400 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lakewood sits directly west of Denver and functions as a base for campers working their way toward the foothills rather than a place with camping on its own. The Red Rocks corridor is close, and Morrison and Evergreen are both within a short drive. Developed campgrounds with hookups and designated sites operate at several parks in the Jefferson County system, while national forest dispersed access requires a longer drive west. Morrison's dispersed options cover the closest national forest access to this part of the Denver metro. The Lakewood-area developed sites get heavy use on summer weekends given the proximity to the city. Private RV parks near the I-70 corridor tend to have more availability than county parks on peak weekends.
"Chatfield State Park is a great mixture of access to the outdoors with availability of many of the benefits of a metro area close by."
"This is the first time I’ve found a state park so close to a major metro area!! Because of its proximity to Denver, Chatfield fills up quickly, so book well in advance."
from $36 - $200 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Good site if you want to be close to Denver but still have a short drive to the foothills."
"We stayed at Indian Paintbrush Campground in Bear Creek Park in Lakewood, CO right next to Red Rocks Amphitheater. We went to a concert (Old Dominion) and it was a perfect set up."
"This was our first time staying at Bear Creek Lake. The park is not part of the Colorado Wilds or CPW State Park system, but daily vehicle fees are included with your camping reservation."
"Had a great spot right next to the Clear Creek walking path. The campground is clean and well looked after. Clean bathrooms and showers. Close to many hikes and mt trails."
"**Campground Review: ** Golden, CO is a super cute town on the outskirts of Denver. The city has a campground in a prime location, and we were lucky to book a site!"
from $68 - $85 / night
Check Availability"I only gave it 4 stars because on the outskirts of the state park we have a lot of homeless camps popping up oblong Parker road and 225."
"It is in the center of the city, but aside from the traffic on the dam in the distance you would not realize it. "
from $28 - $432 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $33 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"Good location close to interstate to access all the cool towns and site seeing west of Denver."
"When I walked in the office, I was greeted by 5 wonderful sweet dogs. I love dogs so there couldn't have been a better greeting. Kathy was very friendly and helpful."
"It’s $35 a night for a spot super close to the water. The spots are pretty spread out. We are taking our toddler and dogs swimming 100 times a day."
"Take a friend and a picnic for a lovely day on this beautiful lake right here in Arvada. Your worries fall away and you can experience the joy in nature around you. Maybe weird but true!"
from $35 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $28 - $90 / night
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TravelerSign up saying no dispersed camping, pullouts are blocked. Forest service personnel and others work up along the road so probably not worth the risk.
GuideThere’s one actual camping spot when you go over the little bridge.
If you can find the almost hidden turn off (watch your map closely!), It’s a tiny little parking lot holds a good 10 or so cars. You can easily stay a night or two here but you’re gonna be with other people real close!
Since I didn’t stay here, I did not walk up the trail but it looks gorgeous and based on the number of cars there must be people who agree!
ScoutHad to come to Arvada for a swim competition for my kid and decided to book here. I read the reviews before I came, I needed a place to park, plug-in, run my air conditioner between swim sessions and be able to freely drive in and out. Staff was very friendly, place had clean bathrooms and showers. No frills, met all of our needs.
TravelerI wanna start by saying no matter what maps tells you take rainbow Road if you don’t you’re gonna end up needing a true off-road 4 x 4 vehicle. The location was great if you’re gonna go you really need to go on a Thursday or get there about 9 o’clock in the morning on a Friday in order to get a good spot make sure you have levelers with you if you’re gonna be camping in your vehicle, we have a truck with a tent and we definitely had to level with some rock rocks. This campground was completely packed and the night noise was really loud, but the views were great. There’s very limited hiking the weekend that we went unfortunately someone made their campsite right in front of the trailhead and you literally couldn’t go hiking up around the lake, unless she went through their campsite and they were not very friendly about it. Otherwise, this is a wonderful place to go really nice and relaxing. There was lots of chipmunks we had no wildlife issues. There was a ton of mosquitoes, but shockingly none of them beat us. If you go take some bug spray some levelers, and maybe some earplugs for the nighttime noise.
TravelerGood place to step up your RV experience with a little less comforts and hookups. Lake is beautiful as are the views. Easy to get to from the front range.
TravelerPerfect place to test out your new camper and get a feel for RV life. Almost all spots on water, close to trails. Picnic tables and level pads. Full hookups. Very clean with access to bathrooms. Fishing. Downside is right next to the busy interstate. Mountain views, but very much NOT in the mountains.
TravelerWe tried this place out when seeking our first dispersed camping adventure. Easy to get to from Nederland. Would not recommend a trailer greater than 20 feet. Roads can be rough. There were multiple poorly maintained long term camping sites with trash everywhere including a large hole with trash / tents. But it was quiet while there and we saw a large moose.
ScoutWe enjoyed a lot we have everything you need at it at a campground and courteous and very well knowledged enjoyed this day. The only bad thing I have to say about it is a little pricey.
Scoutgreat place to crash on mountain pass with access to Winter Park by bike using the Frasier River trail.
Camping options near Lakewood, Colorado range from 5,280 feet at urban parks to over 9,000 feet in nearby mountain campgrounds. Most sites within 30 minutes of Lakewood don't permit ground fires due to fire danger, with campgrounds like Clear Creek RV Park and Dakota Ridge RV Park enforcing strict no-fire policies. Weather varies dramatically with elevation changes, making layered clothing essential even during summer camping trips.
Mountain biking and hiking trails: Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers extensive trail networks for outdoor activities. "This park has great trails for hiking and mountain biking. There is also a high elevation lake as well as fantastic views of the continental divide," reports one camper at Golden Gate Canyon State Park Campground.
Water recreation and rentals: Paddling enthusiasts can enjoy multiple lakes at Standley Lake Regional Park. "They do have canoes, paddle bikes, and paddle boards for rent though. It's an easy site to get to, and is in the middle of the Denver suburbs," says one visitor to Standley Lake Regional Park. Another camper adds: "Rent a floatation device or bring your own and enjoy the warmth on the lake."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Bird watching is popular at several campgrounds. "I don't know how you could not like a place with a huge lake that bald eagles nest beside. With a rookery, this is the spot for bird enthusiasts!" notes a camper about Standley Lake. Deer, small mammals, and occasionally moose can be spotted at higher elevation campgrounds.
Proximity to Denver with mountain feel: Many campers appreciate how quickly they can escape the city. "We stayed here for a week... If you want to be close to the city and have easy access to any kind of shopping imaginable, this will meet your needs," writes a visitor to Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney.
Lakefront camping with amenities: Bear Creek Lake Park offers water activities plus trail systems. One camper notes, "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding." Another says, "Great camp spots and amazing views!"
Scenic urban escapes: Clear Creek RV Park sits along a creek pathway system. "Along a gorgeous walking path to the mountains, within immediate walking distance to multiple breweries and restaurants, and extremely accessible to the mountains," writes one camper. Another visitor adds: "There is so much to do at this location; aside from the sectioned off RV area, there are lots of paths and locals parks to adventure around."
Reservations essential during peak season: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially on summer weekends. Call ahead if possible or book online well in advance.
Site privacy varies significantly: Campsite layouts range from spacious to cramped. At Reverend's Ridge Campground, "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you to situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs. Mostly level, fire rings, and very large metal picnic tables."
Additional fees apply at many parks: Day-use fees are often charged on top of camping fees. "There is also an $11 day pass fee not included in your camping stay," mentions one visitor about Cherry Creek State Park.
Urban noise impacts some locations: Highway and city noise can be noticeable at campgrounds closer to Denver. "The park is right next to a major interchange where CR-6, I-70, 470, and US-40 all intersect. Expect some road noise as well as the sound of motorcycles from the bar across the street," notes one camper.
Playgrounds and kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds have dedicated facilities for children. "This campground was tiny and a little cramped but was very clean and had running showers that was a plus. It was surrounded by trees but they were small which didn't help block the wind. We would stay here again because the staff was very friendly and they had a nice little store and playground," reports a camper at Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Educational opportunities: Chatfield State Park Campground offers wildlife viewing and nature programs. "Great views of mountains. Just minutes south of Denver. With decent facilities and a playground for kiddos," notes one camper.
Multi-use sites for groups: Many campgrounds accommodate multiple tents per site. "We came with friends with adjacent campsites, so that made it fun. However, if we were camping alone it would have been a little close next door," writes a visitor at Reverend's Ridge Campground.
Limited hookup availability: Many sites offer electric only or partial hookups. "In each loop there is a few bathroom options but our closest one was closed until Memorial Day. Thankfully, the large bathroom and shower house was close to our site. The bathrooms were in excellent condition," notes a visitor to Chatfield State Park.
Leveling challenges at some sites: Prepare with blocks and leveling equipment. "The sites are not very level so be prepared to use your blocks," advises a camper at Reverend's Ridge Campground.
Elevation impacts on vehicles: Higher elevation campgrounds require more power and can cause overheating in summer. RVers should travel with extra coolant and check their brake systems before descending mountain roads to Lakewood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there camping spots with lake access near Lakewood?
Several campgrounds near Lakewood offer excellent lake access. Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake provides beautiful lakeside camping with bathroom facilities and a visitor center. Though sites are somewhat close together, it's perfect for groups wanting water access. Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir offers more secluded camping with reservoir access, particularly at Site 5 which is tucked away in a corner providing privacy while still allowing easy access to the water. Both locations offer fire pits for campfires and nearby hiking opportunities, making them ideal for water-oriented camping experiences within driving distance of Lakewood.
Where are the best campgrounds near Lakewood, CO?
Lakewood offers excellent nearby camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Bear Creek Lake Campground is the closest option, located within Lakewood city limits with electric hookups, playgrounds, and easy access to trails, lake activities, and archery. Just a short drive away, Chatfield State Park Campground provides well-maintained sites with various amenities. For those seeking more of a wilderness experience, the Roosevelt National Forest and Golden Gate Canyon State Park have multiple campgrounds within an hour's drive. Many sites are reservable, which is recommended during peak summer months when campgrounds fill quickly.
Is there RV camping available in Lakewood, Colorado?
Yes, Lakewood and its surrounding areas offer several RV camping options. Dakota Ridge RV Park provides dedicated RV sites, though it's noted to be somewhat pricey even in winter. For a family-friendly option, Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur offers easy highway access and is strategically located between Denver and Colorado Springs. Bear Creek Lake Park also accommodates RVs with electric hookups at their sites. Most RV parks in the area offer water and electric hookups, with many providing full hookups including sewer. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during summer months when parks fill quickly. Some parks impose quiet hours (typically 10pm-8am) and may have length restrictions for larger rigs.
What camping facilities have bathrooms near Lakewood, Colorado?
Several campgrounds near Lakewood offer bathroom facilities. Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park provides bathroom access and is conveniently located next to Red Rocks Amphitheater, making it perfect for combining camping with concerts. Colorado Campground near Woodland Park offers bathroom facilities while being situated close to Manitou Lake and the Pikes Peak wilderness area. For those seeking more amenities, Cherry Creek and Chatfield State Parks both feature modern restroom facilities with flush toilets and shower buildings. Most developed campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months, and typically charge a daily fee plus park entrance fees where applicable.
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