Cherry Creek State Park Campground provides glamping near Aurora, Colorado, with spacious sites for both tents and RVs. The park regularly reaches capacity during peak season, requiring early arrival for day use. The campground features clean, level concrete pads with full hookups, particularly appealing to those seeking upscale glamping accommodations within city limits.
What to do
Water recreation at Cherry Creek: The park offers a swim beach with a brand new facility, making it ideal for glamping visitors seeking aquatic activities. Kay S. notes, "Nice Swim Beach with brand new Bldg. Many covered Picnic sites, but again, you MUST arrive at the break of day to secure one."
Mountain biking at Standley Lake Regional Park: The regional park provides extensive trail systems suitable for cyclists of various skill levels. According to Jenny P., "Chatfield is such a great park; I've spent so much time biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, spending time with family."
Archery practice at Bear Creek Lake Campground: The park features an archery range alongside other amenities. Joshua H. shares, "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding."
What campers like
Proximity to urban amenities: Many glamping spots near Aurora provide wilderness experiences without sacrificing access to city conveniences. Stephanie S. remarked about Cherry Creek State Park, "We stayed here for one night before heading out on the road. This place is huge and has many amenities. It's very well maintained."
Wildlife viewing at Golden Gate Canyon State Park: The park offers opportunities to observe native wildlife in natural settings. Hayley K. advises, "Get up early and drive mountain base road...we caught a great view of a moose. Panorama Point had a breath taking view."
Spacious campsites: Campers frequently mention the ample room between sites at many glamping locations. At Reverend's Ridge Campground, Dennis G. found, "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most glamping facilities near Aurora require advance booking, especially during peak periods. At Cherry Creek State Park, Kay S. advises, "Campground is usually fully booked all season. Reservations can be made six months out. Two week limit."
Environmental considerations: Visitors should prepare to practice leave-no-trace principles. Kay S. notes at Cherry Creek State Park: "Please plan to pack your trash out. Seems to be a severe shortage of dumpsters or trash cans and people leave behind huge bags of trash - or, sadly, just trash strewn around."
Fee structure awareness: Many glamping sites charge additional fees beyond base camping rates. Sarah S. explains about Chatfield State Park Campground: "There is no 'tent only' sites. The minimum has electric ($26). There are 3 different areas - each has multiple bathhouses, which have coin-laundry available. Showers are coin-operated as well."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Many glamping locations offer specialized programming for children. Jennifer L. says about Indian Paintbrush Campground, "Super close to Denver and offered through the City of Lakewood. There's a few playgrounds within the campground and park area, with access to trails to the lake, a boat launch and boat rental, equestrian stables, and archery."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have varying noise levels that might affect families with young children. At Cherry Creek State Park, Meg G. observes, "I didn't love the campground feel... I felt like I was very close to other campers."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather can change rapidly, so families should pack accordingly. At Reverend's Ridge Campground, Diana M. suggests, "Get up early and drive mountain base road...Panorama Point had a breath taking view."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some glamping sites have uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. Dennis G. reports about Reverend's Ridge Campground, "Mostly level, fire rings, and very large metal picnic tables. Enormous amount of room."
Hookup availability: RVers seeking glamping experiences should verify utility connections before booking. Vicky G. notes about Bear Creek Lake Campground, "Nice big sites, open space without a lot of trees, beautiful views, clean restrooms, showers (pay for) water fill stations, dump station, several restrooms."
Traffic management: Several glamping locations experience congestion during peak periods. Kay S. advises about Cherry Creek State Park, "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."
