Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Collins, CO

Cottonwood Campground at Boyd Lake State Park accommodates pets with designated pet-friendly sites throughout its camping loops. Dogs must remain leashed at all times within the campground, with several trails around the lake providing exercise opportunities. The campground features full hookup RV sites with electric, water, and sewer connections, along with tent camping areas where pets are welcome. Fort Collins Lakeside KOA maintains a similar pet-friendly policy across its tent sites, RV spots, and cabin accommodations. The campground is situated on a lake with a fantastic walking trail where many campers exercise their dogs. Visitors use The Dyrt to find real feedback on camping near Fort Collins, Colorado. South Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir and Riverview RV Park also welcome pets, offering clean facilities and scenic waterfront locations.

Horsetooth Reservoir's pet-friendly campgrounds provide easy access to Fort Collins while allowing campers to enjoy outdoor recreation with their dogs. The reservoir's extensive shoreline offers multiple spots for dogs to cool off, though owners should keep pets leashed when outside designated areas. Poudre Canyon's Upper and Lower Ansel Watrous Campgrounds provide riverside camping with pets, where the sound of flowing water helps mask highway noise. Sites are on the small side but offer bear boxes for tent campers with food storage needs. Rocky Mountain National Park's Moraine Park Campground allows pets in specific areas, though dogs are prohibited on most park trails. Campers seeking more remote options can explore Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest's dispersed camping areas, which offer beautiful views and plenty of space for dogs to explore while remaining just over an hour from Fort Collins.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Fort Collins, Colorado (195)

    1. Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park

    44 Reviews
    Loveland, CO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 669-1739

    $36 - $41 / night

    "Boyd Lake State Park is situated near the city of Fort Collins with distant views of the mountains. It has a large lake that is used by boaters, fishermen and sandcastle builders all summer."

    "We stayed at Boyd Lake State Park for one night as we were returning home after visiting in Montana.  This park is convenient to Fort Collins so every need can be met. "

    2. Fort Collins Lakeside KOA

    22 Reviews
    Laporte, CO
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 484-9880

    "We had the good fortune to stay at the Lakeside KOA during our recent trip to Fort Collins. The sites are spacious, and the campground is run well.

    Talk about luck!"

    "Fort Collins is a nice college town and has restaurants, shopping and a nice downtown.  The campground has a ton of activities for families to do on site.  "

    3. South Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    18 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $30 - $115 / night

    "This is a great campground if you want to be close to be close to Fort Collins, and/or enjoy the lake."

    "We have camped in Colorado for over 15 years. By far the campsites with the best views! And you can rent cabins too. Just love this place. Lake gets busy In the summer."

    4. Riverview RV Park & Campground

    19 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 667-9910

    "We spent 4 days in a spot right next to the river. Close to Rocky Mountain National Park. Really enjoyed the river, dog park, live music on sat. night and laundry."

    "Dog park. About 45 minute beautiful drive to Rocky Mountain National Park entrance."

    5. Inlet Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    12 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $45 / night

    "Easy access just outside of town, clean toilets and fresh drinking water easily accessible. Stayed for two nights whilst visiting Fort Collins region."

    "Sites are fairly close together strung out along the lake edge. In September, lake level is purposefully lowered about 20 feet from summer levels."

    6. Upper and Lower Ansel Watrous Campgrounds

    25 Reviews
    Livermore, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6700

    $29 / night

    "It is the perfect getaway from Fort Collins being easy to find and not too far. We loved going in the winter and enjoying the sounds of the river lack of cell service for a weekend."

    "The drive along the canyon is a delight. 

    Directions: Drive 11 miles north of Fort Collins on US Highway 287."

    7. Loveland RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Loveland, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 667-1204

    "Dog Waste station with bags very convenient.  Laundry room is clean and all machines worked.  Plenty of shops and restaurants that are within walking distance."

    "The location is off the main road that has every store or restaurant you could ever want. Giant cottonwoods are located throughout park. Large fenced dog area."

    8. Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    91 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 586-1206

    $35 - $70 / night

    "Took the kids camping in Colorado for the first time and we had a blast. It rained on us a lot but it didn't stop us. Took a great hike up deer mountain....stunning views. Can't wait to go back."

    "I was a Ranger one summer in Rocky - please respect the wildlife and keep a very long distance to not affect their behavior."

    9. Pinewood Reservoir Campground

    16 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $30 - $45 / night

    "This was our second visit to Pinewood Lake and while some things stayed the same others were much the same.  Our first visit last fall was during the final stages of a blizzard. "

    "Even with the snow and us being novices we set up without a hitch and were soon enjoying the magical panorama of the lake below us and the hills and mountain tops around us."

    10. Flatiron Reservoir Campground

    11 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $45 - $65 / night

    "Ranger Review: Humangear at Flatiron Reservoir Campground

    Campground Review:

    Flatiron Reservoir Campground is located just outside the city of Loveland, Colorado."

    "Friends from out of town rented one of the tipis while we stayed in a tent (dogs aren’t allowed in the tipis) on the same lot all under one price. Each lot has a nice fire pit & picnic table."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Collins, CO

1948 Reviews of 195 Fort Collins Campgrounds


  • Morgan Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Dowdy Lake Campground

    Beautiful Lake

    Very nice camping not far from Fort Collins. Great lake for non-motorized boats. 

    Leave no trace.

  • Joey B.
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Forest Service Road 700 Designated Dispersed Camping

    Really awesome scenery for southern Wyoming

    Me and a buddy camped here one night on our way to Yellowstone. Only a little over an hour from Fort Collins Colorado and boy were we impressed with this place. Beautiful hills and rocks for good wind blockage and plenty of trees for great cozy scenery. Definitely one of our most favorite Wyoming spots from the trip.

  • Abby T.
    Jun. 13, 2018

    Upper and Lower Ansel Watrous Campgrounds

    Perfect Getaway

    We loved this little campground! It is the perfect getaway from Fort Collins being easy to find and not too far. We loved going in the winter and enjoying the sounds of the river lack of cell service for a weekend. Lots of hiking, mountain biking and rafting opportunities nearby.

  • Jade M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2022

    Deadman Road - Dispersed Site

    Amazing Stars

    Campground is about an hour from Fort Collins. We got there late on a Friday night and there were plenty of spots open. The site was exposed so we set up behind the trees on the right side. Gave some protection from wind but not much. Sunset was amazing, but the real show happened when the stars came out. I think it was the most stars I've ever seen. I definitely would camp here again for a quick weekend getaway.

  • Matt R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Dowdy Lake Campground

    Beautiful but busy

    Very nice and clean campground. Since this is an hour from Fort Collins and the front range and has a large day use area attached expect a lot of people. Evenings and early mornings are great but on the weekends expect crowds of trail walkers going by your campsite and floatillas of SUPs, kayaks and canoes on the lake. The wind also gets really strong in the late morning through the afternoon. Bathrooms are very clean. Campsites area well spaced and large.

  • Danny H.
    Jun. 5, 2019

    Dutch George Campground

    Peaceful Campground

    My wife and I camped here over memorial day weekend and found this campsite to be very peaceful. It is directly adjacent to the river and offers a very pleasant back noise of flowing river water. The campground host were very accommodating and the compost toilet’s were some of the cleanest I’ve ever seen. The drinking water was also very good, however you don’t want to run the faucet very fast otherwise you kick up sediment from the pipes. This is a very remote campsite that is at least 30 minutes from Fort Collins and any amount of services. There is a very neat restaurant/bar called the Mishawaka that is about 7 miles away that I recommend you visit if you camp here.

  • K
    Apr. 16, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park

    Lakeside camping near Fort Collins

    Boyd Lake State Park is situated near the city of Fort Collins with distant views of the mountains. It has a large lake that is used by boaters, fishermen and sandcastle builders all summer. The campground consists of several loops. Trees were planted years ago and several are larger, creating a reasonable amount of shade at some campsites. We stayed in campsite 126 our first time camping there and it was ideal. Located at the end of a camping loop, the level, paved site provided a view of the lake and reasonable shade from a distant cottonwood tree during dinner. The sites here are generally level and spacious with full bathrooms in each loop. Electric is at each site, with a water and dump station located near the entrance of the campground. Bike trails for the city intersect this campground, so you can bike to Loveland or Fort Collins on paved, wide paths. Kayaking is easy with several inlets, or if you have a boat, bring it and enjoy the water. A newer, large picnic area and new playground are a quick bike ride from the campground next to the swim beach. There is an event area that can be rented and several opportunities for recreation throughout the park. We visited in both June and September. Both were busy, but the campground was quiet at night and the staff was helpful. There are horseshoe pits, small playgrounds, and a volleyball area in various camping loops. I definitely would stay again if in this area. Learn More: minnieoutwest.com

  • N
    Nov. 3, 2022

    Inlet Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    Waterfront

    Easy access just outside of town, clean toilets and fresh drinking water easily accessible. Stayed for two nights whilst visiting Fort Collins region.


Guide to Fort Collins

Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Fort Collins, Colorado, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a variety of amenities and activities.

Tips for camping with dogs near Fort Collins

Dog owners appreciate the amenities

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great activities

  • At Dutch George Campground, you can fish and swim in the river, providing plenty of fun for your dog to splash around.
  • Pinewood Reservoir offers a variety of water activities, including kayaking and paddleboarding, which are great for active pets.
  • Enjoy the scenic views and hiking trails at Mountain Park, where you can explore the beautiful surroundings with your dog by your side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Collins, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Collins, CO is Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Collins, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 195 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Collins, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.