Base Camp 550, Ridgway, CO
At a Glance
Location - Ridgway, CO
Site Types - RV/Camper, Glamping, Cabins, Tent
Hookups - Variety of options including, Full Hookups, Water & Electric (30/50 amp)
Nightly Fee - Dependent on site chosen
Reservations - https://www.basecamp550.com/
Laundry - On site, coin operated
Showers - Clean with ample hot water, coin operated
🔥 Final Score: 4.2 / 5
🌲 Privacy & Spacing: 2 / 5
🚿 Cleanliness & Facilities: 5 / 5
🌌 Scenery & Vibe: 5 / 5
🚗 Access & Roads: 5 / 5
💵 Value for Money: 4 / 5
Badges: 🐾 Pet-Friendly | 🔇 Solitude Badge | 🏔️Amazing Views Badge
Overview & First Impressions
Beautiful location in the valley of the San Juan mountains between Ridgway and Ouray. Close enough to both towns to visit easily. No office check-in - just head straight to your site.
Detailed Category Breakdown
🌲 Privacy & Spacing (Score: 2 /5)
This can vary based on the site chosen, but the majority of sites are packed close together. There are sites available that aren’t as close, but those cost extra.
🚿 Cleanliness & Facilities (Score: 5/5)
Restrooms are cleaned daily. They have a few toilets and two shower stalls. The showers are coin operated. $.25 for every 3 minutes. Ample hot water.
🌌 Scenery & Vibe (Score: 5/5)
The scenery is amazing. You have a western view of the San Juan mountains, which makes for stunning sunsets. The vibe is also better than what you find at most campsites. This campground seems to attract a younger crowd. I stayed here over 4th of July weekend and the campground hosts hired a musician and provided drinks. It was a great way to meet fellow campers.
🚗 Access & Roads (Score: 5/5)
Right off the highway, very easy to get to and close to things to do.
💵 Value for Money (Score: 4/5)
It is a little expensive but it is in line with other campgrounds in the area.
Verdict: Is It Worth It?
I love this campground and have stayed multiple times. The view is probably the biggest highlight for me, but so is the vibe. Everything is modern and well cared for - the laundry room, the showers, and the camp kitchen. Its proximity to both Ouray and Ridgway (and really even Telluride) make it easy to drive to any of these towns for a day trip. There’s a lot of great hiking, biking and climbing in the area. Some drawbacks: there are camping options within Ouray so if this is your destination, they may be a better fit; narrow shoulders on Hwy 550 make it unsafe to bike into either Ouray or Ridgeway; proximity to Hwy 550 means there is some road noise at the campground.