Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Calhan, CO

This park is definitely well visited, but for good reason. It is located in Woodland Park, a lovely mountain town about 30-40 min. outside Colorado Springs. Lots of sites, mostly RV but there is a nice tent only section with a good number of spaces. We stayed overnight in early July and actually pitched our tent next to our family RV underneath the awning, safe from the summer showers that seem to pass thru almost daily in the summer months. Lots of amenities, including parks with play equipment for the kiddos, a dog park, nice bathrooms & showers.

This location was perfect for exploring the area. It is very close to downtown Woodland Park and many attractions. Deer wander through the campground throughout the day. It is rustic , with dirt/gravel roads and sites. Lots of pine trees and most spots are pull through. Some sites are a little close together but not all of them. Restrooms are clean. Small but nice laundry-room. Clean showers. A nice tent area. Staff was friendly and helpful. Try to get here before the office closes because finding your site may be difficult. It is a little hard to figure out the roads and the proper direction to go to fine your site and get into it.
We were here for 4th of July and there were NO activities. No pool. There is a small playground area and a small stage that has been abandoned. The dog park is at the very back of the property. Everything on our 50 amp site worked perfectly. The site was ample for our toy hauler and truck. Sites are not level, bring proper equipment for leveling. Overall, it has an awesome Colorado vibe and we liked it here. Only downside was layout of sites, no activities. You have to reserve a spot to wash clothes. This became a problem because people reserve large blocks of time and don’t show up. I couldn’t use laundry, so be forewarned.

Spent the weekend with the grandkids and loved it! So many activities and the water park was amazing. We brought the trailer and stayed in a elite site. Also paid to reserve a specific spot.

The elite spots are spaced out more and have paved patios with propane fire pits and Adirondack chairs. Spots are level and make set-up easy.

PROS: Lots of activities; Dog park; Well stocked store; Lots of “comfort stations”; 2 different pool options; Restaurant with bar

CONS: Road noise; Train noise; lots of cars driving around (not super safe for kids biking); the place is huge and walking from place to place is tiring

I recommend you reserve a golf cart. It is easier (and safer) to get to all of the activities. (You also won’t have an 8 year old begging for one all weekend.) They are usually sold out on weekends.

I also recommend reserving a cabana if you’ll be spending time at the water park. Seating and sun cover is at a premium and are staked out early.

Lastly, check out the events before you arrive to be sure you don’t miss anything for the more craft-minded kids.

We have already reserved again for next year…and I reserved both golf cart and cabana. I am angling for grandma of the year.

UPDATE 6/2022: can now confirm that golf carts and cabanas are the way to go! Stayed at site 256. Paved and easy access. Just show up in daylight to save your marriage.

My family and I stayed here for one night in a 34' travel trailer as a reward from crossing Kansas. :) We knew what we were getting into - a tight family campground, so we weren't disappointed in that regard. It's actually a little hard to write this review because there's such a mix of pros and cons. I think listing them out will be the best strategy.

Cons: 

- VERY close to the interstate. Take a look at a satellite map view so you will come prepared. The road noise is ever present, and if you can tune it out you will be a much happier camper. We were able to sleep ok with it, but it was a constant in our experience.

- Proximity to your neighbor. This is the way it is with KOAs, but it did feel strange hooking up utilities within arm's reach of your neighbors having dinner.

- Wifi. They advertise it, but it was so slow that not once was I able to successfully load a single webpage. Verizon is also not strong here.

- Cable. They had hook-ups but quality was too poor to watch.

- The hot tub was closed with no indication when it will open. 

Pros:

-The playground was pretty awesome, large and with multiple things to climb on for kiddies.

- They had a pool and kiddie pool. Both are small, though.

- The game room is really nice! (see pics)

- Pizza and ice cream on site.

- Affordable laundry. $2.50 for wash and 50 cents for 8 minutes for the dryer.

- Clean and tastefully decorated bathrooms and showers.

Other:

- Pancake and sausage breakfast on the weekends for $6.50.

- A BBQ restaurant run by the campground.

- 40 minutes to Denver. 

- Dog park.

Overall, not a bad experience, just not spectacular.

Appears to be kid and pet friendly or just a nice place to stay overall but I will tell you first hand it was not. I’ve never in my life spent so much money to be treated with so little respect in my life. My family and our dogs stayed for a week (mind you we are quiet and keep to ourselves, our kids are respectful and we always clean up after our pets) during this time we had a woman that worked here at our camper at least 50 times a day “checking in on us” first thing was she didn’t like our solar lights we put out so we could see to put our shoes on when we had to make midnight doggie deposit runs (and not have to turn on our big light and disturb our neighbors)… next big thing was it rained for 3 days straight while we were here… which didn’t phase my kids who strapped on their rain gear and went to play on their play equipment… when the rain stopped and the sun came out- the same woman came knocking to let us know my kids had gotten their play equipment muddy and she expected them to go clean it off- which was no problem I sent them with the broom and some spray bottles. Little did I know, she was going to have someone power wash it 25 min after they had spent all day scrubbing and cleaning it… but my final straw was our last night here… we had left for a few hours to go do some things and we came back and my 2 year old daughters wagon (very clearly not a utility wagon- it’s pink!) was completely full of all the pet waste from the day I’m guessing, with a note taped to it saying “dump pet waste here” needless to say I’m fuming at this point.

As far as the facilities… We paid for 50 amp power and full hook ups for the duration of our visit- they instead put us in a 30 amp campsite (which is not a big deal we had adapters) but for the price difference I’m a little pissed looking at how we were treated. The shower houses are nice.. And the price gouging in the store is outrageous… almost 600% markup for even just a cold drink. I will try to add a positive note, as I try to do for even places such as these- they did have a very nice wash room for laundry. But having only one dryer that kinda worked (2 hours to dry a small load of laundry) kinda ended up being another strike against them as well. I’m not one to be nit picky, nor am I petty.. but how I was treated was completely outrageous. -20/10 makes me reconsider ever staying at a KOA again if this is how they are allowed to treat their campers!

Also 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.