Vail is one of Colorado’s most well known towns, situated along Interstate 70 in the beautiful Vail Valley. Along with its ski town neighbors, Avon and Beaver Creek, Eagle County sees a lot of tourists every summer enjoying its world class resorts, and many of which, are looking for a place to camp.
Eagle County is home a lot of awesome campgrounds, which lie close to its many great communities, including Vail, Minturn, Red Cliff, Eagle-Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek, Edwards, Wolcott, Eagle and Gypsum. The majority of the towns are located along Highway I-70, with the exception of Minturn and Red Cliff, which are tucked away just off the interstate along Highway 24. The largest by population is Edwards (at over 10,000) and the county seat is Eagle.
All these mountain towns are surrounded by tremendous recreation within the White River National Forest. Each offers its own access points and unique attractions to visit year round. Most of the campgrounds reside south of Red Cliff on Highway 24, south of Eagle by Sylvan Lake and nearby the town of Gypsum. There are sites for free, dispersed camping as well in Eagle Co.
List of campgrounds near Vail, Red Cliff, Eagle and Gypsum, CO, in order of proximity:
Camping on Vail Pass near Vail
Continue west past Copper Mountain in Summit County on I-70 and you’ll soon begin climbing Vail Pass. In the winter it’s a super popular spot for snowmobiling, and in the summer backcountry hikes are common. Located 25 minutes west of Copper and less than 15 minutes to Vail is the only campground on the pass, Gore Creek. It’s a great spot for both RVs and tent camping. You can access some great hiking, biking and off-road driving on Shrine Pass, via Vail Pass a little closer to Copper. It’s a seasonal back way to Red Cliff.
Gore Creek Campground
If you want to camp close to Vail, Gore Creek Campground is one of the very few options in this gorgeous area. A large amount of sites with ample room for RVs and trailers make this spot a popular one during the summer months, so be sure to reserve your spot before traveling to this campground.
- Closest Town: Vail (7mi), Eagle (37mi)
- Specs: 25 total primitive campsites; 16 back-in sites (35ft vehicle limit) and 8 walk-in tent sites
- Amenities: 4 handicap-accessible vault toilets, bear locker for food
- Recreation: Hiking, fishing in Gore Creek, mountain climbing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding
- Reservations: Yes, at Recreation.Gov
- Address: Forest Rd 721, White River National Forest, Vail, CO 81657 (Map)
- Directions: From Vail, take I-70 east for about 4 miles. Exit on Exit 180 onto Bighorn Dr, then continue for about 2 miles. Continue onto Vail Pass-Ten Mile and then turn left onto Forest Road 721. Keep right at the fork to stay on the forest road, then you will arrive at the campground.
Camping by Red Cliff near Vail
Few Vail and Beaver Creek visitors leave the familiarity of the interstate and venture south on Highway 24. Those that do are rewarded with an incredibly scenic drive, quickly passing by the cool, somewhat hidden towns of Minturn and Red Cliff. The latter of which serves up a few picturesque campgrounds within the White River National Forest. Minturn is the larger of the two towns, but each has enough amenities for a camping trip.
Hornsilver Campground
Hornsilver Campground is a prime location for people looking for peaceful opportunities to fish and hike in the Homestake Creek area. Although the amenities at this campground are limited, usage of it is quite light and the sites are large enough to fit vehicles up to 30ft.
- Closest Town: Red Cliff (2mi), Vail (18mi), Leadville (20mi), Eagle (38mi)
- Specs: 7 total campsites with 30 ft vehicle limit
- Amenities: Vault toilet, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Fishing in Homestake Creek, hiking, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: Forest Road 7421A, Red Cliff, CO 81649 (Map)
- Directions: From Vail, take I-70 W until you reach Exit 171 for US-6/US-24. Take this exit and then turn right onto US-6/US-24. Follow this road for about 11 miles, then turn left onto Forest Road 7421A to arrive at Hornsilver Campground.
Blodgett Campground
Blodgett Campground was once a site overseen by the Forest Service, but now it is a free campground that is open to all. Although there are limited amenities at this site, it more than makes up for it with its accessibility to nearby rock climbing and popular hiking trails.
- Closest Town: Red Cliff (4mi), Vail (19mi), Leadville (20mi), Eagle (40mi)
- Specs: 6 total campsites; 5 pull-thru sites (45ft vehicle limit) and 1 walk-in tent site
- Amenities: Fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Hiking, mountain climbing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: Homestake Reservoir Rd, Leadville, CO 80461 (Map)
- Directions: From Vail, take I-70 W until you reach Exit 171 for US-6/US-24. Exit and turn right, then continue along US-6/US-24 for about 13 miles. At Homestake Reservoir Rd, make a right, then turn left onto Blodgett C G to enter the campground loop.
Camping by Eagle River b/w Edwards and Eagle
The tiny riverside community of Wolcott sits along the Eagle River about halfway between Edwards and Eagle on I-70. You’ll exit CO-131 heading north, which leads you to the Flat Tops Byway in Yampa and eventually Steamboat Springs, a full hour and a half north. There’s one Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground located a little more than a mile west of Wolcott on Highway 6, which runs parallel with I-70.
Wolcott BLM Campground
Wolcott BLM Campground is an ideal jumping-off point to all of your adventures in Eagle County. With prime accessibility to fishing, rafting, and rock climbing, this campground is perfect for the most adventurous of travelers.
- Closest Town: Edwards (8mi), Eagle (8mi), Vail (22mi)
- Specs: 6 primitive pull-thru campsites
- Amenities: Vault toilers, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Fishing, rafting, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: 8498, Edwards, CO 81632 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, take US-6 east for about 8 miles. Turn left onto 8498 to arrive Wolcott BLM Campground.
Camping by Sylvan Lake near Eagle
Sixteen miles and thirty minutes south of the town of Eagle lies the hidden gem of Sylvan Lake. This state park is surrounded by wilderness within the White River National Forest. There are two campgrounds at Sylvan Lake State Park, as well as a couple of USFS campgrounds nearby. The state park also has some options for glamping, including cabin and yurt rentals. The town of Eagle features a nice historic downtown with some great shopping and dining to compliment your wooded experience.
Sylvan Lake State Park Campgrounds
If you’re truly looking to get away from it all, Sylvan Lake State Park camping is the way to do it. Not even cell reception can reach you so deep in the mountains, allowing you to relax in the tranquility to nature. Cabins and yurts are also available for rental if you want a more luxurious experience on the lake.
- Closest Town: Eagle (16mi), Vail (46mi)
- Specs: 44 total campsites over 2 campgrounds as well as 1 large group campsite (up to 60 people), cabin and yurt rentals also available
- Amenities: Coin-operated bathrooms and showers, vault toilet, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Boating and fishing on Sylvan Lake, biking, hiking, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: Yes, at CPWShop.com
- Address: 10200 Brush Creek Rd, Eagle, CO 81631 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, head down Sylvan Lake Rd for about 2 miles. At Brush Creek Rd, make a right and then continue for another 9 miles. Turn right to stay on Brush Creek Rd, then continue for another 5 miles. At the end of the road, the campground will be on your right.
Yeoman Park Campground
Yeoman Park Campground is not for those unaccustomed to the mountain air. At around 9,000 feet in elevation, this campground is a great pick for animal and nature lovers, as it provides viewing opportunities of a beaver colony as well as wildlife like red-tailed hawks.
- Closest Town: Eagle (17mi), Vail (47mi)
- Specs: 34 total primitive campsites, many with room for vehicles over 30ft
- Amenities: 3 vault toilets, tent platforms, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Hiking, wildlife viewing (beaver colony nearby), fishing, close to historic town of Fulford
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: Crooked Creek Pass Rd, Basalt, CO 81621 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, take Sylvan Lake Rd for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Brush Creek Rd, then continue for another 14 miles, keeping right at the fork to stay on Brush Creek Rd. Turn right onto Crooked Creek Pass Rd to arrive at the campground.
Fulford Cave Campground
Fulford Cave is a popular spot for spelunkers, and Fulford Cave Campground offers a respite just a mile from the cave itself. Only a small amount of campsites are available at this first come, first serve campground, so be sure to arrive early.
- Closest Town: Eagle (19mi), Vail (49mi)
- Specs: 7 primitive campsites near Fulford Cave trail, only one can accommodate up to 25ft vehicle
- Amenities: Vault toilet, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Cave exploration at Fulford Cave (if open), hiking, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: Forest Rd 415, Basalt, CO 81621 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, take Sylvan Lake Rd for about 2 miles, then turn right onto Brush Creek Rd. Follow this road for about 16 miles, then you arrive at the Fulford Cave Campground.
Camping by Gypsum near Eagle
The town of Gypsum isn’t a popular resort town or even much of a tourist stop. It’s probably most well known for housing the Eagle County Regional Airport, which serves the ski towns of Vail and Beaver Creek. Gypsum does, however, post a large mountain town population over 7,000 residents and access to some exceptional outdoor recreation. The Eagle River flows through town and federal land within the White River National Forest and BLM are easy to reach, along with some worthy campgrounds. If you continue west thirty minutes you’ll come to the hot springs resort town and additional camping near Glenwood Springs in Garfield County.
Gypsum Campground
Located just off of I-70, Gypsum Campground is an easy pit stop to lay your head after a long day of driving through the Colorado Rockies. With limited amenities and no water, you’ll want to bring your own supplies to this BLM campground, as well as earplugs to deal with the highway noise while you’re trying to sleep.
- Closest Town: Gypsum (2mi), Eagle (9mi), Vail (39mi)
- Specs: 6 primitive campsites
- Amenities: Vault toilet, fire pit, picnic table
- Recreation: Hiking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: US-6, Gypsum, CO 81637
- Directions: From Eagle, take I-70 west towards Gypsum for about 7 miles. Exit at Exit 140 for Gypsum, then turn left onto Trail Gulch Rd. At the traffic circle, take the first exit on US-6 W and continue for about a mile. Turn left to arrive at Gypsum Campground.
Aunt Sara’s Riverdance RV Resort
Looking for a little bit more luxury during your stay in Eagle County? Aunt Sara’s Riverdance RV Resort is the only location in this area where you will find full electric hookups, as well as a dump station for the convenience of those traveling in RVs. There are showers, bathrooms, and free WiFi available for guests as well, allowing you to stay connected and clean while you’re on the go.
- Closest Town: Gypsum (3mi), Eagle (10mi), Vail (40mi)
- Specs: RV resort with electric hookups
- Amenities: 30 and 50amp sites, free WiFi, showers and bathroom ($5 guest pass), dog run, dump station
- Recreation: Fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, rock climbing
- Reservations: Yes, call (720) 933-9212
- Address: 6700 US-6, Gypsum, CO 81637 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, take I-70 west towards Gypsum. After about 7 miles, take Exit 140 and then turn left onto Trail Gulch Road. At the traffic circle, take the first exit onto US-6 W. Continue for about 2 miles, then the park will be on your left.
Sweetwater Lake Campground
Relax in the shade at Sweetwater Lake Campground, located close to the shores of the lake for which it was named. You won’t find many amenities at Sweetwater Lake, but the views are absolutely unbeatable and the opportunities for recreation are endless.
- Closest Town: Dotsero (18mi), Eagle (30mi), Vail (60mi)
- Specs: 9 primitive campsites (30ft vehicle limit)
- Amenities: Vault toilet, fire pits, picnic tables
- Recreation: Hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing
- Reservations: No, first come, first serve
- Address: Sweetwater Creek Road, Gypsum, CO 81637 (Map)
- Directions: From Eagle, take I-70 west for about 12 miles. Exit at Exit 133 for Dotsero, then turn right onto US-6. At the traffic circle about a half-mile later, take the first exit for 301/Colorado River Rd. Follow this for about 7 miles, then turn right onto Sweetwater Rd. Follow this road for about 10 miles, then keep left at the fork to arrive at the campground.
Consider Leadville or Summit County
Continue past Red Cliff on Highway 24 and you’ll soon summit Tennessee Pass on your way to the highest incorporated city in Colorado, and the country. Located in Lake County, Leadville features one of the state’s best historic districts, an authentic forming mining town that’s gone through its share of booms and busts. Before you reach it though, you’ll find some camping closer to Red Cliff at Camp Hale, a landmark from the 10th Mountain Division. If you make the full thirty minute drive between Red Cliff and Leadville, you should opt for the lakeside camping in Leadville around Turquoise Lake.
Summit County is another fantastic option for those coming from the Denver Metro. It’s closer than Vail, but puts you within an easy thirty minute drive to Vail from the heart of the county, Lake Dillon. There are some fantastic lakeside campgrounds in Summit County, a plethora of campgrounds located between two big reservoirs, Dillon Reservoir and Green Mountain Reservoir. Camping here will put you close by all the Summit County towns: Dillon, Frisco, Keystone, Silverthorne, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain.
That’s a roundup of the best camping in Eagle County, in close proximity to Vail, Minturn, Red Cliff, Eagle-Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek, Edwards, Wolcott, Eagle and Gypsum, Colorado. Respect these great outdoors and practice leave no trace. Happy camping!
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