Buena Vista sits in the upper Arkansas River valley in Chaffee County, close to 8,000 feet up (USGS mapping puts the town at about 7,965 feet). The Collegiate Peaks rise to the west, the Arkansas River runs through the valley below town, and much of the surrounding land is public. People base RV trips here for river camping, hot springs a few miles south, and Forest Service campgrounds up the road toward Cottonwood Pass.
It is also one of the more practical mountain towns to reach from Denver. The drive follows US 285 the whole way and avoids I-70.
Getting to Buena Vista over Kenosha and Trout Creek passes
From Denver, US 285 heads southwest through the foothills, climbs over Kenosha Pass at about 10,000 feet, and crosses the high basin of South Park past Fairplay. At Antero Junction, the highway continues over Trout Creek Pass and drops into the Arkansas valley at Johnson Village, a couple of miles south of Buena Vista. Plan on roughly two and a half hours in a car and longer in an RV.
The passes on this route are long, steady climbs. In a motorhome or with a trailer, use lower gears on the descents rather than riding the brakes, and expect slower traffic on summer weekends. CDOT can put traction and chain laws into effect on any state highway in winter weather, and US 285 can see snow from fall into late spring. Check COtrip.org for road conditions before you leave.
Camping on the Arkansas River and in the national forest
Two kinds of public camping cover most RV trips here: Colorado Parks and Wildlife campgrounds along the river, and Forest Service campgrounds in the mountains to the west.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
CPW manages the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, which runs along the river through Chaffee County. Near Buena Vista, its developed campgrounds include Railroad Bridge, upstream between Leadville and Buena Vista, and Ruby Mountain and Hecla Junction, downstream to the south. CPW describes these as basic campsites, so plan to arrive self-contained.
CPW says camping at all of its developed Arkansas Headwaters campgrounds is by reservation only. Reservations can be made on the day of arrival or up to six months ahead through CPW's online system. CPW also allows dispersed camping outside developed areas along the river, with conditions: you must bring a portable toilet and a fire container, rock fire rings are not allowed, and stays are limited to 14 days in any 28-day period.
Collegiate Peaks Campground
Collegiate Peaks Campground is a Forest Service campground about 11 miles west of Buena Vista on Colorado 306, toward Cottonwood Pass. Recreation.gov says each site includes one RV or trailer plus tow vehicle, and that no hookups are available. It also says the campground is usually full from Friday, with a host on site from mid-May through September, and that afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
| If you want | Look at | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| A site near the river and town | Arkansas Headwaters campgrounds such as Ruby Mountain or Hecla Junction | Basic sites, reservation only, book up to six months ahead |
| A forest site higher in the mountains | Collegiate Peaks Campground on Colorado 306 | No hookups, often full on weekends, summer storms |
| More solitude and fewer services | Dispersed camping along the river under CPW rules | Bring a portable toilet and fire container, 14-day limit |
Hot springs, Browns Canyon and the river
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort sits in Nathrop, between Buena Vista and Salida, at about 8,250 feet. Its pools sit along Chalk Creek. The resort says day guests are welcome year-round, with the springs open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The resort's site does not cover RV parking, so call ahead if you plan to arrive in your rig rather than a tow vehicle.
Browns Canyon National Monument covers the Arkansas River corridor between Buena Vista and Salida. It was designated in 2015 and is managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, with river recreation through the canyon managed by CPW's Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. Rafting the Arkansas through Browns Canyon is a popular day trip from either town. Book with a licensed outfitter and leave the RV at camp.
Seasons and weather in the upper Arkansas valley
Summer is the main RV season. Forest Service campgrounds such as Collegiate Peaks have hosts from mid-May through September, and river trips run while water levels allow. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains in summer, so plan hikes and drives over the passes for the morning.
Spring and fall are quieter in the valley, but nights are cold at this elevation and snow is possible on Kenosha and Trout Creek passes. Winter RV camping here is for experienced, self-contained campers. Before a trip outside summer, check CPW's park page for any campground closures and COtrip.org for the drive.
Worth knowing: CPW's developed Arkansas Headwaters campgrounds are reservation only, but you can book on the day of arrival. If your plans are loose, check CPW's reservation system the morning you drive rather than assuming every site is gone.
How RVRents fits a Buena Vista trip
There are two ways to rent an RV for this trip, and they work differently. RVs from owners on Outdoorsy are booked and paid for on Outdoorsy and picked up from the owner. They do not include RVRents delivery, setup or other services. RVs booked directly with RVRents can add services à la carte. Delivery to a campsite near Buena Vista is offered only on RVs marked Delivery available and is quoted case by case, because coverage centers on the Front Range and depends on the campground's rules and on whether a local provider serves the area. Setup, groceries, cleaning and activities are added the same way, only if you want them.
To book direct, send a trip request. Each service is a request until a provider confirms and you approve the price, and we check the campground's rules before any delivery is scheduled.
If, then
- If you are new to driving an RV in the mountains, pick a river campground near town over a forest campground up a pass road.
- If you need hookups, confirm them before you book, since the public campgrounds covered here list basic sites or no hookups.
- If you want to soak, plan Mount Princeton for a day when you can leave the rig parked at camp.
- If you are heading on to Salida, it is a short drive south down the same valley.
