The best safari tent rentals near Durango, Colorado

Durango is a beautiful mountain town tucked into the southwestern part of Colorado near Mesa Verde National Park. It’s one of Colorado’s largest mountain towns and it has the perfect combination of natural attractions, historic sites, and lively, big city entertainment. Durango offers easy access to hiking and mountain biking trails, ski runs, and whitewater fun as well as a happening downtown with shops, unique restaurants, and a lively arts scene. Campers will find plenty of convenient options near town, including glamping spots right in town, and more secluded spots in the surrounding San Juan National Forest.

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Top-rated campgrounds

1. Modern Camping in McElmo Canyon

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50mi from Durango · 1 site · Lodging · Cortez, CO

Play in nature, relax in comfort. 2 spacious safari-style tents nestled in a small orchard with big views of Canyon of the Ancients. Your stay includes a private bathhouse with indoor and outdoor showers. Both tents have king beds and outdoor lounging areas and share a central campfire area. Clifftop hiking with views as far as Mesa Verde. We only accept one reservation at a time so the camp is all yours. The Details The Orchard Camp includes two large safari-style tents, each with a king bed, water cooler, mini-fridge, sheets & towels. The tents share cooking and camp amenities like a two burner Coleman stove and a propane-fueled "fire pit," and games like corn hole. Your private Bathhouse offers two sinks, two showers, two toilets, an outdoor shower and an outdoor sink for your dishes. The Orchard, with its young fruit trees and wildflowers, is your private garden. The Property You'll have access to roam much of this 38 acre property which includes a hay farm, cliffside and clifftop trail and a section of McElmo Creek. We just ask that folks stay away from the private residence on site, which is well-marked. We love pets and kids but due to the Wildlife with a capital W (and the occasional skunk) with whom we share this land we must limit our guests to humans ages 8 and up. Southwest Colorado is a land of extremes. We get hot, cold and everything in between. The tents are canvas so we offer electric blankets and small space heaters for colder days, and fans for the warmer days. And in advance, we apologize for the high cleaning fee. When you're here you'll understand why with the large showerhouse and all its windows, the large canvas tents and big decks, etc.

2. Dunton Hot Springs

36mi from Durango · 33 sites · Rico, CO

Dunton Hot Springs Resort stands out as a unique destination, blending the charm of a romantic ghost town with the luxury of modern accommodations, all set against the stunning backdrop of the San Juan Mountains in the Colorado Rockies. This extraordinary alpine valley offers guests an unforgettable experience, combining rustic elegance with exclusive hospitality and an authentic glamping adventure. Accommodating up to 44 guests, Dunton Hot Springs features thirteen beautifully furnished luxury cabins, ranging from one to five bedrooms. Each hand-hewn log cabin is exquisitely decorated, providing a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Guests can indulge in gourmet meals at the life-worn saloon, explore lung-busting trails, and unwind with pampering massages, all while enjoying the soothing hot springs nestled beneath glistening snowbanks. Although the ghost town is free of cell phone service, high-speed wireless internet is available in every cabin, ensuring connectivity when needed. An exceptional addition to the Dunton experience is the Dunton River Camp, which offers eight luxurious prospector-style tents, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. Located at Cresto Ranch, a historic cattle ranch from the late 1800s, the camp is surrounded by approximately 500 acres of picturesque fields, meadows, and forests.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Durango is a beautiful mountain town tucked into the southwestern part of Colorado near Mesa Verde National Park. It’s one of Colorado’s largest mountain towns and it has the perfect combination of natural attractions, historic sites, and lively, big city entertainment. Durango offers easy access to hiking and mountain biking trails, ski runs, and whitewater fun as well as a happening downtown with shops, unique restaurants, and a lively arts scene. Campers will find plenty of convenient options near town, including glamping spots right in town, and more secluded spots in the surrounding San Juan National Forest.

100% (1)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Modern Camping in McElmo Canyon

100%

(1)

50mi from Durango · 1 site · Lodging · Cortez, CO

Play in nature, relax in comfort. 2 spacious safari-style tents nestled in a small orchard with big views of Canyon of the Ancients. Your stay includes a private bathhouse with indoor and outdoor showers. Both tents have king beds and outdoor lounging areas and share a central campfire area. Clifftop hiking with views as far as Mesa Verde. We only accept one reservation at a time so the camp is all yours. The Details The Orchard Camp includes two large safari-style tents, each with a king bed, water cooler, mini-fridge, sheets & towels. The tents share cooking and camp amenities like a two burner Coleman stove and a propane-fueled "fire pit," and games like corn hole. Your private Bathhouse offers two sinks, two showers, two toilets, an outdoor shower and an outdoor sink for your dishes. The Orchard, with its young fruit trees and wildflowers, is your private garden. The Property You'll have access to roam much of this 38 acre property which includes a hay farm, cliffside and clifftop trail and a section of McElmo Creek. We just ask that folks stay away from the private residence on site, which is well-marked. We love pets and kids but due to the Wildlife with a capital W (and the occasional skunk) with whom we share this land we must limit our guests to humans ages 8 and up. Southwest Colorado is a land of extremes. We get hot, cold and everything in between. The tents are canvas so we offer electric blankets and small space heaters for colder days, and fans for the warmer days. And in advance, we apologize for the high cleaning fee. When you're here you'll understand why with the large showerhouse and all its windows, the large canvas tents and big decks, etc.

2. Dunton Hot Springs

36mi from Durango · 33 sites · Rico, CO

Dunton Hot Springs Resort stands out as a unique destination, blending the charm of a romantic ghost town with the luxury of modern accommodations, all set against the stunning backdrop of the San Juan Mountains in the Colorado Rockies. This extraordinary alpine valley offers guests an unforgettable experience, combining rustic elegance with exclusive hospitality and an authentic glamping adventure. Accommodating up to 44 guests, Dunton Hot Springs features thirteen beautifully furnished luxury cabins, ranging from one to five bedrooms. Each hand-hewn log cabin is exquisitely decorated, providing a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Guests can indulge in gourmet meals at the life-worn saloon, explore lung-busting trails, and unwind with pampering massages, all while enjoying the soothing hot springs nestled beneath glistening snowbanks. Although the ghost town is free of cell phone service, high-speed wireless internet is available in every cabin, ensuring connectivity when needed. An exceptional addition to the Dunton experience is the Dunton River Camp, which offers eight luxurious prospector-style tents, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. Located at Cresto Ranch, a historic cattle ranch from the late 1800s, the camp is surrounded by approximately 500 acres of picturesque fields, meadows, and forests.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Stories from the community

M

MARCI

July 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Modern Camping in McElmo Canyon

This place exceeded my expectations by A LOT. The hosts put a lot into extra work to make this nice and you get a lot for the money. Highly recommend!!

Other options near Durango

Dunton Hot Springs

36mi from Durango · 33 sites · Rico, CO

Dunton Hot Springs Resort stands out as a unique destination, blending the charm of a romantic ghost town with the luxury of modern accommodations, all set against the stunning backdrop of the San Juan Mountains in the Colorado Rockies. This extraordinary alpine valley offers guests an unforgettable experience, combining rustic elegance with exclusive hospitality and an authentic glamping adventure. Accommodating up to 44 guests, Dunton Hot Springs features thirteen beautifully furnished luxury cabins, ranging from one to five bedrooms. Each hand-hewn log cabin is exquisitely decorated, providing a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Guests can indulge in gourmet meals at the life-worn saloon, explore lung-busting trails, and unwind with pampering massages, all while enjoying the soothing hot springs nestled beneath glistening snowbanks. Although the ghost town is free of cell phone service, high-speed wireless internet is available in every cabin, ensuring connectivity when needed. An exceptional addition to the Dunton experience is the Dunton River Camp, which offers eight luxurious prospector-style tents, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. Located at Cresto Ranch, a historic cattle ranch from the late 1800s, the camp is surrounded by approximately 500 acres of picturesque fields, meadows, and forests.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best safari tents near Durango guide

Where to go

Durango

The town of Durango is a destination in itself. There are more trails running through Durango than any other city in Colorado and the Animas River flows right through town offering a range of water sports including a downtown whitewater park. Fishing is also great on several sections of the river including the seven mile stretch that flows right through town. The historic narrow-gauge railroad also runs daily from Durango to Silverton and offers stunning views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains.

La Plata Canyon

Located just west of Durrango, the La Plata Canyon Recreational Area is a popular hiking destination. The La Plata’s are an exceptionally beautiful range of the San Juan Mountains and are known to put on quite the wildflower show in early summer. The area offers numerous trails for the serious hiker including trails to several peaks above 12,000 feet. Campers will find plenty of established campgrounds and dispersed areas in La Plata Canyon.

Silverton

The old mining community of Silverton, Colorado is located about an hour north of Durango. Along the way, you’ll pass by Purgatory Resort and several trailheads including the Molas Pass section of the Colorado Trail and the popular Engineer Mountain Trail. Near Silverton, you’ll find plenty of jeep roads and hiking trails leading into the high country and several National Forest campgrounds.

Mesa Verde National Park

Located just 45 minutes west of Durango, Mesa Verde National Park preserved thousands of archeological sites including the famous multi-story dwellings built into the sides of cliffs. Visitors can tour the cliff dwellings on ranger-led tours and hike to rock art left behind by the Ancestral Puebloan people. Campers can almost always find a site at the Morefield Campground located inside the park.

When to go

The best time to hike, mountain bike, and camp in the mountains around Durango is between May and early October. Late July and early August are especially nice when the high country is blanketed with Indian paintbrush and Colorado columbine. Fall colors are typically the best during the latter half of September. Ski season typically opens in early December and runs through early April, although backcountry skiers can often visit until June.

Know before you go

Durango is a very popular outdoor destination. Book campsites and activities, like train tickets, in advance.
Pack sunscreen and plenty of layers. The Durango area boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year and can get very chilly at night at the high elevations.
Durango is very dog-friendly. Dogs are welcome on most trails in and around Durango as well as many places around town. Dogs are not allowed on trails in Mesa Verde National Park.
Bears are a common sight around Durango. Don’t leave food unattended while camping, and hike in groups if you can.