What To Do In Town
You can scoot up to Estes Park, where particularly in the autumnwhen most of the tourists have gone back to Kansas and Texas and the leaves and elk are in full effectyou can have a relaxing time as you near Rocky Mountain National Park over ice cream, whiskey or visiting the historic Stanley Hotel. For our good times though, we dip into Lyons and sample the great coffee at Stone Cup or grab a Dales Pale Ale at the original Oscar Blues location.
Free Camping Outside Of Breckenridge
Home to some of Colorados best 13ers and the most beautiful alpine lake hikes, Breckenridge should be at the top of everyones camping list.
Head just outside of Blue River to the Spruce Creek Trailhead. Youll find a variety of tent-only campsites near the parking lot for the trailhead. Remember to pack it out, there are no facilities here.
Those with high-clearance, 4WD vehicles can head up towards Upper Crystal Lake for a variety of dispersed, pull-in campsites.
Just remember, the road is in ultra rough and shouldnt be attempted with a stock vehicle .
Jones Pass Road Marshall Co
Primarily known as a great spot for off road driving and cross country skiing, this area also offers some great camping sites. With an 8 mile out and back trail, there is plenty of action if youd like to hoof it a little bit. During the summer, this is a fantastic spot for wildflowers and a quick hike to the top put you on the Continental Divide.
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Standley Lake Campground Westminster Colorado
Located in Standley Lake Regional Park, the Standley Lake Campground is a fun place for couples and families. Standley Lake provides excellent recreational opportunities for visitors, including kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, biking, and wildlife viewing.
In addition to RV sites, you can rent a tipi for a truly unique experience. All campsites have fire pits and picnic tables. There are also restroom facilities with showers and water.
There are no hookups and no dump station at the campground. The City of Westminster has a dump station nearby that you can use.
State Rv Camping Information
- State Parks offer a wide variety of campgrounds. Colorado RV camping locations from the mountains to the plains with almost unlimited recreation opportunities are located throughout the state. Full-service RV camping sites are available in most state parks.
- Division of Wildlife There are 240 state wildlife management areas in Colorado, and most of them allow camping. A Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp is not required for camping and visiting Colorado Wildlife Management Areas and State Trust Lands but is required to hunt and fish in most circumstances. As of July 1, 2020, a Colorado state wildlife area pass, a valid Colorado hunting license, or a valid Colorado fishing license is required.
- State Tourism Website Where to go and what to do. Includes Colorado RV camping suggestions and trip planning ideas.
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Forest Road 788 In Gunnison
For sweeping views of the San Juans and easy access to Crested Butte and beyond, camp along Forest Road 788. This uber-remote area offers plenty of solitutde and beautiful views. Seriously, this area is one of the most scenic spots in Colorado.
Nearby hiking, mountain biking, and scenic drives make Forest Road 788 an amazing spot to find dispersed camping in Colorado for the weekend. Youll be spoilt for choice with activities.
How And Where To Find Free Camping In Colorado
Free camping in Colorado can be easy to findif you know where to look. Sometimes its as simple as glancing at a map or atlas to find a spot. Sometimes it requires driving down a promising dirt road until you reach a scenic pull-out with a perfect space for your tent. You may have to work a little harder to find free camping in Colorado, and you wont get the amenities of a paid campsite, but beating the crowds and finding your own little slice of Colorado wilderness is totally worth it. For last-minute camping, you can use The Dyrt PROs Offline Maps and Map Layers to find free camping near you. These features will show you public lands where you can camp for free whether or not you have service or wifi!
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Best Colorado Dispersed Camping Sites
Dispersed camping also known as primitive camping can be defined as car camping outside of a designated campground but still within applicable regulations. You can find most of the best Colorado dispersed camping sites on federally owned lands, such as national forest and BLM lands. There are typically no bathrooms or amenities, but you get to camp free of charge.
Most dispersed camping areas are located along roads that can only be handled by high clearance vehicles. However, you can access a few with just about any passenger car.
Please remember to respect the places you visit. And practice leave no trace principles by packing out everything you pack in. Now get out and enjoy Nomad Colorados list of some of our favorite Colorado dispersed camping areas, many of which are within two hours of Denver!
South Platte Rampart Range Road
Why you should go: One of the easiest dispersed camping areas to access from the Denver/Colorado Springs area
- Reservations accepted: No
- Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Campsite type: Tent, RV
- RV hookups: No
Rock climbers in Colorado are no strangers to the region of Pike National Forest known as the South Platte. Popular crags such as Turkey Rocks, Sheep Nose, and Thunder Butte are within an hours drive from Denver or Colorado Springs.
Its easy access also makes it a go-to spot for locals looking for last-minute free campgrounds in Colorado. Its great if youre a late camper, but it does mean that it can get crowded the easy access is both a blessing and a curse. Youll have the best luck finding privacy if you visit during the week or on non-peak-travel weekends.
From Highway 67/Rampart Range Road you can access Turkey Rocks, and other OHV trailhead areas where you can camp to avoid the crowds on the main road. Some roads are rougher than others, but any vehicle with decent clearance will be able to travel them.
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Old Stage Road/gold Camp Road
This road was the original stagecoach route from Colorado Springs to the gold fields of Cripple Creek and is a great easy weekend getaway, close to the city but miles apart in terms of atmosphere. Camping is limited for the first several miles, as private property lines the road, but campsites abound as you get deeper into Pike National Forest. High-clearance-vehicle drivers will find lovely though heavily used campsites up Forest Road 379 in Frostys Park, which sits in a valley between Mount Rosa and Almagre Mountain.
While youre there: Hike up Almagre Mountain, which at 12,367 feet is topped only by Pikes Peak in the Colorado Springs skyline.
Best Free Camping Incolorado
While the Western United States are filled with seemingly endless opportunities to find beautiful, free camping, few states do it quite as well as Colorado.
From desert cliff-dwelling to the Rocky Mountains’ abundance of forests, and beyond to the Front Range including Denver and Fort Collins, finding free a free place to camp is not just about saving a buck it’s about living within the most splendid scenery the state has to offer.
Dispersed camping in the Centennial State is downright prolific throughout the dozen or so national forests and grasslands within the state’s borders. Are you looking for camping spots near Steamboat Springs? Forest roads and mountain passes galore await. Need beautiful free camping near Denver? Idaho Springs is only about a half-hour from town, yet filled with places to go mountain biking, tent camping, or enjoy your national forest.
See a map of all free camping in Colorado.
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Pikes Peak Rv Park Manitou Springs Colorado
Travelers heading to Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods will enjoy camping at Pikes Peak RV Park. This independently-owned campground is in the town of Manitou Springs. Shopping and restaurants are close by. Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods are all just a short drive from the campground.
Pikes Peak RV Park has full hookups, bathrooms, an onsite laundry, and a convenience store. With a peaceful creek running through the park, it is a great place to kick back and relax for a few days.
Why Youll Love Garden Of The Gods Rv Resort
Why Youll Love Garden of the Gods RV Resort There are tons of natural attractions in the area to visit, like Pikes Peak and Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Closer to your camp, there is the Garden of the Gods park that is complete with a nature center. The park offers a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking and cliff climbs.
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Chatfield State Park Littleton
This Littleton state park is widely popular for water sports from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Centered around Chatfield Reservoir, visitors are permitted to power boat and jet ski. Theres also a big off leash dog park if youre bringing your furry four-legged friend.
There are close to 200 camping spots within the park that you can use. One of the top benefits of camping at Chatfield is that you can rent your camping gear and a boat right at the park! Electric hook-ups are available at every single campsite, and a lot of them have full-hookups too. There are 10 group campgrounds too.
How Is Free Dispersed Camping Different Than Staying In A Campground
Dispersed camping or boondocking refers to free campsites that are available for you to use.
There is almost an endless supply of free campsites in Colorado. However, since these campsites are free, this often means that there are no amenities.
Be prepared when you go to a dispersed campsite near Denver . Bring a trash bag , know how to go to the bathroom in the outdoors, bring all of your water and responsibly source your firewood.
These are no-frills campsites with nothing but a fire ring and some cleared land. Always be sure to only camp in designated areas and leave it better than you found it.
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How To Find Free Camping In Colorado
Those free camping websites you find are often disappointing and they never really deliver you the best free camping out there. Its no secret that finding free camping in Colorado takes a little bit of research.
Dont worry though, if you want to learn the secret to finding free campsites, Ive got you covered with a comprehensive course to free camping in Colorado.
Youll get my secret sauce to scoring excellent free campsites throughout the US. Ive used this step-by-step proven method to find g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s dispersed camp sites all over Colorado and beyond.
The Best Free Camp Sites Near Denver
Listen, I never pay for camping because I enjoy the feeling of dispersed car camping. Ive spent the better part of a decade amassing amazing free camping locations in Colorado. This post will cover:
- The best free camp sites near Denver, CO
- What to do at each location
- Where to find prime camping spots within 2 hours of Denver
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What You Need To Know About Free Camping In Colorado
Here in the great mountain state of Colorado, we are absolutely spoiled with free camping. Dispersed, free camping in Colorado can be found nearly anywhere.
Most National Forest Land has plenty of established free campsites for your enjoyment. This means that there are countless options if you know where to look.
If youre not ready to dive into dispersed camping in Colorado, you can check out some of the best campgrounds in Colorado that offer up a variety of different amenities. Some even take advanced reservations.
About This Guide To Free Camping In Colorado
Before you pitch your tent, there are a few things you need to know about camping in Colorado. Well cover everything you need to know to choose the best free campsites in Colorado. Highlights of this guide include:
- Amazing free camping in Colorado
- Quick tips for camping in Colorado
- Additional Colorado travel resources
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Buena Vista And Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass has been a long-time favorite place of mine to find Boondocking in Colorado. The front half of the road is paved, while the road turns to dirt on the backside of the pass.
Along this scenic stretch of tarmac, youll find several first-come-first-serve free campgrounds. Alternatively, you can pull off on one of the many dirt roads to snag a hidden free campsite.
These roads stay closed for part of the year, so come with a sense of adventure if youre traveling between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Once the road turns to dirt, there are several options for camping along pullouts and other dirt roads.
What People Are Saying About Winding River Resort
We stayed in the open area which was full hook up but there are many sites with trees that are partial hookup if you are OK with that. Many activities are offered in the park. We enjoyed the ice cream social, pancake breakfast & Cowboy Church. Kennedy, RV Park Reviews
Location
- Active Military Discounts
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A Mile High And Dirt Cheap: 7 Spots For Free Camping Near Denver
This article about free camping near Denver is brought to you by Life in Tents. Their collection of luxury glamping tents will make any camping experience memorable, especially camping in Colorado.
If youre looking to spend a few quiet nights under the stars at an established campground near the busy city of Denver, Colorado, they can fill up fast. Theyre also expensive, especially in popular areas, which is why you should check out these spots for free camping near Denver that will help teach you how to camp off the grid.
While most free camping spots tend to be remote, that is not always the case. Some free camping options can actually be found just outside a city center, like Denver. In those cases, you might forget youre roughing it in the middle of nowhere, because these camping areas can still be bustling with people. And with more than 23 million acres of public land in Colorado, that makes it one of the best states for free camping. Lets go over some of the best free spots now.
Buffalo Creek Recreation Area
Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, located just over an hour from Denver in the Pike National Forest, offers free dispersed camping. Because they are close to the Colorado Trail and Buffalo Creek Mountain Bike Area, these campgrounds are great for an overnight break after a busy day of adventure.
Dispersed camping is permitted only at specific sites with markings such as Parking and Tent in the South Platte Ranger District. Campfires are allowed at overnight sitesif no fire restrictions are in effect. Please check the latest restrictions before you go! Although the road is dirt, it is well maintained, easy to access, and you can camp for up to 14 days at the same site.
The sites are large, and so far from other sites, you think youre alone in the wilderness.Mandi K.
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Free Camping In Colorado
Free camping is easy to come by, as long as you know where to look. National forests hold most of the free camping in Colorado, followed up by BLM land .
Camping for free is generally referred to as dispersed camping, which is camping in approved areas other than campgrounds. The best part about dispersed camping, aside from the cost, is the privacy. Campsites are often wider apart than in a campground. And sites are usually right next to the road, so its perfect for car camping.
The downside to dispersed camping is a lack of amenities. You are not going to have running water or restrooms nearby. If you need a little bit of luxury, consider renting an RV around Denver before you head out.
Elk Meadow Lodge And Rv Park
Are you a fan of the Rocky Mountains National Park and looking for a perfect RV park in Denver, CO? Here is Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Park. This RV park in Denver, Colorado, combines the history and scenery by uninterrupted views of Rocky Mountains National Park to give you a delighted outdoor experience.
Elk Meadow RV park is located in a peaceful and calm setting and indulges in impressive amenities. The park is situated right outside the entrance to Rocky Mountains National Park. The park is also within walking distance from Estes Park, located in an incredible village. The park features numerous shopping centers, shops, galleries, restaurants, museums, and many other recreational activities.
You will have a wealth of outdoor activities, including horseshoes, miniature golf, and more. For children, they will love the on-site playground. You may catch up on a live event as well that often takes place during the fall and the summer.
Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Park On-Site Facilities
- 169 full hookup campsites.
- Restaurants.
Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Park Reviews
- It is among the most convenient places in Estes Park. The campsites have ample space that allows you to pull through your toy haulers easily.
- The electric and water services are exceptional. The whole property is green and clean with breathtaking views.
- Everything here is great except the Wifi. The environment is gorgeous, and the people are friendly.
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