contains over 100 man made ice and mixed climbs, climbing areas, and vertical terrain. Skiers and snowboarders also use Ouray Riverside Resort as a base camp for excursions to Telluride Ski Resort or to enjoy backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.
Palisade Base Camp in Palisade: This campground with frontage along the Colorado River complements its RV and tent sites with rental cabins and cottages as well as two country home suites. Unlike many campgrounds, this park offers winterized RV sites with water with discounted rates.
Red Mountain RV Park in Kremmling: This campground attracts its share of skiers, snowshoers, and ice-fishing enthusiasts. While the park does maintain some full hookup sites even in winter, many winter recreation enthusiasts like to dry camp in their RVs and use the park’s restrooms and showers.
Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountain in Granby: This resort maintains RV sites during the winter months. The resort’s park model vacation rentals are also available year-round. Winter activities include skiing and snowboarding at Winter Park, 25 minutes away, and the annual 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest. You can also get discounted rates on lodging and ski passes at Granby Ranch Ski Resort.
Tiger Run Resort in Breckenridge: Winter recreation enthusiasts in Colorado often stay at this 9,600-foot resort near the historic mining town of Breckenridge, which is close to several popular ski resorts, including Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain, with Vail being about an hour away, depending on road conditions.
Snowy Peaks RV Park & Rentals in Buena Vista: This park is open in winter and serves as a base camp for RVers who enjoy skiing and snowboarding at the Monarch and Copper Mountain ski resorts.
Steamboat Springs KOA Holiday in Steamboat Springs: This year-round campground can serve as a base camp for a variety of winter activities from skiing at nearby ski resorts to snowmobiling, snow tubing, and winter horseback riding at Saddleback Ranch.
Westerly RV Park in Durango: This campground, which is across the street from Durango Hot Springs, offers sites for RVs and is often used as a base camp for skiers and snowboarders bound for Purgatory. Families also enjoy taking their kids on winter train rides on the historic Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad up to Cascade Canyon.
Colonial Mast Campground in Naples: Winter guests at this park can snowmobile right from their campsite or spend the day ice fishing or cross-country skiing on the lake or downhill skiing at nearby Shawnee Mountain. The park also offers an indoor swimming pool and hot tub.
Wilderness Pines Campground in Monticello: This park maintains a few RV sites in winter for dry camping travelers, as well as ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and ice fishing enthusiasts who want to enjoy the snow trails and lakes in the area. This campground is also a popular venue for snow sledding.
Cherry Hill Park in College Park: RVers who stay at this park outside Washington D.C. enjoy access to the park’s indoor amenities, including a hot tub, sauna, game room, and exercise room.
Rippling River Resort in Marquette: This park accommodates RVers who come to the area to enjoy cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, as well as downhill skiing and snowboarding on Marquette Mountain.
Pony Express RV Park in West Yellowstone: Located just outside Yellowstone National Park, this park can be used as a base camp for a variety of winter activities, including cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. Only electricity is available for winter campers.
Rocky Mountain Hi RV Park in Kalispell: Winter RVers at this park have access to two nearby ski resorts, including Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area.
Black Bear RV Park in Florida: This park is located about 60 miles from New York City. This RV park is under new management. Visit in the winter for easy access to Mount Peter, Mountain Creek, and High Point Cross Country Ski Center.
Brookside Campground in Catskill: This park has RV sites and cabin rentals available in winter but by reservation only. It’s conveniently located near the ski resorts and mountains near Catskill.
Mt. Hood Village RV Resort in Welches: Located outside of Portland, this resort is a popular winter basecamp, with the Mt. Hood Skibowl just 13 miles away and Mt. Hood Adventure Park another 2 miles down the road.
While winter camping might come with some limited amenities, there are unique experiences that can only be had in winter. Photo courtesy of Oasis Durango RV Resort in Durango, Colorado.
Dutch Cousin Campground in Denver: This family-owned campground in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country), is open year-round.
Happy Acres Resort in Waterville: This campground is open to RVers for dry camping in winter. Skiers will enjoy Ski Sawmill (30 minutes away) and Little Pine State Park for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATVing.
Hart Ranch Camping Resort in Rapid City: This park keeps about 130 sites open during the winter months. Winter activities include hunting, snowmobiling, and skiing.
Rush No More RV Resort in Sturgis: RV enthusiasts can use this park as a base camp for skiing and snowmobiling in the Spearfish and Deadwood areas, both of which are about 20 minutes away.
Park City RV Resort in Park City: This park, which is owned by Roberts Resorts, is only minutes from three world-class ski resorts, including the Olympic Park ski jump. Park amenities include a heated pool and hot tub. Note this resort does not have public Wi-Fi.
Salt Lake City KOA in Salt Lake City: This campground caters to ski and snowboard enthusiasts who can enjoy the slopes outside of Salt Lake City in the winter months. And for a break from the snow, this campground is only 14 blocks from downtown.
Leavenworth / Pine Village KOA Holiday in Leavenworth: This park offers RV sites and rental accommodations for campers wanting to visit the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth, Stevens Pass Ski Resort, or to enjoy additional winter activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
Sky High Camping Resort in Portage: This park has RV sites available in winter for skiers bound for Cascade Mountain Ski Hill as well as those looking to ice fish at Devil's Lake State Park, which also offers trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing enthusiasts.
Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne: This ranch has a small RV park that’s open for dry camping in winter. Activities include horseback riding and a train ride across the ranch to view a bison herd in the snow.
Jeff Crider, President and CEO of Crider Public Relations, has been involved in covering the campground industry for over 25 years. Jeff has worked as a freelance writer for publications such as RV Business, Motor Home Magazine, Trailer Life, Highways and other Affinity Group Inc. publications since 1995. He has also successfully pitched many of the nation's top tier media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Financial Times, Reuters, The Associated Press and National Public Radio. In addition to writing, Jeff is also a talented photographer and humanitarian.
