Dinosaur National Monument: The Complete Camping Guide (Free BLM Sites, Echo Park & More)

A complete weekend guide to free camping, fossil hunting, petroglyphs, and Echo Park in Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado & Utah

What Is Dinosaur National Monument?

Dinosaur National Monument straddles the Colorado-Utah border and is one of the most underrated outdoor destinations in the American West. Technically, it's not a traditional National Park — it's jointly managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a rare arrangement that opens up significant opportunities for free dispersed camping on the Colorado side of the park.

Things To See:

• Tour of the Tilted Rocks

• Echo Park Campground

• Fossil Discovery Trail

• Harper's Corner Overlook

• Fossil Exhibit Hall

• Josie Morris Complex

• Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs

🏕️ Camping near and in Dinosaur

Free BLM Camping

One of the biggest perks of visiting Dinosaur National Monument is the free dispersed camping on BLM land on the Colorado side.

Here's how to find it:

• Drive into Dinosaur, Colorado, then head north on Harper's Corner Road

• Any road branching off Harper's Corner Road is on BLM land once you're more than ½ mile from the main road

• Sites are first come, first served — I arrived at 2:30am and still found a spot with incredible views

Cell Service & Wi-Fi: 

I had Verizon Wireless and were able to use our phones as mobile hotspots to work remotely the next morning.

Overlook at a free campsite outside of Dinosaur National Monument

Green RIVER Campground in Dinosaur National Monument

Green Mountain Campground is a NPS-managed campground on the Colorado side of the park. It's not the most scenic campground in the monument, but the setting and river access make it worth a stop. When I went, the sites were all sites are first come, first served. That has changed.

• Reservations: Required

• Cost: $24/night (verify current fees on Recreation.gov)

• Highlight: Site 10A has private river access — perfect for a morning swim or river bath

• The Green River runs alongside the campground, making it an ideal base camp for a multi-day trip

⛺ Book Your Site on Recreation.gov here

Echo Park — The Best Campsite in Dinosaur National Monument

Echo Park Campground is the crown jewel of Dinosaur National Monument. It's the dramatic river bend you've seen in all the photos, where the Green River loops beneath towering sandstone cliffs.

• Cost: $14–15/night (first come, first served)

• Road conditions: The access road is long, rough, and sandy — if it has rained recently, do not attempt it. High-clearance vehicles recommended

• What to do: Camp, stargaze, swim, and simply exist in one of the most spectacular settings in the Colorado Plateau

💡 Pro tip: Stock up on supplies before you arrive. The town of Dinosaur, CO has no grocery store. Drive the extra 30 minutes to Vernal, Utah for everything you'll need.

🧺 Supplies

Where to Buy Groceries Near Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur, Colorado has no grocery store, gas station, or real services. Don't plan to resupply there. Instead, stop in Vernal, Utah (~30 minutes west of the visitor center), which has full grocery stores, gas, restaurants, and everything else you'll need.

🏫 Visitor Center & The Fossil Exhibit Hall

The main fossil experience is located on the Utah side of the park at the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Here's what to expect:

• A short tram (or walk) takes you to the Exhibit Hall where hundreds of dinosaur bones are visible embedded in the cliff face

• I highly recommend this, it's unlike anything else in the National Park System

🥾 Fossil Discovery Trail

After the exhibit, skip the tram back and take the Fossil Discovery Trail instead:

• Distance: ~1 mile, mostly downhill

• Difficulty: Easy

• Highlights: Passes additional fossil sites outdoors (though they can be hard to spot — I didn't find any, and neither did others on the trail)

• Elevation: Downhill from Exhibit Hall

• Difficulty: Easy

• Trailhead: Quarry Exhibit Hall, Jensen, Utah

• Best for: Families, casual hikers, fossil enthusiasts

• A sunny, relaxed walk back to the visitor area

🖌️ Tour of the Tilted Rocks — Petroglyphs & Pictographs

If you want to see ancient rock art with minimal hiking effort, the Tour of the Tilted Rocks is a must-do scenic drive:

• Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs: Easily accessible rock art panel with minimal walking

• Cub Corner: Another roadside stop along the drive

• Josie Morris Cabin (Josie Morris Complex) — A historic homestead at the end of the drive with a picnic area; a great lunch stop

All stops involve little to no hiking and were completely uncrowded when I visited.

3-Day Weekend Itinerary: Dinosaur National Monument

Day	Activity
Night 1	Drive to Dinosaur, CO — Free BLM dispersed camping north of town
Day 1	Visitor Center (Utah side) → Fossil Exhibit Hall → Fossil Discovery Trail
Night 2	Green Mountain Campground — grab Site 10A for river access
Day 2	Morning river swim → Tour of the Tilted Rocks → Petroglyphs → Drive to Echo Park
Night 3	Echo Park Campground ($14–15/night)
Day 3	Harper's Corner overlook → 4-hour drive home

FAQ: Dinosaur National Monument Camping

Is camping free at Dinosaur National Monument?

Free dispersed camping is available on BLM land north of Dinosaur, CO off Harper's Corner Road. NPS campgrounds like Green Mountain and Echo Park have nominal fees.

Do you need a reservation for Dinosaur National Monument?

The Quarry Exhibit Hall does not require timed-entry reservations. Campgrounds are generally first come, first served, except for Gr - check Recreation.gov for current availability.

Is Echo Park worth it?

Absolutely - it's the most scenic spot in the monument. Just don't drive the access road if it's wet or rained recently.

What's the closest town to Dinosaur National Monument with a grocery store?

Vernal, Utah — about 30 minutes from the Utah visitor center — is your best supply stop.