Camping near Ault, Colorado spans full-hookup RV parks, tent sites with lake views, free dispersed camping, and developed grassland sites. The region includes Boyd Lake State Park's Cottonwood Campground near Loveland, offering full hookups for RVs and tent camping with lake views. Fort Collins North-Wellington KOA provides cabin accommodations approximately 15 miles northwest of Ault. Weld Road 49 offers free dispersed camping options for those seeking more primitive experiences. Crow Valley Recreation Area in the Pawnee National Grassland provides developed sites with basic amenities about 20 miles east of Ault.
Many campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during summer months when temperatures typically range from 75-90°F. "Loved this spot! Stopped on my way east through NE Colorado for the night and watched the sun set over the buttes. Absolutely lovely," noted one camper about dispersed camping in the Pawnee Buttes area. Road conditions vary significantly, with paved access to established campgrounds like Boyd Lake State Park, while dispersed camping areas often require high-clearance vehicles. Most developed campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop below freezing. Cell service is generally reliable near established campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote dispersed camping areas.
Campers consistently mention the mountain views as a highlight of staying in the region. Several visitors appreciate the proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is accessible within a 1-2 hour drive from most campgrounds near Ault. The mixed-use campgrounds provide various amenities depending on location - from basic vault toilets at Crow Valley to full hookups with showers at the KOA and Boyd Lake State Park. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with one visitor noting, "The park has nice trees in most of the loops and fishing ponds scattered around the grounds." Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with highway proximity affecting some sites at Boyd Lake, while dispersed camping areas offer more solitude. Water access is limited in the grassland areas but abundant at reservoir campgrounds, making the region suitable for diverse camping preferences.
$36 - $41 / night
"All sites have great access and close to the ponds. Variety of fish in the ponds. They allow ice fishing as long as the ice is safe."
"We enjoy Boyd Lake because it’s so easy to bike to town. A major northern Colorado bike path system goes through the park."
"It’s not your run of the mill KOA by a highway. The lake is beautiful with a walking path all of the way around and paddle boats. The pool is nice. The miniature golf is pretty with mature trees."
"Lake, boats, water cannon boats, fishing, bikes, peewee golf, jumping thing. Walking path around lake."
$25 - $90 / night
"We have camped in Colorado for over 15 years. By far the campsites with the best views! And you can rent cabins too. Just love this place. Lake gets busy In the summer."
"The sites are picked up but not manicured by any means and there is road noise due to the proximity of the roads around the region."
$20 / night
"We needed a stop on the way out of Colorado and grabbed a quick night here in a tent site. Water was off for weather but stoves made much needed coffee in the cold."
"This is a KOA journey, meaning it’s great for a stopover, and it is located next to a horse farm. If you are used to smelling farm life, then the smell won’t be a problem."
"Plenty of shops and restaurants that are within walking distance. Only negative is that we were extremely close to our neighbors. We would stay here again."
"We only stayed one night while traveling through Colorado. It was convenient and easy. The grounds were nice and clean, very pretty, they had good amenities."
$35 / night
"Sites are fairly close together strung out along the lake edge. In September, lake level is purposefully lowered about 20 feet from summer levels."
"Vault toilets with electric lights and a shower facility at each location. Located close to marina/boat ramp."
"Campground is situated along the Big Thompson River. Big cottonwood trees. Easy accessibility for big rigs. Some items … water valves leak in lakes around entire park and many are leaking."
"Right next to the river. Close to some easy MTB trails. Would definitely stay here again."
$17 - $339 / night
"When you think Colorado you think endless mountains, but a good chunk of CO is prairie and grasslands."
"Shaded spots next to a wildlife walk. Tons of birds! Campsites were clean, nice big fire pit and bbq. Lots of room to spread out. Large picnic area if you have a lot of people. Clean bathrooms."
$50 - $750 / night
"Evans was a huge change from being in the rockies, but its still near estes park and fort collins which have great offerings, and downtown greeley is good if you look around for some fun things to do!"
GuideMy Verizon doesn’t work here so starlink recommended. Campground quiet, spaced out. Signs leave something to be desired. No sewer dump at site. Gate was open and plenty of pull through spots. Sites unlevel a bit side to side with gravel ground. Love the lake.
TravelerWe had a hard time deciding what to rate this because there truly were so many pros, however the cons were fairly plentiful as well. We had a great time don’t get us wrong but… decide for yourself.
The pros: -Honestly I loved the location in relation to fellow campers. We had nobody to the south of us and our neighbors north of us were blocked by a bush. We were up the hill overlooking to the reservoir above the neighbors west of us. However to the east of us was the main road in and out of the area. So expect road noise over neighbor noise. -Shower house and flushing toilet that were clean and very well maintained. Climate control and comfortable and very well lit. However the shower token system didn’t take our bills so we couldn’t use our showers (I note a camper passing by on our first day telling us about the shower house “it’s a pain in the ass…”) -close to the dumpster and literal feet from the water. -could walk down to the water (even got picked up by some friends on a boat)… or travel north for a social trail along the water with some killer fishing areas.
The cons- while not deal breakers for us we couldn’t give this site any more stars because of them -The road noise is a lot. We were lucky to be in an RV however tent camping would be a different story. -again with tent camping although this site felt private you would be amongst only rvs and trailers.
Well that’s my review for site S46 at south bay campground of Horsetooth… attached are some videos of the site as well as a spot I was able to walk to just north of this site.
ScoutGreat location for RMNP, friendly staff, locals and free music on Saturdaysin the summer, clean restrooms. Dirt roads and sites are rough. Ground squirrel holes everywhere. No mail delivery. No wifi or other amenities.
ScoutCame here for Memorial Day weekend and it was easy to get to. Enjoyed being right in the canyon with river views. Close to a ton of trails and good fishing. And hummingbirds everywhere.
Because the campsite has electric hookups, it was very quiet as there were no generators.
GuideDecent state park campground with easy access and trailer parking and hookups. Plenty of noise from I-25 to remind you how easy it was to get to.
GuideThis is a really cool area to stay for a night or two. There’s bathrooms, not the cleanest but good enough. And dumpsters for throwing trash when you’re done. The river was a nice touch to listen to. The fee is $29 and I didn’t have cash, luckily there is a small restaurant a few miles down the road that had an ATM.
GuideFor the price, the area could be a little better. Some spots, the tables are far from the parking spot unless you pick drive through RV. But for tent and car camping, a little less ideal for the distance. For the price of the area, you think they’d have more amenities and maybe free showers? $2 for 6 minutes and you need a token but don’t have an atm anywhere. Thankfully the lady in the front entrance had cash I could exchange for quarters.
RangerDowdy is another wonderful (busy) campground at Red Feather Lakes, CO. I believe there are 62 sites total. Not all sites are open until later in the season. The area is popular with campers, and for fishing and watersports. No motorized boating. The sites near the entrance are closer together, while the last two loops are more expansive, and some are double sites.
There are no hook-ups for water or sewer and no dump station, but there is electricity. The toilets are vault toilets.
RangerWest Lake is one of three campgrounds located near Red Feather Lakes in Northern Colorado. The campground sits at the edge of a small lake that attracts fishermen and personal water sports like kayaks and paddleboards. The sites are large and most have shade. Eight sites are First Come, while the others are reservation. There are three vault toilets, garbage collection, picnic tables, and fire rings. There is also a host at this campground. Most all of the sites have a view of West Lake. A trail runs along the edge of the lake and at the far end of the lake there is a supermarket where you can purchase a good selection of supplies. Close by are three restaurants with various days of service. My visit was 5/17/2026. Yes it did snow. Site 16 & 17 are the closest to the entrance and smaller than most of the other sites.
The northeast Colorado plains surrounding Ault average 4,800 feet in elevation with summer temperatures often reaching 95°F during July and August. The region's continental climate results in dramatic temperature shifts between day and night, typically dropping 30 degrees after sunset. Dispersed camping sites near Ault, Colorado typically offer minimal or no facilities but provide wide-open spaces for those seeking solitude on the high plains.
Fishing opportunities: Boyd Lake State Park's Cottonwood Campground offers multiple fishing options. "All sites have great access and close to the ponds. Variety of fish in the ponds. They allow ice fishing as long as the ice is safe," notes Frank O. in his review of the Cottonwood Campground.
Prairie bird watching: The grasslands east of Ault provide habitat for numerous bird species. "Nice quiet campground. Really nice host. Shaded spots next to a wildlife walk. Tons of birds! Campsites were clean, nice big fire pit and bbq," shares Megan M. about the Crow Valley Campground.
River activities: Camping along the Big Thompson River provides water recreation options 35 minutes from Ault. "My husband enjoyed the catch & release fishing. Fishing was good according to him. I liked the hiking trail around the pond," reports Cynthia K. about her stay at Fort Collins North/Wellington KOA.
Lake recreation: Horsetooth Reservoir accommodates various water sports. "The lake was great for paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking," writes Deanne B. about her experience at South Bay Campground.
Riverside camping atmosphere: Many campers value sites adjacent to flowing water. "We spent 4 days in a spot right next to the river. Close to Rocky Mountain National Park. Really enjoyed the river, dog park, live music on sat. night and laundry," reports Tyler D. from his stay at Riverview RV Park.
Proximity to urban amenities: Campgrounds near Ault provide access to nearby cities. "Clean, well-kept campground with full outdoor kitchen, pool and play areas. The staff were extremely kind. One of the best KOA's we have stayed at," reports Megan E. about Fort Collins North-Wellington KOA.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained campground infrastructure matters to visitors. "The bathroom facilities are spectacular. Super clean, flushable toilets. Spaces are very close in proximity but everyone was very friendly," notes Nathan P. about his stay at Cottonwood Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report animal sightings during their stays. "Nearly every day a deer would come munch on the greenery right behind our rig," shares Glen C. about his experience at Riverview RV Park.
Livestock odors: Several campgrounds sit near agricultural operations. "We were extremely happy to find a site on Labor Day wkend with full hookups. The workers are very helpful. But NO fault of KOA campground but there is a very large feedlot just down the road & if wind is in the wrong direction you will have odor & flies," advises Steve G. about Fort Collins North-Wellington KOA.
Reservation requirements: Many campsites near Ault require advance booking. "Great location, was able to reserve a spot the day we needed it with no issues. The park was nice and clean," notes Stephanie W. about Cottonwood Campground.
Road noise: Highway proximity affects some camping areas. "January of 2019 the park, like many in the state moved to a reservation only system. I was unaware of this when pulling up to the park, so though they had open sites I could not reserve them without using the booking system," explains Crystal C. about her experience at Cottonwood Campground.
Seasonal closures: Some dispersed camping areas have limited access periods. "Site is $11.25/night. No water or service hookups. There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site. Bathrooms are plenty close to all sites," reports David H. about Crow Valley.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Great family campground near the water and a nice walking/biking path to the beach. Perfect for families," recommends Jacque U. about her experience at Cottonwood Campground.
Kid-friendly water features: Seek out campgrounds with safe water access for children. "We took our maiden voyage here (just in case things went sour) had a great time. Friendly neighborhood of easy to pull through camp sites. Great facilities, close enough to town for a quick adventures and a nice playground for the kids," shares Cody J. about his stay at Cottonwood Campground.
Educational opportunities: The grasslands provide learning experiences. "The park has a ton of activities for families to do on site. A nice store and everything you need right there. A great place to hang out," explains Laura K. about her visit to Fort Collins Lakeside KOA.
Entertainment options: Some campgrounds provide organized activities. "This KOA is like summer camp for the whole family. The lake is beautiful with a walking path all of the way around and paddle boats. The pool is nice. The miniature golf is pretty with mature trees," reports Colorado C. about Fort Collins Lakeside KOA.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary in proximity to neighbors. "All sites have great access and close to the ponds. Variety of fish in the ponds. They allow ice fishing as long as the ice is safe. Some traffic noise if you are on the east side of the park due to proximity to I 25," advises Frank O. about Cottonwood Campground.
Tree clearance issues: Low branches can damage taller vehicles. "Careful with large RV as some of the tree branches are very low," warns David H. about Crow Valley.
Utility accessibility: Water access points vary between campgrounds. "Electric hookups worked, but no water at the site, and 'public water' in the area was a broken water fountain. We filled up at the dump station," explains Timothy N. about his experience at Inlet Bay Campground.
Long-term options: Extended stays available at select locations. "Evans was a huge change from being in the rockies, but its still near estes park and fort collins which have great offerings, and downtown greeley is good if you look around for some fun things to do! Great sites with lots of amenities and friendly hosts," shares Reames C. about his experience at Evans RV Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ault, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ault, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 150 campgrounds and RV parks near Ault, CO and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Ault, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ault, CO is Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 48 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ault, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Ault, CO.
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