Like most of the Rockies, the more time you spend in South Park the more you love it. What seems like a pretty lifeless high desert, is actually teeming with interesting gems waiting to be discovered. There’s camping spread across the whole alpine basin, from Fairplay to Jefferson and everything in between.
South Park houses the sleepy mountain towns of Alma, Como, Fairplay, Hartsel, and Jefferson. Although barren looking, the vast South Park basin holds numerous rolling alpine forests, lakes, and rivers. The Pike National Forest surrounds South Park on nearly all sides. It offers both campgrounds and dispersed campsites to choose from.
To the southwest of Hartsel, you can access the San Isabel National Forest and additional hiking and OHV trails.
List of the campgrounds in South Park, CO, in order of proximity:
Camping near Fairplay
The largest town in South Park is Fairplay, the hub of the high basin. It’s also the county seat of Park County, though its largest town is Bailey, located east of the South Park basin. There are several campgrounds close to town, which are a great base for exploring throughout the high country, including a day trip to Breckenridge or Buena Vista, both within a forty-five-minute drive. Downtown Fairplay features a small historic district with a few good restaurants and unique shops.
Middlefork RV Park
This year-round RV Park lies in the heart of town, within walking distance of everything. Exceptional fishing is nearby. It sits next to the Middlefork of the South Platte River where you can try gold panning, and they also have their own Trout Pond, open to barbless hooks and catch-and-release only. The Middlefork RV Park offers secured RV storage yards and units as well. Pets are welcome at individual RV sites but not in group tent areas.
- Closest Town: Fairplay (0mi)
- Specs: 45 RV campsites, some with pull-thru, 32 have full hookups, 13 have electric only; Group tenting area
- Amenities: Bathhouse, WiFi, laundry, lounge area, water, dump, and fill
- Reservations: Yes, book online at properties.camping.com, or call 719-836-4857
- Address: 255 US Hwy 285, Fairplay, CO 80440 (Map)
- Getting There: Take Main Street from US-285, then make a right onto 12th Street in a few hundred feet. Follow that for 0.2 miles to RV Park.
Fourmile Campground
Fourmile is a clean and well-maintained campground with plenty of trees around providing shade and privacy. The gravel campsites are compacted and level. It’s located at a high elevation of 10,760 feet, about 9 miles west of Fairplay. The drive back is suitable for 2WD, but rough and washboard road for the last 7 miles, so take it slow. The campground is located nearby Mount Sherman, a 14,043 peak popular for summer hikes.
- Closest Town: Fairplay (9mi)
- Specs: 14 sites suitable for a max trailer of 22′ long; Open May to early October
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
- Address: Co Rd 18, Fairplay, CO 80440 (Map)
- Getting There: From the junction of US-9 and US-285, take Hwy 285 west for 1.3 miles. Make a right onto 4 Mile Creek Road and travel for 8 miles back to Fourmile Campground.
Buffalo Springs Campground
Located at 9,000 feet in elevation between Fairplay and Buena Vista just off Highway 285, Buffalo Springs is a lovely wooded campground. It’s surrounded by recreation in the Pike National Forest, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing are common. The campsites are widely spaced with tall pine trees providing shade and privacy between sites.
- Closest town: Fairplay (14mi), Hartsel (18mi), Buena Vista (25mi)
- Specs: 18 sites with parking spurs of 24-40′ long accommodating trailers up to 30′ long; Open May to early September
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump
- Reservations: Yes, at recreation.gov
- Address: Co Rd 76, Buena Vista, CO 81211 (Map)
- Getting There: From Fairplay take US-285 south for 13 miles. Make a right onto County Road 76/FSR 431. Follow that for 0.8 miles to Buffalo Springs CG.
Weston Pass Campground
This campground of the same name is located at 10,200 feet along Weston Pass, which connects Fairplay with Leadville. The drive back is a good thirty minutes from town, but doable for 2WD vehicles. 4WD and high clearance is recommended if continuing to the western slope, Lake County side. Weston Pass Campground is located next to the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness for some great backcountry hikes and exploration.
- Closest Town: Fairplay (16mi)
- Specs: 14 sites with a max trailer length of 25′; Open May to early October
- Amenities: Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables; No water or trash service
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-served
- Address: County Road 22, Fairplay, CO 81211 (Map)
- Getting There: Take US-285 from the junction of US-9 in Fairplay, west for 4.7 miles. Turn right onto County Road 5 and follow for 7 miles. Make a right onto County Road 22 and take that the last 4 miles to the Weston Pass CG Road, which leads right into the campground.
FREE – Dispersed Camping on Weston Pass Road/CR 22
On the east side, the Fairplay side, of Weston Pass there are a few dispersed campsites. There are even more available on the Lake County western side. Most 2WD vehicles in good condition can summit the Park County eastern side of the pass, but 4WD is required to continue on the western slope side.
- Closest Town: Fairplay (16+mi)
- Address: County Road 22, Buena Vista, CO 81211 (Map)
- Getting There: Follow the above directions to Weston Pass Campground and continue along County Road 22 looking for preexisting dispersed campsites.
Camping near Alma
Only five miles north of Fairplay on US-9 lies probably Colorado’s highest elevated town, Alma, at approximately 10,578 feet. It boasts a few places to shop and eat, along with plenty of high mountain views. If you have a 4×4 and like rugged roads, you can consider taking Mosquito Pass from Alma over to Leadville.
Or opt for the easier, paved, 2WD US-9, which leads north to Breckenridge in under thirty minutes via Hoosier Pass. If you plan to head into Breckenridge, you could consider camping near Lake Dillon, at one of its gorgeous lakeside campgrounds.
FREE – Dispersed Camping on County Road 8 by Kite Lake
On the drive up to Kite Lake, there are some free primitive campsites along the route. Look for numerous turnoffs accessing the preexisting dispersed campsites. Lookout for private property. Clean up after yourself.
- Closest Town: Alma (5mi); Fairplay (11mi)
- Address: Co Rd 8, Alma, CO 80424
- Getting There: From Alma take County Road 8 toward Kite Lake Campground. On the drive up there are some dispersed campsites along the road.
Kite Lake Campground
There are a handful of campsites suitable for tents for a moderate fee. There’s nothing too special but it’s great for those looking to access the nearby trailheads, and includes some on-site amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables. There is also the aforementioned dispersed camping on the drive up. Both are best accessed during the summer months, as County Road 8 often has snow later in fall and winter.
- Closest Town: Alma (5mi); Fairplay (11mi)
- Specs: 5 primitive campsites only for tents, not recommended for trailers
- Amenities: Fire ring, picnic table, outhouse toilets; No water or trash service
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
- Address: Co Rd 8, Alma, CO 80424
- Getting There: Follow County Road 8 from downtown Alma northwest for 5.5 miles to reach Kite Lake Campground.
Camping near Como on Boreas Pass
There isn’t much in Como in terms of businesses or tourist attractions, just a sleepy little community nestled along Highway 285 between Jefferson and Fairplay. Most of the town’s visitors come from those passing through to drive the 2WD seasonal Boreas Pass. This is a beautiful backcountry route between Park and Summit counties, connecting Como with Breckenridge. There’s one USFS campground on the Como side, along with plenty of free opportunities for (dedicated) dispersed camping.
FREE – Dispersed Camping on Boreas Pass Road
On both sides of Boreas Pass Road, there are pull-offs for dispersed camping. However, on the Summit County side, the campsites are dedicated, and camping outside of the 23 sites will likely result in a citation from the USFS.
There are probably more campsites on the Park County side. It’s a wonderful place to find a scenic, wooded campsite with access to both Fairplay and Breckenridge, as well as a fairly quick 1.5-hour drive from Denver. All dispersed camping is pack-in, pack-out.
- Closest town: Como (4+mi); Fairplay (15+mi)
- Address: Boreas Pass Road, Como, CO (Map)
- Specs: 23 dedicated dispersed campsites on the Summit County side, and pre-existed dispersed campsites on Park County/Como side.
- Getting There: From Como follow Boreas Pass Road toward Breckenridge until you reach the Pike National Forest. You’ll begin seeing pull-offs along the road for preexisting dispersed campsites, and dedicated numbered sites on the Breckenridge/Summit County side.
Selkirk Campground
Located along Boreas Pass, Selkirk is wonderfully secluded campground, but unfortunately, closed for the season. It’s accessible in thirty minutes from Fairplay and forty minutes from Breckenridge, putting you in great proximity to both towns. There are usually sites available, probably due to the abundance of nearby dispersed camping on Boreas Pass. The campground is situated at 10,500 feet in elevation and accessible by 2WD cars.
- Closest Town: Como (5mi); Fairplay (16mi)
- Specs: 15 sites suitable for trailers up to 25′ long
- Amenities: Vault toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump; No trash service
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-served
- Address: County Road 801, Breckenridge, CO 80424 (Map)
- Getting There: From Como take Boreas Pass Road for 3.1 miles to County Road 801. Take that for 0.5 miles and turn right staying on CR 801 for another 1.9 miles until you reach Selkirk CG.
Camping by Antero Reservoir near Hartsel
The “Heart of Colorado” Hartsel lies at the geographic center of the state, and also about the middle of South Park. There are a couple of campgrounds nearby Antero Reservoir, located just west of town on Highway 24. Camping here will put in close relatively close proximity to both Fairplay and Buena Vista, as well as exceptional fishing and boating at the reservoir. Hartsel is small but has a restaurant, coffee shop, and gas station/general store, so you can get what you need for your campout.
FREE – Antero Reservoir South Shore Campground
This is a terrific free campground located on the south shore of Antero Reservoir. The sunsets from these spacious campsites are lovely. These campsites aren’t right lakeside but are a short walk from the reservoir, which has outstanding fishing and boating. The sites are spacious but can get a bit windy, especially for tent camping, so best suited for hard-sided trailers.
- Closest Town: Hartsel (8mi), Buena Vista (23mi), Fairplay (24mi)
- Specs: 38 sites in an open meadow, no shade
- Amenities: Toilets, trash service, picnic tables, fire rings; No hookups
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
- Address: Co Rd 437, Hartsel, CO 80449 (Map)
- Getting There: From Hartsel take US-24 west for 6.9 miles. Take a right onto County Road 437 and follow for 1.1 miles back to Antero Reservoir’s south shore.
Camping by Jefferson Lake near Jefferson
Jefferson offers some great escapes both north and south of town. There are numerous wooded campgrounds to choose from, as well as free, dispersed camping around Jefferson. While there isn’t any lakeside camping at Jefferson Lake north of town, there are several nearby campgrounds. The town of Jefferson is tiny, though you can grab a bite to eat at the Hungry Moose Caboose. Try a burger and shake. There’s also a general store where you can pick up a fishing license or camping supplies.
Lodgepole Campground
This wooded campground is located at 9,900 feet, about 2.8 miles or less than ten minutes drive to Jefferson Lake. It’s a nice campground with some hiking trails right from it, as well as streams and beaver ponds to fish. There are lodgepole pines and aspens between the spacious sites adding a bit of privacy to each. The road back is a bit rutted out and washboarded, so take it slow.
- Closest Town: Jefferson (4mi); Fairplay (20mi)
- Specs: 34 sites with parking spurs of 20-40′ long suitable for trailers up to 30′ long; Open May to early October
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump, trash service
- Reservations: Yes, at recreation.gov
- Address: Jefferson Lake Rd, Jefferson, CO 80424 (Map)
- Getting There: From Jefferson take Michigan Creek Road 2 miles to Jefferson Lake Road. Turn right onto it and drive 2.5 miles to Lodgepole CG.
Aspen Campground
Aspen Campground is located in a valley at an elevation of 9,900 feet by Jefferson Creek, 2.7 miles downriver from Jefferson Lake. It provides good access to The Colorado Trail, which goes from Durango to Littleton, and other recreation within the Pike National Forest. You can also easily access the West Jefferson Loop Trail, which you can loop up to the continental divide and back in 11 miles. The campground has a single loop with plenty of shade from mature evergreens and aspen.
- Closest Town: Jefferson (4mi); Fairplay (21mi)
- Specs: 12 sites with max RV length of 25′
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump
- Reservations: Yes, at recreation.gov
- Address: Jefferson Lake Rd, Jefferson, CO 80456 (Map)
- Getting There: Take Michigan Creek Road from Jefferson for 2 miles and turn right onto Jefferson Lake Rd. Follow that for 2.8 miles to Aspen CG.
Jefferson Creek Campground
This creekside campground is situated at 10,100 feet of elevation, just 1.7 miles south of Jefferson Lake, or a five-minute drive. Due to its proximity to the lake, beautiful surroundings, and ample amenities, it’s a popular campground that’s best reserved ahead of time. There are nice hiking trails leading right from the campground, so don’t worry about having to hop in your car and drive.
- Closest Town: Jefferson (5mi); Fairplay (22mi)
- Specs: 17 sites with parking spurs 25-40′ long fitting a max RV length of 25′; Open May to early October
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump, trash service
- Reservations: Yes, at recreation.gov
- Address: Co Rd 37, Jefferson, CO 80424 (Map)
- Getting There: From Jefferson take Michigan Creek Road north for 2 miles. Turn right onto Jefferson Lake Road and follow for 3.6 miles back to the campground.
Michigan Creek Campground
Nestled at 10,100 feet six miles northwest of Jefferson lies the pleasant Michigan Creek Campground. It’s fairly quiet and secluded with spacious creekside campsites. Jefferson Lake is nine miles away.
- Closest Town: Jefferson (6mi); Fairplay (22mi)
- Specs: 12 sites suitable for trailers up to 25′ long; Open May to early October
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings; No trash, hookups, or water service
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
- Address: Michigan Creek Rd, Jefferson, CO 80424 (Map)
- Getting There: From Jefferson and Highway 285 take Michigan Creek Road 6 miles northwest to the campground. The road begins as County Road 35 and turns into County Road 54.
Camping by Lost Creek Wilderness near Jefferson
Between Kenosha Pass and the town of Jefferson, you’ll spot a Forest Service sign for Lost Park. Do as the sign says and consider getting lost for a weekend in South Park! Jefferson is a gateway to the Lost Creek Wilderness and its amazing natural landmarks south of town. You’ll find dispersed camping on the route back to an established campground that lies at the entry to the national wilderness area. Lost Creek is renowned for its amazing and unique rock formations, and exceptional hiking among them. There’s backpack camping too permitted within the wilderness area.
FREE – Dispersed Camping on County Road 56/Lost Park
Lost Park Road south of Jefferson leads to some spectacular free, dispersed camping. Probably the best attribute is the creekside aspect, providing water flow and tranquility to the campsites. At the end of the road is a paid Forest Service Campground and parking to access hiking trails within the Lost Creek Wilderness. Pack out all your trash and keep this place beautiful.
- Closest town: Jefferson (10+mi); Fairplay (17+mi)
- Address: Co Rd 56, Jefferson, CO 80456 (Map)
- Getting There: Take Highway 285 north from Jefferson for 1.2 miles to County Road 56/Lost Park Rd. Turn right and follow that back until you reach the Pike National Forest. There is a campground at the end of the road, mentioned below, but the dispersed campsites begin appearing long before that.
Lost Park Campground
Hidden away in South Park at 10,000 feet, Lost Park Campground provides a remote getaway for those looking to get lost. It’s located a good 1.5 hours south of Jefferson, so the name fits. Sites are non-reservable and are popular though, so show up early on Friday if you are trying to secure a spot. There are plenty of awesome backpacking trails nearby, including the Lost Creek Wilderness Loop, within the national wilderness area of the same name. The rock formations in this area are outstanding and worth the trek.
- Closest town: Jefferson (20mi); Fairplay (37mi)
- Specs: 12 campsites suitable for a max trailer of 22 feet; Open May to when the road closes due to snow
- Amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water pump; No trash service or hookups
- Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
- Address: Co Rd 56, Jefferson, CO 80456 (Map)
- Getting There: From Jefferson take Highway 285 north for 1.2 miles and make a right onto Lost Park Rd/CR 56. Follow that 19.5 miles southeast to Lost Park CG.
Consider Lake George, Buena Vista or Bailey
Same as Kenosha Pass is the northeastern gateway into South Park, Lake George welcomes visitors into South Park from the southeast. There are a lot of lakeside campgrounds near Lake George at Eleven Mile State Park, which is one of South Park’s most popular places to fish and boat.
You take Tarryall Road north all the way to Jefferson, a gorgeous year-round paved road. It leads to Tarryall Reservoir about halfway thru the hourlong drive between Jefferson and Lake George.
Drive forty-five minutes west of Fairplay on Highway 285 and you’ll soon arrive at Buena Vista (BV). Although it’s further from the front range cities, the destination is well worth the trip. BV boasts fantastic fishing and whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River, as well as some lovely hot springs.
You can take Cottonwood Pass over to Gunnison County and visit Crested Butte, or nearby Independence Pass over to Aspen. Both are stunning summer drives. If you enjoy the water, opt for a riverside campground near Buena Vista, of which there are several to choose from.
Bailey, located about 45 minutes east of Fairplay on the other side of Kenosha Pass, lies at the eastern edge of Park County. There’s plenty of great camping near Bailey, including on Kenosha Pass west of Grant. The campgrounds on Kenosha put you within a quick ride down into South Park. They also put you closer to Denver, making the drive to/from the metro area faster. Bailey has several places to dine and shop.
That’s a roundup of the best places to camp around South Park, Colorado, including Alma, Fairplay, Como, Jefferson, and Hartsel.
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