Best Cabin Camping near Laporte, CO

General: Many different options: tent sites (with or without hookups), back-in 50/30 amps FHU (with or without patio), Pull-thru 50/30 amps (options include patio and/or hot tub), camping cabins and deluxe cabins. 

Site Quality: All sites are level and have a concrete pad. Although the sites are close together with no privacy between them, there is some separation with a grass strip.

Bath/Shower: Code to enter and clean with soap and paper towels. 

Activities: So many options. My favorite was the half-mile fitness trail that circles the lake. Other activities include mini golf, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, bike rentals, a fishing pier, a pool, and a nicely appointed playground. 

Other amenities include a library, laundry, train depot, paddle boats, and a small store. 

While this is not our preferred type of camping, it suited our needs for a night en route home, and I loved the gravel fitness trail. It was not high season yet so some things such as the pool and paddle boats were not available, and the campground was not full so it was quieter than it would be on a summer weekend.

This park is located just outside of Estes Park, right along the river. The park is very clean and the staff is exceptionally helpful. The sites are level, but rather small and close together. There are no trees in most of the sites. The facilities were acceptable, although the pool and hot tub were closed during our visit. The trash pickup was a nice touch, just leave your trash at the front of your site and they collect it. No canopies are allowed, which is a downside without trees and also no campfires, which will keep our group from returning.

We got into Estes Park on a Friday night with plans to stay elsewhere but those fell through. Luckily, Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Park had spots open for us! The park itself is lovely, well maintained and a spectacular view of Long's Peak. Facilities were very nice and clean. Hot tub and pool were wonderful for days after hikes. They had live music and drinks on the weekends, plus free pancakes in the morning on Sunday! The price was a bit steep but we loved it so much we sucked it up and stayed longer than expected (plus it's Estes Park, what do you expect?). The staff there was probably some of the nicest staff I've seen at an RV park - very kind and helpful. One of our favorite places to stay (since there aren't many options for dispersed camping in the area).

Let me preface this review by stating that is it weren’t for some regrettable encounters with one deplorable staff member(manager) this would have been a 4 star review. More on that later.... 

This campground is ideally located in my opinion, situated between Estes Park and Rocky Mtn NP, right next to a river, short walk to a grocery store (with shuttle to downtown) and alongside a road you can use to bypass the nasty summer traffic, I can’t think of a better place to be. My family and I stayed here for a week in a 34 ft travel trailer. The campground has a pool, hot tub, office with some supplies, full hookups, spacious sites, playground, fishing pond, laundromat, and a modest mini golf course. I was really impressed with the site width(in a busy destination such as Estes Park you would expect to be crammed in). Each site is bordered by log fencing to add to the feel of a large space. Sites are level and graveled. The pool is decently sized and the hot tub is fairly new. Mini golf is fun(clubs and balls and borrowed from the office) but is a little run down. 

So with all this good stuff, what are the cons? Well, the laundry machines are old and expensive. The activities center was never open, even on the 4th of July. No campfires at the sites and the community campfire is uninviting. The wifi is almost non-existent except at the pool/office. The game room is locked and empty. And the manager drives around the campground flying pirate flags and curses out his staff for insufficient reasons, in front of children. When my husband confronted him about this, he huffed off and never apologized, even though he walked by our site frequently. I am told that this is being brought to the attention of the owners, but since no action has been taken as of the time of this post, it is being included in this review. The other staff have been friendly. 

Overall, I would stay here again but would make sure the situation with the manager has been rectified.

     This is a KOA you come to stay a while. There's LOADS of stuff to do for kids & there are a LOT of kids who visit with their parents. Bounce house, jumping pillow, inflatable slide, basketball, shuffle board, pickleball, fishing, paddleboats in the shape of a swan/dragon/flamingo, a pool AND splashpad. There's a cute train that takes kids & parents through the campground. This is kid paradise & there's a lot of them on bikes & running around the campground.

       There was just my husband & I camping here. My husband enjoyed the catch & release fishing. Fishing was good according to him. I liked the hiking trail around the pond. We were able to have a fire. Our site was on the end, close to the bathroom. It was the site I had talked to the reservation line lady, so I was happy. Two of the sites actually had hot tubs! For more money of course.  

    The problems- I received a text the morning of our arrival saying if we needed anything to text& they'd get back to us. I had a question about directions to the KOA, since they said on the email not to use GPS. I texted around 9am & NEVER got a response. EVER! They continued to text me throughout the stay for this & that.

    We should have followed the GPS directions, since the way the KOA took us was through town & was completely nerve wracking.

    The staff was courteous, but not really friendly. Asked for some area info. Staff member said they had a rack with info. A small table top one with restaurants. She also had a tear off map of Fort Collins which was helpful. Seemed put out that I asked. 

     The bathrooms turned out to be 5 unisex toilet/shower combos, which are pretty inconvenient when you need to poop  & all of them are taken by people showering. There are 3 other restrooms in the KOA, but we only used the one by site 84. The bathrooms seemed to always need attention. I think the employees needed to visit more than once a day. Not really KOA clean.

This is one of my all-time favorite places to hike and camp in Colorado. I have not yet stayed in any of the campgrounds but have backpacked to the top of the American Lakes Trail. Not only is this hike fantasticly beautiful and full of wildlife (tons of moose especially) but there is great dispersed camping along the trails. You simply cannot find more scenic and free camping in Colorado. I would highly recommended camping anywhere in State Forest State Park!

Also, there are quite a few huts, cabins and yurts that can be rented year round in SFSP!