Campgrounds near Georgetown, Colorado range from 8,100 to 9,700 feet in elevation, providing access to alpine environments within an hour's drive of Denver. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-70s during the day but can drop into the 30s at night even in July. Sites at higher elevations often maintain partial snow cover until late June, with most campgrounds operating seasonally from late May through early September.
What to do
Hiking from your site: At Robbers Roost Campground, trails lead directly from the camping area, offering immediate access to mountain exploration. "There is a stream as well as a few trails branching off from the campsites. Would highly recommend," notes one camper who appreciated the 9,700-foot elevation setting.
Drive scenic mountain roads: Echo Lake Campground positions visitors at the entrance to Mount Evans Road, the highest paved road in North America. A camper shares, "We took a ride up Mt Evans (scary road but beautiful views!). Lots of hiking trails to explore and the lake is beautiful as well."
Water recreation: Peak One Campground provides direct lake access for visitors with water equipment. "Some spots have trail access to the lake, so bring your water toys!" explains a camper. Another visitor mentioned, "We enjoyed skipping rocks and even some mountain biking for our 9-year-old. Did a hike at Lily Pad Lake and a quick trip into downtown Frisco."
What campers like
Facilities with mountain character: Denver West-Central City KOA balances convenience with mountain charm at 8,500 feet. "The park is beautiful the views are amazing! The staff is fantastic and always willing to help! The clubhouse is spotless," reports a guest who stayed on the upper level.
Food options on-site: Many KOA locations offer meal services that campers appreciate. "This KOA campground was impressive to me. The campground offered pizza and wing delivery! They also offered an all you can eat pancake breakfast for $3 in the morning," shares a visitor who found this feature particularly helpful after a day of hiking.
Clean bathrooms: Golden Gate Canyon State Park maintains clean facilities across its various campgrounds. A visitor to Deer Creek notes, "The bathrooms were in excellent condition. There are hot showers (that take quarters), running water, and even a laundry room. The shower house itself was heated, which was appreciated in the middle of the 30 degree night."
What you should know
Elevation affects experience: At Denver West-Central City KOA, the 8,100-foot elevation can impact unprepared visitors. One camper advises, "Yes Mountain High!! 8100' high. 7 miles off I-70 at Idaho Springs. 25 miles into outskirts of Denver. Don't worry they have oxygen! Not kidding!!"
Road noise varies by site: Echo Lake Campground sits near a main road, creating varying noise levels. "All night long cars went by. Next time I think I'll try to find something a little further into the woods," reports one camper. However, others note, "Road noise settles down after dark."
Water availability: Burning Bear Campground has water limitations to consider. "The well water is non-potable, but there is a waterfall down the road where you can get water to filter," shares a visitor who still gave the site a positive review despite this limitation.
Reservations essential: Popular sites fill quickly, especially in summer. At Peak One, a camper observed, "One thing to note, there were a lot of no-shows on reserved sites. You might get lucky in getting a site by showing up and asking for the one where someone hasn't checked in."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon provides dedicated play areas for children. A camper mentions, "Our nine year old really liked the playground area," while adding that "the bathrooms were very clean and recently remodeled, but require coins if you were going to shower."
Educational opportunities: Reverend's Ridge Campground at Golden Gate Canyon offers natural learning experiences. "This was a phenomenal state park. Many multiuse trails. Get up early and drive mountain base road...we caught a great view of a moose," shares a family who used the campground for a "family hike a bike trip."
Temperature planning: Mountain nights get cold even in summer. A camper at Robbers Roost notes, "Elevation is around 9700, so can get fairly chilly at night in the summer," making extra layers essential for family comfort.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At Reverend's Ridge, RVers should prepare for uneven terrain. "The sites are not very level so be prepared to use your blocks," advises an experienced RVer who still enjoyed their stay despite this challenge.
Hookup availability varies: Denver West-Central City KOA offers full-service options for larger rigs. An RVer notes, "Our space was a big rig space on concrete pad with ample seating, a table, a fire pit, and a propane grill stove… use your own propane! Full hook ups. It was still reaching freezing at night and so we didn't hook up our water."
Limited cell service: Reception varies dramatically between sites. A camper at Golden Gate Canyon State Park reported, "There is no cell service anywhere in the park (for my Verizon phone anyway) which I actually enjoyed. The park is very quiet."
