RV camping near Cotopaxi, Colorado offers campers access to the Arkansas River Valley at elevations between 6,500 and 8,000 feet. Summer temperatures reach 85-90°F during the day but drop to 45-55°F at night, requiring campers to pack layers regardless of season. The area sits between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the Collegiate Peaks to the northwest.
What to do
River access for fishing: Bighorn Park Campground provides direct access to the Arkansas River for fishing. "We have an Outlaw toy hauler so we're so lucky to get a back-in spot overlooking the river. Slept with the back open and fell asleep to the river sounds. Just heavenly!" noted one Bighorn Park visitor who enjoyed the river proximity.
Hot springs soaking: Sand Dunes Recreation in Hooper offers natural hot spring pools as a post-camping activity. "The Hot springs consist of a large outdoor pool and a couple of smaller pools. It's $15 to soak or half price if you camp there. The Greenhouse pool is 21+ for an additional $3," explains one Sand Dunes Recreation camper who appreciated the amenities.
Wildlife viewing: Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort provides opportunities to spot local wildlife. According to a visitor, "We saw deer wander around the campsites every morning and evening. The sites are terraced so that everyone has a beautiful view." The area commonly has deer, wild turkey, and occasionally bighorn sheep on nearby cliffs.
What campers like
Riverside campsites: Riverside RV Park offers spots directly adjacent to the Arkansas River. "Our campsite (#8) was right next to and parallel to the river which provided some soothing sounds at night. It took a couple of tries to back our 20 foot travel trailer into the spot," shared a Riverside RV Park guest who enjoyed the waterfront setting.
Mountain views: Salida RV Resort provides scenic mountain vistas from most sites. "Very clean, large level spots with gravel and plenty of room in between RVs. Great location, close to Salida and hiking & biking trails. Directly on the Arkansas River -- river view spots are very nice and all spots have a view of the mountains," explains a Salida RV Resort visitor.
Clean facilities: Monarch Spur RV Park & Campground maintains well-kept amenities that campers appreciate. "On site laundry and very clean bathhouse. It's near a highway but we never found the road noise a problem. Didn't even notice except an occasional truck using Jake brakes. It all but stopped at night," reported one Monarch Spur RV Park & Campground camper.
What you should know
Altitude considerations: Monarch Spur RV Park sits at over 8,000 feet elevation, affecting temperatures and comfort. "High altitude means cool to cold nights. Gorgeous area and park!" notes a visitor who experienced the climate differences.
Limited cell service: Some campgrounds have spotty connectivity, particularly those in more remote areas. At Mountaindale, "There is no cell service for AT&T or T-Mobile, but you are able to do wifi calling with their WiFi and we streamed a movie one night," explains a camper who managed the connectivity limitations.
Seasonal operation variance: Several campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Mountain View RV Resort is only open "April 17 to mid October" according to their listing information, while others like Royal Gorge RV Resort remain open year-round.
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins offers family-friendly recreation areas. "The playground was very kid friendly and the giant jumping pillow was super fun! We are already planning our next visit!!" shared a visitor about the Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins amenities.
Tent camping alternatives: Some campgrounds offer cabins for families wanting more comfort. "We stayed for one night in a rooftop tent while exploring the Salida and Buena Vista areas. Ran by really nice folks. Bathrooms/showers were clean. Campground was quiet," noted a visitor at Wilderness Expeditions RV Park.
Shade availability: Consider sites with natural shade for summer camping. Mountaindale offers "extremely spacious [sites] with room to park our truck to the side and still have a big yard. There is a fire pit and picnic table and we were shaded by some big pines," according to a pleased camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For noise minimization, choose sites away from highways. At Wilderness Expeditions RV Park, "It's also right across the road from a Walmart and a Sonic, but down in a small valley so you don't hear the road noise," explained one RVer who found the location convenient yet quiet.
Site dimensions and access: Many campgrounds have varying site sizes for different rig lengths. At Bighorn Park, "We stayed in three different spaces because we kept wanting to stay longer. They were all nice sized spaces, although some spaces appeared to be rather small. Some full hookups, some water and electric only and about three tent sites," reported an RVer describing the options.
Utility considerations: Hot water comes naturally at some locations. At Sand Dunes Recreation, "One funny thing is if you have an rv and hook up to the water, it is fed from the hot springs so the water is always very warm. Didn't get to test out our hot water heater at this location!" shared a camper who discovered this unique feature.
