Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Piñon Flats Campground

Reservable StargazersFamiliesDune Hikers

91 Total Sites

$20 Per Night

Reservable Booking

Seasonal Open Season

The Quick Take

Pinon Flats is the only developed campground inside Great Sand Dunes, which makes it both the obvious choice and the only choice -- a rare situation in the national park system. Sitting a mile north of the visitor center at around 8,200 feet, it offers direct access to the dune field and Medano Creek without the hassle of a long drive each morning. The trade-off is real: no showers, no electrical hookups, and vault toilets instead of flush. But the setting more than compensates -- you're camping in a high-desert pinon-juniper woodland with the tallest sand dunes in North America as your backdrop. Night skies here are genuinely spectacular, as the park holds an International Dark Sky designation. Book this if you want to be first on the dunes at sunrise, which is the single best move you can make at this park.

StargazersFamiliesDune HikersBudget Campers

Booking

Reserve Your Campsite

All 91 sites are reservable.

Book at Great Sand Dunes & Preserve Lodges

Phone 719-378-6395

Booking tip: Book exactly three months ahead on recreation.gov the moment your dates open -- summer weekends vanish within hours, but Tuesday-through-Thursday stays in September are the sweet spot for availability and weather.

What You Get

Potable Water

Camp Store

Firewood for Sale

Dump Station

Amphitheater

Cell Service

Ice for Sale

Food Storage Lockers

Flush Toilets

Trash & Recycling

Host On-Site

Showers

Internet / WiFi

Laundry

Electrical Hookups

Sites & Setup

Total Sites 91

Reservable 91

Group Sites 3

RV Information

RVs allowed. Maximum length: 33 feet. No electrical hookups.

Accessibility

Accessible campsites are reservable through recreation.gov. Facilities include access to accessible restrooms, hardened trail surfaces, picnic tables and fire rings. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK

Rules to Know

Fires:Wildlife depends on dead and down wood for their survival in this high elevation desert.
Bear Safety:Wildlife depends on dead and down wood for their survival in this high elevation desert.

Pro Tips

Camping Tip

Reservations open three months out starting in 2026, and summer weekends sell out fast. Set a calendar reminder for exactly 90 days before your target date and book the moment the window opens -- mid-week stays in June and September are your best bet for snagging a spot without a fight.

Camping Tip

Medano Creek flows strongest in late May through early June during peak snowmelt, creating a surreal 'beach' experience at the base of the dunes. Time your trip for this window if you have kids -- it's one of the most unique water features in any national park and it's a short walk from camp.

Camping Tip

Bear boxes are provided at every site for a reason -- black bears are active here, especially in late summer. Bring your own firewood money too, since collecting wood is illegal in the park. The visitor center and camp store sell regionally harvested bundles, but they close in the evening, so stock up before dinner.