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Map showing campground location near Heeney, Colorado
Camper submitted image from McDonald Flats CampgroundView 31 Photos
FacilitiesMap showing campground location near Heeney, Colorado

McDonald Flats Campground

6 ReviewsAdd Review

Within White River National Forest, McDonald Flats Campground sits along Green Mountain Reservoir's southern shore near the boat ramp. This Forest Service facility operates seasonally from May through September, accommodating RVs up to 47 feet alongside tent campers in an open high desert setting.

The campground spreads across sage brush terrain with minimal shade between sites. Highway 9 runs across the water, creating consistent road noise that campers describe as eventually fading to background sound. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box, with vault toilets and large dumpsters serving the area. When water service operates, nightly fees reach $25, but the campground becomes free during shoulder seasons when water gets shut off.

Cell coverage varies significantly by carrier, with Verizon users reporting no signal while AT&T provides limited connectivity. "Overall very clean and a very relaxing couple days," notes Kimmy and Kemar, though they mention foot traffic through sites near the restrooms. The reservoir's water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting boating access.

Campers seeking tree cover might consider Prairie Point Campground just southeast for a more sheltered alternative.

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Location

Public Campground

McDonald Flats Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Silverthorne, CO, take State Rt. 9 north 14.8 miles to Heeney Rd. 30 sign. Turn left onto Heeney Rd. (County Rt. 30) and go 2.1 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign onto gravel road (some erosion) and go 0.3 miles to campground.

Coordinates

39.84928132 N
106.23705218 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/3/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
    Last on 4/3/26

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/3/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage
    Verified by 5 users
    Last on 4/3/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • WiFi
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Drive Time

Reviews

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1 Star

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4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Large, accommodating sites with good facilities make this a practical stopover, though campers should expect highway noise and limited shade. Many visitors appreciated the reasonable pricing and clean amenities despite the open desert setting.

Raven S.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2025

One of my faves!

Great drive in, only about 25 minutes to town. Awesome stargazing! Bonus—cows nearby in the morning!

Month of VisitJuly
DThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed May. 30, 2024

Large campsites adjacent to the reservoir.

Vaulted toilets, cellular reception, $25 fee. Trash, sage brush field. grass fields great for a spaniel, large sites, picnic tables, little traffic tire noise across the river, only 3 campers

Month of VisitMay
Jason F.
Reviewed Jul. 10, 2023

Beautiful, quiet spot away from town

This hidden gem was a great find! We were looking for a place to overnight in between stays and stumbled onto McDonald Flats after having no luck at a few other spots along Highway 6. It's $20 per night payable in a dropbox at the entrance. The site has a picnic table and fire ring and was a short walk to the pit toilets. We were able to park our 29' Class C easily after disconnecting our tow dolly. We would definitely stay here again.

Site3
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Jason F., July 10, 2023
  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Jason F., July 10, 2023
  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Jason F., July 10, 2023
  • (4) View All
Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2022

Nice Find

This is a nice little campground we found sort of by accident (came across it while looking for dispersed camping on forest service land). 

It’s normally $18/night, but it’s free when the water is shut off. The campground closes for the season around the end of October. Hosts are on site. There are vault toilets and large dumpsters, but no recycling bins. 

Each site has a picnic table and fire pit and a bear box (this is bear country, pack your food away!). Sites have different layouts, so there’s something for everyone, from tents to large rigs. 

The all stays app said that this campground has a 21 ft limit for vehicles but I’m not sure why, as there were many sites where we could have easily fit in our 26ft class c. 

No privacy between sites, and no shade, just open high desert landscaping. Hwy 9 is right across the water and you definitely hear road noise, but it’s far away enough to eventually become background noise. 

Zero cell service for Verizon. The cell booster helped a bit, but not much. ATT had one bar of LTE without the booster, but it’s not a usable signal.

Site11
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  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Laura M., June 7, 2022
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Kimmy and Kemar
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2019

Easy to get to, Clean facilities

It was a Friday afternoon in the middle of August and we knew available campsites would be scarce, so we pulled into the first one we came to and stayed put through Sunday morning. We were close to an old boat ramp which ended up being a great spot to park the jet ski. There was no shade, so our pop up tent helped tremendously. Bathrooms were just a few steps away which was convenient, but unfortunately that meant other campers walking through our site to get to them. The noise from the highway could be heard throughout the day and night, but we kind of expected that since we could see the highway from the campsite. Overall very clean and a very relaxing couple days!

  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Kimmy and Kemar , August 18, 2019
  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Kimmy and Kemar , August 18, 2019
Kristin A.
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2018

Second choice

I wish I could write a review about Cataract Creek campground, which is nestled in the trees 2 miles above Green MountaIn Resevoir. But even in October those 5 sites filled up too fast.
Instead we ended up at McDonald Flats on the south end of the lake near the boat ramp. I like sites with a few trees, no road noise, and limited views of my neighbors. This campground didn’t offer any of those. We had the sites and sounds of semis barreling down HWY 9 all night. Our neighbors were friendly and polite, but we were parked right next to them and heard their car doors as they set out at 6:30 am to go hunting. Regardless, we were happy to have the spot sInce most of the other campgrounds had closed for the season. ServIces lIke trash removal had been suspended for the season, the sIte was free, whIch was a nIce surprIse. The water levels were way too low in October to really enjoy the lake, but it would be a great camp for boaters in the summer. A hIghlIght of the weekend was takIng the 15 minute trek to Kremmling and hitting Grand Adventure Brewery. We loved theIr dog frIendly patIo, diverse beer list, tasty food and friendly service.

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  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Kristin A., October 22, 2018
  • Review photo of McDonald Flats Campground by Kristin A., October 22, 2018
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Showing results 1-6 of 6 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at McDonald Flats Campground?

McDonald Flats Campground offers basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. The campground is situated in an open, sage brush field with access to grassy areas perfect for pets. There's cellular reception available, and trash facilities are provided. Each site is fairly spacious. The campground's location near an old boat ramp provides convenient water access for those with watercraft. No drinking water is available when the water system is shut off for the season.

Where is McDonald Flats Campground located?

McDonald Flats Campground is located on the south end of Green Mountain Reservoir, near a boat ramp. It's approximately 25 minutes from town, making it relatively accessible while still offering a secluded camping experience. The campground is situated in an open area with views of the surrounding landscape, and you can find it by following Highway 6. This beautiful location offers both water access and mountain scenery.

Do I need reservations for McDonald Flats Campground?

Reservations are not required for McDonald Flats Campground as it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee is $25 per night, payable in a dropbox at the entrance. Sites can fill quickly, especially on summer weekends, so arriving early is recommended. During peak season (particularly in August), expect competition for available spots. The campground closes for the season around the end of October, and hosts are on-site during the operating season.

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