Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Boulder, CO

This has become my go-to spot for dispersed camping near Boulder. There are a ton of sites right after you pull off Sugarloaf road. The first few might be taken, but keep going and you should find one. Keep your eyes peeled for the road as it's easy to miss, but GPS should take you right there with the directions in the app. The road gets rougher the further you go and you'll definitely want some clearance, but I was totally fine in my stock Subaru Forester.

Camp Dick is is a nice campground surrounded by trails, and only a short drive from Boulder. The camp sites are not very private and it gets pretty crowded on the weekends. The staff were very nice.

Drove more than 35 - 45 mins from boulder expecting a decent dispersed camping area like normal, but don’t let this fool you!! It is all residential and private land! I honestly don’t know of any dispersed camping near the city of boulder and so far this app is deceiving. Read the reviews before you head out!

We drove up around 8/9pm from Boulder. Most camps spots were already taken (1-8 sites only..) but we made our own site / shared with campsite #2. Roads are rough. Some loud campers nearby but we had fun.

Beautiful views and campfire spots!

Great Campground, Incredible Dog Park

Located in the city, but once you’re in the park you don’t feel like you’re in the city at all!!! The RV spots have full hookups and are nice and spacious, as are the neighbors. We were able to set up a tent too! Great place to stroll and relax. Beautiful sunsets. Clean bathrooms and laundry facilities with a little vending machine.

A great place for camping (RV and tent spots), fishing, wildlife/nature viewing, hiking, boating (all water activities), has a swim beach, marina, off leash dog park, shooting range, horse stables that you can do a beautiful hour horseback ride.

FEES: Campsites $41 full hookup, basic campsite $28, daily park pass is $11, annual park pass $83, daily dog park pass $3, annual dog park pass $25, and group camping is available too.

Located in the city, but once you’re in the park you don’t feel like you’re in the city at all!!! The RV spots have full hookups and are nice and spacious, as are the neighbors. We were able to set up a tent too! Great place to stroll and relax. Beautiful sunsets. Clean bathrooms and laundry facilities with a little vending machine.

A great place for camping (RV and tent spots), fishing, wildlife/nature viewing, hiking, boating (all water activities), has a swim beach, marina, off leash dog park, shooting range, horse stables that you can do a beautiful hour horseback ride.

FEES: Campsites $41 full hookup, basic campsite $28, daily park pass is $11, annual park pass $83, daily dog park pass $3, annual dog park pass $25, and group camping is available too.

As it is very close to the city, the temperature stays consistent with Denver temps. So in the summer, it will not be as cool as some mountain spots. That being said, it is very easy to get to and you’ll have the lake right there to cool off!

Entrance into the state park is about $7/day. There is a dog park within the state park that allows off leash and has some ponds the dogs can swim in. Entrance to the dog park is $2.

Easy , fast, but the water in the dog park is no bueno

This is a really neat spot. Big dog park, hot air balloons, ice fishing.

This is a location that you only camp if you literally don't have any worries about being around people. It is ALWAYS packed due to the tons of hiking trails, huge dog park, and water access. 

I taught kayaking to little ones here and it was always a fight to get into the park, get to the water, and not get run over by boats and unexperienced (or entitled) people. 

The campground is well maintained but it sit really worth being able to be basically in a metropolitan city? For me I'll go somewhere more nature friendly and less crowded. 

BUT it is excellent for dogs. We love taking out dogs here because they can play in water, run their hearts out, and hang out with other dogs. It is pricey to get into the park though. $80 for a year pass to the state parks and another $25 for the dog park fees.

All-wheel drive and higher clearance car helped getting in, as the road is pretty bumpy. Stayed in the last park-in campsite. Had to hike in to the lake, but was much easier that bringing in camping gear to the lake-side campsites. Beautiful views. Great place for water activities, but no swimming allowed. An hour from Boulder because of the rough roads. Some 4-wheelers that could get a bit annoying. Primitive camping with one porta potty on the way in.

I loved the night I spent here! I stayed in one of the first 5 sites I saw, and only maybe 20 feet away was an amazing view of the mountains.

It's about 50 minutes from Boulder, and you lose service about 40 minutes out, so it's great if you plan on staying for a least a couple days. I had no problem driving on the dirt road leading up to the sites in my cr-v. 

Would definitely stay again!

This is a pretty short drive from Boulder (or Denver) but since you can’t make reservations at this small site (15-20 sites), so plan to get there as soon as you can after it opens. The site is lovely and right along lakes with snow-capped peaks in the distance. A friend said she saw moose and beavers in this lake but I’ve only ever seen deer. There are vault toilets but no water so bring some and/or treatment methods.

Chatfield is such a great park; I’ve spent so much time biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, spending time with family; picnics areas are even great to have lunch. The dog park is by far the best. Off leash- so much room; well taken care of and big lake for the dogs to swim. And it’s close to Denver - so we go here weekly!

Good Sam’s RV park with full amenities. We booked a water/electric online, but got bumped up to full hookups. Beautiful river going beside many of the sites. Newer bathrooms. Huge park with playground for kids. Our site was very wide and open, but we might just have been lucky. Most are tree covered sites and not packed in. Dog park. About 45 minute beautiful drive to Rocky Mountain National Park entrance.

Great campground here at this state park. We have always stayed in the Arapahoe Group Loop for holiday weekends. Arapahoe Group Loop has a great pavillion with outdoor kitchen and bathroom. Overall Camper amenities are great and very clean. Many well shaded individual sites are available. Campsites are far from other park amenities like Dog Park, Shooting Range, Marina. Swim beach is a 10 minute walk-able distance from campground. Recommend driving to get around the park.