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.
$28 - $432 / night
"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."
$36 - $200 / night
"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."
$40 / night
"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."
"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."
$68 - $85 / night
"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!"
"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."
TravelerA large number of established roadside dispersed camping spots to choose from. All spots have metal fire rings, so campfires are allowed even with Stage 1 fire restrictions in place. Great access to trails for hiking or mountain biking. Arrived Thursday afternoon and there were still plenty of spots to choose from.
TravelerVehicle: KIA Soul (FWD- slightly more clearance than a standard sedan, but not as high up as a full size SUV) Campsite type: TENT ONLY, not even mini trailer friendly! . Beautiful views on the way back down from camp, somewhat secluded- quiet. There are residences along the way up, on neighboring roads, AND there's a commercial camp of somekind nearby. Verizon service is largely non existent. You might get lucky and catch one bar. Might
ROAD: Dirt, but not "off road trail"- again people live off of this road so its somewhat maintained. BEWARE OF RAIN WASHOUT AREAS, DIPS, AND WASHBOARD. Do NOT try to take some low riding car like a Tesla up this. Heck, dont even take a cybertruck (too big and clunky to fit in tight spaces). Signs say NO OFFROAD VEHICLES, meaning this is a road road, not a backwoods trail. You'll pass an old (but functioning) fire station on the way up, the pinned location on this post is where camp sites are. It doesnt "look like it" so you might get confused and keep going. If you do, you end up in a turnaround area out by that "Camp Always Choose Adventure" place that shows up on the gps map, a field, more housing, and a road that goes off to somewhere else in the mountains. Theres lots of roads out here so make sure you dont turn off the gulch road once youre on it. Without a high clearance vehicle, youre going to go about 15mph tops due to the washboard and dips once you get up higher. The first half is pretty smooth. If its rainy/muddy, I wouldnt chance it without a 4WD or AWD. Drive safely/carefully- ROAD DOES NARROW IN SOME PLACES/AROUND SOME CORNERS. Do not drive like Denver drivers in town. You'll either hit someone going the opposite way or force them over the edge and off the mountain side. I had a couple of 4WD vehicles come racing around corners. Be kind. Be smart. Respect that this is not a normal road and just BEHAVE.
SITES: There are rock stacked fire rings and some cleared space among the trees around them. Thats it. Woods camping. Nothing is marked, so I couldnt tell if there were others than the few where I stayed. There are signs up saying private property around the camp sites, but theyre not blocked off and are supposed to be on Forestry Service land 🤷♂️ Nobody came out to say anything. During the day some people take their 4WD vehicles out on the other roads and you might run into them leaving when youre going up the gulch road. At night its dead silent. Some people do take dirtbikes thru the area to get out to their trails, but they didnt stay in the area running laps or anything like that.
PETS: If you bring them, I wouldnt let them run off leash. There is hunting land further down the road, that Camp Always Choose Adventure place, lots of houses, and lots of roads that ARE well used. Its not safe for dogs etc to run free any more than on a neighborhood block in town. Besides, if other campers set up, you dont want your pets running over to strangers. Long tie out ropes/cables will be just fine. Wrap one end around the base of a tree and now your pet goes nowhere.
WILDLIFE: Considering all of the human settlements and activity, there doesnt seem to be that big of a threat. Youre not that isolated or "remote". Idaho Springs is a short drive of about 15 min or so.
ScoutThe spots are big enough, but every time we’ve gone there it’s been full- including Sunday afternoon (today) and mid-week. I’m pretty sure quite a few people came up Sunday morning, waited for people to leave, and left their gear there for next weekend.
ScoutArea was nice but really close to a main highway.
GuideStopped for 1 night. Sites are spacious, also lots of space between sites. Facilities are well cared for, clean and updated. Not too far from the interstate. Lake nearby if you have a boat or kayak. Our stay there was some strong winds during evening hours. Our site utilities on opposing side, luckily it was pull thru and we just reversed direction. Noticed the same issue with several other sites nearby.
ScoutNobody else here! Felt safe car camping as there was a thunderstorm. Beware of cows in the road as you enter the area, they’re kind if you are! Verizon cell coverage at the site I parked at was 1-3 bars.
ScoutJust up the hill and through a neighborhood. Lots of switch backs and narrow roads. Thank God I saw the review about the another guy wanting to turn around many time trees but sticking with it, because I legit hit a section in my Rav 4 that I thought I wasn’t going to make it through. To be fair I was here at dusk and I also had a cargo hitch on, which was getting tossed around on the rocks. The RAV4 made it up but highly freaked out my dogs who are fairly tolerant of this kind of stuff.
Someone was at the campsite when I got here, and I decided to pull in a private driveway across from it because there was no way I was driving back down the narrow stretch at night. (Edit: I went back down that narrow stretch later that night - it was easier on the way down)
There’s cell service with Verizon so at least I could call someone to talk me down after the not so fun adrenaline rush.
RangerWe spent 2 nights here on spot 9 which does not have a post at the moment. There were no envelopes for the sites when we arrived but we made it work. This spot fades the river and is flat. It looked like a few of the spots would be an issue with a bigger tent. You have to walk into the sites a bit but not super far.
ScoutAll the directions posted for this location are wrong as of this writing (even from CPW) and most of our group got lost trying to get here this last weekend. The actual location of the Works Ranch Group Campsite is:
307 Damascus Rd
Or for the GPS folks:
39.88139791150872,-105.45215059340553
You need to turn onto Damascus road off of Gap road, travel down about a mile and the locked gate you need to go through will be on the left. There is generally good signage from both the intersection of Mountain Base and Gap road and at the intersection of Damascus and Gap road.
Place is amazing and really secluded! Not sure how you would park 12 cars but six seemed to fit pretty well. Running water at the site is uniquely "milky" so perhaps consider bringing water from home.
Hiking wise, you are not really close to any trails but you can walk along damascus road (north) for about half a mile and hook into the raccoon trail at its low point.
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.
Keep Exploring
