Whether you visit the plains or the mountains, there is no denying that Colorado is one beautiful state.
There are RV parks outside of the metro areas that allow campers to explore fine dining and theater, and there are secluded mountain niches where you can walk along quiet trails and view wildlife.
Visitors who want to lose themselves in history can see dinosaur footprints and other fossils that survive from the huge ocean that covered Colorado in prehistoric times, or they can investigate ruins in places with names like Cortez and San Juan where the Spanish explorers left their marks. Visitors with a yen to see the old west can attend rodeos and dude ranches.
Those who want to fish or hunt or just escape the heat and crowds of the city can find accommodations with bountiful amenities or brave dirt roads to campgrounds with more solitude.
There is something for every taste. The great thing about traveling in an RV is the ability to see the country without ever leaving the comforts of “home.” Colorado affords the opportunity to enjoy nature’s beauty in tandem with the adventures of mountain sports and is usually within reach of great dining and entertainment.
Here is a showcase of fourteen of Colorado’s best RV parks:
The Views RV Park and Campground
Location: 24990 CO-184, Dolores, CO 81323
Contact: 1-970-749-6489
Resort amenities are:
- Glamping tents
- Wedding venue
- Paddleboard rentals
- Hiking/mountain biking trail
- Sites suitable for big rigs
This family-friendly RV park and campground is a true gem among Colorado campsites. It’s located near the borders of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, not far from Mesa Verde National Park, which makes it a perfect home base to explore the neighboring states and the nature of the area.
It features large full hookup RV sites, secluded tent sites, and cozy glamping tents. Amenities include a modern bathhouse, laundry facilities, a wedding venue, Wi-Fi, and a hiking trail. As the name suggests, you can enjoy beautiful vistas from there – sunrises and sunsets are especially lovely.
Right across the entrance to the park, you will find the McPhee Reservoir to boat, fish, paddleboard, or swim – paddleboards can be rented at the campground. Foodies will appreciate the local wineries and brewpubs that can be found around.
Jellystone Park Larkspur – n.1 for KIDS
Location: 650 Sky View Ln., Larkspur, CO 80118
Contact: 1-888-726-7807 or [email protected]
Resort amenities are:
- Basketball, sand volleyball, and pickleball courts
- Swimming pools and fitness center
- Playground
- Outdoor kitchen stations
- Restaurant and bar
Jellystone Park Larkspur provides a Yogi Bear-themed RV stay amidst some of Colorado’s most stunning beauty.
This large RV park also provides plenty of activities for all ages within its property, including access to a water park, a hot tub, and an impressive variety of sporting venues. In fact, many of those staying here focused nearly all of their time on what is available on site.
However, even those who do decide to focus their stay here on in-park activities get to enjoy some up-close beautiful nature at times, sometimes including seeing gorgeous deer stop by the area. Many guests have also reported that its cleanliness, including its bathrooms and showers, exceeded their expectations.
However, those who do not like crowds may want to give this place a pass on busy weekends. Also, note that the spaces that are next to the tracks and Interstate 25 can be noisy.
Golden Clear Creek RV Park
Location: 1400 10th St, Golden, CO 80401
Contact: 1-303-278-1437
Resort amenities are:
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Biking
- Kayaking
- Parasailing
Set just a couple of minutes of walk from downtown Golden and right next to Clear Creek, Golden Clear Creek RV Park is perfect for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors from the proximity of a bubbling city.
Campers can enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, tubing, biking, fishing, or parasailing. On the other hand, those who prefer the city experience will appreciate Golden’s top-class restaurants, shopping, many cultural events, and even a couple of microbreweries.
The park features both back-in and pull-through full hookups. There is also a really nice bathhouse and a laundry room. The park can get a bit crowded sometimes. Luckily, there is a public park complex next door which is a great option for runners, family activities, and dog walks.
Carbondale / Crystal River KOA Holiday
Location: 7202 CO-133, Carbondale, CO 81623
Contact: 1-970-963-2341
Resort amenities are:
- Pool, hot tub, and sauna
- Whitewater rafting, hiking, and fishing
- Skiing
Carbondale / Crystal River KOA is located just miles from Glenwood Springs and the worldwide known town of Aspen. It is the ultimate holiday destination for those who like mountain settings with breathtaking views and searches for fine amenities and activities.
Engage in hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, and skiing, or visit the picturesque town of Redstone with its castle, the mining town of Marble, and the wineries of Paonia. There are so many options that you will not want to leave.
Pitch a tent, sleep in your RV, or rent one of their authentic old-west log cabins. Should you wish to stay and relax in the campground, there is a pool, hot tub, and sauna. This camping resort will not disappoint you.
Garden of the Gods RV Resort
Location: 3704 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Contact: 1-719-475-9450 or [email protected]
Resort amenities are:
- Swimming pools
- Children’s playground
- Game room and arcade
RVers who have seen Pikes Peak on their Colorado itinerary will want to consider staying at the Garden of the Gods RV Resort as you can view this 14,115-foot mountain from the site. And that is not the only natural attraction to be enjoyed here. Red Rock Canyon Open Space and the Garden of the Gods hiking trails are so close that you could walk there from the Garden of the Gods RV Resort.
These accommodations also provide all of the modern comforts that you look for in a high-class RV park so that you can comfortably combine that luxury with enjoying the incredible nature that is nearby.
It offers homey attractions such as firepit areas, which many gather around to talk and eat s’mores, as well. Its laundry facilities, bathrooms, and showers have also been complemented by those who have stayed here.
Tiger Run Resort
Location: 85 Revette Dr, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Contact: 1-970-453-9690
Resort amenities are:
- Pool and hot tubs
- Fishing, hiking, biking
- Skiing
Set between the mountain towns of Frisco and Breckenridge, Tiger Run Resort is accessible from Highway 70, yet quiet and surrounded by spectacular nature. It is a perfect home base for adventurers that provides its visitors with a myriad of things to do all year round.
The Blue and Swan Rivers, which pass through the park, are a great spot for fly-fishing. Just a stone’s throw away, there is Dillon Reservoir, popular among boaters and sailors. And, of course, there are plenty of trails for both hikers and mountain bikers. In winter, you can ski or snowshoe.
Moreover, the campground boasts abundant amenities, such as a pool, hot tubs, fitness center, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and much more. Guests can accommodate either in log chalets or spacious RV sites. They are all padded and full hook-up. In winter, the sites are plowed, and the water pipes are heated.
Tiger Run Resort is simply an awesome place for outdoor lovers, as well as glampers.
Glenwood Canyon Resort
Location: 1308 County Road 129 Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601
Phone: 1-800 -958-6737
Resort amenities are:
- 32 RV spaces
- Wi-fi
- Laundry
- Showers
- Dumpsite
Glenwood Canyon is a gorgeous drive any time of year, but especially in autumn when its red walls and evergreens are punctuated with wild golds of aspen trees.
The Colorado River rolls along at its base and lots of active visitors take advantage of fishing and the many white-water rafting experiences offered. Glenwood Springs, Colorado, sits at the end of the canyon and offers great dining and music.
Visitors can tour the Hotel Colorado where Teddy Roosevelt often stayed and which he called the “Western Whitehouse.” Here, visitors will find the nation’s only mountain-top amusement park that features, among other rides, a swing that dangles over a sheer canyon wall and the Alpine Coaster where visitors race at white-knuckled speed down the mountainside.
Glenwood Springs is home to many festivals and, in September, a thirty-minute drive brings visitors to Snowmass for the Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festivals.
Back in Glenwood Springs, there is a hot springs spa to relax visitors after a day of hiking the many trails in the area and a river to fish before making their way back “home” to their RV, making this park perfect for RVers of all ages.
Paradise on the River
Location: 1836 State Highway 66 Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Contact: 970-586-5513 or tollfree 866-556-3422 or [email protected]
- Campground amenities include:
- Full 30-amp hook-ups
- Wi-fi
- Cable TV
- Restrooms, laundry, and shower facilities.
This RV park is near both the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and the mountain town of Estes Park, surrounded by evergreen and aspen forests, waterfalls, and a plethora of hiking trails for every ability.
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park allows visitors to begin at Estes Park and drive the highest “continuous paved road” in the US through forests and even tundra. At the other end is the gorgeous mountain town of Grand Lake and the jaunt can be done in just a few hours.
Estes Park is the home of the Stanley Hotel, famous as the location for the movie “The Shining,” but visitors can also explore arts festivals, fine dining, and tons of quaint shops. In July, Estes Park puts on a great professional rodeo called the Rooftop Rodeo. There is even a company that specializes in backpacking and fishing adventures for kids.
In short, there is plenty to do at the resort as well as in Estes Park.
Campsites are on paved roads and are level. There is a 32’ RV limit, though they make some exceptions, and a reservation is encouraged.
Buffalo Springs Campground
Location: Fairplay, Colorado, 80440
Phone: 1-719-836-2031
- Amenities at the RV park include:
- Space for 18 RVs
- Restrooms
- Hot showers
Visitors to this RV park in the San Isabel National Forest will not find Wi-Fi and cable, but there is plenty of gorgeous outdoor recreation.
This part of the San Isabel Range features a wide, lush basin in the shadow of high mountains. Adventurous visitors can hike and fish at an elevation of nine-to-ten thousand feet along rolling hillsides, can mountain bike or even climb.
Nearby is the mining town of Leadville, home of the famous Molly Brown who survived the Titanic sinking, and her husband JJ, and Horace and Baby Doe Tabor, where there are daily shows in the famed Tabor Opera House.
Visitors can also hang out at South Park where they will not find the TV characters, but they can walk the streets of a restored 1800s town complete with living history programs, gunfights, and music.
Gunnison KOA Journey
Location: 105 County Road 50, Gunnison, Colorado, 81230
Phone: 1-970-641-1358
- RV Park amenities are:
- Hot showers
- Propane
- Wi-fi
- Laundry
- Dump station
This unique campground features grass-covered sites due to having an abundance of water. The area averages 80 degrees in summer, so it is cool enough to enjoy sitting outside after a day of adventure.
The park is located near Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, so fishing and boating are definitely an option. Gunnison is home to the Gunnison Valley Observatory and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
The steep walls of the canyon contain some of the oldest rock in North America as well as some of its “Gnarliest pinnacles.” Visitors can get a “bird’s eye” view of the area from the ski lift at Crested Butte or visit one of that city’s art galleries and cultural attractions.
There are also trails to explore making the Gunnison KOA “home base. ” Kids will enjoy the RV park’s on-site petting zoo as well as the stocked trout pond where they can catch and keep for a small fee.