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Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Pinon Flats is the only developed campground in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, set close enough to the dunes that you can walk to them from your site. It sits at the base of the Sangre de Cristo range with views of both the dunes and the mountains, and it's near Medano Creek, the seasonal stream that draws wading crowds when snowmelt runoff is highest.
89 campsites|Colorado
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Campsite Types
Group
3 sites
No hookups · group tent siteTent OK
RV (no hookups)
52 sites
No hookups · RV designated sitesRV OK
Tent only
34 sites
No hookups · tents onlyTent OK
Prefer a cabin or cottage nearby?
Alamosa has motels and vacation rentals about 30 minutes away, a fallback if Pinon Flats is full.
See cabins & rentals near Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Best Campsites
For Families:Loop 1 sites near the entrance are the most convenient for families making frequent trips to the dunes
For Tents:Group Loop and standard sites throughout Loop 1 both work well for tent camping
For RVs:Loop 1's RV-designated sites are your best bet, though there are no hookups
When to Go
Late spring through early summer, when Medano Creek is flowing at its highest, is the most popular and hardest-to-book stretch. Fall offers cooler temperatures and fewer crowds for hiking the dunes.
Tips
- →Medano Creek's flow is seasonal and peaks with spring snowmelt — check current conditions before you go if creek wading is the draw
- →The dunes get scorching hot on summer afternoons; early morning or evening is the best time to hike them
- →No hookups at any site here, so come prepared for dry camping
- →Reserve early for the peak creek-flow season, the busiest time of year
Highlights
The only developed campground inside Great Sand Dunes National Park & PreserveClose enough to walk to the dunes from your campsiteViews of both the dunes and the Sangre de Cristo mountainsNear Medano Creek, popular for wading when snowmelt runoff peaksPinon-juniper woodland provides some shade, unusual for a dune-adjacent campgroundDark skies for stargazing over the dunes
Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve — Frequently Asked
Is Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve hard to book?+
Yes — Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is a federal campground booked through recreation.gov, and its sites fill up on weekends and during peak seasons. Late spring through early summer, when Medano Creek is flowing at its highest, is the most popular and hardest-to-book stretch. Fall offers cooler temperatures and fewer crowds for hiking the dunes. Reserve early on recreation.gov, and set a Camp.land alert to catch cancellations the moment they open.
How many campsites does Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve have?+
Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve has 89 campsites, including Group, RV (no hookups), Tent only.
How far in advance should I book Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?+
Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is a federal campground, so sites are booked through recreation.gov — typically up to 6 months in advance — not the Texas state park system. If your dates are already full, set a Camp.land alert and we'll email you the moment a cancellation opens.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve?+
Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve occasionally has same-day or cancellation openings on recreation.gov, especially midweek. Camp.land watches Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve for cancellations and emails you the instant one opens, with a direct booking link.
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