Best Campgrounds in Colorado: Top Spots for Camping

Colorado packs 860 campgrounds into a state defined by altitude. Most public campgrounds sit above 7,000 feet, and some exceed 11,000. That means cool summer nights, stunning mountain scenery, and a compressed camping season that makes planning essential. With 371 national forest campgrounds, 63 BLM sites, 165 RV parks, and nine national park campgrounds, the options range from primitive backcountry to full-hookup resorts.

Best National Forest Campgrounds

National forest campgrounds make up nearly half of Colorado's camping options. The best combine lakeside settings with enough amenities to keep families comfortable.

Lowry Campground at 9,258 feet offers electric hookups, a boat ramp, playground, and fishing access. Vault toilets, firewood for sale, and hiking trails round out the amenities. The high-altitude setting on a reservoir provides reliable trout fishing and cool temperatures even in July.

Peak One near Frisco sits at 9,042 feet on Dillon Reservoir with flush toilets, a playground, boat ramp, and fishing. No hookups, but the proximity to Breckenridge and the Summit County bike path network makes this a strong base camp for families who want mountain activities without roughing it too much.

Stillwater at 8,307 feet has electric hookups, showers, a dump station, boat ramp, and fishing access. One of the better-equipped forest campgrounds in the state for RV campers who still want a public land experience.

Bellaire Lake Campground at 8,633 feet in the Roosevelt National Forest combines electric hookups with a camp store, fishing, and hiking. Flush and vault toilets both available. A good option for the northern Front Range crowd heading up for a weekend.

Best High-Altitude Campgrounds

Colorado's highest campgrounds are for campers who want thin air and big views. Expect cool nights even in summer and limited services.

Upper Cataract Lake #63 at 10,401 feet is primitive and quiet, with hiking trails leading deeper into the Eagles Nest Wilderness. No amenities beyond a trail register, so bring everything you need. The payoff is alpine lake camping with few neighbors.

South Mineral Campground near Silverton at 9,841 feet offers vault toilets and picnic tables in one of the most dramatic settings in the San Juan Mountains. The hike to Ice Lake Basin starts here, making this a popular staging point for backpackers and day hikers.

Jumbo Campground at 9,796 feet has electric hookups, vault toilets, and fishing access. Not many campgrounds at this elevation offer hookups, making Jumbo a rare find for RV campers who want to stay above the crowds.

Best Campgrounds Near National Parks

Colorado has four national parks, and each has camping nearby that avoids the park reservation scramble.

Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park sits at 7,811 feet with showers, a camp store, fire rings, and picnic tables. This is the only campground inside the park, so it books up fast in summer. The cliff dwellings are a short drive from camp.

East Portal Campground at Black Canyon of the Gunnison sits at 6,555 feet at the bottom of the canyon. ADA accessible with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. The steep drive down (16% grade) limits RVs to 22 feet, but the payoff is camping beside the Gunnison River with 2,000-foot walls above you.

Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites at Great Sand Dunes National Park at 8,570 feet offer primitive camping accessed via a 4WD road. ADA accessible sites are available. For a less rugged option near the dunes, Pinon Flats Campground (inside the park) has more services but fills quickly.

Best BLM and Free Camping

Colorado's 63 BLM campgrounds and five designated dispersed areas give budget campers plenty of low-cost or free options.

Radium Recreation Area along the upper Colorado River offers electric hookups, vault toilets, boat ramp, and fishing access. BLM pricing keeps costs well below private alternatives, and the river setting is hard to beat for float fishing.

Oh Be Joyful Campground near Crested Butte at 8,962 feet has electric hookups, fire rings, fishing, and hiking trails. The name matches the experience: a BLM site with better amenities than most forest campgrounds at a fraction of the price.

For more options, see free camping in Colorado.

Best RV Parks

Colorado's 165 private RV parks concentrate along the Front Range (Denver to Colorado Springs), the I-70 mountain corridor, and the Western Slope.

Lakeview Gunnison at 9,566 feet has electric hookups, vault toilets, boat ramp, and fishing access. One of the highest-elevation RV-friendly campgrounds in the state, sitting on Blue Mesa Reservoir (Colorado's largest body of water).

McPhee Recreation Complex near Dolores at 7,079 feet offers electric hookups, flush toilets, a boat ramp, and hiking. The lower elevation means a longer season than most mountain campgrounds, and McPhee Reservoir provides excellent fishing.

Check our full RV parks in Colorado list for more options with hookup filtering.

Best Time to Camp in Colorado

Spring (May through early June): Lower-elevation campgrounds (below 8,000 feet) open first. Snow lingers at higher elevations through May. Expect muddy roads and cold nights, but fewer crowds and flowing rivers.

Summer (mid-June through August): Peak season. Campgrounds above 9,000 feet are at their best. Afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily above treeline, so plan hikes for early morning. Reserve popular spots months ahead.

Fall (September through mid-October): The best-kept secret in Colorado camping. Aspens turn gold, crowds vanish, and daytime temperatures stay pleasant at mid-elevations. Most campgrounds above 9,000 feet close by late September. The San Juan Mountains and Kebler Pass area offer the most reliable fall color.

Winter (November through April): Most public campgrounds close. A handful of lower-elevation BLM and state sites remain open for hardy campers. Private RV parks along the Front Range operate year-round.

Tips for Camping in Colorado

Altitude affects everything. Water boils at a lower temperature above 7,000 feet, so cooking takes longer. You will sleep worse the first night at altitude. Hydrate aggressively, especially if you drove up from the plains.

Lightning is the real danger. Colorado leads the nation in lightning deaths. Be below treeline by noon in summer. If you hear thunder, get inside a vehicle.

Firewood must be local. Colorado prohibits transporting firewood more than 10 miles to prevent pine beetle and emerald ash borer spread. Buy it at the campground or a nearby store.

Bears are active statewide. Hard-sided bear boxes or vehicle storage is required at many campgrounds. Never leave food, coolers, or scented items at your site unattended.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Colorado campgrounds open?

Most national forest campgrounds open between late May and mid-June, depending on snowpack. Lower-elevation sites (below 8,000 feet) open first. High-altitude campgrounds above 10,000 feet may not open until July in heavy snow years. Check the specific ranger district for current opening dates.

Can I camp for free in Colorado?

Yes. BLM land and national forest land allow dispersed camping in many areas for free. You can camp up to 14 days at one location before moving. Designated BLM campgrounds like Radium and Oh Be Joyful charge small fees but are much cheaper than private alternatives.

What is the best campground near Denver?

Within two hours of Denver, the national forest campgrounds along I-70 (Summit County, Clear Creek) and Highway 285 (South Park) offer the quickest mountain escapes. Peak One near Frisco and the campgrounds around Turquoise Lake near Leadville are popular weekend trips.

Do I need bear canisters in Colorado?

Hard-sided bear canisters are not universally required, but many campgrounds provide bear boxes and require you to use them. In the backcountry, bear canisters or proper bear hangs are strongly recommended. Black bears are present in every mountain county.

How cold does it get at Colorado campgrounds?

At 9,000 feet, expect overnight lows in the 30s and 40s even in July and August. At 10,000+ feet, freezing nights are possible any month. Bring a sleeping bag rated to at least 20 degrees for mountain camping, even in summer.

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