Bradfield Campground Review: Affordable Camping Near Mesa Verde National Park
If you’re looking for an inexpensive campground near Mesa Verde National Park, Bradfield Campground gave us a quiet and scenic place to stay while exploring southwestern Colorado.
We spent four nights here while visiting Mesa Verde and Canyons of the Ancients, and we also ended up using the campground as a place to wait out a stretch of cold weather.
Bradfield isn’t a fancy RV resort.
There were no hookups during our stay, and amenities were pretty basic.
But we had beautiful mountain scenery, river access, spacious campsites and a peaceful place to park the trailer—all for very little money.
For us, that was a pretty good deal.
Where Is Bradfield Campground?
Bradfield Campground is near the small community of Cahone, Colorado, roughly 20 miles north of Cortez.
We chose the area because we wanted to explore some of southwestern Colorado’s incredible archaeological sites, particularly Mesa Verde and Canyons of the Ancients.
The campground sits down in a small valley surrounded by beautiful Colorado scenery.
It felt tucked away from everything without putting us terribly far from Cortez and the places we wanted to visit.
Our Campsite at Bradfield Campground
The campground had two loops during our visit, with a variety of campsites scattered through the valley.
We had a nice-sized site for our travel trailer.
The picnic table and fire pit for our site were actually down a little bank from the trailer, closer to the river.
Several campsites also had covered picnic areas, which would be particularly nice during sunny or rainy weather.
There was enough separation and natural scenery around us that it didn’t feel like we were simply sitting in a parking lot full of RVs.
For the price we paid, we thought it was a really nice campground.
River Access
One of our favorite features was the river running beside the campground.
Our site gave us easy access to it.
And, naturally, General discovered it.
The fact that temperatures were freezing didn’t seem to matter to him in the slightest.
He still wanted to get into the river.
We thought he was nuts.
He apparently thought we were the crazy ones for questioning the wisdom of swimming when it was freezing outside.
Either way, if you’re traveling with a water-loving dog like General, the river certainly adds to the appeal of the campground.
Bradfield Campground Amenities
Bradfield was a fairly basic campground during our stay.
We had:
- Campsites spread between two loops
- Picnic tables
- Fire pits
- Covered picnic areas at some sites
- River access
- Water spigots when the seasonal water system was operating
There were no hookups at our site.
The campground normally had water available from spigots, but we visited at the end of October, and the water had already been shut off for the season a couple of weeks earlier.
That’s something to keep in mind when camping late in the year.
Even when a campground normally offers water, seasonal systems may be shut down once freezing weather arrives.
What Did Bradfield Campground Cost?
At the time of our visit, Bradfield Campground cost $8 per night.
With our Senior Pass, we paid $4 per night.
We stayed for four nights, so this was an extremely inexpensive place for us to wait out the cold spell and explore the surrounding area.
Campground rates, discounts and policies can change, so check current information before planning your trip.
But during our stay, Bradfield offered a lot of value for very little money.
Why We Chose Bradfield Instead of Free Camping
We had originally considered another camping option near Orson Point, which was listed as a free camping area.
When we arrived, however, some people nearby were target shooting.
General does not like gunfire.
We knew we’d have a miserable dog if we stayed there, so we decided to keep looking.
That’s how we ended up at Bradfield Campground.
Yes, we had to pay a few dollars.
But it was quieter, peaceful and much better suited to us.
Sometimes free isn’t necessarily the best option.
For $4 a night with our pass, we were more than happy with our decision.
Camping Near Mesa Verde National Park
Our main reason for staying in this part of Colorado was Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde was one of those destinations we’d really been looking forward to seeing, and Bradfield gave us an affordable base for exploring the region.
If you’re traveling through southwestern Colorado, there’s much more here than Mesa Verde alone.
We also wanted to see Canyons of the Ancients, making this an especially interesting area for anyone fascinated by the history and archaeology of the Southwest.
Bradfield allowed us to spend several days in the area without paying commercial RV park prices.
A Beautiful Southwestern Colorado Setting
The campground itself was part of the experience.
We were surrounded by mountains and tucked into a little valley with the river nearby.
It wasn’t a campground packed with amenities or activities.
That wasn’t what we were looking for.
We wanted somewhere quiet and pretty where we could park the RV while exploring the region.
Bradfield did that very well.
Late-Season Camping at Bradfield
Our visit came at the end of October, which added another dimension to the experience.
It was cold.
Very cold.
We actually stayed for four nights partly because we were waiting out a cold spell before continuing our travels.
Late-season camping can be wonderful because campgrounds are often much quieter, but it comes with tradeoffs.
In our case, the campground’s water had already been turned off.
Freezing temperatures also meant paying more attention to our RV’s heating, plumbing and power.
Anyone considering a shoulder-season stay should check both the forecast and current campground services before arriving.
What We Liked About Bradfield Campground
Bradfield turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
Our favorite things about it were:
- Beautiful mountain scenery
- Quiet surroundings
- River access
- Spacious campsites
- Covered picnic areas at some sites
- Easy access to the southwestern Colorado attractions we wanted to explore
- An extremely affordable camping fee during our visit
It wasn’t elaborate.
It didn’t need to be.
Things to Know Before You Go
There were a few things we’d want other RV travelers to know based on our stay.
First, don’t expect full hookups. This was basic camping.
Second, if you’re visiting late in the season, don’t assume the water will still be operating. It had already been winterized when we arrived near the end of October.
Third, if you’re considering dispersed camping elsewhere in the area instead, remember that conditions can be very different from one location to another.
The free area we’d considered might have been perfectly fine for someone else.
It simply wasn’t a good fit for us and General because of the target shooting taking place nearby.
Pros and Cons of Bradfield Campground
What We Liked
The campground was scenic, quiet and inexpensive.
We enjoyed having the river close to our campsite, and the mountain surroundings made it feel much more remote than it actually was.
It also worked well as a base for the places we’d come to southwestern Colorado to see.
And paying just $4 per night with our Senior Pass during our visit was pretty hard to beat.
What We’d Keep in Mind
This isn’t the place to choose if your priority is full hookups and resort-style amenities.
Seasonal water availability can also be an issue during cold weather.
And because it’s outside Cortez, you’ll need to drive when you want town services or when you’re heading out to explore the major attractions.
For us, none of those things were deal breakers.
Would We Stay at Bradfield Campground Again?
Yes.
Bradfield gave us exactly what we needed.
It was quiet.
It was beautiful.
There was enough room for our trailer.
General got his river.
We had a convenient base for exploring Mesa Verde and Canyons of the Ancients.
And it was incredibly affordable during our stay.
Sometimes our favorite campgrounds aren’t the ones with swimming pools, clubhouses and rows of amenities.
They’re the simple places where we can sit among the mountains, listen to the river and enjoy having a beautiful corner of the country almost outside our front door.
Bradfield Campground was one of those places.
We’ll see you down the road…and Over the Hills!
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