Best Campgrounds near Manitou Springs, CO

We've been here about two weeks. US 24 is paved, CR31 is a typical washboard dirt road. The 3 or 4 forest roads leading into the designated dispersed sites are a mix. We have seen big 5th wheels and smaller vehicles, we even saw a couple with a Prius and a dome tent. Just drive carefully, take your time and always look ahead of your vehicle. The campsites are very peaceful during the week, though during the weekends the area gets busy. Most of the noise comes from an abundance of ATVs. Most riders are friendly and courteous, be watchful of little ones on peewee ATVs! No amenities! Bring in everything you need, though Lake George is about 15 miles south for supplies (can be expensive and short day hours, plan accordingly.)

For the most part many of the sites are spaced far enough apart for privacy, for real seclusion you have to head further out on CR31 about another 10 to 15 miles.

Most of the sites are clean with established fire rings and site markers. Unfortunately there are the few slobs that don't clean up their site when they leave. Plenty of down and dead wood to collect for campfires, no need to cut and chop living trees.

There is a USFS information board on CR31 with flyers and notices. Halfway through our stay a burn ban sign was put up as you turn off US24, use the Park County website for details. During the ban we only had one night that fires were completely forbidden.

Between the price and the little space available, there is no way I will ever stay here again. I'd rather travel from Cheyenne Mtn State park to the area then have no room to breathe....and not that I would breathe, as my neighbor's sewer was next to my picnic table, if I wanted to sit and it stunk! Walking out of my RV to get into my car was terrible because of the smell. Also, we were next to a site that was deeper and we were much longer....what made this worst was that they said they got that sight in June. I had called in Dec 2024 and was told there were only 2 sites left. If someone cancelled, shouldn't you look to see if a longer RV needed the space?? Also our bedroom sat over the stream just to fit, but what made it worst was the neighbor who got the bigger site in June parked his car right on the edge of both sites and so to get to our sewer or a storage area, we had to squeeze under our slide to get there. Then when said neighbor left the day before we did, we talked about dumping while we had time, but almost as soon as he left, someone else was allowed in before 11am to that sight. Luckily they switched car and table so we could get to the sewer. These situations and the fact that we could not enjoy anytime outside until the other side neighbor left 2 days before, just makes this one of the worst situations we ever of been in while traveling.

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 so we landed at site 33 and it was AMAZING! No trail directly near the site, no sites surrounding, we could see the road but from the road the site area was mostly secluded. The camp hosts are so great! Very nice couple however, we only met them as we were packing up. I would recommend stopping at host site to see what sites are open as they stay up to date on all of them regularly and can point you to the best views. 67 might be the best site- it’s next on our list. First mile in the road is completely washboarded.