Camping near Centennial, Colorado offers natural settings with elevations ranging from 5,300 to 9,000 feet depending on location. Summer temperatures generally range from 70-85°F during the day, dropping to 45-55°F at night. While Cherry Creek and Chatfield State Parks provide established campgrounds with amenities, Rampart Range offers more primitive options for those seeking seclusion.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Trails at Rampart Range Recreation Area offer various difficulty levels. "My 9 yr old son and I have been 'jeeping' around Colorado for about 8 months now. We make it a point to wake up to a different view every day. We discovered Rampart range rd through the grapevine and decided to give it a shot," shares one camper.
Lake activities: Fish at multiple spots along Clear Creek. "There is so much to do at this location; aside from the sectioned off RV area, there are lots of paths and locals parks to adventure around. Tubing & swimming in the creek is wonderful especially in summertime. Our favorite is the fishing, so much fun fishing in all the different spots along the creek," notes a visitor to Clear Creek RV Park.
Mountain biking: Access nearby trail systems from several campgrounds. "Along a gorgeous walking path to the mountains, within immediate walking distance to multiple breweries and restaurants, and extremely accessible to the mountains," mentions a camper who stayed at Clear Creek for over a month.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Fewer crowds Monday through Thursday. "We came up Sunday and drove around for an hour trying to find a spot. It was so busy with campers and there were dirt bikers everywhere! Sunday evening it cleared up and we were the only ones there mon-tues! I loved the spot we found, super peaceful and secluded," reports a camper at Rampart Range.
Natural wildlife viewing: Multiple species spotted across different camping areas. At Chatfield State Park Campground, one visitor mentioned "My husband and I stayed in this beautiful campground in 2018 June. The wildlife was beautiful, the facilities were clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful!"
Convenient location: Many campgrounds provide quick access to both mountains and city. "This campground allows easy access to Denver, Golden, and the foothills. Campers are close together, but there are some mature trees. This campground is nicer than most that provide access to Denver," notes a reviewer of Chief Hosa Campground.
What you should know
Site reservation challenges: Popular sites book months in advance. At Dakota Ridge RV Park, a camper reported: "If you're looking for a solid RV park near Golden that's clean and dog friendly, this place is for you. Staff were very polite and helpful. This is a great base camp for exploring Denver as well as Jefferson and Clear Creek counties."
Weather considerations: Prepare for temperature fluctuations. "Weather was super pleasant and cool enough at night to have windows open on July 10th," notes a Chief Hosa visitor, highlighting the comfortable mountain climate even in midsummer.
Road conditions: Some access roads require preparation. "The road to the sites is pretty washboarded out but affords access your the sites for both 4x4's and grocery getters alike, RV campers may not be able to find a level, accessible site at this time of year (Mid-March) as the main roads are maintained but the pull offs don't appear to be," advises a Rampart Range camper.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Choose campgrounds with dedicated recreation areas. At Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur, one visitor called it the "Disney World of Camping" explaining, "What a place. Hundreds of spots- a water park, a bounce pad, cabins, golf carts, putt-putt oh my! This place is a campers with kids dream."
Safety considerations: Check site conditions before arrival. "We researched the spots in this area, and were surprised at how far spread the sites actually are. I had eyeballed site 83 and hoped we'd get to it. We arrived Wednesday morning and realized it was too far in than we would've liked," reported a Rampart Range camper.
Noise levels: Plan for traffic sounds at certain locations. "The campground is unfortunately too close to the highway and the noise makes it difficult to sleep or relax. Nice parking spot if you need to see the sights for a day or two," warns a reviewer from Chief Hosa.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Research connection options before arrival. At Chatfield State Park, an RVer shared: "Nice campground, well kept. Without a reservation you put your name on a list that they start going through at 1pm to assign sites. As someone tent-camping this is no problem, just takes some time. But be wary if you need certain hookups."
Dog-friendly campground considerations: Look beyond standard pet policies. Many campgrounds near Centennial allow dogs but have specific rules. At Dakota Ridge, a visitor warned: "Portable dog pens are not allowed. Tethering is not allowed. We don't like tethering and our rv is small so we travel with some wire folding dog fence so that our dogs can hop in and out of the rv when the weather is good. At this park they can only be on a 6 ft leash attached to a human."
Leveling issues: Bring adequate supports. "Sites 8 & 9 are extremely unlevel, but the other sites are pretty fine," notes a visitor to Clear Creek, providing specific site information helpful for RVers.
