Roaming.Camp
Camping in Colorado

Colorado

The Centennial State

Colorado packs more variety per square mile than almost any state in the country — four national parks, 58 fourteeners, the highest paved road in North America, and a camping landscape that runs from red-rock canyons at 4,500 feet to alpine tundra above 12,000. Rocky Mountain National Park draws the headlines, but the Maroon Bells outside Aspen may be the most photographed mountains on the continent, and the Great Sand Dunes rise 750 feet out of a high desert valley in a way nothing else in the Lower 48 does. The San Juan Mountains in the southwest are the state's quietest, wildest range, with aspen groves that turn the hillsides gold for three weeks each September. Add state parks along every major reservoir, a dense network of USFS campgrounds along the I-70 corridor, and enough BLM land for a lifetime of dispersed camping, and Colorado delivers.

Top 10 sites

The places we'd send you first.

No. 1

Moraine Park Campground

Recreation.gov · CO

Rocky Mountain National Park's signature campground sits in a wide glacial valley at 8,160 feet where elk herds graze the meadows at dawn and Longs Peak dominates the southern horizon. The 244 sites are a mix of tent and RV-friendly loops, with a dump station and potable water but no hookups. Reservations open six months out on Recreation.gov and the summer window (June–September) books out within minutes. Trail Ridge Road, the continent's highest paved highway, is a 20-minute drive.

When to go

Altitude is the defining factor. Many Colorado campgrounds sit between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, where afternoon temperatures can swing 40°F from a sunny midday to a stormy evening. Pack layers regardless of forecast. Monsoon thunderstorms are a near-daily event from mid-July through August and can produce lightning, hail, and flash-flood potential in canyons. UV intensity at altitude is roughly double sea-level — sunscreen and sunglasses matter even on cool days. If you're driving up from sea level, plan to arrive a day early and sleep below 8,000 feet the first night to acclimatize.

Spring

Apr–May

Mud season in the high country. Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road stays closed until late May. Campgrounds above 9,000 feet remain snowed in, so April and early May trips happen at lower-elevation state parks (Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Jackson Lake) or in the warmer southwest near Mesa Verde and the Black Canyon. Wildlife is active — bighorn sheep calving in late May, black bears emerging from dens. Expect afternoon snow squalls at elevation through Memorial Day.

Summer

Peak season

Jun–Aug

Peak season. All campgrounds open by mid-June. Afternoon monsoon thunderstorms are a daily event from mid-July through August — they build from 2 PM, peak 4–6 PM, and clear by dark. Plan 14er summits for sunrise starts and be below treeline by noon. RMNP requires timed-entry permits for daytime access May 24 through October. Nights drop into the 40s even in July at campground elevation. Book Maroon Bells, RMNP, and state park sites 6+ months out.

Fall

Sep–Oct

The sweet spot. Aspens peak the last week of September in the San Juans and Maroon Bells, stretching through the first week of October in the Front Range. Elk rut fills the Moraine Park meadow with bugling at dawn. Monsoon season ends, skies run deep blue, and temperatures are ideal — 60s–70s by day, 30s by night. Most campgrounds above 9,000 feet close by mid-October as the first real snow arrives. Lower-elevation state parks stay open through November.

Winter

Nov–Mar

Most campgrounds are closed. Chatfield and Cherry Creek state parks near Denver remain open year-round with electric hookups. Mesa Verde's Morefield closes for the season but the park stays open for cliff-dwelling tours and winter access to Far View. Ski-town private RV parks stay open with full hookups for snowbird travelers. Backcountry winter camping on USFS land is legal and popular for well-prepared parties, though daytime highs often stay in the teens at elevation.

Know before you go

Best time

Window
Jun–Aug
Peak — Summer
Jun–Aug
Spring
Apr–May
Summer
Jun–Aug
Fall
Sep–Oct
Winter
Nov–Mar

Peak season. All campgrounds open by mid-June. Afternoon monsoon thunderstorms are a daily event from mid-July through August — they build from 2 PM, peak 4–6 PM, and clear by dark. Plan 14er summits for sunrise starts and be below treeline by noon. RMNP requires timed-entry permits for daytime access May 24 through October. Nights drop into the 40s even in July at campground elevation. Book Maroon Bells, RMNP, and state park sites 6+ months out.

Reservations

Booking
Recreation.gov
Window opens
6 months out
First-come sites
Mixed · arrive early
Cancellation
48 hr · per facility
Peak weekends
Book on release

Yes for most. Moraine Park, Timber Creek, Glacier Basin, and Aspenglen accept reservations through Recreation.gov and fill within minutes when booking windows open six months ahead for summer dates. Longs Peak is first-come, first-served and tent-only.…

Permits & signal

Backcountry
Permit required
Dispersed
USFS · BLM · 14 days
Fire restrictions
Seasonal · check ranger
Signal · Verizon
Fair
Signal · AT&T
Fair
Signal · T-Mobile
Poor

Yes. Dispersed camping on USFS and BLM land is free across Colorado. Popular free areas include Rampart Range, Buffalo Creek, Kenosha Pass, and large stretches of BLM in the Gunnison Valley, San Luis Valley, and Dolores…

Camping etiquette

Quiet hours
10 PM – 6 AM
Pets
Leashed · 6 ft
Pack-out
All waste
Food storage
Bear box / hang
Stay limit
14 days · 30 day window

Most are, with significant restrictions in national parks. In RMNP, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon, pets must be leashed and are not allowed on any trails, meadows, or in the backcountry — they're…

Best for Hiking & Backpacking

Colorado's trail network is unmatched in the Lower 48 — 58 fourteeners, the Continental Divide Trail, the Colorado Trail, and thousands of miles of alpine routes through four national forests. These campgrounds put you within walking distance of the state's most iconic hikes.

Best for RV Camping

Colorado's reputation for rough mountain roads undersells its RV infrastructure. Full hookups exist at every major state park, and well-maintained USFS campgrounds along the I-70 corridor accommodate rigs up to 40 feet. These are the best bets for travelers pulling something big.

Best for Fishing

Colorado Parks and Wildlife designates Gold Medal waters for rivers supporting trophy trout populations, and the state has more miles of Gold Medal fishery than anywhere else in the West. From alpine lake cutthroat to tailwater rainbows and Front Range warmwater bass, these campgrounds put you on the water.

Best for Fall Colors & Aspen Viewing

Colorado's aspen season peaks the last two weeks of September through the first week of October, when entire mountainsides turn gold and red. These campgrounds sit in the middle of the state's best aspen country — book early, because locals know.

Frequently asked

Peak camping runs June through early September when all campgrounds are open and trails are snow-free. Late September is the state's sweet spot — aspens peak, crowds thin, elk rut is in full swing, and temperatures are ideal. Most high-elevation campgrounds close by mid-October. For spring and winter camping, stick to lower-elevation state parks near Denver (Chatfield, Cherry Creek) or the southwest (Mesa Verde, Navajo).

Nearby states