Camping Spots In Colorado Springs

Mountaindale Cabins And Rv Resort

Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort is located just 15-20 minutes south of Colorado Springs. With 88 campsites and 4 cabins this is a booming camping community. The camp itself has all the amenities you need like a covered pavilion with two grills for large family gatherings and a small store for all the necessities. The best thing about Mountaindale is the lots sizes for each campsite is much larger than you find elsewhere. It can accommodate some of the largest RVs with room to spare. Take advantage of the 45 acres in the park and small mountain you can hike. Check out the wildlife as well with photos on the website of deer, jackrabbits, squirrels, hummingbirds, finches, and even a red fox.

Saddlehorn Campground Grand Junction Co

Enjoy panoramic views from Saddlehorn Campground in the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction. Being the only campsite in the monument, it has 80 sites situated in the view of steep canyons and red-colored rocks. Some sites are first come first serve, while others you can reserve up to six months in advance.

Camping Near Primitive Hot Springs Pools

These hot springs pools are free to access. Because a hike is required they are best reserved for summer and fall. The first one requires a permit to stay overnight, which is pretty much expected at its over 8-mile length. Dispersed camping is available nearby each of them, which is free. Please use an existing campsite and pack out all trash. Radium has a designated campground.

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What Is Dispersed Camping

All free camping in Colorado is dispersed camping. This means there are no amenities. You are expected to pack it in, pack it out, and practice Leave No Trace.

Only embark on a dispersed camping adventure if you know how to properly dig a hole and poop in the woods . Pack out all of your toilet paper and pick up dog waste before you leave.

Youll also want to make sure you bring enough water for the time youre at camp. Dont forget a trash bag .

Lastly, only stay in previously established sites. This ensures that no new campsites are created, which leads to more human impact on the environment.

Timber Creek Campground In Rocky Mountain National Park

No list of the best campgrounds in Colorado would be complete without including a campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park! This corner of the Rockies boasts more than 100 peaks and jaw-dropping vistas. Within the park, there are over 350 miles of trails and 147 lakes.

While you cant go wrong with any of the five scenic campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park, Ive chosen the Timber Creek Campground on the western side of the park.

Located by the Colorado River and nestled between magnificent peaks, you can see fly-fishermen casting for rainbow trout or being visited by curious elk.

Things to Know

• The campground is first-come, first-serve, though there are 100 sites which make it easy to find a spot.
• There is no ADA access.
• Park entry does have a fee and may require a reservation check before you go. An additional camping fee is also required.

Campground Amenities

What to Do Nearby

How to Get There

Make your way toward Estes Park on US-36 W. Continue on US-34 W/Trailridge Rd to Grand County. Look for Timber Creek Campground on your right.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in Estes Park or near Rocky Mountain National Park? Weve got a few suggestions in this post.

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What Kind Of Camping Is Available

Youll find a variety of camping options close to Garden of the Gods and Colorado Springs. There are RV hookup sites that have so many amenities and services , itll feel like you actually did choose an Airbnb and not the camping option. Of course, there are also sites for traditional tent camping with the bonus of nearby restrooms. Or if youre really ready to rough it and experience nature, you can choose a camping option in the national forest that doesnt even have a proper tent site.

Here are some great places to camp near Garden of the Gods:

Angel Of Shavano Campgrounds

Those looking to truly get away from it all will want to add the Angel of Shavano campgrounds to their list of outdoor destinations. Located inside the San Isabel National Forest this campground has 20 individual campsites and is rarely ever crowded. This is due in part to its remote nature, which requires a three-hour drive from Denver just to get to the location. The upside is that this usually makes it extremely easy to reserve a spot, even during the busier summer months.

Situated along the 486-mile Colorado Trail, Angel of Shavano offers excellent hiking and mountain biking, as well as fishing in the North Fork Reservoir. The thickly-wooded national forest is also a beautiful retreat, offering plenty of solitude and tranquility for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Lacking in accessible camp sites, Angel of Shavano is not the best option for wheelchair or mobility aid users.

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Colorado Heights Camping Resort

Why you should camp here: Glamp in style and enjoy the long list of amenities that Colorado Heights has to offer!

• Reservations Accepted: Yes
• Campsite Type: RV
• RV Hookups: Yes

Colorado Heights Camping Resort is right in the town of Monument, just north of Colorado Springs. Their slogan is your home away from home, and youll quickly find thats true when you get a chance to enjoy their amazing amenities and community feel.

With their own fishing pond, volleyball and basketball courts, swimming pool, BBQ pavilion and kitchen, and other fun activities, Colorado Heights is an ideal destination for extended stays and van-lifers. Given its close proximity to Colorado Springs, its a great home-base for touring the city and surrounding landscape.

Ruedi Marina Campground On Ruedi Reservoir

Located on the western side of the Continental Divide, Ruedi Reservoir is home to impressive views and a flawless starry night sky. Its not too far from town only 15 miles upstream from Basalt and Aspen in the White River National Forest.

The Ruedi Marina Campground is near the rich conifer forest that reaches toward the shoreline of the reservoir. This is an ideal location for both land- and water-based adventures, with access to 8 different wilderness areas, ten fourteeners, scenic rivers, and tons of alpine wildlife!

• Fascinating Fact: Before the Ruedi Reservoir flooded the area in the 1960s, there used to be a small town here named Ruedi, which was established in the 1880s during the silver mine boom. The town bears the name of Swiss immigrant John Ruedi, who settled there in the 1880s and established the towns post office.

• Leashed dogs welcome

What to Do Nearby

How to Get There

Take I-70 from the east or west to Glenwood Springs . Turn south on CO-82. Turn east at Basalt onto Frying Pan Road to your destination in Eagle County.

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Dowdy Lake Campground Red Feather Lakes

Dowdy Lake Campground is a stunning lakeside campsite on the shores of beautiful Dowdy Lake within Red Feather Lakes, a 612,000-acre outdoor playground within the Roosevelt National Forest just an hour way from Fort Collins, Colorado.

The campground offers lakeside views amongst ponderosa pines, with trails winding around the lake and plenty of beach access! Bring along paddle boards, kayaks, or canoes or just swim in the clear water of Dowdy Lake.

But take note: this is a popular campground, and reservations can be difficult to snag! For a quieter campsite option nearby, we also recommend the first-come, first-served Kelly Flats Campground, located about 45 minutes away on the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. The campground is located along the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic and Historic Byway, one of Colorados many stunning scenic drives through the Rocky Mountains.

• Fascinating Fact: Red Feather Lakes is named after Tsianina Redfeather, a Creek and Cherokee woman who was an opera singer and activist in the early 20th century. Redfeather was a total badass, growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma in the 1800s, but leaving to study music in Denver, where she collaborated with composers to write songs that were later performed at the Met Opera in New York. She toured all over the U.S. and Europe during WWI, and in the 1920s, one of the developers of the Red Feather Lakes heard her sing and decided to name the lakes in her honor.

Things to Know

Campground Amenities

San Isabel National Forest Pueblo Co

San Isabel National Forest is a popular camping destination. This camping area features a variety of campgrounds in the southcentral Colorado region. San Isabel National Forest is a large region with 43 developed campgrounds, but some of the most popular campgrounds are Twin Lakes, Turquoise Lake and Angel of Shavano. No matter where you decide to camp in the San Isabel National Forest, it is sure to boast incredible views of high alpine lakes, spruce trees and 14,000-foot mountains.

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Rainbow Lakes Campground Nederland

Rainbow Lakes Campground is located just a little over an hour from Denver near the small town of Nederland, but it offers the ultimate camping experience that feels as if its worlds away. The small, primitive campground is open to tents only, with 18 spacious sites all on a first come, first served basis. Each one includes a fire ring and picnic table, with vault toilets nearby. Campers also have easy access to the beautiful Rainbow Lakes Trail, a short trek that leads to a string of ponds that are known for exceptional fishing. By taking the Glacier Rim Trail up the ridge, youll discover an awe-inspiring overlook of Arapaho Glacier.

Jones Pass Near Highway 40

Camping at Jones Pass brings the high alpine experience right to your tent. This isnt just some of the best free camping near Denver, but its also some of the best free camping in Colorado too.

Best visited from July through early September, this high alpine camping experience has a lot on offer. Just 40 minutes from Denver along Highway 40 youll find yourself immersed in a sea of wildflowers and picture-perfect mountain scenery.

If you have even the slightest amount of clearance you can crawl your way to the top of the pass and hike up directly to the famous Continental Divide Trail.

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The Best Sites For Van Camping In Colorado Springs

Van camping is one of Colorado Springs biggest attractions. You should visit Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the Devils Playground. KOA and the Foot of the Rockies RV Park are right near these attractions.

If you want to go a little outside the city and enjoy premier hiking trails, you should go to Cheyenne Mountain and Mueller State Park. If you want to get off the grid, stay at The Crags or Clyde Campground.

Wherever you stay, you should go van camping in style. Travellers Autobarn provides premium campervans at low prices. Get a quote now.

Garden Of The Gods Rv Resort

Why you should camp here: All the fun of camping with the convenience of staying near the heart of Colorado Springs best tourist destinations.

• Reservations Accepted: Yes
• Campsite Type: RVs, cottages, suites, bunkhouse, tents
• RV Hookups: Yes

With TWO swimming pools, free WiFi, an arcade, and its own dog park, Garden of the Gods RV Resort is truly a resort!

This fun camping destination offers several lodging options to accommodate any group or family. Conveniently located right next to Garden of the Gods, its easy to get outside and explore the plethora of attractions Colorado Springs has to offer.

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Devils Head In Rampart Range

Devils Head has been a camping haunt of mine for nearly a decade. This area is mostly known for ATVing, dirt biking, and climbing, but theres plenty of fun car camping to be had.

Located just southwest of Castle Rock, Devils Head has some of the best hikes near Denver , excellent trad and sport climbing, and features some of the best warm-weather camping in the state.

Head along Rampart Range Road and snag a free camp spot. This area is well-known, and the gate closes in winter, so check recent conditions and head out early to get the best spots.

Oh Be Joyful Campground

Located not far from Crested Butte, the Oh Be Joyful campsite doesn’t just have a great name, but is a fantastic location too. The camping area serves as a gateway into a massive region known as the Raggeds Wilderness. Spanning more than 65,000 acres, this national forest ranges in altitude from 7,000 to 13,000 feet. In addition to soaking up the wonderful views of the towering mountains that prominently line the horizon, campers can hike, fish, or mountain bike within the Raggeds too. Reserve a campsite online and use the filters to find available accessible locations. Oh Be Joyful features 13 options for wheelchair and mobility aid users.

For a small slice of civilization amidst this remote location, be sure to drop by Crested Butte while you’re in the area. There, you’ll find plenty of excellent restaurants, pubs, and shops to explore, each oozing with mountain-town charm.

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Chatfield State Park Campground

Image from The Dyrt camper Vangmany S.

This campground lies on the banks of the Chatfield Reservoir, in the vast and scenic Chatfield State Park. Youll find this site easy to reach from Colorado Springs just follow I-25 north for an hour, turning off just before you reach the town of Littleton.All of the sites have electrical hookups, tent pads, grills, and picnic tables. There is also an absolutely massive large group camping area, which can accommodate up to 360 people. If youd prefer to get away from the crowds, you can head down one of the many hiking trails and take in the surrounding wildlife.

This site was the cleanest Ive ever camped at. The gravel was freshly raked, both around the picnic table and on the tent pad.Katie M.

Camping Near Woodland Park And Deckers

One of the best areas to camp is near Woodland Park, north of town on Highway 67. Its relatively close to The Springs, at just over thirty minutes from town to town. There are several campgrounds north on Highway 67 fairly fast out of Woodland Park. You can also find a few gems near Rampart Reservoir east of town.

Keep driving north and youll reach the hidden fly fishing community of Deckers, less than an hours drive northwest of Colorado Springs. Being in the heart of the forest, youll find campgrounds around Deckers suitable for both RVs and tents. The best campgrounds between Woodland Park and Deckers are within the Pike National Forest. Theres even some free primitive camping in the greater area if you know where to look.

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Of The Best Places To Go Camping In Colorado

Colorado is home to some of the best camping in the world.

Whether you prefer lakes, rivers, mountains, or even desert, theres a Colorado campground thats perfect for you.

Weve done the legwork for you and narrowed down your options to just 30 of the absolute best campgrounds to help you plan the perfect family camping trip.

Now, lets dive right in!

Why not rent an RV for your Colorado camping trip? Save $50 on an RV rental from Outdoorsy with our code: BEYOND50

Leave No Trace When Free Camping

• Be prepared with plenty of trash bags. If you have a long drive home, I recommend putting the bags in a designated bin so your car doesnt smell the whole way home.
• Come with all the water you think you will need for your trip, and then some. Cooking and cleaning dishes always seems to use more water than you think. Bring a water filter if theres fresh water near where youll be camping.
• Dont clean your dishes in a fresh water source. Bring along a bucket, designated jug, or something like the Primus Campfire Utility Bag to contain and dispose of grey water properly.
• Bring Wag Bags to carry out waste. Human waste is unnatural to all ecosystems, but especially to drier, more sensitive ecosystems, since it doesnt break down as fast as it does in a forest.
• Know before you go. Do some research on the location and become familiar with any seasonal rules or fire bans. Fire bans are all around Colorado in the summer months. If you can have a campfire, only purchase firewood from a local source. Dont bring firewood from your hometown. This helps stop the spread of invasive insect populations.
• Leave it cleaner than you found it: you can pick up and carry out trash, even if its not yours. Keeping the free campgrounds in Colorado clean and clear helps ensure theyre available for years to come.

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