Best Campgrounds near Berthoud, CO

Berthoud, Colorado provides access to diverse camping environments ranging from developed state parks to dispersed sites in nearby national forests. Established campgrounds like Boyd Lake State Park's Cottonwood Campground and St. Vrain State Park offer year-round camping with amenities including electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites. Several campgrounds in the area feature both tent and RV accommodations, with South Shore Campground at Carter Lake and Riverview RV Park providing cabin options for those seeking more comfort. The proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest creates opportunities for both front-country and backcountry experiences within a short drive.

Road conditions and access requirements vary significantly across the region's campgrounds and dispersed areas. Many developed campgrounds near Berthoud remain open year-round, though seasonal considerations affect water availability and facility operations during winter months. Dispersed camping in nearby national forest areas typically requires high-clearance vehicles, with some routes presenting challenging terrain. Reservations are strongly recommended for established campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity quickly. Elevation changes influence weather patterns, with afternoon thunderstorms common during summer months and cooler temperatures at higher elevations. A camper noted, "Location good for Rocky Mountain National Park & brewery nirvana: Longmont, Berthoud, Loveland, & Ft Collins."

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the region, with several highly-rated sites offering lake or reservoir access. Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir campgrounds provide water recreation opportunities alongside camping, with reviews highlighting the scenic mountain backdrops. Mixed-use campgrounds accommodate various camping styles, from tent sites to full RV hookups, making the area suitable for different preferences and equipment. Reviews indicate that sites with mountain views and water access tend to fill quickly during peak season. Dispersed camping areas in the surrounding national forests offer more solitude but fewer amenities. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers particularly value the combination of mountain scenery and water access found at several campgrounds in the region, with one visitor describing South Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir as having "the best view" after camping in Colorado for over 15 years.

Best Camping Sites Near Berthoud, Colorado (322)

    1. Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park

    45 Reviews
    Loveland, CO
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 669-1739

    $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."

    "Boyd Lake State Park is situated near the city of Fort Collins with distant views of the mountains. It has a large lake that is used by boaters, fishermen and sandcastle builders all summer."

    2. St. Vrain State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Firestone, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 678-9402

    $36 - $41 / night

    "Very convenient campground with great access to North Denver/Boulder area. Only downside is proximity to I-25 and traffic noise. But there are many nice trails and lakes to fish from."

    "It is near I-25 highway so there is road traffic noise but becomes background noise after a day or so. But if that bothers you you won’t like it."

    3. Riverview RV Park & Campground

    19 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 667-9910

    "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."

    4. Boulder County Fairgrounds

    20 Reviews
    Longmont, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 682-6762

    $35 / night

    "Arrived in Colorado little after midnight, got a spot right away plenty of availability and close enough to some good hiking areas"

    "We couldn’t find anything near family in Highlands Ranch in July, but ran across this place- Tight spots for our 38 ft fifth wheel but, we made it."

    5. Pinewood Reservoir Campground

    16 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 / night

    "This was our second visit to Pinewood Lake and while some things stayed the same others were much the same.  Our first visit last fall was during the final stages of a blizzard. "

    "Even with the snow and us being novices we set up without a hitch and were soon enjoying the magical panorama of the lake below us and the hills and mountain tops around us."

    6. South Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    19 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 - $45 / 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."

    7. South Shore Campground at Carter Lake

    10 Reviews
    Lyons, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 / night

    "Location good for rocky mountain national park & brewery nirvana: Longmont, berthoud, loveland, & ft Collins. $$$36/nite+$9/day entry. Electric only, vault toilets."

    "Tucked away at the South Marina. You're close to paddle boarding, kayaking, or swimming. Wildlife walks thru usually daily, shaded spots go quickly!!"

    8. Loveland RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Loveland, CO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 667-1204

    "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."

    9. Flatiron Reservoir Campground

    11 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 - $50 / night

    "Ranger Review: Humangear at Flatiron Reservoir Campground Campground Review:

    Flatiron Reservoir Campground is located just outside the city of Loveland, Colorado."

    "Great lakeside spots. A little close together, bu everyone was friendly. 5 minutes to Huge Carter lake, Marina, general store"

    10. Eagle Campground at Carter Lake

    9 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 / night

    "However, it was also right next to residential housing. Everything was quiet, but it is still a far cry from secluded- and neighbor campers were very close as well."

    "This was our first time to Carter Lake. We really enjoyed the area. This particular campground was clean and the camp hosts were great."

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Recent Reviews near Berthoud, CO

2313 Reviews of 322 Berthoud Campgrounds


  • Ken B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are spacious and far enough apart. Not much for views but the place was clean and the staff very welcoming. Close to the park and t-shirt shopping in Estes Park.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Cherry Creek State Park Campground

    Good spot close to city

    Nice park with lots of things to do here. Bathrooms and showers are nice and kept clean every morning. Laundry wash $1.50 to $2.00 and dry for $1.50! Cell Verizon and att decent with up to 20Mb download Spots are level (101) Water to fill a jug but some spots have full hookups. Free dump station. You can hear the freeway and road traffic but it’s not terrible. Over nice park.

  • A
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Manor RV Park

    Location Excellent - Campground and showers OK

    The campground is extremely conveniently located and in a pretty area. The campground itself is just ok. Super close together spaces and zero privacy at sites. Nice concrete pads to park beside to help with mud and tracking so that was nice. Each site has its own picnic table. The shower house was centrally located within the grounds. The women's side entrance wasn't very well lit at night. There are no private changing areas in the shower house, except the handicap stall, which I am not a fan of. Water wasn't very hot even on straight hot.

    Men's side was even less private my husband said.

  • leah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    The Lost Site - Dispersed Campsite

    The lost site

    Beautiful quiet spot. Large sites with pull thru. Easy turn around. No facilites and cold in October

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney

    Great hiking and biking trails

    The park was okay if you are looking for something overnight. And very expensive and very crowded and no room between rigs. Looks like fulltime living in some spaces. It does have laundry service. And it has a great park just beside it. And there are beautiful hiking and biking trails right next to the facility. And it is very dog friendly.

  • Vinny D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot

    Great spot, quiet

    Good spot, this is my second time staying here. You have to drive through a neighborhood to get to the serving road. Follow the directions on Google and you’ll be fine. The best spots are a little further back. The road will come to a Y go left. Once you go left down be hill you’ll go back up a hill and go around the curve to the right. There’s a creek on the left and great spots.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    South Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    Eh… it’s ok

    For what you’re paying for it could be better. Vault bathrooms are not clean and smell awful. Look I know they smell and are dirty but people do your part to close the lid and clean up afterwards. Showers are good but you have to pay $2 per shower Dump is $15 too! Good cycling around here Cell service is ok. Sometimes drops. Verizon and att People working here are very friendly and helpful. Leave it better than you found it.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    ESTES PARK / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK KOA HOLIDAY

    Great Views

    This is a really nice KOA. It doesn't seem like there are any bad sites, but there are a few premium sites that would totally be worth the extra money if you are here a few days and spending evenings at camp. Amazing views from a private deck. We were next to these, and still had great views and a nice fire pit and table area.

  • Rachel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    N Boulder Creek Dispersed Camping

    2x winner

    Have now camped here twice, in June & late September, both on Friday nights, and it has been perfect. Loads of well spaced spots, secluded, gorgeous views.


Guide to Berthoud

Berthoud, Colorado camping experiences range from 4,600 to 5,400 feet in elevation, creating varied camping conditions within a compact area. Most campgrounds near Berthoud remain open year-round, though water systems shut down during winter months when nighttime temperatures frequently drop below freezing. Sites with lake or reservoir views typically require reservations 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends.

What to do

**Fishing opportunities: Pinewood Reservoir Campground offers a more secluded fishing experience than the larger lakes in the area. "The reservoir is pretty and visible from most sites, and the facilities are well maintained," notes one camper, while another mentions "There are 16 RV sites and 9 walk-in tent sites. Non-motorized small boats allowed and there is an easy hiking trail around the lake."

**Wildlife watching: Flatiron Reservoir Campground provides habitat for various wildlife. "Heard many different wild animal noise at night in the distance, saw elk, and eagles. They do allow fishing but no swimming," reports one visitor. Another camper notes, "We saw a deer, an eagle and many geese."

**Water activities: At South Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir, the elongated lake offers numerous recreation options. "Horsetooth Reservoir is a very long lake great for boating, and with some gorgeous inlets to explore," explains one visitor. Another adds, "The lake was great for paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking."

What campers like

Modern bathroom facilities: St. Vrain State Park Campground offers clean facilities. "Very clean, well kept sites. Stayed on the sandpiper loop which was close to potable water source as well as electric hookup for RVs," writes one camper. Another notes the "Clean bathrooms and full hook ups available."

Spacious sites: Carter Lake's South Shore Campground provides well-spaced camping areas. "Walk-to site was well spaced from other sites and had some nice shade," mentions one visitor. Another camper appreciated that their "site was 28 which was on the end which made it very big."

Water views: Many campers highlight the scenic reservoir views at many campgrounds. "Sites were well maintained and level. Good separation. Close proximity to lake and easy access," reports one camper about Eagle Campground at Carter Lake. Another visitor shares, "This site is serene and a bit tight. One side is trees and spacious camps, the other is the parking lot and bath house but still has a view so it doesn't bother me."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance planning. At Boyd Lake State Park's Cottonwood Campground, "January of 2019 the park, like many in the state moved to a reservation only system." Another camper notes, "Great location, was able to reserve a spot the day we needed it with no issues."

Weather considerations: Summer brings afternoon storms while winter camping requires preparation. At Pinewood Reservoir, one camper reported, "My wife and I took our inaugural trip in our small camper to Pinewood Reservoir last weekend during the front range's first snowfall for 2019...Even with the snow and us being novices we set up without a hitch."

Road noise varies: Some campgrounds experience significant traffic sounds. At St. Vrain State Park, a camper warns, "I-25. The interstate is so close as I type this I can hear in my travel trailer every truck, motorcycle, and car." Boulder County Fairgrounds campers report a different experience: "Well kept area to park with access to electricity. You are only allowed to stay 14 days in a calendar year, so not a long term place."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for children. At Riverview RV Park & Campground, "Huge park with playground for kids. Most are tree covered sites and not packed in." Another visitor notes, "We enjoyed seeing the kids playing in the playground and riding around the park on their bikes."

Swimming locations: While not all reservoirs allow swimming, several provide designated areas. At Boyd Lake, one camper notes the campground has a "nice walking/biking path to the beach. Perfect for families." Another visitor mentioned the campground is a "Great spot for families to camp, swim and fish."

Wildlife encounters: Many families enjoy animal sightings during their stay. At Riverview RV Park, "Nearly every day a deer would come munch on the greenery right behind our rig." At Carter Lake, a camper reports, "Wildlife walks thru usually daily, shaded spots go quickly!!"

Tips from RVers

Electrical hookups: Most campgrounds offer electrical connections but may have limited water hookups. At Flatiron Reservoir, a camper warns, "This is not a full hookup site. You're paying over $50 per night (after the additional $10 vehicle charge) for electricity only, with the nearest dump station 7 miles away."

Leveling challenges: Many sites require adjustments for RVs. "The pull-through site is very rough and difficult to get your trailer level. We finally just did as good as we could and called it done," notes one camper at Eagle Campground. Another visitor at Loveland RV Resort reports, "Premium sites are much larger with additional width for more space btw sites."

Seasonal considerations: Water systems shut down during colder months at many campgrounds. At Boulder County Fairgrounds, "We stayed in Nov so water and bathrooms were closed. But it's a safe place to hook up to electricity so we enjoyed it." The same campground has stay limits: "You are only allowed to stay 14 days in a calendar year, so not a long term place."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best camping spots in Berthoud, Colorado?

The Berthoud area offers excellent camping options within a short drive. South Shore Campground at Carter Lake provides some of the best views in Colorado with electric hookups and vault toilets. It's conveniently located for accessing Rocky Mountain National Park. For a more rugged experience, Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area features both numbered sites and more secluded unnumbered spots further down Forest Road 233.1, some offering spectacular views. The area around Horsetooth Reservoir and Flatiron Reservoir also provides scenic camping within easy reach of Berthoud.

What family-friendly campgrounds are near Berthoud?

Winding River Resort is a fantastic family destination with numerous kid-friendly activities and direct access to the Colorado River headwaters, perfect for fishing adventures. Similarly, Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park offers a great introduction to camping for families with children, featuring stunning views and accessible hiking trails like Deer Mountain with its spectacular vistas. Both locations provide the authentic Colorado outdoor experience while maintaining amenities that make family camping comfortable and enjoyable.

What camping is available near Berthoud, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Berthoud, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 322 campgrounds and RV parks near Berthoud, CO and 101 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Berthoud, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Berthoud, CO is Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 45 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Berthoud, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 101 free dispersed camping spots near Berthoud, CO.

What parks are near Berthoud, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Berthoud, CO that allow camping, notably Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland.