Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Idledale, CO has a lot to offer. Idledale is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Idledale, CO. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Located just south of Littleton, about 45 minutes south of Denver, Chatfield State Park is a 5,800-acre nature preserve and recreation area situated around the Chatfield Reservoir. Before the 1960s, there was no reservoir, and the South Platte River flowed freely through the wide valley. But after several disastrous flooding incidents, the Chatfield Dam was constructed on the river to prevent further damage to local homes and farms. The land around the new reservoir was developed into a recreation area, and the state park was opened to the public in 1975. The dam and park are named for Isaac W. Chatfield, who served as a Lieutenant of the Union in the Civil War. After the war, he migrated west and farmed this land along the Platte until the late 1800s. With its proximity to the wider Denver metro area and suburbs, Chatfield State Park is the place to go to get outdoors and beat the summer heat. Campers at Chatfield State Park have access to nearly 200 tent and RV campsites in four loops. The majority of sites are equipped with full hookups, with the rest having electrical hookups. Parking pads are both back-in and pull-through, and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 45 feet. Some sites are ADA accessible. All campsites have picnic tables, cooking grills and tent pads, and have access to drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, and laundry facilities; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. There is also a group camp area with 10 sites that can accommodate up to 36 people each. Most sites are open and grassy, with minimal shade; all are within a short walking distance to the reservoir. Park residents include deer, elk, foxes, prairie dogs, songbirds, eagles, owls, snakes and salamanders. For water fun, there’s swimming, paddling, water-skiing, and fishing on the reservoir. Boaters have access to two launch ramps, and anglers can fish on the lake or from the fishing piers for walleye, rainbow trout, bass, perch and sunfish. During the winter season, trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and ice fishing is a popular pastime.
$36 - $41 / night
Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers multiple campgrounds, cabins, yurts, RV sites, group sites, and a guest house.
From Memorial Day to early October, there are 132 campsites in two campgrounds: Reverend’s Ridge and Aspen Meadow.
Reverend’s Ridge offers 38 tent sites and 59 sites with electrical hook-ups. Facilities at Reverend’s Ridge include flush toilets, shower, ice machine, laundry facilities, and a dump station.
Aspen Meadow offers 35 tent sites and vault toilets.
As of January 1, 2019 both campgrounds will be Reservation Only.
Golden Gate also offers 20 backcountry tent sites and four backcountry shelters. Our backcountry sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis year-round. Please register for backcountry sites at the Visitor Center.
$18 - $90 / night
The Indian Paintbrush Campground is located within the county-run Bear Creek Lake recreation area outside Denver, CO. In close proximity to the city of Denver and popular tourist destinations like Red Rocks amphitheater, the Bear Creek Lake Park camping blends urban and rural qualities to make one of the finest camping destinations around Denver. The campground has 47 campsites, 3 cabins, 2 yurts and 1 group site.
$35 - $65 / night
Welcome to Denver’s natural and spacious backyard playground, Cherry Creek State Park. There’s so much to see and enjoy. Summers are busy and action packed with Cherry Creek State Park camping, while off-peak times are quiet and laid back. Anchored around a 880 surface acre reservoir, the park offers a natural prairie environment of gentle, rolling hills and complete outdoor recreation facilities, including camping, picnicking and facilities for group events.
$28 - $41 / night
We provide year-round access for camping and day use. Whether you’re interested in an overnight stay or just plan to visit during the day, we offer a wide variety of activities: from camping to fishing, swimming and canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, and more. In winter, activities also include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Wellington Lake, one of our greatest attractions, is a privately-owned natural wilderness area. The 167-acre lake is managed as a trophy fishery with an emphasis on conservation. Just a short drive’s distance from Denver and Colorado Springs, we welcome all visitors looking for a relaxing mountain getaway in the great outdoors.
*Jefferson County is in a Stage 1 FIRE BAN.
**Due to extreme fire danger a Red Flag warning has been issued and NO CAMPFIRES are allowed in the park at this time.
$40 - $120 / night
Whether you commune with nature in a tent or prefer the comfort of a camper or motorhome for your nature sojourn, Standley Lake has plenty to offer. Standley Lake offers individual campsites and Deluxe Bell Tent rentals by reservation only. Reservations can be made beginning in January of each year. There are sixty-six (66) camp sites available for reservation and six Deluxe Bell Tents. The main campground accommodates RV units, camp trailers and tents. The park offers two permanent restroom facilities with free outdoor showers and drinking water. There are also self-serve water-fill spigots located in the campground. Each campsite features a fire pit and picnic table for your use.
Public camping is available May 1 through Sept. 30. There are no hookups and no dump station available at Standley Lake, although the City of Westminster does operate a dump station that accepts discharge of wastewater from the kitchens and personal sanitary conveniences of recreational vehicles for a fee. The station is located at the Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, 13150 Huron St. Camping is available only in designated sites and camping passes must be displayed on campsite post at all times. There are several ADA accessible campsites and the Deer Bell Tent is also ADA accessible.
$35 - $55 / night
Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the base of Mount Blue Sky along Hwy 103. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and taking scenic drives along Mount Evans Road.
Activities in the area include hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. Several trails leave directly from the campground.
Activities in the area include hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. Several trails leave directly from the campground.
Echo Lake sits in a spruce forest near the shores of Echo Lake. The campground's 10,600' elevation creates cool to chilly nights, even in summer, and its location on a mountain pass makes for windy conditions year-round. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland on the foothills and slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide. The area encompasses mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles.
Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing. History buffs will appreciate the Argo Gold Mine and Mill Museum. The City and County of Denver Mountain Park, Echo Lake and Echo Lake Lodge are located adjacent to the campground.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
$16 - $23 / night
$30 - $65 / night
Stayed the last night with a rental RV that we needed to return to Denver by 10;30 AM. Campground has an unusual lay out with "loops" being 3 rings of sites. Sites are spread out well. Lots of privacy, Within an hour's drive of the RV rental return location (with a Costco on the way to fill the gas tank). Some sites have elec/water/sewer at the sites. Some have just electrical - this was our site. A communal water/sewer was available with ability to handle two vehicles at the same time.
We loved this campground for the stunning views, super clean bathrooms, and the easy access to hiking in RMNP. So many trails to choose from, either directly from the campground, or across the Bear Lake Road to the Park N Ride. Can't say enough about the views, especially if your site is in the open center area like ours was at C119. There are lots of sites with shade as well. Sites are pretty close together but since we did not take our pups (they can't go on the park trails) we didn't mind.
Very difficult to snag a reservation but daily persistence paid off and we got one night which was the last night of their season. So glad we did. Will try again for next year!
If you are used to RV sites or KOA you will be ok with this. On a scale of 1-5 here are my impressions.
Overall esthetic 2. The lake is nice. The rest of the area is well compacted dirt with some scattered trees. City/road noise 2.
3 nights starting Thursday after Labor Day. Was able to get the reservation 2 weeks ahead as it was released for use. Camping at this campground also gives you a time+ entry permit good for bear lake road. After 1 pm the first day and then anytime on following days. They have planted many new pine trees a few years ago to replace the ones destroyed years ago. Even then the shade in much of C loop is nonexistent. Thus a tarp is a good thing. Sites are reasonably well separated. In a few years as the new trees mature the privacy between sites will be good or very good. Restrooms were clean. Their time actuated lights makes the campground dark if no one is using the head. That is very good because star watching was excellent (near a new moon). Evening ranger program was held in the amphitheater each night. Hiking trail to sprague lake is about a mile with plenty of birds and other critters. We saw a weasel and a flock of turkeys. At sprague lake around 9 am the local moose goes wading to eat. And of course you are in the park, so you can drive to see elk, coyotes, pika, marmots and more. Great place. T-Mobile varied from 2 bars LTE or 2 bars 5G. Sufficient connectivity
Lots of room to spread out but some weird regulations. Like only 3.2% alcohol?
We camped right on the reservoir and watched the sun set from our site. Nice allocated areas to set up tents on flat ground and a good sizes fire pit. Just know there’s no firewood left to scavenge on the grounds.
Just a couple small things: There was lots of big rigs (although not right next to you) and you could hear highway 34 for a good portion of the stay.
Beautiful views and a great spot of Bear Lake Rd.
Nice campground right along the lake. Friendly host that had a few supplies and provided firewood. We saw a bull moose too!
Super awesome fishing out here if you know where to go. Great camping. We’ve enjoyed this area!
Clinging to the side of the mountain, each well appointed site fits the camper's needs, from basic tent pads up to full water and electric connections for RVs. Common bathroom, shower, dish and clothes washing facilities centrally located, clean and well maintained. Sites are spread out a bit if also a little small. Every day I had mule deer visiters. I would definitely stay here again.
Good spot. County was in a burn ban so no fires or charcoal grills allowed. Lake had some weird rules. You have to buy a county park pass when making reservation.
I chose this park due to the other reviews but they obviously had much different experience than we did. We were given camp site 44 and we were shocked! When we backed our little Little Guy teardrop camper into the spot we were 13 feet from the camper on the left, and there were 3 campers backed in at the back within FEET. Then a new camper pulled in on the right, a camper van. It was 5 feet from our door. Basically, it was like cramming 3 campers into one spot. It was like they put 3 campers in 1 campsite. This was an inside camp spot. The outer spots had more room. Also, out sewer hook up was 10 inches above ground making it super hard to get drainage. We looked around and there were quite a few like that but most were close to the ground. Like I said, it’s like they made 3 site out of one. The bathhouse is fine. They do have a nice laundry facility but you have to sign up for a time slot since the campground is so big. They had firewood and camper/camping supplies at the office. Given how many other campgrounds are in the area, I wouldn’t stay at this one again.
The campground has spacious spots. Ours was large enough for a popup and very large tent. Our site was also a short walk down to Lake Dillon which was perfect for the kids and dogs to splash around in. Close proximity to Frisco is great too if you want to get some pizza for a meal.
Really cool campground! We were able to tube on the river and we were at site five so we had direct access to the river as well. Just as a heads up this is a walk in site, but your cars aren’t parked very far away. And if you have a rooftop tent, you can still use that. Just know that your car will be parked on the road. It’s also $10 extra per night for an additional vehicle past the two vehicle per site limit.
Stayed two nights in July. Apparently quiet time is just a phrase here — multiple groups around us were loud well past 10pm but nobody came around to check. Bathroom access was an issue in the AM due to only one stall.
Not a lot of shade, ground kinda pebbly. If you’re looking for a quick post up near Denver or Boulder, sure. If you’re looking for peaceful camping, you could do far better. I suppose it’d be different in an RV, but tenting wasn’t good.
Either way, if you stay here, bring good earplugs.
We called in the early evening, booked over the phone, & had a map with directions to our site waiting for us. The site was easily accessible & the restrooms were clean & well stocked. It’s close to the interstate, but just fine for one night.
Overall was a good spot close to Manitou Lake and Cheesman Canyon areas. A lot of open spots on a mid-June weekend but glad we reserved as some were really small. The campground was pretty nice especially spot #2 which had a ton of space to itself: clean, close access to restrooms/trash, good fire pits, chopped wood for sale, and overall well maintained by Jerry the host. My only gripe about this campground is all the spots were really angled making it a bit awkward for a RTT'er. Sort of narrow parking and very angled lots - just need to bring leveling blocks or a way to prop yourself a bit which we had.
Bugs not bad at all and quiet from the main road down the way which was nice. Would highly recommend for tenters and RTT'ers.
Great campground with beautiful views of the mountains! We loved the access to bear lake road. Bathrooms were clean. Site was large. Ice and firewood for sale. We loved our stay here!
Lake side camping, odd number campsites
We attempted to find a spot here for the week of the 4th of July. In hindsight, we should have known this would be difficult at a first come, first serve place. We arrived about 9am and hung out to see if anyone would be leaving but to no prevail. The sites are close together and it is definitely not made for super big rigs. There is a camp host available for questions. It’s on the pricey side at $28/night. We will be back!
This campground is pretty big, but fills up fast! There are two camping loops, both include pull-in & tent only sites. Each site has a fire ring with a grate & a bear box. There is a flushable bathroom & garbage bins available on each loop. They also have a camp host for each loop where you can purchase firewood. All sites are within walking distance to the water front but none are located directly on the water. All in all, a beautiful campground with friendly hosts & people! My only complaint is the rates are $25/night plus $8 for extra cars. Just a bit pricey in my opinion!
Really easy to get to and the services were spot on. The views are also stunning and there is plenty of hiking to do.
Nicest bathrooms anywhere I have stayed for camping. Views are awesome, and super close to shuttle to go up to trail heads at Bear Lake. If you’re going to hike and there is snow, please wear traction like micro spikes.
Friendly hosts, clean bathrooms with hot pay showers which are $2 for 6 minutes. Some trees with partial shade. Nice spacing between sites unless you are a big rig and those are closer together. Well stocked camp store with ice, wood, laundry and all the essentials, and pool for the kids. It gets windy in the afternoon so might want to skip the awning/canopy. It is close to a road but never heard it at night.
This was my first backpacking experience and I couldn't recommend it more for first timers. There is a designated pad for your tent, a bear locker and even an outhouse all nearby. My wife and I stayed at site K and it was beautiful.
Stopped by to SUP after some nights in the Arapaho National Forest. I day-camped for $5–multiple points to picnic with tables with loads of shade (but not shaded parking) to SUP on lovely Lake Grandby. Vault toilets available throughout the area. I considered overnight camping but felt too busy even on a Tuesday. Beware the wind—would have paddled sooner on the water but the wind was fierce for a few days straight.
Spent 3 beautiful nights here. Got here on Memorial Day and the campground was almost empty. Clean restrooms and beautiful views, very accessible and close to the road, saw deer, moose, and lots of birds from my site
Camping near Idledale, Colorado, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful getaway, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Idledale, Colorado, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Idledale, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Idledale, CO is Chatfield State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 74 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Idledale, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 53 glamping camping locations near Idledale, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
