11 Best Camping Places in Colorado

Spectacularly blue lakes, undulating sand dunes, lush forests, and snow-capped mountains – nope, that’s not a country, but just the state of Colorado! Boasting one of the most stunning sceneries in the United States, Colorado’s wilderness has it all. With sights such as the breathtaking Blue Mesa Reservoir, the winding roads of the Million Dollar Highway, and the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado is an outdoor lover’s dream haven. What’s more, it’s also a much-loved camping playground! The best camping places in Colorado include everything from lush wilderness to spots beside lakes. Camping under the stars is one of the best ways to explore every nook and cranny of this state. With Covid-19 driving people to explore vacations in the wild, it seems like the right time to go camping in Colorado.

Aside from camping, there are so many Best Places To Visit In Colorado. Don’t miss seeing the fabulous Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver, which is one of the World’s Most Amazing Cinemas. Another natural architectural wonder worth seeing is the Mesa Verde Cliff Palace, which lies in Montezuma County and is one of the most Incredible Places Carved From Rock. However, you shouldn’t miss seeing Conundrum Hot Springs, one of the World’s Most Beautiful Hot Springs and the highest hot springs in the country! If all that wasn’t enough, Colorado is also home to some of the Best Mountain Cities in USA, such as Telluride, Crested Butte, and Steamboat Springs, among others.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your backpacks and load up the RV, and head out to these best camping places and spots in Colorado, some of which lie right near lakes!

Moraine Park, Rocky Mountains National Park

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We can’t have a list of the best camping places in Colorado and not include Rocky Mountains National Park, can we? Spanning 415 square miles, this northern Colorado jewel has glaciers, mountains, blue lakes, and dark green pine forests. What’s more, it’s home to insanely popular trekking paths such as Emerald Lake Trail, as well as driving trails such as the iconic Trail Ridge Road.

Moreover, this national park has five campgrounds, including the ever-popular Glacier Basin and Moraine Park. The former is a summer campground, while the latter is open throughout the year. Glacier Basin is a quintessential summer campground with ponderosa pines, Douglas firs, and open meadows with shrubs, grasses, and seasonal wildflowers. Plus, it offers gorgeous views of the Continental Divide.

However, it’s Moraine Park, which offers only tent camping, that takes the cake. The campground has amenities including potable water, flush toilets during summer, and vault toilets throughout the year. A seasonal amphitheater and two solar shower stalls make up the rest of the facilities. It even offers dish-washing stations during summers, so you need to make your summer reservations much in advance. Furthermore, the campground and the region are a mecca for spotting wildlife such as long-horned sheep, black bears, mountain lions, and elk. For those who don’t mind the Colorado cold, a trip here during winter is truly magical. To that end, you might want to check out some of the Best Tents For Winter Camping.

Angel of Shavano Campgrounds, San Isabel National Forest

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Travelers who want to get away from it all will definitely want to explore and camp at the hidden gem of the Angel of Shavano campgrounds. Tucked within the San Isabel National Forest, this hidden campground has just 20 individual campsites but is rarely crowded. That’s partly due to the remote nature of this place; it’s a three-hour drive from Denver just to get here! The upside is that it’s very easy to reserve a spot, even during the busy summer months.

During summers, vault toilets and drinking water make it a haven for camping in solitude and peace. The best bit? You can bring Fido along, but they must remain leashed at all times. So, you might want to invest in Best Camping Dog Tie Outs or the Best Camping Dog Cages, depending on the season you’re camping in.

The thickly wooded national forest is a beautiful retreat and perfect for those looking for tranquility. Since it lies along the 486-mi Colorado Trail, Angel of Shavano also offers excellent mountain biking and hiking opportunities. What’s more, anglers will have a whale of a time fishing in the North Fork Reservoir. So, you might want to pack one of the Best Waterproof Fishing Backpacks and Best Fishing Sunglasses to enjoy a day of fishing out in the sun. It’s no wonder that this is one of the best camping spots in Colorado.

Guanella Pass, Pike National Forest

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Guanella Pass is not just one of the best camping places in Colorado, but it also has one of the best camping lakes in Colorado – Clear Lake. Located near Georgetown, just an hour from Denver, Guanella Pass sits inside Pike National Forest at the height of 11,670 feet. So, this amazing campsite is accessible both by car as well as via a gorgeous hike. So, avid hikers might want to invest in one of the Best Backpacks for Camping if they want to turn this into a hiking trip as well. You’ll find both dispersed camping places on both sides of the pass, as well as three reservable campgrounds.

What’s more, there’s both tent and RV camping available, but larger RVs aren’t recommended to be driven here. Moreover, every site has creature comforts such as a charcoal grill, a fire ring, a picnic table, and even a tent pad. Plus, the campground even provides trash dumpsters, vault toilets, and hand pumps with potable water, as well as firewood for sale. That said, there are no sewer, water, or electric hookups at this campground.

The campsite, and the forest in general, is known for spectacular views of the night sky, thus making stargazing something of a rite of passage here. It’s also a great way to wind down after an action-packed day of fishing on Clear Lake or Lake Georgetown, so you had better bring your Best Fishing Waders too. Hikers, on the other hand, will love hiking up Mount Evans, Mount Bierstadt, Mount Evans, or any of the rest of the Colorado 14ers. So, make sure you pack camping essentials. At the end of the day, relax at your campsite and cook and relish amazing Camping Dutch Oven meals.

Oh Be Joyful Campground, Gunnison National Forest

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True to its name, Oh Be Joyful Campground is one of the most delightfully best camping spots in Colorado. Nestled not far from Crested Butte, this campsite boasts a fantastic location in the Gunnison National Forest. Moreover, it’s the gateway to a massive and striking region called the Raggeds Wilderness, so those who love nature are bound to be, well, spellbound. The campground gets its name from the eponymous creek, complete with vibrant wildflowers and cascading waterfalls during summer. 

Choose from 30 units that lie along the serene waters of the Slate River, of which 15 are walk-in tent campsites, 14 are RV campsites, and one is a walk-in group campsite. Thanks to the location and three vault restrooms, the campground quickly fills up and isn’t available unless you secure a reservation. Moreover, every campsite boasts a bearproof food storage locker, a tent pad, a picnic table, a metal fire ring, and a parking space. Since trash services, electric hookups, and drinking water isn’t available, bring your own water. Want to go a step further? Invest in Water Purification Tablets.

Aside from wonderful views, there’s a lot to do here, including hiking, fishing, and mountain biking. But, that’s not all. This premier region is also known for kayaking, water play, horseback riding, and fishing. Plus, a footbridge allows you to access the western side of the Slate River and hike along the eponymous creek. Since the access road to the campground is rough and steep, larger, low-clearance rigs could find it difficult to navigate the rough road down to the campground.

Piñon Flats Campground, Great Sand Dunes National Park

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The Great Sand Dunes National Park has the tallest sand dunes in the country. It’s also home to one of the best camping places in Colorado, Piñon Flats Campground. Offering a very different camping experience, this region is more African Sahara than American Colorado! Open between April and October, Piñon Flats is the perfect place to camp in this remarkable setting and even hike around and over the mesmerizing dunes. Intrepid adventurers looking for an adrenaline rush can even go sandboarding, which is the sandy version of snowboarding and skiing!

The campsite has 88 sites which include three group sites for tents as well as spaces for RVs that measure up to 35 feet long. Do you want the best mountain views? Choose a site at the northern end of the loops, but the sites get booked very quickly. Since this is a seasonal campsite, individual spots can be reserved up to 6 months in advance, while group ones can be reserved up to a year in advance. What’s more, the campsites aren’t without amenities, and each of them comes with tent pads, fire grates, and picnic tables. Plus, the campground itself has restrooms with sinks, water spigots and allows leashed dogs. While there aren’t any RV hookups, the larger sites can accommodate a dry camper.

Is this your first time camping? Check out the Must-Have Camping Accessories.

The Silver Sites, Maroon Bells

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Whenever you’ve seen a photo of Colorado, chances are you’ve seen Maroon Bells, which is one of the best camping spots in Colorado. Imagine this: a pair of breathtakingly beautiful 14,000-foot mountains, which makes it one of the most photographed peaks in all of North America. Whether you’re a backpacker or a car camper, three wonderful sites, Silver Bar, Silver Queen, and Silver Bell, await you. Nestled in the shadow of the mountains, every site overlooks the gorgeous Maroon Lake, making this amongst the best camping lakes in Colorado too. While Maroon Bells road is closed to vehicles during winter, you have to take a snowmobile, hike, snowshoe, snow bike, or cross-country ski to access the sites. Who said good things came easy?

Silver Bar has only four tent walk-in sites, while Silver Queen has six sites, which can also accommodate RVs. If you’re RV camping, check out the Best Accessories for RV Camping. Silver Bell is the largest of them all, with 14 sites, of which 6 are walk-in tent sites, 6 are tent-only sites, and 2 are both tent/RV sites. All three sites feature campfire rings, bear boxes (a.k.a. food storage lockers), vault toilets, and picnic tables. However, electrical hookups and potable water aren’t available, so campers need to arrange for that.

The best aspect is that these sites sit very close to the town of Aspen. So, if you wanted to explore the town or make a supply run for groceries and essentials, the Maroon Bells camping lake in Colorado is the perfect place to camp.

South Mineral Campground, San Juan Mountains

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Nestled 9,800 feet up in the San Juan Mountains is the South Mineral Campground, one of the best camping places in Colorado. Think lush green forests, sheer rock walls, and brilliant turquoise lakes, which is what makes this campground one of the best camping lakes in Colorado too. The incredible scenery is perfect for travelers who want to get away from the bustle and hectic pace of everyday life. What makes the South Mineral compound special is that it’s the last “developed” camping area along US highway 550, a.k.a. the famous Million Dollar Highway.

The first-come, first-serve campground is fairly busy, but it certainly gets difficult to find a spot here in the peak season. If you don’t find a spot right in the campground, then you’ll also find designated dispersed camping areas along South Mineral Road. Moreover, the campground is even accessible to 2WD vehicles, while the road behind the site is 4WD only. But, please note that no one can camp anywhere except the marked sites, and you cannot drive off the said roads.

Hikers will especially love this place since it’s the gateway to the trail to the Ice Lakes, which is a picturesque seven-mile hike through the San Juan National Forest. If you want to avoid crowds, then traveling here in the off-season is a great idea. However, despite the campground being open in the off-season, no services are available.

North Rim Campground, Black Canyon, Gunnison National Park)

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Where can you possibly see Precambrian rocks, as well as some of the most jaw-dropping cliffs, craggiest spires, and the steepest cliffs in all of North America? At Black Canyon, that is! This amazing region tucked in Gunnison National Park boasts some of the best views and activities such as trout fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and more. If you’re the intrepid-on-wheels kind, then why not drive along the roads of the north and south rims? Another set of people who’ll love this place are wildlife lovers, as they can spot everything from golden eagles and elk to mule deer while traversing the myriad trails.

Plus, the fact that you can camp here overnight is a delightfully unexpected bonus! Of the three designated campgrounds, the North Rim campground is the remotest and the most primitive of them all – and also the best. Remote and with just 13 first-come, first-served sites, the summer-only campground can be accessed via a road whose last seven miles are unpaved. Even though the campground is small with limited services, the sites are spread out in the treeline and spacious. That’s why this place fills up quickly during the summer, especially during weekends.

You’ll find vault toilets that operate throughout the year, as well as fire rings for each site. The best bit is that potable water is available, which is rare for a primitive site. What’s more, even RV camping is possible here, with the maximum combined length of permissible being 22 feet. It’s no wonder that this Colorado camping spot is so popular.

Lakeside Campground, Jackson Lake State Park

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The Lakeside Campground at Jackson Lake State Park is, without a doubt, one of the best camping places in Colorado. Additionally, it’s also one of the best camping lakes in Colorado!

You get to choose from 52 sites, of which the even numbers between sites 2 and 15, site 34, 36-39, 41-42, and the even ones between 44 and 48 directly face the lake. What’s more, sites 49-52 sit at the northern end of the campsite and directly face the lake too, and allow tent camping only. If that wasn’t enough, campsite number 35, which lies right near the entrance, is even wheelchair accessible. Talk about inclusivity! Amenities abound here, including seven potable water spots, a flush, and a vault toilet, and even showers! Moreover, there’s even a dumpster, which means you don’t need to break your heads over the sewage situation. Finally, you’ll even find horseshoe pits and two foot trails leading to the marina and the visitors’ center.

It’s no surprise that this Colorado lake camping spot is popular, but there’s more. Billed as the “Oasis of the Plains,” Jackson Lake boasts innumerable opportunities for waterfront fun. Think water skiing, boating, swimming, and fishing, especially walleye and wipers. Moreover, the large, flat reservoir is a haven for personal watercraft, motorboats, and sailboats. Did you know that Jackson Lake State Park also happens to be Colorado’s only state park to get a Dark Sky designation? Yes! So, you’re in for stargazing memories of a lifetime. Did you know that Jackson Lake is open throughout the year? Hell, yeah! Here are some useful Non-Electric Camping Heaters options.

Crags Campground, State Forest State Park

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Are you interested in car camping? Then Crags Compound in the State Forest Park is one of the best camping spots in Colorado. Even though the access roads are quite rough, most vehicles can drive through just fine. However, trailers and RVs cannot camp this campground. The place itself is on the primitive side, with 26 campsites to choose from. Moreover, each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table, which makes it the best place to unwind at the end of the day. Since there are no bear boxes, you need to take care of food storage as well as pack Camping Bear Bags. In fact, only campground amenities are a hand water pump and pit toilets, so why not invest in some Camping Showers too?

Located along the northern end of Never Summer Range and the western edge side of Medicine Bow Mountains, this park is Colorado’s largest state park. Outdoorspeople will love the magical atmosphere of alpine lakes, craggy peaks, dense forests, and – this is important – more than 600 moose! In fact, odds are you’ll catch at least a few of them while four-wheeling, biking, or hiking. Moreover, this region is a haven for birdwatching since it’s home to finches, black-capped chickadees, and even Steller’s jays.

The best bit? This park and campground are open throughout the year! In fact, winter is prime for snowmobiling, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and skiing. During winters, you might want to move into yurts with outhouses and cooking facilities and pack good Camping Cookware for when the temperature drops.

Elk Creek Campground, Blue Mesa Reservoir

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Elk Creek Campground tops the list of the best camping places and spots in Colorado. Tucked on the northern shores of the magnificent Blue Mesa Reservoir, which is Colorado’s largest water body, it’s also one of the best Colorado lakes camping sites. So, those looking for summertime fun on the water will love this place, which is famous for its fjord-like reservoirs, narrow canyons, and mesas. What’s more, this place has evidence that humans lived here as far back as 10,000 years ago! So much so that it’s conserved as the Curecanti Archeological District and is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places! Clearly, this Colorado camping spot is a history lover’s haven.

But, that’s not all. Recently, archaeologists uncovered dino fossils in this area. Thanks to the reservoir, there’s a lot of water fun and opportunities here, such as boating, swimming, and fishing. What’s more, the region features lots of mountain biking and hiking trails. Those who love thrill on wheels can drive the 4WD vehicles along the picturesque Alpine Loop Byway. Moreover, this loop is home to some of Colorado’s best towns, including Ouray. Aside from being famous as the “Switzerland of America,” it also has amazing hot springs and is amongst the Best US Winter Vacation spots.

This campground, which is open only from late spring to early fall, lies within the Curecanti National Recreation Area. It’s perfect for tent camping, with every site featuring tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. Some campsites even have electricity hookups, and there are RV hookups as well. Furthermore, common facilities include an amphitheater, a small marina and, flush toilets, and drinking water. However, since there’s sagebrush around, be cautious when starting fires at the campsite.