185 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Unlike most Front Range cities, Aurora has direct highway access to both the plains and the mountain corridors, which makes it a reasonable staging point for campers heading into Pike National Forest or the dispersed zones further west. Developed campgrounds within Aurora's boundaries are limited, but the metro's location means most camping runs from an hour to 90 minutes out. Where to find dispersed sites near Aurora covers the no-fee public land options that Aurora-based campers use most.
For campers who want developed sites with hookups, RV hookups near Aurora covers the full hookup properties accessible from the eastern metro. The Dyrt check-ins from Aurora skew heavily toward summer, with most campers making day-trip or one-night runs to the foothills rather than extended stays. Cell service holds until you clear the first range of foothills west of town.
"Easy access to the sand beach on Cherry Creek reservoir, plenty of hiking and biking trails, and close proximity to Aurora, Centennial, and the greater Denver metro area."
"I only gave it 4 stars because on the outskirts of the state park we have a lot of homeless camps popping up oblong Parker road and 225."
from $28 - $432 / night
Check Availability"Chatfield State Park is a great mixture of access to the outdoors with availability of many of the benefits of a metro area close by."
"This is the first time I’ve found a state park so close to a major metro area!! Because of its proximity to Denver, Chatfield fills up quickly, so book well in advance."
from $36 - $200 / night
Check Availability"Lots of good food nearby."
"Must have access to military bases. The service Personnel were very helpful and courteous. The Base was exceptionally clean (was an Air force Base becoming a Space Force Base)."
"We stayed three nights; the location is great for military families, retirees, etc. It provided a clean, safe place to stay with plenty of room between campsites."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"This was our first time staying at Bear Creek Lake. The park is not part of the Colorado Wilds or CPW State Park system, but daily vehicle fees are included with your camping reservation."
"Note: If the GPS takes you to a dirt road with a closed gate at the end, get back on the highway and take the next exit to the park entrance."
"The camp ground is close to interstate 70 and cars were driving past every second non stop and super loud. Everything then that the camp is fine"
"It’s close to the interstate, but just fine for one night."
"This park is kind of pricey even in the winter (we stayed Nov22-Jan23) but it’s Colorado and it’s all pretty pricey. Park staff is super friendly and accommodating."
"Good site if you want to be close to Denver but still have a short drive to the foothills."
"Had a great spot right next to the Clear Creek walking path. The campground is clean and well looked after. Clean bathrooms and showers. Close to many hikes and mt trails."
"**Campground Review: ** Golden, CO is a super cute town on the outskirts of Denver. The city has a campground in a prime location, and we were lucky to book a site!"
from $68 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Good location close to interstate to access all the cool towns and site seeing west of Denver."
"When I walked in the office, I was greeted by 5 wonderful sweet dogs. I love dogs so there couldn't have been a better greeting. Kathy was very friendly and helpful."
LegendLots of separate loops with spacious sites and space between neighbors. Bathhouse/Laundry are in great shape and kept very clean. Note that showers cost $1.50 for 5 minutes and only take credit cards (but not Amex).
We only stayed one night but wished we had more time to explore all the trails. Plus there's the lake. We can see what this park is so popular.
ScoutRecommend traction control and AWD. Saw plenty of sedans wth 2 wheel being able to handle a good majority of this fire service road 322. It was filled by Saturday ~4pm, spent some time driving around. Wide roads to turn around if you need. No amenities. Lots of fellow car campers nearby, well cared for/maintained
ScoutWe could only get to campsite 6 in our manual Subaru Crosstrek. The road did not allow us to make it past with how deep the holes were in the road. Our car became unbalanced in our third attempt to get up- whole driver side was in the air. But we still found a good spot. Just wish we were able to see the other 30 sites.
RangerYou have to travel for several miles to find the disperse sites after you hit dirt road, but it's worth a trip. The first few miles are very rough and bumpy, but our 24 foot Sprinter made it fine. After a few miles the road becomes better to navigate.
RangerCloser to interstate 25 on the west side, so there's done road noise. We were at the far east side and looked out at plenty of homes. The east side no wireless supplied by the park. Issue the park is nice. Plenty of trees and facilities
Scout4-5 sites out of 12 have creek side camping spots. Our toddler loved to find worms and dip her feet in for hours on end. It’s been shaded, clean, and at the base of the tanglewood trail to take up to Mt. Rosalie.
TravelerNavigated to the coordinates and found a private driveway, gated. Drive a bit but didn’t find any camp sites near by. Ended up at the campground down the street.
TravelerLoved this site so much. I ended up driving way back on the FR until it began to go up hill and branch off to the right. There were a couple sites to the right, but the road was pretty washed out.
Made it to my site in a Crosstrek no problem. Plenty of sites along the way. Pretty quiet. Mix of RVs, camper vans, car campers, and tents. Stayed 4 nights and loved the site and close proximity to Boulder. Will be back.
GuideThere are a ton of different spots, I think 35 so it’s nice there are a lot of options. Lots of cool spots near rocks that are great to climb. Some with better views than others. Most of the spots are pretty good. Close to the road but not terrible, decently spaced from other spots, close to wellington lake and many trails which is nice, a lot of people were out camping and biking and fishing at the lake, no creeks or water near really any campsite but plenty of river parking farther past all the dispersed spots. All the spots were taken but we got lucky and grabbed a spot from a couple we found leaving.
Aurora, Colorado sits at an elevation of 5,471 feet with proximity to both prairie landscapes and mountain foothills. Camping sites near Aurora provide varied terrain options with nighttime temperatures that can drop 30-40 degrees from daytime highs even in summer. Sites at Cherry Creek State Park fill completely during summer weekends, often requiring reservations months in advance.
Water activities at Cherry Creek: Reserve beach access at Cherry Creek State Park Campground where many visitors enjoy the reservoir. "Nice Swim Beach with brand new Bldg. Many covered Picnic sites, but again, you MUST arrive at the break of day to secure one," notes Kay S.
Biking on paved paths: Try Chatfield's trail system which connects to a larger network. "This is one of our favorite spots to stay when visiting Denver area. Great for biking and all kinds of water sports. Laundry facility on each loop sites are spread out giving plenty of room between sites," according to Rick at Chatfield State Park Campground.
Archery and horseback riding: Visit Bear Creek Lake Park for diverse activities beyond typical camping. "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding," reports Joshua H.
Urban convenience with outdoor access: Clear Creek RV Park offers an unusual combination of city and nature. "There is so much to do at this location; aside from the sectioned off RV area, there are lots of paths and locals parks to adventure around. Tubing & swimming in the creek is wonderful especially in summertime," writes Dea D.
Showers and laundry: Find clean facilities at Denver East-Strasburg KOA. "The laundry, bathroom and showers were clean with nice hot water. They have pizza delivery to your site-- which on a day that was 36 degrees with icy rain, was a welcome treat!" shares Paula O.
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round unlike mountain sites. "It is a no thrills, Quiet, peaceful, full hook-ups kind of park. Little expensive but one cost covers everything. Plus it is an all season park," notes Mark S. about Denver Meadows RV Park.
Noise levels vary significantly: Highway noise affects some sites more than others. "While this campground is minutes from the city and seconds from a highway, at night you feel like you are in a quiet, mountain campsite with stars to gaze for days," according to Kandisa S. at Indian Paintbrush Campground.
Goat heads and thorns: Check your shoes, pet paws and bike tires at certain locations. "Beware of the goat heads! They're everywhere. I got one in my foot, my son got one in his bike tire, and we had a flat on the camper due to one. When I say they are thick, they are THICK," warns Jennie P.
Reservation timing matters: Popular sites fill months in advance, especially for summer weekends. "Chatfield is popular for fishing and boating. So many people come out for the weekend so they can get up early with the fish."
Park congestion awareness: Plan early arrivals for popular recreation areas. "If you want to get into the Park, suggest you go EARLY, EARLY, EARLY in the day. Traffic backs up all the way from the Entrance on Parker Rd to the Entrance Booth on weekends and holidays. Plan on an hour OR MORE to just get to the booth," advises Kay S. at Cherry Creek State Park Campground.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play structures for children. "This campground was tiny and a little cramped but was very clean and had running showers that was a plus. It was surrounded by trees but they were small which didn't help block the wind. We would stay here again because the staff was very friendly and they had a nice little store and playground," notes Pam B.
Site spacing considerations: Some family-friendly sites provide more separation. "It's a beautiful park just wasn't expecting a lot of people to be here. Also wish the camp spots was further from another spot," mentions Lamarcus S.
Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for certain sites. "The A3 site chosen is gravel with a hole or two and significantly tilted low to the front left....requiring a 4 high stack," reports David M. at Dakota Ridge RV Park.
Extended stay options: Some parks accommodate longer-term visitors. "Sites 8 & 9 are extremely unlevel, but the other sites are pretty fine," notes Janine R., who stayed at Clear Creek RV Park for a month and a half.
Sewer connection positioning: Be prepared for different hookup layouts. "The sewer is 6 inches above grade and slinky support wasn't tall enough. You might be lifting your hose to assist emptying," cautions Love4travel T.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Aurora, Colorado?
Aurora offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Cherry Creek State Park Campground stands out as the premier option closest to Aurora, featuring full hookup sites that can accommodate large RVs, hot showers, and flush toilets. For those willing to drive a bit further, Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area offers a more rustic experience with numbered sites and many additional unnumbered campsites with scenic views. These campgrounds provide a mix of developed and natural experiences, making them perfect for different camping preferences while staying relatively close to Aurora's amenities.
Can I find lake camping near Aurora, Colorado?
Yes, several beautiful lake camping options exist near Aurora. Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake offers beautiful lakeside camping just outside of Denver with bathroom facilities and a visitor center where you can purchase firewood. Another excellent option is Echo Lake Campground, situated next to its namesake lake off Squaw Pass Road. For those willing to drive a bit further, Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir provides secluded sites with access to the reservoir, creating a private feel even with other campers nearby.
Are there any RV parks or camping options in Aurora, Colorado?
Aurora and its surroundings offer several quality RV parks. Denver East-Strasburg KOA is conveniently located right off I-70, making it ideal for overnight stays, though expect some highway noise. Sites are clean though somewhat compact. For a more premium experience, Dakota Ridge RV Park provides friendly staff, on-site propane (great for winter stays), and connecting trails for dog walking, though it is pricier. If you're looking for something more family-oriented, Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur offers easy highway access while being close to attractions in both Denver and Colorado Springs.
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