Camping sites near Englewood, Colorado sit at elevations ranging from 5,300 to 9,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night even in summer months. Most campgrounds in the area maintain seasonal operations from May through September, with Golden Gate Canyon State Park and Cherry Creek State Park offering year-round access. The proximity to urban areas means many campgrounds fill quickly on weekends and holidays.
What to do
Mountain biking at Buffalo Creek: The recreation area features trails for various skill levels with plenty of open terrain. "Great place to spend a day to a few weeks depending on lifestyle. Í live out of my van and met a friend here few sites right off the highway with service. Fire pits and hiking near," shares one Buffalo Creek Recreation Area visitor.
Fishing at Standley Lake: The 1,063-acre reservoir offers good fishing opportunities for trout, walleye, and bass. "I don't know how you could not like a place with a huge lake that bald eagles nest beside. With a rookery, this is the spot for bird enthusiasts!" notes a camper at Standley Lake Regional Park.
Hiking at Golden Gate Canyon: With over 35 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging, this park provides access to mountain terrain within an hour of Englewood. "Golden Gate Canyon SP is absolutely gorgeous! We loved the experience at the park, the trails are great and the views are wonderful. The drive up can be a bit breathtaking, but it can be done!" reports a visitor.
What campers like
Easy access to the city: Campgrounds in the area provide convenient access to Denver while still offering natural settings. "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 visitor to Dakota Ridge RV Park.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and shower facilities. "Clean bathrooms. Very friendly attendant. Level primative spots. $26 for primative," reports a camper at Chatfield State Park. Another visitor to Clear Creek RV Park notes, "This small, but clean, campground is located perfectly a walk, or bike ride, away from the town of Golden."
Water recreation options: Several campgrounds offer access to lakes or streams for water activities. "Fishing, biking, hiking, and even a dog park! We came to town for Cotopaxi's Questival and we were not disappointed in this site as our home base! It was close enough to everything we needed but wasn't overwhelming with generators or kids," shares a Chatfield State Park Campground visitor.
What you should know
Site reservation timing: Most popular campgrounds require advance planning. "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 (site assigned ~1.5hours after arrival at 13:20). But be wary if you need certain hookups," advises a Chatfield visitor.
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds are located near major roadways. "This campground is very easy to get too right off of Interstate 70. It was nice but the sites are very close and you can hear the traffic on the interstate really well," notes a visitor to Chief Hosa Campground.
Weather preparedness: Temperatures can fluctuate significantly. "Weather was super pleasant and cool enough at night to have windows open on July 10th," reports a Chief Hosa camper, though summer days can reach into the 90s while nights drop into the 50s.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Great views of mountains. Just minutes south of Denver. With decent facilities and a playground for kiddos," shares a Chatfield visitor about the family-friendly amenities.
Lake activities for children: Standley Lake rents various watercraft for family outings. "Clean pool, laundry facilities, daily trash pickup and so many helpers on site! Our first stop at a park, and we loved it!" reports a visitor, though another cautions, "The ramp is very short and you cant go into the water. If you planned on taking the kiddos."
Space considerations: Campsites vary significantly in size and privacy. "The campsites are very large. They use a keycode system to restrict access to the centrally-located bathhouse (there is only one in the campground), which I thought was clever," notes a visitor to Chief Hosa.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Electrical services differ between campgrounds. "This campground is nicer than most that provide access to Denver. The campground has a pool and hot tub. The play set for kids is small. The bathrooms are very clean. The staff is helpful," notes a Dakota Ridge visitor.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites. "We got site 47, which is labeled as an RV site, but it is NOT suitable for pop up campers. the site doesn't have even a hint of a levelable spot," cautions a Standley Lake Regional Park visitor.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Englewood: While many sites welcome pets, they have varying rules. "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," notes a Dakota Ridge visitor about pet restrictions.
