Cub Creek Primitive Campground
If youre the back to nature type, this primitive camping area is for you. It is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out area with no trash receptacles, toilets or other amenities. The views, particularly in early morning, late evening and under starlit skies are spectacular.
- Closest town: Estes Park
- Specs: 2.2 miles from Cub Lake trailhead, water must be treated, toilet at the trailhead, open year-round
- Amenities: None, this is primitive camping
- Recreation: Hiking, photography, fishing
- Reservations: Backcountry permit is required, registration tag must be placed on your vehicle dashboard at the parking area
- Address: Cub Lake Trail, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Directions: From Estes Park take East Elkhorn Avenue .1 mile, turn left on U.S. Highway 36, go 3.8 miles. Turn left on Bear Lake Road, go 1.3 miles. Turn right on Moraine Park Road, go .5 miles. Turn left on Fern Lake Road, go 1.5 miles, stay on Fern Lake Road and turn right, go .7 miles to the campground.
Camping Near You Find A Free Campsite
Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, weve got you covered. You can simply use your smart phones GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.
Our community provides the best free camping information available. Free campgrounds can be hard to find. Freecampsites.net makes it easy. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip.
This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. If everyone contributes a few campsites, well all have more places to go camping.
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We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing.
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Camping At Rocky Mountain National Park
Camping at Rocky Mountain National Park provides a relaxing retreat for avid adventurers. There are plenty of campgrounds in and around the park. Many campgrounds offer reservations, while others are first-come, first-served.
Aspenglen Campground features food storage lockers, ice and firewood for sale, flush toilets, and potable water. RV campers are welcome at this campground. The Aspenglen Campground is located near the Fall River entrance to the park and well-shaded by a dense cover of evergreens.
Glacier Basin Campground also accommodates RV campers be sure to verify the length of your site when booking. Glacier Basin Campground has the same amenities as Aspenglen, as well as a dump station for RVs. There are no showers at this campground.
Moraine Park Campground is near the Beaver Meadows entrance of the park, giving campers a breathtaking view of the mountains. Flush toilets are available only during certain times, but vault toilets are available year-round. Amenities include a dump station, potable water, and food storage lockers. Timber Creek and Longs Peak are the parks other two campgrounds, but Longs Peak is tent-only.
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Rocky Mountain National Park Is Indeed More Than Incredible Alpine Views But Wow Those Views Are Stunning
The Rocky Mountains stretch for 200 miles along the Continental Divide of the United States, and Rocky Mountain National Park is just a mere 415 square miles of some of the worlds highest terrain. Majestic cant even begin to describe the parks alpine lakes and forested valleys which rise to Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet the highest point in the park. Known as Rocky to locals, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest-in-elevation national parks in the country. Weather permitting, its open year-round and is the third most visited National Park in the country definitely a must for RVers who enjoy mind-blowing scenery and abundant wildlife.
About two hours southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park, Buffehr Lake blazes with fall-foliage reflections.
The park is bisected by Trail Ridge Road, which climbs to 12,183 feet and is the highest paved through-road in the United States. It climbs and winds its way east to west through the park, traveling through aspen and ponderosa pine forests, which give way to subalpine forests of fir and spruce and finally culminating in alpine tundra.
here are many private campgrounds in Estes Park, and Estes Transit offers free rides into town to enjoy the many activities there.
Rockys 100-plus hiking trails range from less than a mile to nearly 40 miles in length, making it a great spot for all ages to get out and enjoy the breathtaking views.
The most famous landmark in town is the Stanley Hotel, where time indeed slips away.
Ouzel Lake On The South Side
A 4.9-mile hike in, Ouzel Lake is located in Wild Basin, a more rugged area of Rocky Mountain National Park. It sits at 10,020 feet.
Along the way to the lake, you will pass Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, popular destinations, but most people turn around at the falls, leaving the trail less crowded once you leave the falls behind. Wildlife are abundant here, so keep your eyes out, especially for moose. Youll also see a number of peaks, including Mount Meeker at 13,911.
Because of the distance required to get to Ouzel Lake, youll find few people and plenty of solitude once you set up camp. Park officials ask that you pitch your tent close to the indicated site out of potential hazards of standing dead trees. A maximum of 7 people are allowed at individual sites and 12 maximum at group sites. There is a privy at the backcountry campsite at Ouzel Lake.
If you spend two nights here, you can do a nice, strenuous day hike to Bluebird Lake, two miles and nearly 1,000 feet above you.
You need a permit to camp overnight in the backcountry, and you can reserve a permit in advance online at www.pay.gov/public/form/start/68498987, which is highly recommended, or pick one up at either of two backcountry offices in the park, beginning March 1 at 8 a.m. for the current calendar year. At Rocky Mountain National Park, you cannot fax or call in permit requests.
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Can I Bring My Dog Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park
Dogs are allowed in the campground as long as they are on a leash no more than 6 long. However, you cant take dogs on hiking trails so keep that in mind as you plan your trip with your fury friend. For a full day itinerary for enjoying the park with your dog, check out our article Are Dogs Allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Camping Near Rocky Mountain National Park
Given the popularity and scarcity of options, it is always possible that you wont be able to find a campground within Rocky Mountain National Park. However, dont give up as there are plentiful camping options just outside the National Park boundary!
Check out your best options for RV camping, car camping, and free dispersed camping near Rocky Mountain National Park below:
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Best For Being Close To Estes Park:
Estes Park KOA Holiday
5 Minutes from Estes Park
16 Minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance
Camp Sites: 24 Tent sites and more than 50 RV spots
Why it is Family Friendly: As one of the larger campgrounds in the area, there are many amenities including a playground, basketball court, dog park, and game room and it is only 5 minutes to downtown Estes Park for dining and shopping. Many of the tent sites also have a shade pavilion over the picnic table.
How to Book:
34 Minutes from Estes Park
31 Minutes into Rocky Mountain National Park
Camp Sites: 153 Tent and RV sites, No hookups and generator use limited. 13 Group sites.
Why it is Family Friendly: Glacier Basin Campground is an excellent choice for anyone looking to camp within Rocky Mountain National Park. Youve got hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing within minutes. It is especially great for families traveling together or large groups with 13 reservable group campsites. Because of the high elevation and limited trees, the views are incredible.
How to Book:
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How To Get Torocky Mountain National Park
There are many ways to travel to Rocky Mountain National Park. You can choose to head to the west entrance of the park near Grand Lake, or the east side at Estes Park. The nearest airport is Denver International Airport, about a two hour drive from the east entrances to the park. On very busy days, consider using the Fall River Road east entrance instead of the more popular Beaver Meadows entrance. The west side is less populated and tends not to be as busy.
Rocky Mountain National Park is very RV accessible as well. Renting an RV allows you to travel through the park with ease, stopping and spending more time wherever you wish. If you dont own an RV, RV rentals are available around the country. Whether you want to start where you live and drive, or rent an RV near Denver and head to the park, there are options available.
There are several campgrounds in the park that accommodate RVs, but be sure to check their websites beforehand. Many require reservations and youll want to make those well in advance of your visit!
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The border between North Carolina and Tennessee is home to one of the more beautiful sections of the Appalachian Mountain Chain the Great Smoky Mountains. This mountain range is home to a selection of North Americas highest peaks, including Clingmans Dome which is the second-highest point in North Carolina. The Appalachian Trail passes directly through the center of this national park, so its a perfect place to check out a section of this infamous through-hike.
More than 10 million visitors come to Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, more than Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon all combined! Hiking is the most popular activity by far, as on foot you can see many of the park highlights. Check out mountain rivers, countless waterfalls, look out for elk and other wildlife. Great Smoky Mountains is quite clearly some of the best camping in North Carolina.
Smokemont Campground is our recommendation for a night amongst the peaks, located on a quiet forested bridge near the state border. Tent and RV sites are available with flush toilets and potable water provided. This family-friendly campground has plenty of space for picnics or sports games, all against the gorgeous setting of the Smoky Mountain peaks. The scenery in this National Park is part of what attracts millions of nature lovers, you could spend a lifetime just taking in the view.
Weatherproof Canvas Wall Platform Tentstay Dry Without The Hassle
Ashevilles own Diamond Brand Outdoors manufactured 12 custom-designed canvas tents exclusively for Lake Powhatans glamping sites. Each 12×16-foot space accommodates up to four guestsits fully enclosed with large screened windows providing natural light and protection from the elements. A weatherproof fly adds extra shelter from the rain. Indoor/outdoor chairs are available for relaxing on the raised front porch under the big sky. Glamping in Asheville, NC could not be any easier!
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Timber Creek Campground On The West Side
Just 10 miles inside the park from the Grand Lake entrance, the Timber Creek Campground is first-come, first-served for its 98 sites. Open late May through early November, it is the only campground on the parks west side.
Located along the Colorado River, this beautiful campground is the definition of Rocky Mountain high since it sits at 8,900 feet. Your costs per night for this slice of paradise? $26 per night. It has flush toilets, offers ranger-led programs and can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length. Be aware that there is no shade at this campground since the pine beetle infestation in the area forced the park service to take down a number of trees.
Because it is first-come, first-served, get there early in the day during the summer season to try to get a site.
Hanging Rock State Park
Hanging Rock State Park sits on the Sauratown Mountain Range, a separated eastern range often called the mountains away from the mountains because of their divide from the Blue Ridge Mountains nearby. This 9000-acre state park has peaks of more than 2500 feet, with the highest point being Moores Knob at 786 meters above sea level. You can hike to this point or one of many other interesting attractions using more than 20 miles of trails in this state park.
Hikers, bikers, and equestrians are all welcome in Hanging Rock State Park. In the summer season, boating and swimming are popular activities, while fishing is a big attraction all year round. On Dan River, you can go tubing if angling doesnt have the thrill youre after. This stone mountain state park also offers some fantastic rock climbing opportunities. Hanging Rock has some of the best camping in North Carolina for adventurers, with plenty of waterfalls to check out. We also recommend seeing the view over the Piedmont plateau, which stretches out all the way to Virginia.
This North Carolina State Park offers a well equipped but simple campground, with two loops of tent and trailer sites. Drinking water, bathrooms, and hot showers are provided, but only pit toilets are open in winter. If youre going in a group, Hanging Rock is one of the best places to camp in North Carolina. The primitive group sites offer a fantastic wilderness experience in this scenic state park.
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When To Camp In Rocky Mountain National Park
The Moraine Park Campground is the only campground in Rocky Mountain National Park this is open year round. However, most visitors will prefer the warmer temperatures and easier access to the park during the peak summer camping season.
Peak camping season in Rocky Mountain National generally begins around late-May and lasts through the beautiful fall weather towards the end of September. On either end of these times youll need to be prepared for snow and cold temperatures.
The winter months bring cold temperatures, snow, and generally inhospitable conditions to RMNP. Those who are hardy enough to brave winter camping in Rocky Mountain will need to stay at either Moraine Park or for the even braver, plan a winter wilderness camping trip.
What To Bring Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park
Preparing for your Rocky Mountain National Park camping trip involves more than deciding which campground best fits your needs. There is also the important job of making sure you have all the right gear youll need to ensure a great trip.
Were sure youll already have the essentials like a great tent, sleeping bags, and camp chairs, but below are some of our favorite items specifically for camping in RMNP:
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Top Reasons To Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a stunning high-elevation park in Colorada that offers 415 square miles of land to explore. Here are the top reasons millions of guests visit the park each year:
HIKING
Rocky Mountain National Park offers guests 355 miles of hiking trails from easy and flat lakeside paths to steep and strenuous climbs to mountain peaks. Park rangers are happy to suggest trail options for various fitness levels, so you dont take on more than you can handle.
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Rocky Mountain National Park provides cold-weather camping enthusiasts a chance to enjoy the parks scenic views while snowshoeing, downhill or cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, hiking, and even sledding.
You wont be disappointed with experiences like seeing a frozen waterfall or watching wildlife forage for food against a backdrop of pristine white snow.
STARGAZING
Stargazing amongst the mountain ridges in Rocky Mountain National Park only enhances the experience as the light-pollution-free landscape reveals a night sky brimming with stars and galactic wonders.
Take a drive up Trail Ridge Road , where you can immerse yourself at over 12,000 feet in elevation in stars that seem close enough to touch.
WILDLIFE
SPRING FLOWERS and FALL FOLIAGE
WEATHER
The weather in Rocky Mountain National Park is cooler due to the high elevation, but temperatures are more moderate if you stay below 9,400 feet. Expect snowfall through July at places like Longs Peak, Bear Lake, or Trail Ridge Road.
Riverfront Camping In The Heart Of The Blue Ridge Mountains Minutes From Downtown Asheville
Welcome to the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can hike, fish, and explore Asheville!
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by nature and just a short drive to the thriving city of Asheville, escape to Asheville East KOA Holiday. Located along the Swannanoa River and surrounded by lakes, Asheville East KOA is the ideal location for a weekend getaway or family camping vacation. Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains. Head downtown to Asheville for live music, locally produced food and beer, and a vibrant arts scene. Take in history at the Biltmore Estate or take part in hiking, tubing, or other outdoor adventure activities.
With more than five ways to stay, Asheville East KOA Holiday offers a camping experience for everyone. RV Sites:Pull Thru and Back-In, Full Hookup options, including Patio sites, to accommodate rigs of all sizes. Lakeside sites offer amazing views of nature or enjoy fishing just steps from your front door in a back-in river site.
Cabins: Deluxe Cabins offer a unique glamping experience complete with full bathrooms, partial kitchens, cable TV, and temperature control. For those looking for a more rustic camping experience, Camping Cabins offer some of the comforts of home with a true feel of the outdoors. Coverage from the elements, a mini fridge and TV help make your stay fun for the whole family without the hassle.
Basic WiFiOutdoor Pool Fully Stocked Camp StoreFull Hook Up Sites
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