Best Places To Camp Near Colorado Springs

The drive in along Gold Camp Road has tremendous scenery as well, including the Cathedral Park climbing area. If you’re looking for aColorado Springs, CO campgroundthat will make you feel like you’re right at home, consider these top 10 options when booking your next stay. Each of these RV campgrounds and parks has such varied features that it might be hard to choose. When making your selection and reservation, be sure to find out whether the campground can accommodate your RV’s size as this is the most crucial element of your stay. There is a terraced look to the grounds, and flower beds have been planted to further beautify the park.

Many communities operate their own, and there are wonderful visitor centers in the Rocky Mountains National Park and at most national forests. These lovely Ponderosa pine forests are less than a 90-minute drive from Denver and Colorado Springs, with innumerable pull-off campsites. Pick any public dirt road to drive down, and you’re likely to find a spot. This dirt road between Buena Vista and Twin Lakes offers stunning scenery deep in the mighty Sawatch Range, with several ghost towns and four 14,000-foot peaks to climb. Passenger cars can make the drive for up to 12 miles along the road.

It’s a larger gravel parking area with certain areas having fire pits and picnic table. 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. New England has much to offer all who come to marvel at the natural beauty and charm of these states…. Today’s travel trailers are lighter and more affordable than ever. Due to the campground sitting at such a high altitude, there are very few trees or any type of shade in the area. So, come prepared with plenty of sun layers and sunscreen.

Backcountry Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park

Visit the Royal Gorge Bridge for astonishing panoramic views of the high desert land of Southern Colorado. This vast, dispersed site is located along the waterfront of the stunning Eleven Mile Reservoir, which is just over an hour’s drive west from Colorado Springs. The extra time you spend in the car to get there will be rewarded with excellent boating access, unrivaled fishing opportunities, and breathtaking views of the rugged Rocky Mountains.

Except for the occasional thunderstorm, Colorado summers have a reputation for being some of the sunniest, hottest, and driest. So, it’s no surprise that we flock to bodies of water to camp on in these warmer months. We all know that camping means something different to everyone. Abby is a Colorado native who lives in Colorado Springs and likes to take sunset hikes in Garden of the Gods.

Chatfield State Park Campground

Visit the nearby towns of Poncha Springs, Buena Vista, or Salida for local fare and a microbrew (or two!). Mount Shavano, which looms over the campground, is named after Chief Shavano of the Ute tribe. He was a prominent negotiator and peacekeeper of the 1800s, signing two treaties with the U.S. government and preventing further bloodshed among Native Americans and settlers. In addition to dinosaurs, the area has been inhabited by humans for at least 14,000 years.

The tall canyon walls provide ample shade in the morning and afternoon, and of course beautiful views. In addition to hiking and trail running, the rolling trails around Cheyenne Mountain are very popular with the local mountain biking community. This beautiful state park recently received a lottery grant from the state, allowing Colorado Parks and Wildlife to improve its amenities and trails.

Tyler Wildeck is a writer with a passion for all things outdoors. His favorite place he’s ever visited is Alaska, and his favorite activity might be fishing or reading, depending on the day. In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell’s. The area is heavily used for hiking and fishing, and is popular large-in-part for its proximity to Pikes Peak, as it sits along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The beauty of Mueller is that it’s open year-round, and its native population of Elk and Bighorn Sheep are popular to local visitors and guests.

There are RV hookup sites that have so many amenities and services , it’ll 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 you’re really ready to rough it and experience nature, you can choose a camping option in the national forest that doesn’t even have a proper tent site. The Rampart Range Road camping area is located northwest of Colorado Springs and accessed via the town of Woodland Park.

For the free camping, drive the south side of the pass and look for some of the many pull-off sites. Barr Camp is located along the Barr trail—and you have to hike to it. Barr Camp is a 6.5 mile hike from the trailhead in Manitou Springs. Located just 6 miles from the Pikes Peak summit, the Barr Camp is a great camping option if you want to hike Pikes Peak.

Rabbit Valley Designated Camping Area

We had an excellent stay here with the exception of the hail and thunderstorm, but there was no planning for that. “We came here last year during the summer and it was so beautiful and quiet. Great scenery, not crowded, plenty of sites to choose from.” — The Dyrt camper Alyssa B.

Although you’ll end up being a little ways from downtown, you can still end up being well located to explore all that the area has to offer from your campsite. Lost Creek Wilderness features 130-miles of trails and TONS of outdoor recreation opportunities. Aside from the Colorado Trail, this is the longest trail in the Pike National Forest, coming in at 38-miles one-way. If done in full, it can be an excellent weekend backpacking trip, but there are also lots of access points to tailor a shorter, more custom-made hike.

Public Campgrounds Book Externally

You can install a parental control app on their phone to limit the use of certain apps and other phone restrictions. Both Lake City and Creede are national historic districts with lots of character and fewer crowds. There are numerous attractions on the byway, including giant lakes, natural landmarks, rugged 4×4 roads, and many many ruins. Guanella Pass.This stunning byway summits at 11,669 feet, twelve miles outside of Georgetown. There is lots to do, including fishing at Clear Lake near Georgetown, and a chance to hike an easier 14’er, Mount Bierstadt. Getting here is straightforward as well, simply head north along Manchester Creek Road from Divide until you reach the junction with County Road 5.

They’ve even added new trails, including the Dixon Trail that takes hikers to the summit of Cheyenne Mountain. This campground is a 50-minute drive south of Colorado Springs, and it lies along the edge of the 4,500-acre Pueblo Reservoir. The campground has three main group picnic areas and several well-equipped pavilions for large gatherings and events.

Of all the Colorado Springs campgrounds you could choose from, this is the one to beat. This family-owned and -operated campground site has pulled out all the stops to make sure you enjoy your time and are totally comfortable during your stay. From the abundant amenities to the soaring views everywhere you look, Falcon Meadow RV Campground is the place to be. Pikes Peak RV Park is a family-owned park that offers guests peace and quiet while being extremely close to Manitou Springs and all it has to offer.

It’s far enough from town that there’s an abundance of wildlife in the area. This large, well-equipped campground is a hair under 30 miles west of Colorado Springs, nestled amongst the aspen trees and nature trails of Mueller State Park. Taking your RV here is the best way to see a spectacular mountain town without spending too much. Steamboat is becoming increasingly popular so it’s something to check off on your list. “Just west of Leadville Colorado sits Turquoise Lake at an elevation of around 10,000 ft. Baby Doe Campground is one of the few camps that are situated around the lake on its east side.

Why Youll Love The Views Rv Park & Campground

“Pueblo Reservoir has plenty of options for day use and also camping. Whether you want to boat, fish, swim, hike, suntan, or just chill with some scenery – you can do it here.” Brooke H. “Plenty of easy to moderate difficulty trails for hiking and biking.