Find Your Next Colorado Camping Spot.

The Maroon Bells are the most-photographed peaks in North America. Three summer-only campgrounds (Silver Bar, Silver Bell, Silver Queen) sit along Maroon Creek Road at 8,460 feet. Reservations are required on Recreation.gov and the area needs a parking or shuttle permit to enter.

Set just above Moraine Park meadow on Bear Lake Road with straight-on views of Longs Peak. Reservation-only via Recreation.gov from late May to late September, then first-come winter camping. The 7-night park-wide stay limit applies.

150 sites across the road from the Park & Ride shuttle hub, so you camp once and ride into Bear Lake. Reservation-only May 21 through September 28 on Recreation.gov, and the confirmation includes timed entry for Bear Lake Road. Trails to Sprague Lake leave right from camp.

Small, wooded, and quiet on the Fall River side of the park near the Estes Park entrance. Only 52 sites and it fills the second the 6-month window opens on Recreation.gov. Bear boxes and flush toilets, no showers.

The only campground on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in a lodgepole burn area with wide-open views of the Never Summer Range. Reservation-only in summer with the same 7-night park-wide limit. Great base for moose watching along the Colorado River headwaters.

132 sites at 9,600 feet on the back side of Pikes Peak, with electric hookups and hot showers. Reservations through CPWshop.com up to 6 months out and a Colorado state parks pass required on each vehicle. 55 miles of trails leave right from the campground loops.

Just an hour from Denver and open year-round with 106 sites plus yurts and cabins. Reserve on CPWshop, budget for the daily park fee, and expect elk in the meadows at dawn. Panorama Point gives you 100 miles of Continental Divide from a two-minute walk.

Colorado's closest-to-Denver reservoir campground with 197 sites and full RV hookups on many. Paddleboarding, sailing, swim beach and one of the largest off-leash dog areas in the state. Book on CPWshop; summer weekends sell out at the 6-month mark.

102 campsites minutes from the Denver Tech Center, popular with families and last-minute travelers. Full hookups, hot showers, and a swim beach on the reservoir. CPWshop reservations plus a daily vehicle pass; leash rules are strictly enforced outside the dog park.

9 campgrounds and 350+ sites ring Eleven Mile Reservoir at 8,600 feet in South Park. Cutthroat, kokanee salmon and northern pike make it one of Colorado's top fishing lakes. Book by loop on CPWshop; the western loops are quieter and closer to the boat ramp.

Day-use only for the reservoir itself, but the adjacent Spinney Mountain Ranch draws Gold Medal trout anglers all summer. Camp next door at Eleven Mile State Park. Wind on the water is real; bring layers.

5 loops and 89 sites on a red-rock reservoir 30 minutes north of Rifle. Warm-water fishing for walleye and bass plus swim beaches and a full-service marina. CPWshop reservations and a valid state parks pass on each vehicle.

Three campgrounds (Dakota Terraces, Elk Ridge, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk) and 258 total sites between Ouray and Montrose. Sweeping views of the Cimarrons and the Sneffels Range. Full hookups on many loops; book 6 months out on CPWshop for summer weekends.

Colorado's Lake Powell — 15,000 surface acres reaching into New Mexico with houseboats, quiet coves and 137 campsites. Warm-water fishing for smallmouth bass and northern pike. CPWshop reservations; the marina rents pontoons and slips.

198 sites at 8,100 feet under the shadow of Hahn's Peak, 30 minutes north of Steamboat Springs. Trout fishing, kayak rentals, and a small marina store on site. CPWshop reservations; winter cross-country skiing right from camp.

An unexpected desert-lake camp on Colorado's Eastern Plains — sandy swim beach, warm summer water, and 261 sites across 6 campgrounds. Great weekend escape from Denver without mountain traffic. CPWshop reservations and a parks pass required.

A busy day-use lake with 148 campsites just north of Loveland, popular with water-skiers and Front Range families. Full hookups on the newer loops, easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park. CPWshop reservations; weekends book fast.

Under-the-radar reservoir camping just off I-25 near the New Mexico line. 62 sites, some with electric, plus hike-in and yurt options. Warm-water fishing and quiet nights; Kokanee Salmon Festival draws crowds each September.

111 sites on a reservoir at 8,000 feet on the Grand Mesa, one of the world's largest flat-topped mountains. Rainbow trout fishing, moose sightings, and full winter snowmobiling access. CPWshop reservations; the fall aspen colors here are underrated.

92 sites on a 780-acre reservoir 16 miles south of Steamboat Springs. Sailing, paddleboarding and Northern Pike fishing. CPWshop reservations; the Junction City loop has the best sunset views.

Reservation-only cabins and 45 tent/RV sites at 8,500 feet in a quiet mountain basin 16 miles south of Eagle. Considered one of Colorado's most beautiful state parks and locals guard the tip. CPWshop reservations; the 42-acre lake is trout-stocked.

Small, quiet, and next door to Steamboat Lake — 36 sites plus two yurts around a 190-acre reservoir. Cutthroat trout are catch-and-release with flies only. CPWshop reservations; feels remote even at capacity.

Hike-in tent sites well away from the main campground loops, at 9,500 feet. Reserve through CPWshop; you carry in everything and pack it back out. Best used as a warm-up for higher backcountry trips.

8 forest service campgrounds ring Turquoise Lake at 9,900 feet just west of Leadville. Baby Doe, Silver Dollar, Molly Brown and May Queen are the reservable favorites on Recreation.gov. Cold water, tall pines, and easy access to the Colorado Trail.

Federal campgrounds along Colorado's largest glacial lakes at the foot of Mount Elbert. Parry Peak, White Star, Lakeview and Dexter Point are all bookable on Recreation.gov. Sailboats, paddlers, and 14er climbers all share this stretch.

The launch pad for the North and South Halfmoon trails up Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest peak. Small forest service campground on the North Halfmoon Creek road, first-come/first-served. Cold nights year-round — this is 10,000 feet.

56 sites on Cottonwood Creek 11 miles west of Buena Vista, at 9,800 feet. Reservable on Recreation.gov and one of the best trailhead-adjacent campgrounds for the Sawatch 14ers. Bring bug spray in early summer.

Small forest service campground on a stocked mountain lake at 9,600 feet, seven miles up County Road 344. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Kayaks and paddleboards move fine; the lake has a 5 mph speed limit.

A tiny 8-site forest service campground below Guanella Pass at 10,000 feet. First-come/first-served and worth grabbing early for Bierstadt and Squaretop climbers. Vault toilet only, no water on site.

Guanella Pass Campground and nearby Clear Lake, Whiteside and Burning Bear sit along the pass road between Georgetown and Grant. Recreation.gov for the reservable ones; first-come for the rest. Base camp for climbing Mount Bierstadt.

Dispersed backcountry camping across 119,000 acres of granite spires, hidden meadows and creek drainages between US-285 and Kenosha Pass. No permit required for dispersed camping but leave-no-trace is critical. Great weekend loop from the Front Range.

Small forest service campgrounds — Buffalo, Meadows, Baldy Trailhead — south of Denver in the Pike NF. Recreation.gov for the developed sites. Popular with singletrack mountain bikers on the Colorado Trail.

Roadside forest service campground with 25 sites at 10,000 feet on US-285. Peak-season fall aspens make Kenosha the busiest fall-color viewpoint in Colorado. Reservable on Recreation.gov and often walk-ins can catch cancellations.

Forest service reservoir camping (Thunder Ridge and Meadow Ridge loops) 20 minutes above Colorado Springs. Reservations on Recreation.gov and daily use fees at the boat ramp. Rainbow trout fishing and a full-loop trail around the reservoir.

5 small campgrounds tucked into the granite canyon below Eleven Mile Dam on the South Platte River. Recreation.gov for reservables; Riverside, Springer Gulch and Blue Mountain are favorites. Gold Medal trout water for fly anglers.

State Forest State Park camping on a small alpine reservoir with 25 sites and yurts nearby. CPWshop reservations; the park is Colorado's moose capital with 600+ moose in the area. Bring waders and a fly rod.

Large 148-site forest service campground on Lake Granby's north shore. Reservations on Recreation.gov and RVs to 40 feet fit in most loops. Boat ramp on site; Rocky Mountain National Park's west entrance is 20 minutes away.

A high, quiet 32-site campground at 10,300 feet on Kebler Pass west of Crested Butte. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Trout fishing in the small lake and wildflower hikes right from the loops in July.

Free dispersed camping along the Slate River just outside Crested Butte, with a small first-come developed area. No reservations, no fee — but the parking is regulated in summer and fills fast. Whitewater put-in for kayakers.

Lost Lake, Erickson Springs and Horse Ranch Park along Kebler Pass Road through the world's largest aspen grove. Recreation.gov for reservables. September peak fall color makes this Colorado's most photographed pass drive.

Rustic first-come campsites along the East River road north of Crested Butte, at the base of Gothic Mountain. Best access to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory area. No RVs; tent camping only.

13 forest service sites along Cement Creek south of Crested Butte, at 9,000 feet. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Popular with mountain bikers riding the Deer Creek and Reno Divide singletrack.

Williams Creek and Wupperman campgrounds on Colorado's second-largest natural lake, at 9,000 feet outside Lake City. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Rainbow and Mackinaw trout fishing; the lake was formed by the Slumgullion Earthflow.

35 forest service sites in a natural amphitheater of red cliffs 1,000 feet above Ouray. Reservable on Recreation.gov. The Perimeter Trail into town leaves right from the campground.

9 rustic sites four miles up Camp Bird Road out of Ouray, at 8,800 feet. First-come/first-served most of the season. Great base for hiking to Silver Basin and Yankee Boy Basin's wildflowers.

26 forest service sites at 9,800 feet up South Mineral Creek Road west of Silverton, with dispersed camping further up. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Ice Lake Basin trail — one of Colorado's most photographed alpine hikes — starts here.

Town of Silverton campground on Molas Lake at 10,500 feet on US-550. 66 sites and yurts; reserve directly through the town. Sunrise on the Grenadier Range is why photographers come here.

Forest service Little Molas Lake Campground with 16 free first-come sites at 10,900 feet. No fee, but donations go a long way. Colorado Trail runs right through camp.

43 forest service sites on a small stocked lake 18 miles north of Durango. Reservable on Recreation.gov. A quiet family favorite with easy trout fishing and a paved bike path to Purgatory Resort.

34 forest service sites five miles above Durango at the southern trailhead of the Colorado Trail. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Cell service holds for most of the campground.

80 forest service sites at the head of Vallecito Reservoir, gateway to the Weminuche Wilderness. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Vallecito Creek trail is one of the great multi-day backpacks in Colorado.

17 small forest service sites at 8,500 feet in the West Mancos drainage. First-come/first-served. Quiet, cool, and a mile from the Sharkstooth trailhead into the La Plata Mountains.

Small forest service campground next to a tiny alpine lake at 10,700 feet on US-550. First-come/first-served. Trail to Crater Lake — one of Colorado's easier alpine lake hikes — leaves the parking area.

Rustic forest service sites at the head of Vallecito Reservoir near the wilderness boundary. Great for horse packers heading into the Weminuche. Bring water and a plan; services are 20 miles away.

Small campground near Purgatory Resort with easy access to the Cascade Creek trail and Animas River overlook. First-come/first-served most of the season. Cool nights at 8,700 feet even in July.

Free dispersed camping and a small developed area at Hermosa Park north of Durango. High-clearance road to reach the good spots. Popular with mountain bikers riding the Hermosa Creek trail system.

Several small dispersed and developed sites along Red Mountain Pass on US-550 between Silverton and Ouray. Elevation makes weather unpredictable even in July. High-clearance recommended for many pull-offs.

28 forest service sites 10 miles south of Telluride on the road to Ophir. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Views of the Wilson Peaks and quick access to Lizard Head Pass trails.

18 forest service sites on a small lake at 9,400 feet with a direct view of Wilson Peak. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Popular fall-color base and one of the state's most photographed campground views.

Small private/forest service developed campground on the Dolores River near Rico. Cabins available in addition to tent and RV sites. Cell service is spotty; that's the appeal.

Bradfield, Cabin Canyon and Ferris Canyon campgrounds along the lower Dolores River. Recreation.gov for reservables. Rafting put-ins and warm-water fishing; check flow releases from McPhee before planning a float.

House Creek and McPhee campgrounds on Colorado's second-largest reservoir. Reservable on Recreation.gov with electric hookups on many sites. Bass, crappie and kokanee salmon plus a full marina.

Free dispersed camping along the lower Dolores River corridor on BLM land. 14-day stay limit within any 30-day window. Pack out everything; there are no trash services.

267 sites in Morefield Village four miles inside Mesa Verde National Park, with full RV hookups on 15 sites. Reservations at visitmesaverde.com; walk-ins usually get a site. Nightly ranger programs and a small store on site.

80 sites on the top of Colorado National Monument overlooking Grand Junction and the Book Cliffs. Reservable on Recreation.gov April through October, first-come in winter. Bring your own water in summer; the desert sun is real.

State park camping on two reservoirs 25 miles from Grand Junction. 54 electric sites plus tent loops. CPWshop reservations; the swim beach is a summer scene and boat rentals are on site.

Five separate sections along the Colorado River from Fruita to Island Acres. Full hookup RV camping at Fruita and Island Acres units. CPWshop reservations; a great mid-trip stopover on I-70.

Section of James M. Robb State Park with 34 electric RV sites on the Colorado River. CPWshop reservations. Fruit-orchard road trips from Palisade start here in August.

Grand Mesa forest service campground at 10,000 feet near Powderhorn Ski Area. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Trout lakes within a five-minute drive of the loops.

18 electric campsites at the western Colorado River state park section. CPWshop reservations. Direct river access and the Kokopelli Loops singletrack is a short bike ride away.

Rustic BLM camping in Dominguez Canyon NCA south of Delta. Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez creek trails offer petroglyphs and slickrock. Bring water, high clearance recommended past the trailhead.

Free BLM dispersed camping on 18 Road north of Fruita, the hub of the Kokopelli mountain bike trail system. First-come, 14-day limit, and NO campfires during Stage 2. Vault toilets at the trailhead.

Free BLM camping near the Utah state line off I-70 exit 2, at Rabbit Valley Recreation Area. Kokopelli Trail mountain bikes, off-road jeeping, and quiet desert nights. Bring shade and water.

Saddlehorn Campground is the only developed site inside Colorado National Monument. Backcountry camping is allowed with a free permit from the visitor center. Sunrise views into the canyons make the drive worth it.

17 forest service sites at 10,000 feet on the west side of Pikes Peak. First-come/first-served with vault toilets and no water. Trailhead for the Crags and the seldom-used Pikes Peak west approach.

22 forest service sites at 8,800 feet in the Rampart Range. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Devil's Head Fire Lookout — Colorado's last staffed lookout — is a mile away.

27 forest service sites in the Tarryall drainage below Lost Creek Wilderness. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Cool creek, tall spruce, and quiet nights within two hours of Denver.

29 forest service sites on a small lake at 9,200 feet south of Salida. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Non-motorized boating only; trout fishing is steady all summer.

Chalk Lake, Cascade and Mount Princeton forest service campgrounds along Chalk Creek near Mount Princeton Hot Springs. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Ghost-town day trips from St. Elmo start nearby.

10 first-come sites on the small forebay lake below Mount Elbert. Free camping in a dramatic setting. Fills fast during 14er climbing season.

14 sites along Maroon Creek at 8,460 feet, one of three Maroon Bells developed campgrounds. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Trailer/RV up to 30 feet; trout fishing in the creek out your tent door.

23 forest service sites along Tomichi Creek at 9,000 feet. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Good base for Marshall Pass mountain biking and the Old Monarch Pass tour.

7 free dispersed sites plus a small developed area along Lincoln Creek off Independence Pass Road. High-clearance recommended; the road gets rough. Grizzly Reservoir is a short drive up-canyon.

47 forest service sites five miles east of Aspen on Highway 82. Reservable on Recreation.gov and along the Roaring Fork with well-shaded aspen and pine sites. Closest developed camping to downtown Aspen.

11 sites at 9,200 feet along Highway 82 heading toward Independence Pass. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Small, wooded, and a great launch pad for Grottos day hikes.

84 forest service sites along the Fryingpan River, a Gold Medal trout fishery. Reservable on Recreation.gov. One of the best fly-fishing base camps in Colorado.

24 forest service sites at 9,000 feet in the Fulford area southeast of Eagle. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Trailhead for New York Mountain and quiet meadow hikes.

22 forest service sites at 9,500 feet on Rabbit Ears Pass. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Fishing, wildflowers, and the Continental Divide Trail all step away.

Dowdy Lake and West Lake are the main developed campgrounds in the Red Feather chain northwest of Fort Collins. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Cool at 8,200 feet even in July.

62 forest service sites on Dowdy Lake at 8,100 feet. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Small lake with electric-motor-only boating and rainbow trout stockings.

19 forest service sites on the Cache la Poudre River off Highway 14. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Some of the closest riverfront camping to Fort Collins.

48 forest service sites at 8,600 feet on the Peak to Peak highway. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Base camp for Eldora Ski Area riders and Indian Peaks Wilderness hikers.

17 forest service sites at 8,600 feet along Middle St. Vrain Creek. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Buchanan Pass trailhead is a short walk away.

56 forest service sites off Highway 7 just south of Rocky Mountain National Park's Wild Basin. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Great overflow when RMNP campgrounds are full.

55 forest service sites at 10,500 feet in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Indian Peaks Wilderness alpine lakes are hikes from the campground.

Timed-entry recreation area at 10,300 feet in the Indian Peaks. Camping is at Pawnee Campground; day use requires a Recreation.gov reservation in summer. Mitchell Lake and Blue Lake are classic day hikes.

Free dispersed camping in a designated area of Roosevelt NF south of Nederland. 14-day stay limit, pack it out. Cell service is spotty; that's the point.

12 rustic forest service sites at 10,000 feet at the end of a long dirt road east of Jefferson. First-come/first-served most seasons. Best used as a jump-off into the Lost Creek Wilderness.

18 rustic forest service sites at 10,000 feet near the Arapaho Glacier trailhead. First-come/first-served; the road in is rough. No water on site.

68 forest service sites on Twin Lakes at 9,300 feet. Reservable on Recreation.gov. Sailboats and windsurfers use the lake in summer; Mount Elbert climbers use the parking lot as a base.