Best Campgrounds near Florence, CO
Florence is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Florence. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Camping Sites Near Florence, Colorado (226)
1. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
32 ReviewsCañon City, CO8 miles"Look for the off-trail spots to find a more private campsite."
"Free BLM sites along Phantom Canyon Road, an hour outside Colorado Springs. Small creek that follows the road to camp along. Pre-existing fire rings."
2. East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge
25 ReviewsCañon City, CO11 milesWebsite+1 (719) 269-9028$20 / night
"Right next to the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City Colorado, the highest suspension bridge in North America ! Do the Segway tour over the bridge!!"
"Paved & gravelled roads, hiking trails, free camping, sightseeing, off roading, atv, handicap accessible, dogs off leash, picnic tables, firepits, kid friendly."
3. East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
13 ReviewsCañon City, CO11 milesWebsite$20 / night
"Tucked away and very nice campground close to the Royal Gorge and Canon City if you need to get camping supplies. Get water and ice at the filling station by the Goodwill store for a great price."
"My partner and I really enjoyed this campsite and the surrounding area. We got site 23 and IMO it’s the best spot with the most privacy. Other spots were a bit crowded and close together."
4. Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
18 ReviewsCañon City, CO14 milesWebsite+1 (719) 275-6116"Beautiful views and a great walking path for my dog. I could have gone for miles. People are super friendly and it’s clean! Close to hiking. Well worth the visit"
"The site we got had our door facing another camper's door and our picnic tables were next to eachother, so we didn't spend much time hanging out outside."
5. Penrose Common Rec Site
11 ReviewsPenrose, CO9 milesWebsite+1 (719) 269-8500"There’s lots of trails in the area (OHV) but other than that, not much else to do. There is a clean vault toilet at the entrance, no trash services. Plenty of spots as you keep driving up the hill."
"Restrooms were available at entrance as well as a loves a couple few miles away for showers."
6. Red Canyon Park
21 ReviewsVictor, CO16 milesWebsite+1 (719) 269-9028"Fun to explore by day through the little canyon or along the rocks above, there's a walk for everyone here. Best enjoyed in fall and spring, summer is quite hot. The campsites are basic and roadside."
"Some great spots close to red bluffs and seasonal river. Went in the autumn and hike along the river bed and climb the falls. Vaulted toilets, fire rings, covered tables and Flatish camp spots."
7. Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park
39 ReviewsPueblo, CO23 milesWebsite+1 (719) 561-9320$36 / night
"This was first camping trip staying in a Colorado State park and it was great! We had an electric only back-in site next to the bathhouse which was clean and had 4 separate bathrooms with showers."
"We were visiting a friend in Pueblo and this place was close by. (Downtown Pueblo has a really nice riverwalk. Found a free museum that honored Medal of Honor recipients.)"
8. Haggards RV Campground
8 ReviewsPenrose, CO11 milesWebsite+1 (719) 547-2101"The sites were large and plenty of room for my slideout and not too close to next site."
"There's a seasonal pool, walking trails and a HUGE fenced dog park. Most spots are pull thru, and it's worth the short, easy drive from I-25."
9. Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
11 ReviewsPenrose, CO17 milesWebsite+1 (719) 576-0619$69 - $79 / night
"A great midpoint basecamp location for going up to Colorado Springs area or down to Canon City(Royal Gorge) areas. The campground was always quiet in the evenings and felt secure. "
"This is a lovely park about 30 minutes south of Colorado Springs. We camped here for 5 nights in a back in spot with full hookups, site 51."
10. Phantom Canyon
5 ReviewsPenrose, CO12 miles"It is a bumpy road, but we had an F150 and a Santa Fe, that both made it in fine, though some spots are walking only."
"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."
Recent Camping Photos near Florence, CO
551 Photos of 226 Florence Campgrounds
Jerry C.
Indian Springs Ranch and Campground
Josh B.
Cliff’s Edge Campsites
Chelsea F.
Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
Amy K.
Penrose Common Rec Site
Staci W.
East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
Dustin R.
East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge
Charles L.
Phantom Canyon
sunshine M.
Echo Canyon Campground - CLOSED
Zak K.
Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
Noah E.
Smith Creek Campground
Lance H.
Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins
Manifest Minerals C.
Manifest Ranch PrivateCamp
Recent Reviews near Florence, CO
1361 Reviews of 226 Florence Campgrounds
Amy K.
RangerPenrose Common Rec Site
Only for ORVs - Hit & Run
Thankfully, I wasn’t there at the time as I would have surely been seriously injured or killed… 🚑
I pulled into Penrose Commons early Saturday morning. The next afternoon while I was out running errands and touring the area someone on a side-by-side lost control of their vehicle, flipping it and crashing into my teardrop tipping it over causing serious damage. My trailer was home-built and uninsured...
A witness told me the black SXS had landed on top of my trailer, and they had to right mine to remove their vehicle. Then they quickly packed up and left without a note…
A witness reported the black SXS had red and blue chase lights on the back of it, the people involved were Hispanic, and they towed it away with a white TRX Ram. 🚨
The SXS shown here is VERY similar, quite possibly the same one that hit my teardrop.
Case # 2A250742
- RRoger J.
GuideBLM Rec. Trail Dispersed
Cleanup after other campers
The spot I picked had candy wrappers and street chalk to pick up. The previous Bozos, yeah Bozo is appropriate, left a hot bed of coals in the fire pit. The last place I camped in TX had a wildfire go through in Feb 2024 and they're still recovering.
Tim S.
TravelerMt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2
Beautiful Views!
The road up is rough but totally doable with pickup truck with slide in camper. This campsite was nice and level.
- CCharles B.
ScoutMedano Pass Primitive Road — Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Need a permit
You need a backcountry permit to camp at Medano Pass road. Signs indicate this before you enter the road and again a few hundred yards down the road.
- SShawn W.Scout
Peregrine Pines FamCamp
Not a quiet campground for tenting
This campground is exceptionally nice and the staff is amazing, but if you are in a tent there is a lot of noise pollution from the interstate and trains that come by at all hours of the night blaring their horns.
- NNora S.Ranger
Dispersed Sand Area 1
Awesome spot close to sand dunes
Found this spot on our way out from the sand dunes and it was perfect! Quiet and secluded so can’t complain. Right down from the trailhead. Easy drive, can get a little bumpy but nothing an all wheel drive can’t handle.
Molly C.TravelerSalida BLM Land
Free, BLM camping
Open spots Memorial Day Weekend. Well labeled from Highway 50 just before entering Salida. About or greater than 20 camping spots (but we didn't venture to the last site). Initial road was more rough but evens out as you go further back (we don't have 4-wheel but made it no problem). Porta-potties when you enter the road but no toilets for the campsites further back. Built in fire pits at each established campsite.
Mary Claire D.ScoutManchester Creek Trailhead
Good spots, lots of sound
Very popular spot for ATVs so it was pretty loud the entire time we were there, but overall not too bad - ended up finding a spot further down the road which I think helped
Judy B.RangerPinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park
Small rig and tent friendly with superb views
Two-loop campground with a small store that sells firewood etc. I lucked into site #67 after changing plans due to inclement weather. The sites in the 60's are on the west end of the loop and have fantastic views of the dunes with all the color variations as the sun moves. There are two flush bathrooms on the loop, with no showers. There is a wash sink outside the bathroom.
Some sites are only tent-friendly with parking parallel to the sight and then walking up to a tent area. Other spots work for smaller vans, trailers, etc. and most are short in depth but double-wide drives to position the vehicle beside the trailer. The Visitor Center is a couple miles away as is the picnic area and trail to the dunes. There is a trailhead that leaves directly from the upper loop of the campground that leads to an overlook or backcountry camping.
Guide to Florence
Camping near Florence, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax under the stars, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
What to do
- Hiking: Explore the trails around the Pinon Flats Campground — Great Sand Dunes National Park. "From the campground, you can easily hike up to the creek and the east face of the dunes within 15-30 minutes," says a happy camper.
- Stargazing: The Zapata Falls Campground is perfect for stargazers. One visitor noted, "You MUST take a walk down into the dunes after dark… simply breathtaking."
- Fishing and Water Activities: At Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A reviewer mentioned, "The views were AMAZING at sunset!"
What campers like
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Mueller State Park Campground. One visitor said, "The renovated restrooms were super clean, and had heat and lights."
- Scenic Views: Many love the views at Cheyenne Mountain State Park Campground. A reviewer shared, "Beautiful park with great hiking trails and full hookups. Up on the side of a mountain overlooking Colorado Springs."
- Quiet Atmosphere: Campers enjoy the peacefulness at Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping. One camper noted, "It was quiet but very windy at the top of the mountain."
What you should know
- Mosquitoes: Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially in summer. A camper at Pinon Flats Campground warned, "In July, there were a ton of mosquitoes everywhere except over the sand."
- Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Zapata Falls Campground, have basic facilities. A visitor mentioned, "There are no frills at Zapata Falls—no hook-ups, no hosts, and only vault toilets."
- Reservation Required: Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Mueller State Park Campground noted, "You do have to reserve online now in advance."
Tips for camping with families
- Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids, like the Colorado Springs KOA. One parent said, "They do fun activities on the weekends like mining for gems and tie-dye shirts."
- Safety First: Choose campgrounds with good facilities and supervision, like Garden of the Gods RV Resort. A reviewer mentioned, "It’s a very safe area."
- Plan for Quiet Time: Make sure to check quiet hours. A family at the Colorado Springs KOA appreciated that "quiet time starts at 11pm so it’s nice and quiet for the evenings."
Tips from RVers
- Check Hookups: Ensure your chosen campground has the necessary hookups. A visitor at Eleven Mile State Park noted, "No hookups, trashy. Winds in the evening almost made me leave site."
- Space for Big Rigs: Look for campgrounds that accommodate larger RVs, like Arkansas Point Campground. A camper mentioned, "The spots are pull through which makes setup and tear down so much easier for camp!"
- Be Prepared for Weather: Campers at Cheyenne Mountain State Park Campground advised, "The road up to the campground for about a mile and a half was pretty steep, probably 8 to 9% grade. Watch your brakes coming down."
Camping in Florence, CO, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Florence, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Florence, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 226 campgrounds and RV parks near Florence, CO and 58 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Florence, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Florence, CO is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Florence, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 58 free dispersed camping spots near Florence, CO.
What parks are near Florence, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Florence, CO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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