RV camping near Bellvue, Colorado offers varied options within a region of significant elevation changes that ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Mountain campgrounds require careful navigation on winding roads while valley locations provide easier access for larger rigs. The Big Thompson River runs alongside several camping facilities, creating popular waterfront sites that typically book well in advance during the May to October peak season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Paradise on the River sits directly beside the Big Thompson River with sites featuring decks overlooking the water. "The campground sits right on the river and is tucked away from the road. With only a couple dozen sites, it feels far more intimate than any of the neighboring parks," noted one visitor about this Paradise on the River.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer excellent wildlife spotting without leaving your site. "Nearly every day a deer would come munch on the greenery right behind our rig. The staff were super friendly and I believe we received good value for our payment considering the prices and sold-out state of other nearby parks," wrote one camper about Riverview RV Park & Campground.
Access to Rocky Mountain National Park: Most campgrounds in the area serve as convenient base camps for exploring RMNP. "Manor RV Park is only 2 miles from RMNP, Beaver Meadows entrance. Our site #62 was a back-in so the big windshield of our Class A had an amazing view of mountains," according to one RVer's experience.
What campers like
Riverside ambiance: The sound of rushing water creates a peaceful backdrop at riverfront locations. "I enjoyed this campground because it is quiet and you can have the rushing river behind you. It is close enough to the city of Loveland where you can access stores," explains a Riverview RV Park camper.
Convenient locations: Proximity to both natural areas and town amenities rates highly among visitors. "Horsetooth RV park is on Inlet Bay side of Horsetooth Reservoir, right up the road from the marina. Lots of accessibility to easy going paddle boarding/kayaking," shared one visitor at Horsetooth Inn & RV Park.
Pet-friendly policies: Most parks welcome pets with designated areas for exercise. "We spent 4 days in a spot right next to the river. Really enjoyed the river, dog park, live music on Saturday night and laundry," noted a Riverview visitor about their experience with pets.
What you should know
Site spacing concerns: Many campgrounds maximize capacity with tight spacing between sites. "Sites are very close together and a bit noisy. We did not have any shade at any time of the day making our site very hot," mentioned a reviewer about sites at Elk Meadows Lodge & RV Resort.
Weather variations: Mountain locations experience significant temperature swings and occasional strong winds. "It can be suddenly and very windy here, so most campers did not use awnings," observed one Elk Meadows camper about local conditions.
Reservation requirements: Peak season (May-October) demands advance planning, often 6-12 months ahead. "This RV park is great. We were apprehensive staying here because it exceeded our budget (by a lot). But once we pulled in, we knew it was worth the money," noted a Paradise on the River visitor about securing their spot.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas for children. "We enjoyed seeing the kids playing in the playground and riding around the park on their bikes," shared a visitor at Riverview RV Park & Campground.
Swimming options: Water activities provide relief during summer heat. "The pool is decently sized and the hot tub is fairly new. Mini golf is fun (clubs and balls are borrowed from the office) but is a little run down," noted a visitor about recreational options at Spruce Lake RV Park.
Family-friendly activities: Organized events create social opportunities. "They had an ice cream social one day it was good. We had Elk & deer in the campground which is nice to see," mentioned a camper about their experience at Spruce Lake, highlighting extras that engage younger campers.
Tips from RVers
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between locations. "Free WiFi is worse than dialup, and was told it wasn't worth paying for the premium because it wasn't much better," warned a camper at Riverview about connectivity challenges.
Utility placement issues: Some sites have awkwardly positioned hookups. "The site we stayed at had the sewer dump farther back than we are used to, but not a major problem just had to use our longer hose," advised an RVer at Manor RV Park.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some facilities. "Site not level," reported one Manor RV Park visitor, suggesting bringing extra leveling blocks to the area's parks.
