Sand Dunes Recreation: So Much More Than an RV Park

Rolling into Sand Dunes Recreation in my vintage Fiber Stream was like pulling up to a desert oasis with geothermal magic. Nestled in Hooper, Colorado, this spot has everything a camper could dream of—hot mineral pools, killer views of the San Luis Valley, and even a greenhouse pool that’s pure relaxation vibes.

The park offers RV sites starting at $45 a night, tent camping for $30, and pool access included. Whether you’re soaking or stargazing, this spot brings the chill. Plus, it’s pet-friendly!

Here’s Our Personal Experience of Sand Dunes Recreation

After a week of boondocking in the San Luis Valley, it was time to get hooked up to electricity at an RV Park. Little did we know we were about to stumble upon the hippest RV park we’ve ever been to!

Sand Dunes Recreation Pools & RV Park is located in Hooper, CO – just down the road from Great Sand Dunes National Park.

The facility can accommodate all size RVs and tent campers and has cabins, too!

Location: Hooper, Colorado

GPS: 37.7789, -105.8553

Date / Temp: We camped here for three nights in early July. The daytime temps were in the high 80s with nights dropping down to the 50s.

Amenities: The amenities at this RV Park are fantastic! First, the main pool area is enormous and is fed by natural hot springs. There is a pool-side restaurant, gift shop, and plenty of lounge chairs to catch some rays.

Best of all is The Greenhouse – it’s an adult-only pool with a bar and multiple hot spring tubs at different temperatures. The nighttime vibe here is fantastic.

As for the RV sites, they only have water & electricity available. A dump station is on-site and free for RV guests to use.

Wifi / Cell: The park does provide usable wifi. It has speeds fast enough for streaming. We also received AT&T and T-Mobile 4G LTE connections.

Noise: At the RV section of the property, the noise is pretty quiet. As you get closer to the main pool, the sound of “fun” is in the air. The pools are open from 10 am-10 pm (with slight seasonal changes). We liked The Greenhouse Pool for its chill vibe!

Grocery / Errands: Alamosa is the closest city where we found grocery stores and restaurants. It’s about 20 miles from camp, but it’s a straight shot (with 60mph speeds the whole way).

Dog Friendly: This site is very dog-friendly. River had a lot of space to play and explore. The park offers free doggy bags as well!

Entertainment: We didn’t need to go any further than the pools to get our entertainment. It was great to work on our tans, chill in The Greenhouse and dine by the pool.

But, if you want to get out and explore – this area has a rich native history and a long mystical past. It’s a hotspot for UFO sightings and other paranormal activity. We enjoyed learning about that aspect of the San Luis Valley.

Obviously, the national park is the main tourist draw, and for good reason – but if you want to beat the crowds, simply enjoying an evening fire on the foot of the mountain is great entertainment!

Sand Dunes Recreation Was Amazing

After a couple of days soaking in the mineral pools and kicking back with mountain views, we left Sand Dunes Recreation feeling totally refreshed.

Between the epic San Luis Valley scenery, dog-friendly vibes, and geothermal pools, it’s the kind of spot you’ll want to return to again and again. Pack up your rig and head to Hooper for some well-deserved R&R—you won’t regret it.

We sure will again.

Pro Tip: Here Are Some of Our Favorite Hot Springs

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