Piñon Flats Campground, Great Sand Dunes National Park

Camp below North America’s tallest sand dunes.

Piñon Flats sits among piñon pines a mile north of the visitor center, with views over the dunefield to the Sangre de Cristo peaks and a short walk to Medano Creek, which runs across the sand in late spring. Sites are small and often unlevel, so check measurements before you book, and bring layers for cold nights at over 8,000 feet. New for 2026, reservations open three months ahead, and the campground closes November through March.

At a glance

Sites

88 + 3 group sites

Hookups

None; no showers

Max RV

35 ft combined length

Reservations

3 months ahead (new in 2026); no first-come

Nightly

$20

What’s here

• Tent sites
• Pets allowed
• Dark skies

Gear, rentals and guides

• Great Sand Dunes Oasis

  Sandboard and sled rentals, a store and a restaurant just outside the entrance; no online booking.

• Kristi Mountain Sports

  Alamosa outdoor shop renting sandboards and bikes since 1969.

Where to stay

• lodgeGreat Sand Dunes Lodge

  Small lodge just outside the park entrance, at the foot of the Sangre de Cristos.

  5 min drive
• cabinGreat Sand Dunes Oasis

  Rooms, cabins, tent and RV sites just outside the park.

  5 min drive

Nearby

• Medano Creek · 5 min drive

  Shallow snowmelt creek at the foot of the dunes, best for wading in late May and June.

• Sandboarding and sledding · 5 min drive

  Rent a board or sled outside the park and ride the dune faces.

• Night on the dunes · From camp

  Some of Colorado’s darkest skies; walk onto the sand after dark.

• Sandhill cranes · 1 hr drive

  Thousands of cranes stop at Monte Vista refuge in spring and from late September into November.

• Colorado Gators Reptile Park · 50 min drive

  Quirky reptile rescue and park in the San Luis Valley.

Getting there

• San Luis Valley Regional (Alamosa) (ALS) · about 45 min drive
• Colorado Springs · about 2.75 hr
• Denver · about 4 hr

Directions in Google Maps