Free Colorado Travel Guide | Vacations, Travel and Tourism
Colorado Camping
Colorado is a camper’s dream, full of cool places to camp, both in campgrounds and dispersed campsites. Some sites are free, while others charge a fee. Some fit RVs, others only tents. Free campsites are always first-come, first-serve, while paid campgrounds can sometimes be reserved. Below, we cover:
Featured Camping
BLM Land
City and County Parks
National Forests
National Grasslands
National Monuments
National Parks
State Parks
State Wildlife Areas
Other Campgrounds
Other Dispersed Camping
Featured Tent and RV Camping
Thanks to more than a third of Colorado’s land being public, federally-owned land, it’s easy to find camping throughout the state. Some of the best campsites are hidden, while some are just overlooked. Camp in state and national parks.
Spread throughout the state, the Borough of Land Management oversees 8.3 million acres of public land, along with another 27 million acres of federal mineral estates. There are a lot of opportunities for dispersed camping with some of the BLM Land.
Most local city parks do not offer campgrounds, however, some do. They offer guests a chance to spend the night at wonderful locations around the state. Most campgrounds in city and county parks charge a fee, as there’s usually no free, dispersed camping there.
Since they cover so much space, most folks will end up camping in one of eleven national forests. They are spread through the Colorado Rockies, encompassing a myriad of landscapes and elevations. Both paid and free camping exist here.
There are two national grasslands located on the eastern plains: Pawnee in the northeast, and Comanche in the southeast. Both offer developed campgrounds as well as dispersed camping. In the summer, expect high temps, a lot of wind, and occasional thunderstorms.
Five of the national monuments permit camping within their stunning settings. You can find a mix of amenity-rich campgrounds, as well as free, primitive campsites. Unlike national parks, which ban dogs on most trails, regulations in national monuments are more pet-friendly.
Each of the four national parks in the Centennial State provides campgrounds for their guests. Dogs are permitted in all the camping areas and paved walkways, however, because of high regulations at national parks, they are often not allowed on established trails.
Both of the national recreation areas here are havens for water sports. Curecanti features the longest reservoir in Colorado and Arapaho has five lakes to choose from. And there are numerous paid campgrounds at each of them.
Thirty-three of forty-two state parks provide camping opportunities. Some even rent yurts and cabins if glamping is more your style. You can even stay in a teepee at Yampa River in the northwest part of the state. The majority of campsites charge per night, on top of the park’s entrance fee.
Camping at a state wildlife area (SWA) is permitted with a valid hunting or fishing license. It’s generally free to camp there. Also, there are more than 300 SWAs in Colorado. Campsites are usually primitive, however, there’s usually at least a vault toilet around.
These are some of the featured campgrounds around Colorado. Most require a fee and they range in their amenities. Some will be very basic with a tent pad and a fire ring, others will have a table, possibly electric, water, and full hookups.
Free primitive camping is available at many cool spots around the state. These campsites are for tents and RVs comfortable with boondocking on public land without any resources. They are typically marked by an existing firepit made of rocks and located on federal lands, such as national forests and BLM. Some are accessible for camping, others are for backpackers looking to go for a hike.
Thanks to more than a third of the land in Colorado being public and surrounded by recreation, good camping is easy to come by. Remember to leave no trace when camping and always use pre-existing sites.
The main season is primarily late May through September, although it depends on location, you can probably camp in April or October, just a bit colder, the same goes year-round. Many higher campgrounds do not open until Memorial Day though. For RVs and winter enthusiasts, many campgrounds remain open all year.
Some campgrounds are reservable, while others are first-come, first-serve. It’s wise to bring cash in several denominations so you can be ready to pay exactly for a campsite. Popular campgrounds get filled up fast, so book online early if you’re able.
Camping fees vary but are generally around twenty bucks, give or take. Parks often charge admission on top of this. State Parks require a daily rate and the national parks’ entrance pass is good for seven days.
Always be alert for fire ban stages, which can vary from county to county, or a statewide restriction.
Camping Near Me in Colorado
Luckily, there is enough camping for everyone in Colorado. Sometimes you want to stay close to a fun home base like Aspen, other times you want to go remote, to less crowded campsites. Many towns show nearby camping both dispersed and campgrounds. There are also summer camps in Colorado with many geared toward outdoor activities, such as rafting, hiking, fishing, and rock climbing.
Rocky Mountain National Park campsite with a view. Photo: pdthornto
No matter what your budget is, you’ll find the right camping. Free campsites exist, mostly dispersed camping in the national forests and BLM land. These pre-used campsites are marked by a ring fire (stone circle for fire pit).
If primitive campsites without amenities, like a toilet, aren’t your thing, then maybe managed campgrounds are. The most common luxuries include group vaulted toilets, a fire pit, a picnic table, and a tent pad (crushed rock area). Few have coin-operated showers and laundry.
Another choice you’ll commonly have is hook-ups, either full or partial. The latter includes only electricity and water, while the former adds sewer. Hookup sites cost more than those without. Most of these campsites are designed to fit RVs and travel trailers of great length.
The best option at campgrounds for tents is walk-in sites, although they’re not found too often. The Maroon Bells is a good place for these. They require a usually, short trek from the parking area, but reward you with more privacy and space between sites.
Camping on Federal Lands
Dispersed camping in Pike National Forest. Photo: Jake Bellucci
Federally managed lands account for more than 1/3 of the terrain in Colorado. So there are a lot of spots to find a place to rest your head. Options range from free, dispersed campsites to modern, amenity-rich campgrounds. Federal lands include national forests, national wilderness areas, etc, as well as BLM land.
BLM Land: (Borough of Land Management) accounts for a vast area throughout Colorado. It features dispersed camping and managed campgrounds. It accounts for the federal land that’s not designated national forests, wilderness areas, wildlife areas, etc.
National Forests: (NF) Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, eleven national forests are spread across the Rocky Mountain Region. It comprises millions of acres, housing gems of campsites, in both paid campgrounds and dispersed camping.
National Grasslands: (NG) Also managed by the U.S. Forest Service, two national grasslands are located on the eastern plains. Comanche is in the southeast around La Junta, and Pawnee is to the northeast outside of Greeley. Camping is permitted in parts.
Note: When reserving some of these campgrounds through recreationg.gov, note you’ll need to do it several days in advance. Call 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov and search for your campsite.
Camping Gear Checklist
Star trails over the Great Sand Dunes. Photo: Shannon Dizmang
People love car camping because people are habitual over-packers. It’s easy to pack just a few more items, and a giant cooler for your favorite grilling meats, fresh veggies, and ice-cold beer. Plus, you only have to walk a few feet to your campsite.
Everyone knows they need their tent and sleeping bag to rest comfortably at night. However, there are little things that can make your camping trip a success. Remember the hammer to pound in those stakes, and know the sun is too damn bright out here and you should bring some sunscreen. And duct tape is the Macgyver of camping tools. For a complete rundown of the best items to bring camping, check out the car-camping gear checklist.
Here are the basics to make your campout a success, bring this essential camping gear:
Shelter – tent, rods, stakes; or RV
Sleeping bag – at least a 40°F or warmer bag for the mountains in summer
A tarp or footprint – for underneath the tent
Sleeping pad – the air ones are nice
Pillow
Water and food
Sun lotion, sunglasses, hat
Warm clothes, rain gear, long underwear
Flashlights and spare batteries – lanterns are nice.
