• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
Fairplay Colorado
Downtown Fairplay.

Fairplay, Colorado

FacebookTwitter

Fairplay’s convenient location makes it a popular stopping point for those exploring the Central Rockies. It’s most known for housing South Park City, an Old West museum town, and the TV show based off the same name.

The town lies at the junction of U.S. 285 and Highway 9, about an hour and a half from Denver. Heading north on State Highway 9, brings you to Breckenridge and heading south on Highway 9 takes you to Hartsel in 20 minutes. If you continue southwest on U.S. 285 you’ll end up by Buena Vista in under 45 minutes.

Main Attractions

South Park City Museum
South Park City in Fairplay.

South Park City – A restored 19th century mining camp and museum. There are some original buildings and others were imported from South Park, Colorado, a 900 square mile basin in the Rockies. You can visit the museum year round.

While Fairplay, does house a ghost town museum called South Park City, it’s not actually the town of South Park. The TV show town is named for South Park, Colorado, a huge basin that encompasses Fairplay, Alma, Como, Jefferson, Tarryall, Hartsel, Guffey and Lake George.

Fairplay Beach – Hidden below Fairplay’s historic Front Street, Fairplay Beach is centered around a beautiful high elevation pond. It’s fed by the Middle Fork of the South Platte River, offering opportunities for hiking, fishing, picnicking and sightseeing.

Recreation

Image of Fariplay Beach in Fairplay, Colorado
Fairplay Beach. Photo: Town of Fairplay, Colorado

Camping:

  • Read about the camping near Fairplay and South Park.

Fishing:

  • The Middle Fork of the South Platte River runs by town, so fishing is close by. There are also a slew of terrific reservoirs spread around the South Park Basin. These include Tarryall Reservoir, Jefferson Reservoir,

Accommodations



Booking.com

Hotels and lodging:

  • Hand Hotel Bed & Breakfast – Stay in this cozy, but supposedly haunted bed and breakfast with 11 rooms. It overlooks the South Platte River in downtown Fairplay.
  • Read about the best hotels by Fairplay.
McCall's Bar.
Front Street.
South Park Pottery.
Highway 9 heading north from Fairplay.
More of downtown.
Backyard at McCall's Bar.
South Park City.
Park County Library.
Downtown Fairplay.
Fairplay CO Western Inn
Western Inn.
Fairplay CO Valiton Hotel
Valiton Hotel.
Fairplay CO South Park Timmy
Timmy handicapped parking space.
Fairplay CO Bar
Bar was closed for a private function.
Fairplay CO South Park Pottery.
South Park Pottery.
Fairplay CO Downtown
Downtown Fairplay.

Activities near Fairplay

Amusement:

  • Breckenridge Alpine Slide (22mi)

Federal Lands:

  • Antero Reservoir (23mi)
  • Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
  • Jefferson Lake Recreation Area (23mi)
  • Lost Creek Wilderness
  • Pike National Forest
  • San Isabel National Forest
  • South Platte River
  • White River National Forest

Ghost Towns:

  • Antero Junction (21mi)

Museums:

  • South Park City

Public Parks:

  • Fairplay Beach

Scenic Drives:

  • Boreas Pass (10mi)
  • Weston Pass 4×4

Ski Areas:

  • Breckenridge Ski Resort (23mi)

Towns:

  • Alma (5mi)
  • Bailey (39mi)
  • Breckenridge (22mi)
  • Buena Vista (37mi)
  • Como (10mi)
  • Frisco (31mi)
  • Grant (28mi)
  • Guffey (45mi)
  • Hartsel (18mi)
  • Jefferson (16mi)
  • Lake George (44mi)

Transportation:

  • Summit Stage

Latest in Fairplay

Alma, CO

The Highest Elevated Towns in Colorado

Whether you’re looking to beat the summer heat of Colorado’s urban front range, or are just…

The Highest Elevated Towns in ColoradoRead More

Antero Reservoir Lakeside Campground Hartsel CO

Camping near Fairplay, Alma, Como, Hartsel and Jefferson, around South Park

Like most of the Rockies, the more time you spend in South Park the more you…

Camping near Fairplay, Alma, Como, Hartsel and Jefferson, around South ParkRead More

Small Towns Colorado Downtown Creede

Visit These Ten Small Town Gems in Colorado

They may be small, but these cool Colorado towns have plenty to offer. From epic mountain…

Visit These Ten Small Town Gems in ColoradoRead More

I Heart South Park Colorado Jefferson CO Store Banner

Lesser Known Aspects of the Small Towns in South Park, Colorado

South Park Colorado is a high alpine basin at 9,000+ feet elevation, nestled between a ring…

Lesser Known Aspects of the Small Towns in South Park, ColoradoRead More

Black Tree Resort, Colorado

Top 9 Cool & Unusual Hotels by Fairplay

Be in the center of it all, but yet still feel like a million miles away…

Top 9 Cool & Unusual Hotels by FairplayRead More

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Park County

  • All Towns
  • Park County
  • Alma
  • Bailey
  • Como
  • Fairplay
  • Grant
  • Guffey
  • Hartsel
  • Jefferson
  • Lake George
  • Shawnee

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer