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Established Camping

Eagle Campground at Carter Lake

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

**Carter Lake Camping:** Due to ongoing site improvements and road construction currently in progress, the following campgrounds are impacted: - **Eagle Campground:** Starting June 13, sites will be reservable on Friday and Saturday nights only, up to 30 days in advance. Reserve online or by calling 1-800-397-7795. - Important Advisory: If you have a larger camping unit (RV or trailer 26 or more feet in length), navigating the construction will be challenging. We recommend South Shore campground as an alternative to better accommodate your needs during construction. - **North Pines Campground:** Reservations can only be made a few weeks to a month out. Reserve online or by calling 1-800-397-7795. - **Big Thompson Campground:** Beginning April 1, the campground transitioned into day-use parking and does not offer camping. For questions, please call (970) 619-4570.

Eagle Campground at Carter Lake, near Loveland, Colorado, is a year-round destination that offers a mix of relaxation and outdoor adventure. With sites that provide access to drinking water and electric hookups, it’s a solid choice for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts.

The campground is surrounded by beautiful trees, creating a serene atmosphere that many visitors appreciate. Campers have noted the ideal placement of fire pits, perfect for cozy evenings under the stars. Some sites even boast lovely views of the lake, making them highly sought after, so be ready to book early if you want one of those prime spots.

For those looking to stretch their legs, there are plenty of walking paths nearby, and wildlife sightings, including deer and wild turkeys, are common. The facilities include clean restrooms and coin-operated showers, which campers have found convenient after a day of exploring. As one visitor mentioned, “The campground itself is clean and the camp hosts were great,” highlighting the friendly atmosphere you can expect during your stay.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a longer retreat, Eagle Campground at Carter Lake has the essentials to make your camping experience enjoyable.

Description

Larimer County, CO

Carter Lake

Carter Lake is located in the foothills west of Loveland at an elevation of 5,760 feet. It is a part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The purpose of this water project is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation. The Bureau of Reclamation is solely responsible for power generation. The agencies jointly manage water levels for irrigation, municipal, and industry use. Recreation is managed by Larimer County Natural Resources. Three miles long and about one mile wide, Carter Lake is a 1,100-acre reservoir surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands and is popular for fishing, sailing, camping, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, and water skiing. It is open year round. Park Entrance Permits and Camping Fees are required.

Please check the Season Dates tab for annual updates on site availability.

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Location

Eagle Campground at Carter Lake is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

(Park address: 1800 S.C.R. 31; Loveland, CO 80537) Take I-25 to the Berthoud Exit (Exit 250). Turn left (west) onto Highway 56 and continue for 9 1/2 miles, passing through the town of Berthoud. At the foothills, the road will curve sharply to the right (north). Turn left (west) onto County Road 8E and continue for 3 miles to the entrance station where you can purchase permits.

Address

1800 SOUTH COUNTY ROAD 31
Loveland, CO 80537

Coordinates

40.35474922 N
105.21382882 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Fair
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


Reviews

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5 Stars

4 Stars

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1 Star

23%
67%
12%
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4.0

out of 5

9 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 15, 2025

Lots of families with kiddos

They are currently making improvements to this campground. You can still camp, though. Spaces are all around and close together, not allowing for much privacy to sit outside. Some spots have shade. Nice tables and fire pits with grill.

SiteE42
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Apr. 26, 2025

Nice area

Lots of trees. The drive to the site was slightly adventurous and our site in particular had a large ditch we had to drive over to park and several large rocks we had to avoid. Water to fill your fresh water tank was nearby as well as clean restrooms. They have electricity. Also there is a dump area for a $15 fee. The spot is pretty large.

SiteE25
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Melissa V., April 26, 2025
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Melissa V., April 26, 2025
Reviewed Apr. 24, 2025

Weekend Warriors (14 days)

It is beautiful. Plenty of sites with electric hook-ups, tent sites, nice bathrooms (showers are coin operated & out of order), 1 water spout.

With amenities comes weekend warriors. Groups of teens and 20 something who party. Loud after 11pm. It was Easter weekend, and sites were left semi trashed.

For the most part, it's a great place. Water views. Locals are sweet. The little store, the cashier woman, was kind and a fresh breath of fresh air. The prices aren't bad either.

We tent camp in a massive 27ft canvas. It was mostly peaceful! HAPPY CAMPING!

SiteE-20
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2023

Busy But Nice

I think this campground experience varies significantly based on your site. We stayed at E36, which was nice, clean, and right across from the pit toilet which was nice for our needs in a teardrop. However, it was also right next to residential housing. Everything was quiet, but it is still a far cry from secluded- and neighbor campers were very close as well. There was a level tent pad in addition to the pull-through site. Leveling the trailer was pretty straight forward.

Loved the trees, and the placement of the fire pit was ideal at our site- surrounded by pines. I can imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer.

Driving through the campsite there were some sites that overlooked the lake- I imagine the reservations for those go quickly, but I will definitely try to get one of those sites next year.

There was a bath house with a few stall toilets and running water. They also had some coin operated showers and a lovely day-use picnic area.

All-in-all an enjoyable stay, and it probably would’ve gotten 5 stars if we had a site with a view, but decent otherwise.

Of note: *Very limited cell service, but better on top of the hill by the bath house. *The road in had some pretty rutted areas that had to be avoided- and also pretty narrow- I don’t think the main road through the campsite would’ve handled 2 cars wide, and there was no signage stating it was a 1-way road.

SiteE36
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Christine S., April 25, 2023
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Christine S., April 25, 2023
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Christine S., April 25, 2023
Reviewed Sep. 2, 2021

Eagle 21

Site is serene and a bit tight. One side is trees and spacious camps, the other is the parking lot and bath house but still has a view so it doesnt bother me. Nice stone walled raised fire circle. 34 ft 5th on a slope was tight and will not pull through due to trees.

Site21
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Cory I., September 2, 2021
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Cory I., September 2, 2021
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Cory I., September 2, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 22, 2021

Maps not accurate!!! (Updated)

When I booked the site (Reservation America) it indicated a water source next to our site, but when we arrived NO WATER within 500’ of site! Super Mad. Also, the trees are not maintained to pull a 5er. I called 2x pre visit and was assured we would have no problems…😤. Scratched the heck out of our camper. The sites are also old and very sloped. It is a great location with boat ramp close, but don’t be fooled by site descriptions.

***the Larimer County Natural Resource Dept came and cleared the tree branches that were impeding our clearance and even put in road gravel for better traction to pull the trailer out. Great group of people!!!

*** Go to Larimer.org/natural resources for up to date map

SiteE15
Month of VisitJuly
  • wild turkeys
    Play button icon
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2021

Nice Place

This was our first time to Carter Lake. We really enjoyed the area. This particular campground was clean and the camp hosts were great. The campground itself is not technically on the lake but still has access to the marina. Depending on what spot you get, you may have wonderful views of the lake.

SiteE6
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Jeremy C., July 8, 2021
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Jeremy C., July 8, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 18, 2021

Pleasant Area

Camped at site E22. Close proximity to showers and bathrooms. Parked a 21 foot trailer. Surface was somewhat level. Had to raise the front a bit but wasn't that drastic. Notice-hammocks are not allowed at eagle campground. Understandable, they want to protect the pine trees.

SiteE22
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Eagle Campground at Carter Lake by Chris T., June 18, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 19, 2021

Gorgeous views and nice privacy!

We camped at E2. This is on the West side of the campground. There was only one site to the south of us and a wide plain to the West. (E1 is to the North but is Day use only.) we enjoyed beautiful views out our windows and a nice, private campsite by the fire-ring! Totally relaxing and totally private! Plenty of places to walk and there were deer and wild turkeys nearby as well. Just beautiful!

We were close enough to other campsites to the East that we could children playing and families having a good time!

We had all the power we needed - and it was peaceful and quiet.

E4 is, by far, the best site in the campground, but good luck finding it open! Still most of the sites had nice views available.

Negatives:

The pull-through site is very rough and difficult to get your trailer level. We finally just did as good as we could and called it done. Considering the extra fee that Larimer County charges you to access the campground (what’s up with THAT Larimer County) you would think that they would level the sites and Pour concrete.

The dumping sites were closed and that made for problems. They are re-doing them, which is good, but it meant we had no options for getting rid of gray or black water.

The showers were closed which was a pain. So was the store. It just limited our options a bit but it was still annoying.

We had a great time and we will be going back! It’s open all year!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Eagle Campground at Carter Lake have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Eagle Campground at Carter Lake has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

What is the max vehicle length at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake?

Eagle Campground at Carter Lake allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

Are fires allowed at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Eagle Campground at Carter Lake have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Eagle Campground at Carter Lake does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is fair, and T-Mobile is good.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake?

There are 47 campsites at Eagle Campground at Carter Lake and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts