The 5 Best Places to Camp in Colorado this Summer

Written by Cindy Rasmussen
Published: June 13, 2022
© mredd/Shutterstock.com
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From the Rocky Mountains to Pikes Peak to the Ancient Pueblo homes there is much to see and do in Colorado. Camping is one of the best ways to get back to nature and enjoy hiking, biking, swimming and fishing in the great outdoors. There really are so many wonderful campgrounds in Colorado but here are some of the 5 best places to camp in Colorado this summer.

 1. Rocky Mountain National Park

Best National Parks to Visit in August - Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best places to camp in Colorado this summer!

©Sean Xu/Shutterstock.com

Viewing the Rockies from a distance is a spectacular experience, but driving up into them to enjoy the thick forests and mountain streams is another. Inside the Rocky Mountain National Park there are multiple trails for hiking including a trail to Bridal Veil Falls. If you make your way to Moraine Park you might get to see some of the 3,000 elk that live in the park or find a few bighorn sheep nestled in the cliffs. For camping, there are a few different campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Nearest CityEstes Park
Moraine Park Campground244 Sites, 101 Tent only sites, 49 Walk-in/Boat-in,
Restrooms, Water, No Showers, Amphitheater
Glacier Basin Campground150 Sites, 73 Tent only sites, Restrooms, no showers
Wilderness CampingCheck out the Wilderness Camping Map for an overview
of all the backcountry camping areas for wilderness camping
AmenitiesVaries by site, most have picnic tables and fire pits
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestCamping directly in the mountains!

2. Maroon Bells

Maroon Bells Colorado
Maroon Bells at Sunrise, Aspen, Colorado, USA

©Serge Yatunin/Shutterstock.com

Maroon Bells Scenic Area is “one of the most photographed places in the U.S.”. The back drop of the mountains reflecting off Maroon Lake is really something to see in person. There are multiple trails around the clear lake and you can even camp right along the Maroon Creek. The Lake is stocked with rainbow trout and brook trout for some of the best fishing around. Settle in to one of three smaller campgrounds or venture out into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness for some backcountry camping. The campgrounds do have some sites that accommodate RV’s and all the sites have picnic tables and fire rings. With such spectacular views this really is one of the best places to camp in Colorado this summer!

Maroon Bells Scenic Area
Nearest CityAspen, CO
Silver Bar CampgroundPrimitive campground with 4 tent only sites
Silver Bell CampgroundCamp on the banks of the Maroon creek!
14 sites available (2 RV/Tent, 6 Tent only, 6 Tent only walk-in)
Silver Queen CampgroundNear the Maroon Creek, 6 sites, RV/Tent
Maroon Bells-Snowmass WildernessBackcountry camping permitted
AmenitiesRestrooms, Picnic Tables, Fire pits
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestCamping on the beautiful Maroon Creek!

3. Great Sand Dune National Park (Piñon Flats Campground)

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Camping at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is quite an adventure. Try sand sledding or a 4WD off-road trail.

©Rosalie Kreulen/Shutterstock.com

The Great Sand Dunes are miles of dunes which are the tallest dunes in North America. You can hike to alpine lakes, enjoy a swim in the Medano Creek or go off-roading on the 4WD Medano Pass Road. Did you know that you can take a sled down the sand dunes, similar to snow sledding? You can rent sandsleds and sandboards in town for a unique and fun experience.

If you want to stay overnight in the park, the Piñon Flats Campground is a larger campground in the park that has 88 sites and 3 group campsites. The sites can accommodate RV’s but there are no hookups. The remote site of the campground provides some of the best viewing of the night sky! Do be aware that black bears live in the area so be sure to secure all of your food. Also, keep your eye out for the cute little kangaroo rats that hop across the dunes!

Great Sand Dunes National Park
Nearest CityMosca, CO
Total Sites91 sites
RV Sites88 sites RV or Tent, no hookups
Tent Sites88 sites RV or Tent, no hookups
Group Campsites3  group campsites for 20-40 people
AmenitiesRestrooms, picnic tables, fire ring
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestBest views of the night sky!

4. Garden of the Gods RV Park

Pike’s Peak Colorado
Do you want to wake up to views of Pikes Peak? Then camping at the Garden of the Gods RV Resort is the place to stay.

©iStock.com/William Reagan

This RV Park is located just 4 miles outside of Colorado Springs and is close to many popular sites. Make this your homebase if you want to visit the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak and Cave Winds. The campground has beautiful views of Pikes Peak and a variety of amenities to make your stay comfortable. This is a very pet friendly park with a designated “Bark Park” for your pooch. The Campground has 154 RV sites, 19 Tent sites as well as a few cottages and bunkhouses. After a day of site seeing you can enjoy one of the 2 heated pools, then head back to your campsite for a campfire and s’mores!

Garden of the Gods RV Park
Nearest CityManitou Springs (2 mi) Downtown Colorado Springs (4 mi)
RV Sites154 sites
Tent Sites19 sites, cottages and bunkhouses as well
AmenitiesShowers, laundry, arcade, 2 heated swimming pools, store, dog park, free WiFi
ReservationsYes
What makes it the absolute bestAmazing views of Pikes Peak, “Bark Park”

5. Mesa Verde National Park (Morefield Campground)

Mesa Verde National Park
One of the best places to camp in Colorado this summer is the Mesa Verde National Park Campground. Come learn more about the ancient Pueblo homes built right in the cliffs.

©Sopotnicki/Shutterstock.com

Nestled in the rocks of Mesa Verde National Park are ancient Pueblo homes. The Pueblos built communities in these rocks and lived there for more than 700 years. You can purchase tickets to tour the remains of the villages and visit the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum to see artifacts and learn more about these ancient civilizations. If you want to stay in the park there is a large modern campground with a camp store, restaurant, showers and laundry. The Morefield Campground is located 4 miles North of the visitor center in Mesa Verde National Park. It has 267 sites including 15 with full hookups. Hike on the many trails, look for wild turkeys and deer, or enjoy the 45-minute presentation in the amphitheater to learn more about the Pueblo way of life.

Mesa Verde National Park
Nearest CityCortez, CO
Total Sites267
RV Sites15 RV sites with Full Hookups
Tent Sites85 Tent Only
Group Campsites17
AmenitiesRestrooms, showers, laundry, store, restaurant, amphitheater
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestCamping near an ancient pueblo village

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Lake Granby
This lake is known to have the most Mackinaw of any lake in Colorado drawing out anglers hoping to hook a giant one!
© mredd/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a degree in Elementary Education and I am a former teacher. When I am not writing I love going to my kids' soccer games, watching movies, taking on DIY projects and running with our giant Labradoodle "Tango".

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