Rocky Mountain National Park near Denver

Best Camping Near Denver, CO

Discover 213+ top-rated campgrounds, hidden gems, and insider tips for the ultimate outdoor adventure near Denver.

213
Campgrounds
7
Hidden Gems
87
Popular Spots
5
Best Months
133.3
Average Distance

Top Campgrounds Near Denver

Our algorithm analyzes sentiment, popularity, and location data to recommend the best camping spots for your Denver adventure.

opportunities.
Star
4.7
(43)
Staunton State Park
12102 S Elk Creek Rd, Pine, Colorado, 80470, United States
Staunton State Park sits on 3,800 acres near Pine, Colorado, with elevation ranging from 8,100 to over 10,000 feet. The park offers 25 walk-in tent sites, each accommodating up to 6 people. Sites cost $35 per night and include picnic tables, bear lockers, potable water, and vault toilets. There are no fire pits or BBQ facilities.
25 campsites
Tents
Primitive
Reservable
$35.00 - $35.00 / night
Star
4.7
(212)
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
410 JL Ranch Heights, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80926, United States
Cheyenne Mountain State Park offers 61 campsites against the eastern flank of Cheyenne Mountain, just outside Colorado Springs. The park includes 51 full-hookup sites and 10 walk-in tent sites, with fees ranging from $28 to $41 per night. Sites feature paved pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, plus modern amenities like flush toilets, hot showers, and laundry facilities. A $9 daily park fee applies on top of camping fees.
61 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$28.00 - $41.00 / night
Star
4.6
(228)
West Lake
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West Lake sits in the high-elevation alpine terrain of Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. This U.S. Forest Service campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with electric hookups, vault toilets, and potable water. Campers fish, boat, hike, and watch wildlife along the lakeshore, with friendly hosts maintaining clean facilities throughout the season.
31 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$28.00 - $81.00 / night
Star
4.7
(455)
Dowdy Lake
REDFEATHER LAKES, BELLEVUE, CO, 80512, USA
Dowdy Lake sits in the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests near Red Feather Lakes, a high-elevation alpine campground operated by the U.S. Forest Service. The mid-sized facility offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups, vault toilets, and potable water, drawing campers for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing on the lake. Spacious sites with fire rings and picnic tables provide a base for hiking and biking the surrounding forest trails.
70 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$20.00 - $47.00 / night
Star
4.6
(191)
Mueller State Park
PO Box 39, Divide, Colorado, 80814, United States
Mueller State Park spreads 134 campsites across seven loops in the Pikes Peak foothills at 9,600 feet. Options include 110 sites with electric hookups, 22 walk-in tent sites, 4 backcountry hike-in sites, 2 equestrian sites, and 3 cabins. Nightly fees run $10-41 depending on site type and amenities.
134 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$10.00 - $41.00 / night
Star
4.5
(608)
Chatfield State Park
11500 N. Roxborough Park Rd., Littleton, Colorado, 80125, United States
Chatfield State Park spreads 197 campsites across paved loops near Littleton, where the plains meet the Rocky Mountain foothills at 5,446 feet. Large, spacious sites sit on concrete pads with grass between them, and neighbors don't crowd each other. Sites run $10-$45 per night and offer electric, water, and sewer hookups. The reservoir is the main draw, with a marina, boat ramps, and miles of paved bike trails.
197 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$10.00 - $45.00 / night
Star
4.6
(396)
Pawnee
ARAPAHO AND ROOSEVELT
Pawnee sits at 10,350 feet in Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests near Nederland, offering tent and RV camping with access to Brainard Lake and high-alpine trails. American Land & Leisure operates this large campground seasonally during summer months, when wildflower displays peak and boat rentals open on the lake. Visitors hike, fish, bike, and climb in the surrounding alpine terrain, with camp hosts maintaining vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings throughout the season.
83 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$29.00 - $58.00 / night
Star
4.8
(80)
Silver Bar Campground
806 W. Hallam
Silver Bar Campground sits along Maroon Creek in White River National Forest, 12 miles from Aspen and minutes from the Maroon Bells trailhead. Operated by the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District, this high-elevation primitive campground offers a handful of tent sites with vault toilets, fire rings, and bear-proof lockers. Campers hike into the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness and fish Maroon Creek during summer months, with the creek providing constant background noise through camp.
4 campsites
Tents
Primitive
Reservable
$15.00 - $15.00 / night
Star
4.5
(740)
Heaton Bay
WHITE RIVER
Heaton Bay sits at 9,000 feet on the shore of Dillon Reservoir in White River National Forest, midway between Frisco and Dillon. This large campground offers electric and water hookups alongside tent sites, with direct access to the reservoir for boating and fishing. Managed by Heaton Bay Campground, it serves as a high-alpine base camp for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing during the summer season.
87 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$29.00 - $56.00 / night
Star
5.2
(13)
Duncan Cabin
46525 State Hwy 114, Saguache, CO 81149
Duncan Cabin sits in the high alpine of Rio Grande National Forest near Crestone, operated by the USDA Forest Service. This primitive rental cabin offers a step up from tent camping with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, accessible via a sandy, exposed hike. The location delivers exceptional stargazing and wildflower viewing during summer months, with hiking trails nearby and Great Sand Dunes within reach.
1 campsites
Primitive
Reservable
$40.00 - $40.00 / night
Star
4.7
(361)
Chapman Campground And Group
FRYING PAN RIVER RD
Chapman Campground sits at 8,600 feet along the Fryingpan River in White River National Forest, operated by the Aspen Sopris Ranger District near Basalt. This large alpine campground offers tent sites, RV spots, and group camping with vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings. Campers fish for trout in the river, hike into high country, and watch wildlife in the cool summer mornings and warm afternoons.
84 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$30.00 - $260.00 / night
Star
4.7
(214)
Camp Hale Memorial
WHITE RIVER
Camp Hale Memorial sits at 9,200 feet in White River National Forest near Minturn, on the site of the historic World War II 10th Mountain Division training grounds. Operated by American Land and Leisure, this small seasonal campground offers direct access to the Colorado Trail and high-country fishing in an alpine setting. Campers hike, bike, fish, and explore the area's military history amid spacious sites with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables.
15 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$25.00 - $25.00 / night
Star
4.5
(112)
Pinewood Reservoir
1800 SOUTH COUNTY ROAD 31, LOVELAND, Colorado, 80537, United States
Pinewood Reservoir sits at 6,580 feet in the foothills west of Carter Lake, part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. The campground has 27 sites total: 15 drive-in sites with electric hookups (up to 40 feet) and 12 walk-in tent sites. Fees run $25-35 per night. The reservoir covers 327 acres of public land and offers fishing, boating, hiking, and biking, though campers should know sites are small and tightly packed.
27 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$25.00 - $35.00 / night
Star
4.7
(221)
Cascade (Colorado)
5575 CLEORA RD
Cascade sits at 9,000 feet along Chalk Creek west of Salida, operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation with seasonal access during peak months. The small alpine campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites beneath the towering peaks of Mt. Antero and Mt. Princeton. Campers fish Chalk Creek, hike nearby trails, and enjoy vault toilets, potable water, and attentive camp hosts who maintain the facilities.
21 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$25.00 - $25.00 / night
Star
4.5
(437)
Mountain Park
HWY 14, BELLEVUE, CO, 80512, USA
Mountain Park sits along the Cache la Poudre River in Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, 30 minutes west of Fort Collins. This USDA Forest Service campground offers shaded sites with electric hookups and hot showers, serving as a base for hiking, fishing, and rafting the Poudre. Camp hosts maintain the facilities and the riverside setting draws families and anglers seeking a forested retreat with modern conveniences.
54 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$30.00 - $185.00 / night
Star
4.6
(232)
Estes Park Campground At East Portal
3420 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, Colorado, 80517, United States
Estes Park Campground at East Portal sits at 8,300 feet on a forested hillside crowned by granite outcroppings. The campground has 64 sites for tents and small RVs (under 22 feet), with fees ranging $7-45 per night. Amenities include hot showers, flush toilets, electric and water hookups, and a camp store that delivers firewood to your site. There's no cell service.
64 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$7.00 - $45.00 / night
Star
4.5
(367)
Peak One
WHITE RIVER
Peak One sits in White River National Forest near Frisco, operated by the Dillon Ranger District. This large high-elevation alpine campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with flush toilets, potable water, and fire rings. Visitors hike, fish, bike, and view wildlife, with lake and trail access drawing consistent praise for scenery and well-maintained facilities.
80 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$28.00 - $28.00 / night
Star
4.6
(371)
Molly Brown
LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT, 810 FRONT STREET, LEADVILLE, CO 80461, USA
Molly Brown sits at 10,600 feet on the shore of Turquoise Lake outside Leadville, operated by the Leadville Ranger District. This mid-sized alpine campground offers tent and RV sites with vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings, plus direct access to hiking trails and lake fishing. Reviewers praise the spacious, private sites and clean facilities, though generator noise and water access can be issues.
49 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$30.00 - $33.00 / night
Star
4.6
(204)
Peaceful Valley
Boulder Ranger District, 2140 Yarmouth Ave, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
Peaceful Valley sits at 8,500 feet in a glacial valley within Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, 30 minutes from Boulder. This U.S. Forest Service campground offers tent and RV sites along a mountain creek, with vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings. Campers fish the creek, hike forest trails, and mountain bike nearby routes during the summer operating season.
17 campsites
Tents
RVs
Reservable
$18.75 - $37.50 / night
Star
4.6
(199)
Guanella Pass
Arapaho and Roosevelt NF, 101 Highway 103, Clear Creek Ranger District
Guanella Pass sits high in the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests near Idaho Springs, managed by American Land and Leisure. This small alpine campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings. Summer brings wildflower displays, trout fishing in South Clear Creek, and trail access to alpine lakes, with marmots, elk, and ptarmigan active throughout the season.
18 campsites
Tents
RVs
Primitive
Reservable
$26.00 - $26.00 / night
When to Camp
Best Months
May
June
July
August
September

Temperature Guide
Summer: 88°F / 59°F
Winter: 45°F / 18°F

Best camping months: May, June, July, August, September. Winter camping requires cold-weather gear with highs around 45°F. I-70 West gets very congested on weekends. Start early or use alternate routes.
Must-Visit Nearby
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Garden of the Gods
  • Mount Evans

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Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our analysis of sentiment scores and reviews, the top campgrounds include Staunton State Park, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, West Lake. These locations consistently receive excellent reviews for their amenities, natural beauty, and overall experience.

The optimal months for camping are May, June, July, August, September. During these months, you'll enjoy the best weather conditions with temperatures ranging from 18°F to 88 °F.

Our recommended campgrounds are typically within 100 miles of Denver, with an average driving distance of about 133 miles. Most locations are reachable within 1-3 hours of driving.

Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak season (May, June, July). We recommend booking 2-3 months in advance for the best selection.