Colorado has four kinds of places to camp, and they work very differently. State parks have the most reliable facilities and book out months ahead. National parks have a handful of campgrounds with tight reservation windows. National forests cover a huge share of the mountains and allow free dispersed camping across most of their land. And private campgrounds and RV parks fill the gaps near towns.
This guide covers how each one works, then points you to our guides for the best bases around the state.
Colorado state parks
Colorado Parks and Wildlife runs more than 4,600 campsites in 43 state parks. They're the easiest way to get a site with a picnic table, a restroom and, often, hookups.
Booking
- Reservations open six months ahead, at midnight Mountain time. A July 3 arrival becomes bookable at 12:00 a.m. on January 3.
- Book at cpwshop.com or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.
What it costs
| Site type | Per night |
|---|---|
| Backcountry | $13–$18 |
| Basic | $22–$28 |
| Electric | $27–$36 |
| Full hookup | $32–$41 |
On top of the campsite, every vehicle needs a park pass: a daily pass ($10–$12 with Colorado plates, $15–$17 out of state), or an annual pass. Colorado residents can add the Keep Colorado Wild Pass for $29 when they renew their vehicle registration.
Rules worth knowing
- Stay up to 14 days per park in any 28-day period.
- One camping unit and up to six people per site overnight.
- Many parks also have heated cabins and yurts.
A few standout state parks
- Ridgway State Park, near Ridgway and Ouray: 282 campsites in three campgrounds, three yurts, open year-round, beside a 1,000-acre reservoir below the San Juan Mountains.
- Mueller State Park, near Divide on the west side of Pikes Peak: 138 campsites among meadows, aspen and granite. A good base for Colorado Springs.
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park, about 16 miles northwest of Golden: 156 campsites plus rustic backcountry sites, a mountain park close to Denver.
- State Forest State Park, near Walden in North Park: 228 campsites and Colorado's best-known place to see moose.
National park campgrounds
Colorado's national parks don't allow camping outside designated campgrounds except in the backcountry with a permit, and sleeping in your vehicle is prohibited at Great Sand Dunes. Book early.
| Park | Campground | Booking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, Timber Creek | Reservations in summer, up to 6 months ahead | $35 non-electric / $55 electric in summer; Aspenglen, Glacier Basin and Timber Creek reservations include timed entry |
| Rocky Mountain | Longs Peak | First come, first served, tents only | $30; no water; open early July to early September |
| Great Sand Dunes | Piñon Flats | Reservation only | Open April 1 – October 31 |
| Great Sand Dunes | Medano Pass Primitive Road | 21 first-come sites | High-clearance 4WD required |
| Mesa Verde | Morefield (Aramark) | Reservations recommended | 267 sites, 15 full-hookup; $38 dry, $51 full hookup |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | South Rim | Reservations | $20; only 25 non-electric sites reopened after the 2025 South Rim Fire |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | North Rim, East Portal | First come, first served | $20; pay with Scan & Pay |
Senior and Access pass holders get a campsite discount at Rocky Mountain (50% on standard sites) and Mesa Verde. Rocky Mountain also limits campers to 7 nights parkwide between May 1 and October 15. For the park's timed-entry system and the best campgrounds outside it, see our guide to camping near Estes Park.
National forests and free camping
Much of Colorado's high country is national forest: the White River, Arapaho-Roosevelt, Pike-San Isabel, San Juan, Gunnison and others. Their developed campgrounds are booked through Recreation.gov, and they allow free dispersed camping across most of their land.
Rules vary by forest. On the San Juan National Forest, for example, you can stay 16 days in any 30-day period, must camp at least 100 feet from water and within 150 feet of the road, and can't camp within a mile of developed campgrounds. Our guide to dispersed camping in Colorado covers the best areas and each forest's rules, and the general dispersed camping guide explains how it works on BLM and Forest Service land.
Where to base yourself
- Arkansas River valley: Buena Vista has hot springs, fourteeners and a long list of national forest campgrounds.
- Southwest: Durango, with the San Juan Mountains to the north and Mesa Verde's entrance 35 miles west.
- Front Range: Colorado Springs for Pikes Peak, and Denver for the closest campgrounds to the city.
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Estes Park on the east side.
- RVs: our guide to RV parks in Colorado covers full-hookup options.
Before you go
- Elevation: mountain campgrounds sit high, and nights get cold even in summer. Pack for frost.
- Fire restrictions change through the season and differ by county, forest and park. Check before every trip.
- Bears: use the food lockers where campgrounds provide them, and never leave food out at camp.
