Camping — Telluride Jazz Festival

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Camp out under the stars in the heart of the Rocky Mountains

Four nights in the breathtaking campground surrounded by towering mountain peaks

With the festival grounds and scenic hiking trails located only steps away, camping is the ultimate way to experience all that Telluride Town Park has to offer. A Camping Pass includes access to the Festival Campground from Thursday to Monday during the festival weekend. The Festival Campground is located on the festival grounds.

Tent Camping Load-In Instructions

August 8 at 2:00 pm - Walk in and line up. Load-in starts at 2:30 pm.

  • All campers walk in to pick out a campsite. Do not line up with your vehicle in the park to check in. Park somewhere legal in town and walk into Town Park.

  • Campers start forming a line at 2:00 pm.

  • Remember to bring wristbands or proof of purchase (print or digital ticket confirmation) prior to getting a camp spot.

  • At 2:30 pm, the camp host will release all campers in line.

  • Only 1 tarp and 1 person allowed per group to pick a spot. Campers walk in with a tarp, find their camp spot, put their tarp down and return to the camp host to get a temporary vehicle permit.

  • Get your vehicle and give the temporary vehicle permit to the staff at the vehicle gate.

  • You are allowed 20 minutes to unload. No time for setting up.

  • Return to the vehicle gate to get a weekend parking permit and location to park.

  • There likely will be other campers, vehicles, or RV in the same camping area as you. Make friends!

  • Please only one person goes to choose a campsite for your group.

  • This is festival camping. Please be gracious to others camping near you and make friends! Please leave your pets at home. No pets allowed.

RV Load-In Instructions

  • RV's will collect a tag at the site they want and bring it to the Camp Host site to exchange for a RV Hang Tag to display in your windshield for the duration of the festival. Please bring proof of purchase.

  • Vehicles - Please bring proof of purchase of Vehicle Pass to exchange for Weekend Hang Tag.

RV’S: We have designated spots for RV’s. When you find the spot you want, grab the RV sign off the post and give it to the camp host, show them your RV confirmation and the host will give you your RV permit to put on your RV. Then you go get your RV and come back to the campground. Be sure your permit is in a location easily seen by staff walking through the campground. There likely will be a vehicle and/or tents in the same location as you, make friends.

RV cannot be driven out during the festival.

Vehicle Load-In Instructions

Vehicle permit: Those who purchased a Vehicle permit walk in with their tarp and choose a spot that their vehicle can fit and be completely off the roadway. Then come to the camp host, show confirmation and get your vehicle permit and then go get your vehicle. Be sure your vehicle permit is easily seen by staff walking through the campground.

There likely will be another vehicle and/or tent campers in the same location as you, make friends!

You cannot move your vehicle for the duration of the festival.

Keep In Mind

  • Be advised that sleeping in cars is not allowed in the Town of Telluride.

  • If you have a Town Park campground site prior to the festival, please identify yourself to camp hosts on the morning the festival campground opens.

Telluride Jazz Festival | Camping

Festival Camping Info

Festival Campground hours of operation: Thursday, August 8 at 2 pm - Monday, August 12 at 11 Am

There is one general camping area with your camping pass - Town Park Campground - the large, wooded general area of the campground.

Camping is communal, there are no designated campsites. You are welcome to put your tent up wherever you want. Festival camping is more of a social experience than a wilderness experience. Make friends and have fun!

  • A campground host will be on duty throughout the festival to answer questions and provide assistance when needed.

  • Campsites are first-come, first-serve. You cannot reserve a specific site. Please note that festival camping is more of a social experience than a wilderness experience. Expect camping to be close to your neighbors. A campground host will be on duty to help you find an available campsite and to answer any questions. Please respect your neighbors.

  • Camping passes are sold per person and per vehicle - not per site.

  • Camping passes are valid for four nights, Thursday through Sunday of the festival. The campground opens to campground pass holders at 2 pm on Thursday. Campground pass holders must load out by 11 am on Monday. You may camp in the campground before Thursday, but will need to have a pre-existing reservation and pay the town's campground fee. To see more information or make a reservation, click here.

  • The campground is open 24 hours a day. You may arrive and set up camp 24 hours a day.

  • Single day camping passes are not available. You may camp for one day - however, the cost is still the price of four days.

  • Children 11 and under are free. Children must be accompanied by adult supervision.

  • Only Festival Pass-holders may purchase Camping Passes. In other words, you cannot camp in the campground unless you are attending the Festival. You must have both a camping pass and Festival pass to enter the campground during the Festival.

  • Restroom and shower facilities are available in the campground (flushing toilets and all). There is a $4 charge to run a hot shower for 5 minutes and $1 for additional time. Shower tokens are needed, which can be obtained from a token machine outside the shower buildings that converts $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills only - no coins or credit cards. Currently, each token is valued at $1.00 and provides 75 seconds of hot water (no minimum).

Campground FAQs

Can I bring my Dog? . . .

Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted in the campground.

Can I camp near my friends? . . .

Camping is first-come-first-serve. If you would like to camp next to friends, you will have to arrange this as best as possible with the area available.

Will there be a host or security? . . .

There is a host located in the main campground all weekend. There will be security provided 24 hours a day from Thursday-Monday in all campgrounds. Campground security and host will strictly enforce all rules including quiet hours.

Can I keep my valuables in the campground? . . .

The festival is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. If you leave any valuables at your campsite, it is at your own risk.

Will I be able to charge my phone? . . .

For general campers, there will be outlets and charging stations provided. Charging stations may be found by the bathrooms.

Can I bring alcohol into the campground? . . .

Yes, you are allowed to bring your own alcohol/food/beverages into your campsite. You are not allowed to walk into town with any open containers. You will not be allowed to bring any alcohol in to festival grounds either.

Can I have a grill or small stoves for cooking? . . .

You are allowed to use the grills that are already in the campground, personal charcoal grills and propane grills in Town Park campground.

Can I give my camping pass to a friend? . . .

No. Once you have exchanged your ticket for a camping wristband, it is non-transferable. Mutilated or torn wristbands will not be honored.

Can I bring friends into the campground? . . .

No. Non-campers are not permitted into the campground for security reasons.

Is smoking allowed? . . .

Smoking is permitted but we ask all of our campers to please be respectful of their neighbors. Marijuana may not be consumed openly or publicly. The best course of action is to be respectful to those around you at all times. Security will intervene if there are complaints.

Are there Showers/Bathrooms? ADA accessible? . . .

Yes there are showers and bathrooms available and they are ADA accessible.

What hours can you use showers? Are they free? Where are they located? . . .

Restroom and shower facilities are available in the campground (flushing toilets and all). There is a $4 charge to run a hot shower for 5 minutes and $1 for additional time. Shower tokens are needed, which can be obtained from a token machine outside the shower buildings that converts $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills only - no coins or credit cards. Each token is valued at $1.00 and provides 75 seconds of hot water (no minimum).

Are campsites designated? . . .

No, all camping is first-come/first-serve with no designated sites being enforced. There are no campsites in the campground and it is communal camping. So get to know your neighbors.

Will there be a lost and found? . . .

Lost and found is at the warming hut located underneath the big white tent at the festival entrance.

Will there be electrical outlets? . . .

Yes, there are outlets but they are very limited and only at bathroom locations.

Can I bring a bicycle? Are there local places to rent a bicycle? . . .

You are allowed to bring a bicycle into the campground but not the festival grounds. You must leave your bike at the designated bike parking area at the Box Office or locked at your campsite. There are no designated places to lock your bike within the campground. Bike rentals are also available from any of the various bike stores in Telluride.

How close are the campsites to the festival site? . . .

Depending on your campsite all camping is within a 2-3 minute walk to the festival site.

Where do I park? . . .

If you have purchased a campground parking pass, you will be able to park in the campground with a pass displayed in your windshield. If you have not purchased a campground parking pass, campground volunteers will direct you to free parking for campers elsewhere.

Will there be ice available for purchase? . . .

No, however, ice can be purchased through the local grocery or liquor stores.

How long can I be in the campsite? . . .

A majority of camping is located within the Town of Telluride campground. If you arrive prior to Thursday, you have to camp in a town designated campsite and pay the Town of Telluride fees. On Thursday morning at 2 pm, the Festival takes over the campground and all camping becomes first-come-first-serve - there no reserved or designated sites. You will be allowed to line up if you arrive early but will not be allowed to enter until 2 pm. All Festival campers must be out of the campground by Monday at 2 pm at which time control of the campground returns to the Town of Telluride. Camping areas (walk-in/tent only) are only available starting Thursday morning at 2 pm.

Can I camp in the campground without a Festival ticket? . . .

Campers that do not hold tickets for the Festival will not be allowed in the campground.

Regional Camping . . .

There are plenty of options to camp outside of the Town of Telluride. The two closest campgrounds that we recommend are the Sunshine Campground and the Matterhorn Campground. Both are conveniently located within a short driving distance and are easily accessible without a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Sunshine Campground is a single loop, paved campground with 15 campsites nestled in a dense aspen forest featuring a small mountain lake. A spectacular view of Sunshine Peak is visible from many sites. Hiking trails, fishing and jeep roads are found nearby. Lizard Head Wilderness is a short drive away. Unfortunately, reservations cannot be made in advance, all sites are first-come, first-serve. For more information, click here.

Matterhorn Campground is a highly developed campground adjacent to Colorado State Highway 145 near Telluride, CO. There are 28 campsites with 4 of them offering RV hookups (electricity and septic). Most sites have pleasant views, especially the walk-in tent sites with unobstructed and panoramic views of the mountains. Showers are available to both overnight and day use guests. All sites have picnic tables, combination fire-rings and grills, and lantern poles. Firewood is available for a fee. Reservations can be made in advance but certain sites are first-come, first-serve. For more information, click here.

My question isn't here! How can I get the answers I need? . . .

Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions here. If it gets asked frequently we'll add it to the page.

RV & Vehicle Info

The Festival Campground offers a variety of amazing options to enjoy vehicle camping in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

RV Camping

The Telluride Town Park Campground has a limited amount of 10 RV Campsites located a quick three minute walk from the festival grounds. RV camping or sleeping in an RV is allowed in these designated campsites only. RV camping is not permitted residential areas in the Town of Telluride or Mountain Village. Any vehicle 18 feet and over in length is considered an RV. The maximum length of RV’s allowed in the Festival Campground is 30 feet.

No hookups are available, but restrooms and hot showers are available nearby in the campground. Generators are allowed as long as quiet hours are respected. 

The RV Pass includes 4 days of RV parking in the Telluride Town Park Campground. All RV campers must have a Camping Pass and a Festival Pass (sold separately). This is a parking pass, this ticket does not include festival or camping passes.

Vehicle Camping

Vehicle Camping Passes allow parking for one vehicle next to your campsite located a quick three minute walk from the festival grounds. Designated campsites for vehicles in the festival campground are very limited. Vehicle camping or sleeping in a vehicle is allowed in these designated campsites only. Vehicle camping is not permitted residential areas in the Town of Telluride or Mountain Village. “Vehicles” are considered to be any automobile up to 18 feet in length. Vehicles 18 feet and over in length are considered to be an RV and will need an RV Camping Pass.

Restrooms and hot showers are available nearby in the campground.

The Vehicle Camping Pass includes 4 days of vehicle parking in the Telluride Town Park Campground. All vehicle campers must have a Camping Pass and a Festival Pass (sold separately). This is a parking pass, this does not include festival or camping passes.