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Brynn O.
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TravelerLostfork Basecamp
This place is incredible. The sound of the river alone will calm your nervous system. Whether you’re camping or staying in one of the cabins, you will not be disappointed.
Camping near Larkspur, CO
290 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping areas around Larkspur, Colorado range from family-oriented resorts to primitive dispersed sites in the Pike National Forest. Jellystone Park at Larkspur provides extensive family amenities including water parks, mini-golf, and cabin options, while Mount Herman Road offers free dispersed camping for those seeking a more rustic experience. The region includes developed options like Colorado Heights Resort in Monument with full hookups for RVs, as well as established campgrounds such as Devil's Head Campground in Sedalia, which operates seasonally from May to October.
Road noise and train traffic affect several campgrounds in the area, particularly those at lower elevations near Larkspur proper. "This place is on the freeway. There is also no fence between the park and the frequently used railroad tracks," noted one visitor about Jellystone Park. Sites at higher elevations in the Pike National Forest generally offer more seclusion but may require high-clearance vehicles for access. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Devil's Head and Colorado Campground typically closing during winter months. Weather conditions can change rapidly in this region, especially at higher elevations where afternoon thunderstorms are common during summer months.
Campers consistently mention the family-friendly environment at Jellystone Park, which caters primarily to families with children. "This place is great for little kids. From flag raising in the morning to hay rides, all day activities to the camp fire story times there is something for every kid to keep busy," according to one camper. For those seeking quieter experiences, dispersed camping options on Mount Herman Road and in the Rampart Range Recreation Area provide alternatives with fewer amenities but more privacy. The Dakan Road camping area receives positive reviews for its accessibility and natural setting, though sites can fill quickly on summer weekends. Most dispersed camping areas permit fires when no fire restrictions are in place, but many lack drinking water, toilets, and other basic facilities common at developed campgrounds.
Best Campgrounds near Larkspur (290)
1. Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping
"If you enjoy panoramic views of the Rockies, drive in dispersed camping and putting your off-roading skills to the test, this dispersed campsite is a must visit!"
"30 minutes and kick back and please crack a cold one for Colorado being the best place."
2. Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur
"For the adults and families who want to hike I highly suggest spruce mountain trail. Nearby and full of great views! We drove around in the nearby quaint town of Larkspur and even spotted a bear!"
"We’re a one night in each location maybe 2 as we tour the US in 4-6week chunks."
from $50 - $170 / night
Check Availability3. Chatfield State Park Campground
"The easy access to the trail around the lake, the spread out sites, the clean bathhouse and laundry room, the sunset over the mountains, the location close to town, and they don’t have any breed restrictions"
"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."
from $36 - $200 / night
Check Availability4. Colorado Heights Resort
"Great campground on Monument hill about 25 miles north of Colorado Springs. It has a outstanding view looking south of front range."
"It’s a little tight at the entrance with the tree of shame. I didn’t hit the tree. So get there early enough that light is still out. Not like we did rolling in late."
5. Rampart Range Recreation Area
"My 9 yr old son and I have been “jeeping” around Colorado for about 8 months now. We make it a point to wake up to a different view every day."
"Fun place to camp lots of sites and pretty trails, however this is known for its off-road ATV riders. If you're staying for a night or you're ATV for the weekend this is your spot."
6. Colorado Campground
"Colorado campground is situated outside of Woodland Park (10 minute drive) and right next to Manitou lake. "
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: COLORADO CAMPGROUND PIKE NATIONAL FOREST https://www.recreation.gov/camping/colorado-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?"
from $28 - $38 / night
Check Availability7. Dakan Road Camping
"Dakan Road is mostly known as an Off-Road vehicle Road, so 4x4’s are suggested to get up to the sites."
"The only issue I found is that being so close to civilization/the city is that there was a lack of camp etiquette from neighboring campsites."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability8. Peregrine Pines FamCamp
"Campground Review Note: This is a military campground only, on the grounds of the US Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs, CO. "
"Downtown Colorado Springs is minutes away and close to attractions. Plus you can take advantage of on base shopping and more."
9. Buffalo Creek Recreation Area
"There's several creeks that run through the area and a network of trails that intersect the Colorado Trail and the road. The area is popular with mountain bikers."
"The area was well kept and obviously beautiful, it's Colorado after all. There was no running water, however the camo host drives an ATV around offering water from giant containers. I loved it."
10. Devil's Head Campground
"My first time In Colorado. It was a little busy but once we found our campsite you would never know it! Awesome views! Campsites very far apart."
"This is a primitive CG that is walk-up only and popular on the weekends..."
from $27 / night
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Drive Time
- 27 min from Colorado Springs, CO
- 35 min from Denver, CO
- 57 min from Pueblo, CO
- 58 min from Boulder, CO
Recent Camping Photos near Larkspur, CO
685 Photos of 290 Larkspur Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Larkspur, CO
1949 Reviews of 290 Larkspur Campgrounds
Kylee R.
RangerCherry Creek State Park Campground
Cherry Creek State Park
Bathrooms were very nice and clean. Lots of sites with minimal privacy. Pretty packed and noisy in October. Our site had electrical hookups and its own water. Picnic tables and fire rings available as well. Looks like a very family friendly campground. Stayed one night.
Daniel H.
ScoutMountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
Great spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
Juliana J.
GuidePhantom Canyon
Love a little history/camping combo!
Cool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
- Juliana J.Guide
Cripple Creek BLM Area
Worth the trek! Stunning landscape right on the creek
Quite the drive but worth it. They were repaving some of the road and I personally had no issues getting to a site. It’s gravel, but doable for most vehicles. There was a propane tank and some trash left behind when I got there (always disheartening to find), but it didn’t feel “lived in” like some other spots have so I ultimately felt pretty safe. It was truly beautiful. I got a spot right at the creek that was tucked away from the main road. Maybe a handful of cars passed throughout my stay, so very peaceful and quiet. Zero amenities, so come prepared. No Verizon cell service. Lots of milky quartz laying about, beautiful birds and minimal bugs. Would make the trek here again in a heartbeat.
Kevin H.ScoutCastle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake
Beautiful family and dog friendly campground!
Lake Wellington is a beautiful family and dog friendly campground just about 90 minutes from Denver. There are 75 sites, and even when it's pretty full they are decently spaced out that you don't feel too on top of other guests. We brought our dogs and a group of friends and had a great few nights, even seeing Bald Eagles mating!
Mariena M.ScoutDenver Meadows RV Park
Convenient
Not the nicest but the owners have helped me out a lot.
Shannon F.ScoutPikes Peak RV Park
New owner are not good people
I want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
- HHeidiTraveler
Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake
Great spot - except for flies
If you are going to camp at a lakefront spot definitely have something you can sit in else you will be attacked by flies. Super quiet during the week - got busy over the weekend.
Guide to Larkspur
Camping sites near Larkspur, Colorado sit between 6,700 and 8,000 feet elevation in the Pike National Forest, where afternoon temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees from daytime highs even in summer. The region's forests consist primarily of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, creating natural windbreaks at many campsites but also contributing to fire danger during dry periods. Many dispersed camping areas close after the first significant snowfall, typically in late October.
What to do
Mountain biking on established trails: Buffalo Creek Recreation Area offers extensive trail systems ideal for various skill levels. "Great camping spot, esp, if you like mountain biking. Not whistler in terms of terrain but plenty of trails for various ability levels," notes one Buffalo Creek Recreation Area visitor. The area shows regrowth from a 1996 fire, creating unique riding terrain.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Colorado Campground provides access to Manitou Lake, just a short hike from campsites. A camper explains, "Manitou Lake Recreation Area for fishing, and we always get at least one fish on the line here! Just a quick 10 min drive to Woodland Park and various amenities." The $7 entry fee for the recreation area is separate from camping fees.
Off-road vehicle exploration: The Rampart Range Recreation Area features designated OHV trails throughout its extensive network. "The area is popular for ATV/Motorbikes but there are some great trails and scenery is wonderful," reports one Devil's Head Campground visitor. Weekdays offer significantly less traffic than weekends when the trails become crowded.
What campers like
Proximity to mountain towns: Colorado Heights Resort in Monument puts campers within easy reach of supplies while maintaining a mountain feel. "Great campground on Monument hill about 25 miles north of Colorado Springs. It has an outstanding view looking south of front range. Close access to the Air Force Academy and all the great things to do around Colorado Springs," shares one Colorado Heights Resort camper.
Panoramic summit views: Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping offers exceptional vistas for those willing to navigate the access road. "Beautiful views, ~50 minutes of rocky gravel road to reach the top but doable in any vehicle depending on the weather. Tons of spots and easy to be secluded. Very few other campers up there at the time we visited," reports one visitor. Higher elevation sites provide cooler temperatures in summer months.
Water activities for hot days: At Chatfield State Park, the reservoir provides relief from summer heat. "Great for biking and all kinds of water sports. Laundry facility on each loop sites are spread out giving plenty of room between sites," notes one camper. The park requires both a day use fee ($10) and camping fee ($26-41 depending on hookups).
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to Mount Herman Road requires careful navigation, especially for larger vehicles. "The road up is very tight. Very skinny switchbacks. About half way up looking for a way to turn around. We got lucky and found a space just barely large enough to back in to carefully," warns one Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping visitor. High-clearance vehicles are recommended after rainfall.
Fire restrictions change frequently: Dakan Road camping areas implement fire bans during dry periods. "There is a fee when you enter. $20/night for one car and $10/night for additional cars. Someone drives around and makes sure you have paid," notes a camper. Always check current fire restrictions before planning campfires.
Noise levels vary by location: Train traffic affects several campgrounds, especially near town. "Not a quiet campground for tenting. This campground is exceptionally nice and the staff is amazing, but if you are in a tent there is a lot of noise pollution from the interstate and trains that come by at all hours of the night blaring their horns," reports a Peregrine Pines visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Water parks and activities: Jellystone Park at Larkspur offers extensive programming for children. "The campsites are amazing and the activities are so much fun. I love the proximity to Denver. Our kiddos love the characters. We will definitely be back each year, even more so with the new park!" shares one Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur visitor.
Educational fire tower hike: Devil's Head Campground provides access to the Devil's Head fire lookout trail. "The view is worth it and the Ranger makes it a great learning experience," notes a visitor. Children can earn certificates from the fire lookout ranger after completing the moderate 1.4-mile hike with 143 stairs at the summit.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Rampart Range Recreation Area offers encounters with local fauna. "The wildlife is abundant with many black squirrels and a ton of black bears," reports a camper. Early mornings and evenings provide the best wildlife viewing times, particularly around water sources.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Colorado Heights requires preparation for uneven terrain. "Our location is quite unlevel. It took four blocks under all tires on one side of our Class A to bring near level. We had to put blocks under the rickety picnic table to even use it," shares one visitor. Bring extra leveling blocks for most sites in this area.
Water pressure variations: Water hookup sites often have strong pressure that can damage RV plumbing. "Water pressure here is really strong so make sure you have a water pressure regulator handy," advises a camper at Peregrine Pines. Most area campgrounds recommend water regulators for hookup sites.
Limited connectivity: Internet access is inconsistent throughout the region. "The internet is terrible. Worst of any campsite we have visited. The internet is recognized, then when you put in the password, an exclamation point pops up that says it is unavailable," notes a Colorado Heights visitor. For reliable service, consider sites closer to Larkspur or Monument.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV parks in Larkspur, CO with full hookups?
Are there RV parks in Larkspur, CO with full hookups?
Pikes Peak RV Park offers full hookups, though it's better suited for smaller RVs despite accommodating some larger rigs. This park is located at the edge of Manitou Springs. For those seeking a more premium experience, Dakota Ridge RV Park provides full hookup sites with on-site propane service, though it tends to be on the pricier side even in winter months. The staff is known for being friendly and accommodating. Other options in the region include Peregrine Pines FamCamp near the U.S. Air Force Academy and Chatfield State Park Campground in Littleton, both offering hookup sites for RVs of various sizes.
What campgrounds are available in Larkspur, Colorado?
What campgrounds are available in Larkspur, Colorado?
Larkspur and its surrounding area offer several camping options. Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur is a popular family-oriented RV park right in Larkspur. Nearby, Indian Creek Campground provides a more traditional camping experience with a friendly host, though it's worth noting its proximity to Denver means some airport noise. Other options in the region include Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping for those seeking free camping, and Devil's Head Campground near Sedalia for a more rustic experience. The area's central location between Denver and Colorado Springs makes it an ideal base for exploring both urban attractions and natural areas like Pike National Forest.
What is Jellystone Park in Larkspur, Colorado and what activities do they offer?
What is Jellystone Park in Larkspur, Colorado and what activities do they offer?
Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur is a large, family-oriented camping resort specifically designed for families with children. The park features hundreds of camping spots and offers an impressive array of activities including a water park, bounce pad, putt-putt golf, and golf cart rentals. While not a wilderness experience (it's located close to the highway with associated noise), it provides convenient access to attractions in both Colorado Springs and Denver. For those wanting to explore nature during their stay, Spruce Mountain Trail is recommended nearby. The campground can get quite busy and noisy, especially during peak season, making it better for social campers than those seeking solitude.
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