Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Rv Camping
The sole natural home of the mountain dwelling organ pipe cactus, this national monument is both out of the way and well worth the drive. Dont feel like hoofing it all the way back to I-8 after touring around one of the most beautiful deserts in the US? The national monument hosts an official campground, and is surrounded by BLM land and private parks, too.
We Have Selected What We Think Are The 10 Best Campgrounds In Colorado For Rvers Just In Time For Your Fall Camping Getaway Colorado Is Awesome During The Fall
With such incredible destinations as Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, the Colorado National Monument, and Mesa Verde, Colorado has a surprising variety of landscapes that will take your breath away! It is tailor-made for RV exploring
Colorado is a spectacular, wide-open state. You will no doubt clock in a lot of traveling time, both in getting here and traveling around the area. If you havent already heard, we like to tout our 330 Rule. This is when you are traveling, always stop for the day when you have either, 1) driven 330 miles, or it is 3:30 in the afternoon. That way, you have time to relax for the evening and do some exploring, and you will be less exhausted from driving.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison Rv Camping
If the name alone isnt enough to stir up enough intrigue in your quest to conquer every one of the national parks, just take a look at a few pictures of the place and theres little doubt your compass will tend to point towards these spires upon canyons in Western Colorado.
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Eldorado Canyon State Park
Sitting a stones throw from Boulder on the edge of Eldorado Springs is one of Colorados most scenic canyons. Layers of sandstone jut skyward from the banks of South Boulder Creek, which rushes with clear snow-melt. When the sun hits the west-facing canyon walls just right, it reflects off the yellow lichen that covers the rock, creating a golden glow that gives credence to the name Eldoradoas in the Amazons fabled El Dorado, or Lost City of Gold.
The Draw World-class rock climbing. More than 750 technical climbing routes draw chalk-fiends from around the world.
The Terrain Its trad climbing or bust heresport and top-rope routes are few and far between. Read: Few bolts, few permanent anchors, just you and the walls. The infamous Naked Edge is almost 500 feet of vertical, south-facing, exposed sandstone thats both forbidding and irresistible if youre inclined to test your limits.
The Alternative Not a climber? Not a problem. Bring your mountain bike and head for the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail for a vigorous three-mile workout. Or pack a lunch and settle in at one of the canyons 33 picnic tables along South Boulder Creek before testing your fly-fishing prowess in the trout-laden stream.
Pit Stop The park closes at sunset, but dont call it a day without sliding by South Boulders Southern Sun Pub and Brewery for a juicy jalapeño burger and a pint of Colorado Kind Ale.
Best Campgrounds In Colorado: Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Be sure to book your reservation in advance for this one, it is popular! Located in Colorado Springs, its a well-maintained campground, and the sites are on the larger side. See deer, turkey, and possibly even bears outside your RV window. The views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. There are lots of trails to explore, and several of them are dog-friendly. Sites have full hookups, and the campground has coin-operated showers and laundry, as well as flush toilets. Nightly rates are $28-$41, with a park pass of $9.
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Rv Camping In Washingtons National Park
Home to three official national parks alone, the Evergreen State is the perfect setting for natural splendor and outdoor recreation. Mild summers, splendid autumns and winters that, while rainy, offer a chance to explore snow covered mountains in the afternoon, and escape the coldest climes with just a short drive later that evening.
Additionally, like its sister state to the south, Washington offers everything from coastal neverlands to big glacier covered mountains to distant high desert.
Plan Your Visit With Our 7 Day Adventure Guide To Colorado
We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way.
You can hit everything in seven days, do a whirlwind weekend tour, or you can take your time and explore the area over a few weeks.
When Jennifer and I first went to Colorado, I felt like I finally understood what John Denver meant by his song: Ive now been Rocky Mountain High.
And like Denver, exploring all that Colorado has to offer made me want to sing, too.
This is a fully designed and edited guide that you can download and start reading immediately on your phone, tablet, computer or e-reader.
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Rv Camping In Nevadas Great Basin National Park
Note: For Lake Mead National Recreation Area, see Arizona.
Just south of the US-50, The Loneliest Highway, as you enter Nevada, lives a national park rarely visited but worth every penny of your annual parks pass.
Great Basin boasts caves as deep and dark as its skies are brightif you manage to find yourself there on a clear day, which isnt always a likelihood.
Rv Camping In Californias National Parks
The Golden State is a place of legend. With its vast dominion, covering landscapes as varied as the colossal rainforest cliffs of oceanside Redwoods National and State Parks to the arid Joshua Tree National Park, and plenty of oak scrublands, snowy mountain forests, big cities and small towns in between, to lump all of the parks this state holds into one section seems as frivolous as the question, What color is a bird?
Such is the way of our United States, though, and so below, we proudly present to you every national park that offers RV camping in the Great State of California.
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Rv Camping
Ever wanted to visit the Mediterranean, but couldnt figure out how to get your RV to Europe? The Santa Monica Mountains are considered to wear the same hat as one might find on the Italian boot , but much closer to home. The site has been proposed as a national park, various state parks, and has a diverse history of locals working hard to protect it, and for good reason: its often considered to be an even more pristine example of this kind of ecosystem than the European sea itself.
While the lone campground in the national recreation area is strictly for groups of ten or more, there are plenty of state parks and private facilities wholl be happy to serve as your basecamp for exploring the Santa Monica Mountains.
Why Youll Love The Views Rv Park & Campground
Youll be able to watch the sun rise and set from the comfort of your roomy RV site, then head into town to see the sights during the day. Explore the many historic sites and museums, head to local wineries for some wine tastings, or spend the day hitting balls at a golf course. Or you can simply explore the Colorado trails in the 42 acres at the campgrounds!
Estes Park Colorado Credit Benedek
4. Rocky Mountain National Park
A great option for camping on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park is The Estes Park Campground at Mary’s Lake. This developed campground is located just three miles from downtown and less than eight miles from the National Parks entrance, featuring 128 sites for tents and recreational vehicles. Sites are complete with campfire rings, picnic tables, food storage lockers at tent sites, and more.
Open mid-May to late September.
Find More Places To Visit While Rv Camping In Colorado
For all of your camping and trip planning needs, look no further than Campground Reviews and RV Trip Wizard. Campground Reviews is a trusted source of campground and RV park reviews offered by camping and RV enthusiasts just like you. With its accompanying RV LIFE App, RV Trip Wizard gets you to your camping destinations utilizing RV-friendly routes specific to your RV and travel preferences.
Best Campgrounds In Colorado: Moraine Park Campground
Moraine Park Campground. Located about 2.5 miles south of the Beaver Meadow entrance station, this is another gorgeous park, with great views of the meadowlands. Wildlife such as elk, deer, and even the occasional bear can be seen! As this is a dry campground, there are no hookups or showers, and there are vault toilets. There are many trails to explore. Nightly rates are $26, with a park pass of $9.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park Rv Sites
While both rim campgrounds at Black Canyon can accommodate RVs, the South Rim Campground is the most RV-friendly. Its also located on the more popular and easily accessible South Rim. Open year round, reservations are accepted but first-come, first-served sites are available in Loop C. If you need electricity, opt for Loop A which has electrical hookups as generators are not allowed at this campground. There is no dump station or water hookups, so be prepared to dry camp. RVs over 35 feet in length arent recommended here. Make reservations on www.recreation.gov.
Best Campgrounds In Colorado: Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde Rv Resort
Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort. Just outside Mesa Verde National Park is this great campground, some with nice views and trees. Some sites have full hookups, and campground amenities include flush toilets and showers, with great amenities such as WiFi, laundry room, playground, pool, and a hot tub.
Colorado is such a gorgeous state, its no wonder so many outdoor enthusiasts call this place home. Come discover for yourself the natural beauty of it all, by staying in these magnificent campgrounds.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rv Camping
Dazzling landscapes are painted every color the floral palette can provide in the spring, while a decidedly more auburn and gold scene explodes across these mountains every autumn. The most visited of all of Americas national parks, the Great Smoky Mountains are not home to any one particularly astounding feature , but instead a testament to the simple beauty of a forest preserved as best a man can after years of use and settlement. With that in mind, youll find the history of the people who once lived here as much a part of the story of this park as the landscape youll explore.
D Rocks National Lakeshore Rv Camping
These waterfront cliffs get their name for the colorful spectacle of sheer cliff face and hollowed out arches that line this section of Lake Superiors southern shore. The small town of Munising makes finding supplies easy, and the beauty of the park itself gives you plenty of reason to stick aroundas long as the snow stays away.
Best Campgrounds In Colorado: Glacier Basin Campground
Glacier Basin Campground. Here is a gorgeous National Park campground with well-spaced sites, with several walking trails for all levels. This is a dry campground, so no hookups are available, with loops A and B having the most tree cover. The 150 sites all have a picnic table and fire grate. There are flush toilets, potable water, a dump station, and firewood for sale. Nightly rates are $26, with a park pass of $9.
Mesa Verde National Park Rv Camping
Home of the remnant city and villages of an ancient cliffdwelling people, Mesa Verde offers a glimpse into a native civilization who transitioned from the more typical life of the wandering peoples who inhabited the US to one of tall buildings carved into the side of the valley faces. Beyond the historical significance of Mesa Verde, sweeping views and the big blue skies for which Colorado are famous treat campers looking to make the park their home for some time.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Rv Camping
This massive reservoir was once yet another gorgeous canyon carved by the Colorado River as it made its way through Utah and into Arizona. While some controversy exists around the recreation areas formation, particularly the damming of the river, for those interested in participating in the myriad of aquatic activities available here, RV camping is certainly available.
Rocky Mountain National Park Rv Camping
Perhaps the quintessential Colorado mountain experience, Rocky Mountain is a 24 hour live news feed, broadcasting episodes of blue sky winds wisping snow into curly swirls from the peaks of its mountains, herds of elk congregating in vast golden pastures, and rivers running through it all. While the park has suffered the woes of man in a variety of forms, it has never lost its grandeur, and is so near to many of the most interesting small towns, historical sites and cool cities that Colorado has to offer, to pass it by would be to miss out on perhaps everything Colorado is about.
Places To Visit While Rv Camping In Colorado
Colorado is a beautiful state and on the bucket list of many travelers. From towering majestic mountains to charming small towns, this state is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast, foodie, or cultural diva.
The next time you are RV camping in Colorado, check out these 10 destinations for great hiking, historic sites, and more. Plan your travels with RV Trip Wizard and the RV LIFE App to find more campgrounds, RV parks, and other points of interest along the way.
North Cascades National Park Rv Camping
The majority of camping available, especially for RVs, in North Cascades National Park actually lives within the Ross Lake National Recreation area, which cuts through the park along Washington State Road 20.
Still, the campgrounds put you within decent proximity of the park itself, and one in particular, Newhalem Creek, provides the rare combination of cell service within a national park campground.
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.
Things Nobody Tells You About Colorado
We always find that our appreciation of a place is greatly enhanced by understanding a little bit about its history and culture. Yes, even in our home country! So weve included a brief primer on what makes the state absolutely fascinating and what you need to know before you go camping in Colorado.
Colorados history is fierce and fascinating. The beloved mountains that we know and love today are the result of tectonic plate collisions that happened 70 million years ago. Even back then, Colorado was lit: the state was home to so many dinosaurs that theres even a town in Colorado named Dinosaur!
In addition to dinosaurs, the area has been inhabited by humans for at least 14,000 years. Native American tribes inhabited and traveled through what is now Colorado, including Ute, Navajo, Comanche, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes with many of these tribes sacred origin and ceremonial sites found within the state.
And while there are still many Indigenous communities within Colorado today, there have been many tribes with a legacy of occupation in the area. After European colonizers arrived in Colorado, Native Americans were displaced from their ancestral lands, slaughtered en masse and finally forced onto reservations, some of which were far removed from their homelands.
These towns remain Colorados most-visited destinations to this day: after the silver rush faded to more of a dull gray, the states coffers relied instead on tourism, craft beer, and most recently weed.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rv Camping
A constantly evolving string of islands just south of Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers first took flight, and north of the infamous Outer Banks vacation destination, Cape Hatteras National Seashore promises a relaxing natural setting with plenty of nightlife or history just a drive up or down the beach away.
Public Lands In The San Luis Valley
If you’re looking to camp on some of Colorado’s most beautiful public lands, we’ve got you covered. Piñon Flats is the Great Sand Dunes National Park campground, located one mile North of the Visitors Center. It was selected as one of the best campgrounds in America’s National Parks by Fodor’s Travel, and it’s not hard to see why. The campground is situated among pinyon pines, sagebrush, and wildflowers, beneath the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and of coursefeatures a beautiful view of the Great Sand Dunes. The park recommends making a reservation in advance, which can be done on their website here.
Another option is Zapata Falls campground. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, this campground sits at the trailhead of the popular Zapata Falls hike. You can expect spectacular views of the entire San Luis Valley from this campsite and reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Finally, there are almost innumerable options to camp in the San Luis Valley region of the Rio Grande National Forest. Dispersed camping is allowed on most of the forest for a maximum of 14 days in a 30-day period. There are also a number of campgrounds around Antonito, Creede, Crestone, Monte Vista, South Fork, and more! For a full list of our recommended RV and campground locations, .