Best Tent Camping near Colorado City, CO

Tent campsites around Colorado City, Colorado range from established campgrounds to primitive dispersed locations in nearby public lands. Greenhorn Meadows Park offers designated tent sites with some amenities, while Davenport Campground in San Isabel National Forest provides a more secluded tent camping experience. Several Bureau of Land Management areas also accommodate tent camping with varying levels of development and accessibility from town.

Most tent camping locations near Colorado City require campers to bring their own water and supplies. Davenport Campground features 12 walk-in tent sites with fire pits, picnic tables, and vault toilets but limited water access. The sites at Greenhorn Meadows Park include picnic tables and drinking water, though reviews indicate sites are positioned close together. BLM dispersed camping areas along Phantom Canyon Road provide minimal amenities but greater privacy, with sites typically featuring pre-existing fire rings. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in drought conditions when camping in undeveloped areas.

Tent campers seeking the most secluded experience should consider sites farther from established campgrounds. The walk-in sites at Davenport Campground provide a quieter setting near a creek, though reaching these sites requires carrying gear about 50 yards from parking. A recent review noted that "the creek right next to the campground is very peaceful" and provides water to douse campfires. At Phantom Canyon Road BLM sites, campers will find varied terrain with small creek access and ample shade in many locations. One visitor recommended, "Don't get impatient, the further down the road you go the better the spots and further from road traffic." While these sites offer more seclusion, they also tend to have more evidence of previous use, including occasional trash left by prior visitors.

Best Tent Sites Near Colorado City, Colorado (16)

    1. Greenhorn Meadows Park

    7 Reviews
    Colorado City, CO
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 676-3059

    "We found GMP in Colorado City and was told they never turn away a tenter. There are a number of spots aligned below a bluff, and a large open field for additional tents."

    "Its as small Campground outside Colorado City. There electric hook ups at your site; however the water is across the path and you need to port it to your rig."

    2. Hummingbird Ranch

    6 Reviews
    Rye, CO
    8 miles
    Website

    $30 - $33 / night

    "My husband was a little concerned when we left the highway for a dirt county road, but his concerns quickly changed as we enjoyed the beauty and wonder of the Colorado mountains!"

    "Lots of open meadows with some tree/big bushes for shade. Clean showers!"

    3. Davenport Campground

    7 Reviews
    Beulah, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 444-6777

    $25 / night

    "Good tent sites. Have to carry gear to camp site but only shoeRt hike to campsite. Maybe 50 yards. Has a couple of sires with shelter. Picnic tables are big and heavy."

    "Has a fire pit with grill, picnic table, and sites 2, 5, and 9 have the log covering. The sites are pretty close together, but we had no problem with our neighbors."

    4. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites

    38 Reviews
    Cañon City, CO
    42 miles

    "Driving down to this campsite I was happy to have a small car because the road is very narrow to say the least. I cannot imagine the feeling of driving a large rig here."

    "We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."

    5. The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    9 Reviews
    Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve, CO
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 378-6395

    "The hike in over the dune to a camp site with all your gear is frankly not easy, but it's short distance so it's manageable."

    "If you’re seeking solitude and raw, untamed landscapes, this is the perfect spot to pitch your tent."

    6. Great Sand Dunes Dispersed

    14 Reviews
    Blanca, CO
    49 miles

    "We kept driving until we found a spot that was both uphill and private, which definitely requires a vehicle with some height to it like an SUV rather than a sedan."

    "Was surprised how many other campers were enjoying nearby sites. Plenty of room to enjoy site without feeling crowded. A nice site, enjoyed evening fire."

    7. Medano Lake Backpackers Camp — Great Sand Dunes National Preserve

    1 Review
    Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve, CO
    35 miles
    Website

    "For backpackers only - this may seem like a short distance from the trailhead, but it is a steep incline the entire way up. With packs, it took us close to 5 hours with short breaks."

    8. Tricki's (Travis and Vicki) Glamping under the stars

    1 Review
    Rockvale, CO
    36 miles
    +1 (303) 809-7819

    $50 - $200 / night

    "We're happy to have this property on our platform. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"

    9. Dispersed Sand Area 1

    5 Reviews
    Crestone, CO
    45 miles
    Website

    "Gorgeous views of Crestone peak and other neighboring mountains. The only negative was the mosquitos. They are horrendous."

    "Loved hearing the creek roaring in the background and feeling the sun on my skin surrounded by cactus - an I in Texas!?"

    10. Phantom Canyon

    5 Reviews
    Penrose, CO
    45 miles

    "I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."

    "It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly.

    We will go back, and I hope to get that spot before any other!"

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 16 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Colorado City, CO

698 Reviews of 16 Colorado City Campgrounds


  • Staci W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2022

    East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge

    Pricey but beautiful

    This campground used to be free when I first found it years ago while visiting the Royal Gorge. Since the city has invested money into fixing up the campsites with fire rings, tent pads, and what seems to be pretty good county road maintenance, it’s definitely understandable why they charge a fee.

    No water is available. There are vault toilets.

    There are NO bear boxes.

    Rules worth nothing (according to the sign upon entering camp):

    1. no alcohol (that didn’t seem to stop anyone from enjoying themselves at their site)
    2. You can only stay for 72 hours per visit unless otherwise noted.

    There’s lots of hiking and mountain bike trails near the campground, which brought lots of mellow mtb riders in during my stay.

    Because of the rules/amenities, i felt the price was a little steep as others have mentioned. However it is clean, close enough to Cañon city that you can go to town if needed, but far enough away to “unplug” from the world in a beautiful location. Overall I’d recommend visiting this campsite! I’ll happily return.

  • B
    Feb. 9, 2022

    Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    Piñon Flats Camping

    Piñon Flats was an awesome place to camp! It has restrooms as well as easy access to hiking trails, each spot has a fire pit and a big enough dirt pad to stake down a tent or awning. Quiet hours are also nice so you won’t be hearing generators at night.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2021

    The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    WOW just WOW

    Stayed here 1 night with the backcountry permit through recreation.gov to see the stars and stay the night in the dunes. The hike in over the dune to a camp site with all your gear is frankly not easy, but it's short distance so it's manageable. Climbing in the sand is challenging with the extra weight of the pack and if the wind picks up you get whipped with sand BUT it is 100% worth it. We hiked in around 5/5:30pm at the end of the heat and were set up eating dinner around 8pm. Took a lot of breaks hiking in and went through a lot of water. In total we brought about a gallon of water each, and by the time we hiked out the next morning we were down to the last couple of ounces. Just the tent, no rain fly and using our sleeping bags as quilts was perfect in June. Even if you don't camp out the dunes are open for star gazing, and I highly recommend that. I tried hiking in both sneakers and just socks. Just socks was much better keeping your feet light and reducing cramping. Note: bugs come out at dusk so be ready with lots of spray and cover your limbs and bring good sunblock, you will get toasted.

  • T
    May. 17, 2022

    Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    Mountain beach adventure

    Campsites are compact and overlook the Dunes - we parallell parked at our site. Short hike to Medano creek and the dunes. Sites have bear boxes for food storage, picnic table, and tent pads. Not ideal for large travel trailers but great in tents, vans, or smaller trailers. Site 7 is behind a pit toilet and the breeze blows the stink at you perfectly. Most other sites seem ok.

  • Jenni O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2019

    Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park

    So clean!

    We just left campsite 531 at Kettle Creek Loop! Our 3 kids loved playing around the little inlet of water and the playground was not too far! Very clean vault toilets close to that campsite and a bigger bathroom by the playground with showers! It’s a rocky tent pad so bring a footprint and sleeping pads. Shade provided over picnic table blocking the evening sun- it’s pretty sunny in the am but nice! It was HOT while we were there but it cooled off at night. Bring a shade tent! We will Be back!

  • Daniel S.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    Awesome Scenery

    This campsite is located in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. A well maintained campground with asphalt roads throughout, including the campsite parking area. Each campsite includes a level dirt area delineated with a low rock wall, a large metal bear proof food storage locker, a metal fire ring with grate and an aluminum picnic table. There is no water, sewage or electric at any of the sites, although at only $20 a night that is quite acceptable. Plan to pick and reserve your site about 6 months in advance as this national park is very popular.

  • Paulina B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 15, 2024

    The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    Wild and Untamed

    Backcountry dispersed camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an unforgettable and truly unique wilderness experience. If you’re seeking solitude and raw, untamed landscapes, this is the perfect spot to pitch your tent. With no designated sites, you have the freedom to find your ideal spot beyond the busy dunes and under an expansive star-filled sky.

    The journey begins with a hike deep into the park’s rugged terrain, where you’re surrounded by towering sand dunes, alpine forests, and sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lack of light pollution makes stargazing an absolute highlight—this is one of the best places to witness the Milky Way.

    Keep in mind, this is true backcountry camping: no facilities, no water sources, and you must pack out all waste. Permits are required, so be sure to plan ahead. The environment can be challenging, with extreme temperature swings and strong winds that shift the sand beneath your feet. Good preparation and Leave No Trace practices are a must.

    The rewards are well worth the effort. From sunrise hikes to the serene sound of nothing but wind across the dunes, this camping experience immerses you in nature’s raw beauty like few others can. It’s an adventure you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left the dunes behind.

    Highly recommend skipping the tent and sleeping under the stars!

  • Rachel P.
    Jun. 20, 2022

    Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park

    Quiet, lakeside RV camping

    We booked this site last minute and it was perfect! The grounds were quiet and people respected the Quiet Hours curfew. Each site has a covered picnic table to block the wind. The site we booked had electricity hookups. We stayed in a car tent, so we needed non-concrete ground to anchor our tent stakes - the sites are all concrete and gravel with a lot of grass surrounding the main driveway. We were able to park our SUV so that we had access to the grassy area without being intrusive to other folks. The showers are in their own bathroom - toilet, sink, trashcan, bench, towel hooks, and shower. I strongly advise to NOT place clothing or towels on the bench near the shower. The shower has a strong spray and it will get your items slightly wet if too close. The showers are included in your camping fee (aka free to use). There isn't anything to block the wind (except at the picnic table) so be advised weaker tents won't be comfortable.

  • Jason L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2019

    The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

    Get lost in the desert dunes

    Absolutely beautiful Sand dunes in the mountains, it actually smells like an ocean beach and makes you feel like your on another world. The Dunes are 30 square miles and you can camp anywhere in them with a free permit available at the visitor center, just have to hike in past the first ridge aka the day use area. It's tent camping only, and no pets are allowed in the back country dunes. You also need to pack everything you need in with you and leave no trace. The winds blow often and hard, moving enough Sand to cover you tracks in minutes. The views of the sky and stars are absolutely mesmerizing, one of the most beautiful Sand fields in the world. The creek that runs through the day use area can fluctuate in size daily, it wasn't high when we were there, but it was still flowing half way through the day use area. A must see destination if your in the San Luis Valley.


Guide to Colorado City

Tent camping near Colorado City, Colorado, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. From peaceful creeks to stunning mountain views, there’s something for everyone.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • At Davenport Campground, visitors can explore nearby trails and enjoy the beauty of Bishop Castle, making it a perfect spot for hiking enthusiasts.
  • Medano Lake Backpackers Camp is ideal for those seeking adventure, with opportunities for wildlife sightings and fishing in a serene lake setting.
  • The Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites provide a scenic drive and access to numerous hiking trails, perfect for a day of exploration.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Greenhorn Meadows Park features electric hookups and clean facilities, making it a convenient choice for families and those looking for comfort.
  • At Hummingbird Ranch, campers can enjoy a quiet atmosphere with clean port-a-potties and plenty of space to set up tents.
  • Grape Creek - Temple Canyon Park offers picnic tables and a chance to enjoy campfires, enhancing the camping experience.

Local attractions tent campers should explore

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Colorado City, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Colorado City, CO is Greenhorn Meadows Park with a 3.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Colorado City, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Colorado City, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.