Best Glamping near Carbondale, CO

After spending three nights in forest service campgrounds, we landed here, lucky to find a place with availability on a weekend in September (reservations made a month in advance). We opted for a riverfront RV site (#17) and we were right on the Colorado River, with the soothing white noise of the river putting us to sleep each night (interrupted only by the occasional LOUD train on the other side of the river). 

This place has every kind of accommodation possible: (resort) cabins, cottages, glamping campsites, individual and group tent sites, and RV sites (some with full hook-ups, some with water and electric, some on the river, and some above it). The sites are laid out in typical RV park style, lined up like dominoes. This is not our typical preferred camping, but we were with friends, so we were able to create a little oasis between our sites. 

The fire in August, Covid, and snow the first week of September essentially shut down all the extras this place has to offer– zip line, rock climbing wall, ropes course, and restaurant, so I cannot comment on these. But, Defiance Rafting is located on the property; while they were no longer able to offer rafting trips (due to potential rock slides resulting from fire damage), they did rent inflatable kayaks and we took advantage of this and had a rolling good time on the Colorado River! 

The office staff is very nice and there is a small store in the office offering t-shirts, stickers, hats, etc. (but not food essentials). It is located about three miles from the town of Glenwood Springs and there is a trail leading from the resort that winds along the river to town. The trail east of the resort was still closed after the fire. 

The bath/shower house was clean, but the shower set-up was funky in that there was no private area to undress/dress. The only other unpleasant thing was the odor emanating from what I would assume to be the waste/sewage facility and it was necessary to walk past it from the riverfront sites to the bathrooms. This and the price ($88 for a riverfront site) have me giving this place four stars instead of five, although I would consider staying here again if in the area.

My wife and I recently had the most magical four days at this Yurt, and we cannot stop raving about this hidden gem!🌲✨ 

From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning surroundings—the perfect blend of tranquility and adventure. The yurt itself was not only cozy and well-equipped but also nestled in a picturesque spot that felt like a private slice of heaven.

The attention to detail was outstanding. The thoughtful amenities, from the well-stocked kitchen to the comfy sleeping quarters, made us feel right at home. We enjoyed quiet evenings by the warm wood stove, gazing at the star-lit sky through the yurt's skylight—a truly enchanting experience. 

The hosts were incredibly accommodating and friendly, ensuring we had everything we needed for a seamless stay. Their passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainability added an extra layer of appreciation for our Yurt experience. 

The hiking trails nearby were a nature lover's dream, offering breathtaking views and a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was the perfect retreat to reconnect with each other and with nature. 

If you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway,  Sawatch Basecamp Yurt is an absolute must-visit. Thank you to the hosts for creating such a unique haven in the wilderness. We're already planning our next escape to this piece of paradise!🏞️❤️

This is a lovey spot with 360 Views of the canyon and nice amenities. Clean, hot showers. Cabins, yurts and pull ins. Shop. Lovey staff. Not inexpensive however.

This place is beautiful. The camp is out of Carbondale, but still close. If you simply turn left out of the driveway you are engulfed in nature until the road ends. Just perfect.

This is a nice little campground outside of Carbondale. We stayed here while visiting Glenwood springs, which is only about 25 minute drive away. The campground was kept clean and the bathhouse was close to everything. The reception was warm and welcoming with a full camp store and there was even a lounge in the main Lodge. Our site was directly on the river, which was beautiful, especially with the mountain in the background. We will definitely be coming back here to stay.

A small but clean, neat, and tidy facility a few miles south of Carbondale. Sites are fairly packed together, so privacy is not at a premium here. The bathroom facilities are small but very clean and modern. A few years back when I was here, I had to wait for showers. That was not the case on this visit. Sites on the river are very nice, especially if you want to spend some time playing in it. The KOA is next to the highway, and road noise was an issue a few times, but nothing horrible. Staff was very friendly. Would stay here again if in the area.

  This is a small KOA. The closet one to Aspen, which was our purpose in traveling to the area. 

  This campground has an old fashioned feel. They have cabins that look very retro, Actually only 20 RV sites, some of them on the Crystal River. A large group of tent sites & a teepee. I managed to get the last RV site for the dates I needed, so I was happy. 

  The river sites are the ones to try for. Saying that, sites 19 & 20 have a view of Mount Sopris. Sites 11-14 are long pull throughs & they didn't have much shade. It looked like sites 21-24 were used by employees.

   The bathrooms & showers were clean. This KOA is next to Hwy 133, which can get loud. It does quiet down at night. 

  There's a laundry & a pool. There's no jumping pillow or dumb bikes. This is an old fashioned campground in that regard & I loved it! We camped at Carbondale/ Crystal River KOA Holiday in a Travel Trailer.

Just west of Leadville Colorado sits Turquoise Lake at an elevation of around 10,000 ft. Baby Doe Campground is one of the few camps that are situated around the lake on its east side. You camp under the pine trees beside the lake with beautiful views of Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert to the south over turquoise water. Cost are $24 per night for car camping, bathrooms and water are provided. We camped on June 26th and 27th of 2018 and got to summit Mt. Sherman one of Colorado's 14ers on the 27th. I was really surprised at how bad the mosquito's were at the lake and at this elevation, definitely the worst mosquito experience I had while living in Colorado. If your in town while visiting be sure to check out Periodic Brewing and High Mountain Pies. Highlight: Being able to summit my 1st Colorado 14er was definitely the highlight of the trip, can't wait to go back for another one, I know where I'll be camping.

Falling asleep to the sound of the Colorado River literally 3 feet away is just wonderful, well worth the $54/night for a tent site. Great heated bathrooms, only a few minutes from town, no issues with noisy neighbors for us. Super great

Spent 2 quiet nights here in this roomy and quiet campground adjacent to the Colorado and Continental Divide Trail. Lots of great hiking and just 25 minutes north of Leadville. Crazy to think of the 15,000 or so soldiers training here during WWII.

Loved the location. Right on the Colorado River. Bike path is right out the front. We rode it from Aspen down valley and right back to our campsite. A feature we really liked.

The sites were tight. Class A's take up most of it. The good thing is the row we were on had lots of room to maneuver in front of the site. The Laundry room was broke the 3 days we were there. So prepare for that. I would be back just because of the location.

We’re Van camping in the lower campground, 50’ from the banks of the Colorado River. Electric & Water. Cabins avl. On the River and upper grounds. Our site, 44 is also located off set and below the deck of the resort event center. (Weekend celebrations may offend some, not us) quite time is 10pm. We’ve enjoyed watching Rafters, Kayakers & Geese float & fly the turns of the River. Wonderful staff. Available if needed. Kevin, manager; generous & helpful. Twilla, the work & stay host att. Is super attentive. Clean, accessible Bathhouse facilities. Discounts on rafting while booked at GCR. 1.7m to downtown Glenwood, (foodies, cute shops) bike path, or… just hang by the river near the boat launch & tent sites. (Our fav. spots!) Great place to R&R, Hot springs, Hike…

I’ve noticed a trend in reviews for this site across all platforms. Any sites close to the camp hosts have had a terrible experience. The further you are from them, the more enjoyable your stay will be. Keep that in mind when booking a stay here.

2 stars because my family had a wonderful time at the lake. There’s enough beach that you’re not crowded together with other groups. Our daughters loved paddle boarding here.  

The hosts ruined it. Quite condescending and as another reviewer put it, just plain rude. We are Colorado natives and polite, law abiding campers. The hosts had our whole family on edge once quiet time started for 3 nights in a row. Won’t be back.

At Glenwood Canyon Resort you get to camp right on the Colorado River in a beautiful canyon but its definitely the most expensive tent camping I've ever paid for. Amenities are taken care of from the store at the check in station to the bar and grill that's on site. It has an awesome deck with a view of the canyon but I didn't get to enjoy it. When we checked in we were told it was pet friendly but when we went the bar tender told us our dogs weren't allowed and didn't seem happy to be there, so I had to go back to the campsite and eat and drink by myself. It's okay though because when my wife came back she said the food wasn't that great and they had no craft beer on tap. Aside from all that, the number of outdoor activities and place to see around here are endless, whitewater rafting, kayaking, skiing, mountain biking, climbing, hang gliding, disc golf, etc.......are all within a short car or bike ride and that's were all 3 stars are earned. Definitely worth it if your just passing through but there are many options around here if your staying for some time.