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
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 City | Estes Park |
| Moraine Park Campground | 244 Sites, 101 Tent only sites, 49 Walk-in/Boat-in, Restrooms, Water, No Showers, Amphitheater |
| Glacier Basin Campground | 150 Sites, 73 Tent only sites, Restrooms, no showers |
| Wilderness Camping | Check out the Wilderness Camping Map for an overview of all the backcountry camping areas for wilderness camping |
| Amenities | Varies by site, most have picnic tables and fire pits |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping directly in the mountains! |
2. Maroon Bells
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 City | Aspen, CO |
| Silver Bar Campground | Primitive campground with 4 tent only sites |
| Silver Bell Campground | Camp on the banks of the Maroon creek! 14 sites available (2 RV/Tent, 6 Tent only, 6 Tent only walk-in) |
| Silver Queen Campground | Near the Maroon Creek, 6 sites, RV/Tent |
| Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness | Backcountry camping permitted |
| Amenities | Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Fire pits |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping on the beautiful Maroon Creek! |
3. Great Sand Dune National Park (Piñon Flats Campground)
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 City | Mosca, CO |
| Total Sites | 91 sites |
| RV Sites | 88 sites RV or Tent, no hookups |
| Tent Sites | 88 sites RV or Tent, no hookups |
| Group Campsites | 3 group campsites for 20-40 people |
| Amenities | Restrooms, picnic tables, fire ring |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Best views of the night sky! |
4. Garden of the Gods RV Park
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 City | Manitou Springs (2 mi) Downtown Colorado Springs (4 mi) |
| RV Sites | 154 sites |
| Tent Sites | 19 sites, cottages and bunkhouses as well |
| Amenities | Showers, laundry, arcade, 2 heated swimming pools, store, dog park, free WiFi |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it the absolute best | Amazing views of Pikes Peak, “Bark Park” |
5. Mesa Verde National Park (Morefield Campground)
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 City | Cortez, CO |
| Total Sites | 267 |
| RV Sites | 15 RV sites with Full Hookups |
| Tent Sites | 85 Tent Only |
| Group Campsites | 17 |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, laundry, store, restaurant, amphitheater |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping near an ancient pueblo village |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © mredd/Shutterstock.com
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