153 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds around Hayden, Colorado range from full-service parks to dispersed sites on public lands. The area features several established options including Yampa River Headquarters Campground at Yampa River State Park, located directly along Highway 40, and Bears Ears Campground at Elkhead Reservoir State Park approximately 7 miles northwest of town. The camping landscape includes both tent and RV-friendly facilities, with multiple state parks offering electric hookups and basic amenities. Buffalo Pass Dispersed camping areas provide free primitive options for those seeking more remote experiences about 30 miles east of Hayden.
Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience throughout the region. Most developed campgrounds operate from spring through fall, with Yampa River State Park typically open from mid-April through November. Winter access becomes limited as roads to higher elevations close with snowfall. Campgrounds near water bodies like Elkhead Reservoir experience high demand during summer months, requiring advance reservations. Facilities vary significantly between developed and dispersed sites, with state parks offering electric hookups, picnic tables with shelters, and occasional shower facilities, while primitive areas provide minimal infrastructure. A camper noted, "The campground has nice, easy to access RV sites. The sites have power hookups, picnic tables with shade structures, and grills."
Proximity to water features represents a defining characteristic of camping near Hayden. The Yampa River corridor provides fishing opportunities and scenic settings for established campgrounds. Reviews frequently mention the river access as a highlight, though highway noise can be noticeable at some locations. Several campgrounds feature covered picnic tables that provide shade in otherwise exposed settings. Visitors have mixed reactions to site spacing and privacy, with one camper mentioning that "sites are fairly close with little screening." The mosquito population along the Yampa River receives frequent mentions in reviews, particularly during summer months. For those seeking quieter experiences, the dispersed sites near Buffalo Pass offer more seclusion but fewer amenities compared to the state park campgrounds that provide reliable access to facilities.
"We were close to the boat ramp so it was an easy walk down to the river. We drove out to Steamboat Springs one of the days and had a lot of fun on the river trail."
"Additional $10 entrance fee for non Colorado residents."
from $28 - $36 / night
Check Availability"Close to town and right off the river. Bis service has a stop in the park so you dont have to drive in. Open year around and beautiful all around."
"Showers are located in center of KOA so be ready to walk or drive over. Very dog friendly and well maintained tent sites!"
"Nothing fancy, concrete pads, plenty of parking, next to large recreational facility. Quiet."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Colorado does a great job with their parks and this is no exception. Stayed here spur of the moment booking two nights prior to the stay."
"This is one of our favorite campgrounds in Colorado. We make a habit of visiting the week after Labor Day. The crowds are gone and the campground is peaceful."
from $28 - $36 / night
Check Availability"We've been "RV'ing" for over 30 years - and all over Colorado. I wish there were more RV Parks like this one!"
"I found the host to be helpful, and it's close enough to town to have easy access to things to do in the area."
"Pretty quite location, you can hear the water here & there which was nice & an occasional airplane would fly by. Campground was very clean, well maintained. Great location!"
from $28 / night
Check Availability"This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles."
"Some spots are wetter while others are not close to stagnant water at all. Many aspens, great trail network for mountain biking or trail running/ hiking."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"The location was great for us. Everything was clean. Our site was next to railroad track but I never saw a train. The owners were very friendly and kind."
"There were many trails to hike around or bike around the lake and campsites. There were plenty of water activities from swimming to boating and fishing. "
"Clean facilities overall with great proximity to the water and marina."
from $18 - $100 / night
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GuideI’ve camped along this road multiple times and it’s best to get in by Fri AM for the best ones. Some spots are wetter while others are not close to stagnant water at all. Many aspens, great trail network for mountain biking or trail running/ hiking.
TravelerFirst of all this is a great spot but, not set up for rv's most. Blew a tire on the way up. Roads are rough even coming from walden side, despite making it here I would never take my 25ft b+ here again. Sites are on an incline. Great for tent camping though. Lots of masquitos.
GuidePerfectly acceptable place to stop on way to/from Dinosaur and Rocky Mountain NP areas. Showers and laundry are clean and well lit but close at 10. You cannot take campervans or larger to the tent sites as they are only walk in. So you have to use an RV site. They aren’t pretty, but we felt safe, clean. It’s quiet except for occasional road traffic.
GuideNice spot. On this app it says it’s on the other side of the road which I think is true but there’s a big lot on the other side you can park on as well. Lots of mosquitoes right at 6pm
TravelerClean facility. Nothing fancy, concrete pads, plenty of parking, next to large recreational facility. Quiet.
ScoutShowed up fairly early (2:30pm) and other than a few other cars driving through, didn’t see anyone else. It is directly off the HW, so you will hear traffic pass by, but it does calm down at night. Good views, pretty private spots- (3 total, I believe).
Edit to add: while packing up, a stranger drove in off the highway and walked into my site and attempted to “offer me a bible,” and after declining, placed it on the ground in front of my vehicle and left.
**please always be careful and aware of your surroundings, especially when traveling alone.
TravelerThis site was great! Plenty of space between other sites and the road wasn’t bad. No need for 4x4 or high clearance. Saw a black bear on the drive up and lots of deer. The flies and mosquitoes were pretty bad throughout the day.
GuideWell maintained campground. It has a water pump for campers use. There are a couple of nice trails to hike on and the lake is pretty close to the campground. Overall it has a lot of different things to do, from fishing to kayaking to hiking.
TravelerSite: #5 is a short drive from the entrance on the right with a short drive thru for RVs. Starting from parking space is path with some steps down accessing the site and is very close to a water spigot and about equal distance to both bathrooms. There is one "mostly" level spot big enough for 2 normal tents or one big tent where we were able to pitch our 10x14 with room around it. Large picnic table and bear vault you can see in pictures and decent fire pit which is on a slight grade which does limit placement of chairs but great amazing view from the North all the way to the South East.
Campgrounds: This is the only reservable loop of 4 other loops in the immediate area set back from Trappers Lake where you can't quite see it but is a short drive/walk away to Scott's Bay Trailhead. 2 Water spigots and 2 pairs of very well maintained vault toilets. The host was welcoming and very knowledgeable about the area. He had firewood for sale.
Area: Numerous of trailheads branching off of the main road and around the main lake.
Trappers Lake Lodge has a tiny convenient store a bar and restaurant. From what the host said was good food and friendly people. Recently graded very smooth dirt road with many aspen groves visible on the drive in. About equal distance to either Meeker or Yampa. Meeker is a much quicker drive vs Yampa due to less dirt roads.
Camping spots near Hayden, Colorado include both established campgrounds and primitive options. Located at approximately 6,400 feet elevation in the Yampa River Valley, this area experiences warm summer days with cool nights and significant temperature drops from October through April. Winter camping remains limited as snow accumulations often exceed 10 inches at higher elevations near Hayden.
Fishing opportunities: Freeman Reservoir Campground offers a non-motorized lake with rainbow trout. "My brother caught a 16" rainbow which provided supper one night," notes a camper who enjoyed the fishing access.
Water activities: Stagecoach State Park Campground provides multiple water recreation options. "There are full hookup RV sites and as expected, they are pretty tightly spaced. That said, I would consider staying here on the RV side of the campground as well," says a visitor who utilized the lake.
Mountain biking: The trail network near Buffalo Pass offers accessible terrain for riders. "I love the ability to ride into town to the mountain bike trails on Emerald Mountain. On your way back from the amazing singletrack, be sure to stop at Taco Cabo to grab to-go grub," a camper recommends.
Covered picnic areas: Bears Ears Campground provides sheltered eating areas. "Great little campground with picnic tables, fire pits, clean vault toilets & dumpsters. Pretty quite location, you can hear the water here & there which was nice," reports a visitor appreciating the amenities.
Separation from crowds: Buffalo Pass dispersed camping allows for more isolated experiences. "Great free spot if you're looking for somewhere not too far from the town. Awesome bike trails not very far. No bathroom or water it is dispersed," notes a camper seeking solitude.
Riverside locations: Yampa River Headquarters Campground provides water access with modern facilities. "A bike/walking trail of about 1.1 miles through the trees and near the river was very nice, doing several loops," mentions a visitor who enjoyed the riverside trail system.
Weather considerations: Seasonal temperature variations affect camping comfort significantly. "We arrived late so we didn't get to see how beautiful it was until the morning. Beautiful spot. Almost at 9,000 ft," notes a Freeman Reservoir camper about the high-elevation conditions.
Insect activity: Summer months bring increased insect populations to water-adjacent sites. "The campground is beautiful, staff is friendly, you get a covered picnic table. The disappointing thing is the nice bathroom and showers are closed 10pm-6am, just a vault toilet is available during those hours. The have a path you can walk or bike that is a little over a mile but be ready the mosquitos are fierce."
Road access limitations: Buffalo Pass Dispersed areas require appropriate vehicles. "Crazy hard to get to in anything less than 4wd. Very busy on a weekend and hard road. Some nice spots but many are blocked from a view so get there early," warns a visitor about the rugged access roads.
Playgrounds and activities: Yampa River Headquarters Campground provides designated children's areas. "Good spot to stop and shower/do laundry in between primitive camping. Each site has a picnic table and a fire pit, the table has cover. Good cell phone coverage. Playground. Showers, laundry."
Swimming options: Several reservoirs offer designated swimming areas. "The protected swim beach was a hit during the day with day visitors as well as campers. Lots of the children enjoyed the warm(ish) waters and my son particularly enjoyed hunting for crawfish or crawdads."
Educational opportunities: Steamboat Lake State Park offers interpretive programs. "We love camping on Steamboat Lake. It's absolutely gorgeous, surrounded by mountains, and offers plenty to do while visiting, including fishing, boating, biking, and hiking. Visit the Outpost, or Clark Store for lunch, take a bike ride around the lake, fish for dinner, and soak up the sun."
Site spacing: Craig KOA provides adequate RV accommodation but with typical spacing limitations. "This is a nice and typical KOA. The sites were pretty close together which is the norm for a KOA. The location was great for us. Everything was clean. Our site was next to railroad track but I never saw a train."
Hookup variations: Eagle Soaring RV Park offers full-service sites with certain limitations. "Nice pull through sites. Good showers and laundry. Nice check in staff," mentions an RVer who appreciated the basic amenities.
Facility access: Most RV-friendly campgrounds close to Hayden require planning for water and dump stations. "Sites only have electric but 30 and 50 Amp. Sites have plenty of room between them. Additional $10 entrance fee for non Colorado residents."
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Hayden, Colorado from Steamboat Springs?
Hayden is approximately 25 miles west of Steamboat Springs, a drive that typically takes about 30 minutes via US-40. Many campers use this proximity to enjoy both areas during their stay. Meadows Campground is conveniently located just off the highway between the two towns, making it a good option for travelers. For those wanting to stay closer to Steamboat Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs offers walk-in camping with the bonus of relaxing hot springs access after your drive.
Where are the best camping spots in Hayden, Colorado?
Hayden offers excellent camping opportunities throughout the area. Yampa River Headquarters Campground — Yampa River State Park provides grassy sites with some shade trees and easy access to the river, making it ideal for water activities. For reservoir camping, Bears Ears Campground — Elkhead Reservoir State Park offers drive-in sites with toilet facilities and big rig accommodation. Both options provide a great base for exploring the Hayden area while enjoying Colorado's natural beauty.
What activities and attractions are available near Hayden camping areas?
The Hayden area offers diverse outdoor recreation. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy Freeman Reservoir Campground, where you can fish, hike, and bike in a stunning mountain setting. Hahns Peak Lake Campground, about an hour north of Steamboat, provides access to a beautiful lake with incredible views. The region boasts excellent hiking trails, including paths to waterfalls, off-road vehicle trails, river activities, and wildlife viewing. During winter, nearby Steamboat Springs offers world-class skiing, while summer visitors can enjoy hot springs, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Are RV rentals available in Hayden, Colorado?
While Hayden itself has limited RV rental options, nearby Steamboat Springs (25 miles away) offers several RV rental services. For RV camping in the area, Eagle Soaring RV Park near Steamboat Springs provides drive-in sites with water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly accommodations. Pronghorn Campground — Elkhead Reservoir State Park near Hayden is another excellent option for RVs with its reservable sites and facilities that accommodate larger vehicles.
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