Searching for the best camping near Idaho Springs, CO? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Idaho Springs is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Idaho Springs, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$18 / night
"area was plowed open to exactly the width of our trailer, so with more than three feet of snow on the ground we needed to get some exercise and do a bit of shoveling so we could back in and be able to walk"
"Late October is very unpredictable in Colorado for a camper who is primarily a tent camper."
"8100’ high. 7 miles off I-70 at Idaho Springs. 25 miles into outskirts of Denver. Don’t worry they have oxygen! Not kidding!!"
"This location is about 39 miles from Downtown Denver or about 45-60 mins (with traffic). They should just say Central City KOA in the title."
$28 - $202 / night
"This spot is just a quick ride outside of Golden. The scenery is gorgeous with several trails to hike or mountain bike. The campsites are clean and easy to get to."
"Stunning campground nestled right outside Golden and Boulder Colorado. We couldn’t believe it…so close but you feel incredibly removed once you get there."
$33 - $40 / night
"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. "
"The highway noise was very noticeable, but didn’t take away from the peaceful setting. It was a clean campground. The bathrooms and showers were clean and have a key code for entry."
"Resources were running low on a Friday night so it was great pull off great views close to idaho springs down town , nice hiking trails as well traffic is pretty much non existent after 9pm"
"Any unpaved areas around it are not flat."
"So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."
"Getting here is easy, only a few miles away from Nederland and I had cell service (verizon) the entire time."
$26 / night
"Tons of forests to explore nearby. It was very busy- sign said campground full but after a drive around all the sites we found one that was open!"
"The proximity to Central City/ Black Hawk is crazy ( less than 2-3 miles) but the proximity to i70 is what makes it a hidden gem."
$26 / night
"This was a great place for a quick getaway, as its only 14 miles south of Idaho Springs. The campground is best suited for tent or small trailers. Its high altitude, nestled in the pines."
"Echo Lake campground is situated off Squaw Pass Rd next to Echo Lake and the start of Mt Evans Rd."
"Just outside of Idaho Springs, take the exit for Co Rd 275 off of I-70. It's a scenic drive up a curvy paved road for about 15 minutes."
"It is about 7 miles of dirt road, and 4 miles of very challenging (for me) driving.
Be sure to follow the sign LEFT to Chinns Lake. "
"If you’re looking for a solid RV park near Golden that’s clean and dog friendly, this place is for you. Staff were very polite and helpful."
"This park is kind of pricey even in the winter (we stayed Nov22-Jan23) but it’s Colorado and it’s all pretty pricey. Park staff is super friendly and accommodating."
RangerPulled up on this spot after many failures on the way and it was great. Just a little camping ring and great views. What more can you ask for. Only saw two other cars go further up the road, which gets a bit more treacherous (4wd recommended) but I stopped at site 8 which was perfect. Did experience a massive rain/hail storm overnight so not super ideal but I’m not one to let that take away from the spot!
RangerUnable to access sites on road as it is completely closed after the trailhead. But when it reopens, this is going to be an awesome spot. Nice and close to breck village and beautiful alpine views of the lake below. Just be careful if you are also an Apple Maps user, the directions did not put me in the right spot so be sure to use another service or directly the coordinates.
RangerBeautiful views but no road access. I hiked up to see the spot but given the fact that I only prepped to car camp the hike is a little unmanageable for car camping easy access.
GuideWorth the drive. Roads are good condition. Made it easy in my EKKO 22a.
GuideNice views of the never summer mountains. The bathrooms have lights on all night long and with flush toilets and air dryers it was a bit noisy. Sites close together, was hoping for a bit more space. Road noise, but quoted down by the evening.
ScoutIt’s right next to 72, so traffic sounds, and there’s 4 wheelers and dirts bikes, so not exactly quiet. I will only stay the one night, too loud for me.
ScoutThis is a trailhead parking lot, right off I-70. Heavy traffic noise. Not suitable for camping. Can accommodate RVs and overnight parking, so I reckon it's an adequate spot to rest up for a spell
Traveler*Note: Images DO NOT capture the true beauty of the scenery*
Pros: For a dispersed camping experience that's well maintained, I'd recommend Sugarloaf Road. There are several spots for tent placement, panoramic mountain views, a well put together fire pit that you can actually use, so much free firewood and kindling, shade trees, and the spacing between sites is awesome! The area is generally quiet despite the occasional vehicle passing by. Something I was happy to have was moderate (2-3 bars) cell (T-Mobile) and WiFi (AT&T) service.
Cons: The bugs are giant. Ants are the size of crickets and some of them fly, spiders are thriving, flies are flying, and some type of grasshopper or cricket can be heard around the clock. They didn't disturb my camping experience too much, just a heads up.
The road turns into a rocky challenge pretty quickly. High clearance would make life easier but I have a low clearance sedan that made it down towards the end of the road. I never went over 3 mph but I made it there and back without damage.
There is a mountain lion in the area and they warn to watch your kids and pets. You'll see the signs when you first enter. This is the first site in CO that I didn't see a "Bear Area" warning which was a nice change.
If you can get a spot, it's worth checking out.
TravelerFirst off the campsite locations for hidden wilderness roadside camp is somewhat misleading. Once you get to where # 1 is marked on the map, there are essentially spots scattered along that road all the way past wilderness camp #3. It’s not just a group of campsites at anyone location. This is one of those places where you kind of think you’re lost the entire time but then every couple minutes you’ll pass another campsite. Now please note well you might pull this off in a 2 Wheel Dr. I would seriously recommend four-wheel-drive. This is a very rocky steep Jeep trail essentially. From the paved road, we slowly drove a solid 30 minutes up this road before we picked a campsite. There are campsites ever so often both on the left and right side of the road that are marked only by a pull off area with a fire pit. If you pick the right spot, there are absolutely beautiful views, and it is very spread out and secluded. It says you need a permit, but we didn’t bother. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an adventure and not just some regular campground. Our campsite didn’t have much even ground, but we strung up hammocks so that wasn’t really an issue. There are no facilities at all to ever so you will need to pack in and pack everything out yourself .
Camping near Idaho Springs, Colorado, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Idaho Springs, Colorado, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an action-packed adventure, there's something for you in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Idaho Springs, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 410 campgrounds and RV parks near Idaho Springs, CO and 131 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Idaho Springs, CO is Deer Creek Campground — Golden Gate Canyon with a 4.6-star rating from 48 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 131 free dispersed camping spots near Idaho Springs, CO.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Idaho Springs, CO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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