299 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and national forests surrounding Lone Tree, Colorado provide a strategic basecamp for exploring the Front Range. Within a 30-minute drive, Chatfield State Park Campground offers year-round camping with full hookups for RVs and tent sites near a reservoir popular for water recreation. Cherry Creek State Park Campground, located in Aurora, similarly provides developed camping with modern amenities including electric, water, and sewer connections. For those seeking more rustic experiences, the Pike National Forest to the west contains dispersed camping areas like Buffalo Creek Recreation Area and Rampart Range Recreation Area, where primitive sites require self-sufficiency but offer greater solitude among ponderosa pines.
Road conditions and seasonal considerations significantly impact camping accessibility in the region. Many dispersed sites in the foothills require high-clearance vehicles, as one camper noted: "It is very important that you have a high clearance car to drive on the road. It's a lot like off-roading on some parts." Elevation changes bring cooler temperatures even in summer months, with nighttime temperatures at higher elevations frequently dropping into the 30s even in September. Reservations are essential for state park campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, with bans typically implemented from late spring through early fall depending on conditions.
Campers consistently mention the contrast between developed and primitive sites in the area. State park campgrounds provide reliable amenities but less privacy, with one reviewer noting: "If you're looking to get into the wilderness and away from civilization for a while, this place is not for you." Conversely, dispersed camping areas offer greater seclusion but require preparation. Cell service remains surprisingly strong throughout much of the region, with AT&T and Verizon providing coverage at most established campgrounds. Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near I-25 and C-470, though sites deeper within park boundaries typically offer quieter surroundings. The proximity to Denver makes these camping areas popular for weekend trips, with Friday arrivals recommended to secure preferred sites.
"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"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"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."
"Note: If the GPS takes you to a dirt road with a closed gate at the end, get back on the highway and take the next exit to the park entrance."
"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."
"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."
"We’re a one night in each location maybe 2 as we tour the US in 4-6week chunks."
"When we arrived we found out our spot was by the train we asked to be moved and they were extremely accommodating and put us in another spot up higher away from train."
from $50 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"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."
"Lots of good food nearby."
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.
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.
TravelerMost excellent staff. The park is all crushed bedrock gravel. More trees than other local RV parks. Good facilities and exceptionally clean. Mix of long term and transient campers. Close to Old Colorado City with museums, street fairs, and etc. Good base to explore this part of the front range.
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.
GuideSpacious site with level concrete pads. Convenient to many attaching and amenities. Clean bath and shower facilities. Clean laundry facilities too
ScoutLots of garbage everywhere, only half the sites have bear boxes, a lot of car noise, and a lot of inconsiderate families that you can tell don't camp often. They're leaving bags of garbage outside, filling up air mattresses at 430 in the morning, letting their kids run around our campsite. We spent all of 12 hours here before deciding to leave and take the hit on the second night
GuideThis is a good location! Theres only a few RV spots with electricity, but we stayed at a 30 amp site. No sewer or water connections, but there was potable water just ahead of our site that we used to fill up our water tank. Staff was kind and there was security! Site was pretty level. Had a great stay!
Camping sites near Lone Tree, Colorado vary widely in elevation, with options from foothills at 6,000 feet to mountain sites approaching 8,500 feet. Pine National Forest areas offer primitive camping with variable road conditions, while most established campgrounds maintain seasonal operation from May through September. Summer nights frequently drop to 40°F even during July and August at higher elevations.
Mountain biking opportunities: Buffalo Creek Recreation Area offers extensive trail networks popular with cyclists. As one visitor notes, "Great camping spot, esp. if you like mountain biking. Not whistler in terms of terrain but plenty of trails for various ability levels." The area shows regrowth from a 1996 fire with "sprouts and smaller trees show you a preview of how nature heals."
Water recreation access: At Chatfield State Park Campground, visitors enjoy proximity to the reservoir. One camper explains, "Great views of mountains. Just minutes south of Denver. With decent facilities and a playground for kiddos." Another notes, "Great for biking and all kinds of water sports."
Hiking nearby: Indian Creek Equestrian Campground connects to extensive trail systems. "The Indian Creek trail system is ideal for mountain biking or running, with access to the Colorado Trail running through it as well." One visitor mentioned, "The trail heading North out of the parking lot is great, well maintained and also has hidden 7 dwarfs along the trail to try and find."
Privacy between sites: Rampart Range Recreation Area offers dispersed camping with good separation. A camper shared, "We researched the spots in this area, and were surprised at how far spread the sites actually are." Another noted, "We found a safe spot for us to go shooting clays the next day and we had a blast just releasing some energy."
Family-friendly amenities: Nearby campgrounds provide facilities for children. At Bear Creek Lake Park, "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding." Another visitor mentioned it offers "great views of the foothills. Lots of park amenities like horse stables, archery range, swim beach, boat rentals, hiking trails, picnic areas."
Convenient location: Most camping options sit within 30-60 minutes of Lone Tree. A camper at Cherry Creek State Park Campground noted, "We stayed here for one night before heading back out on the road. This place is huge and has many amenities. It's very well maintained." Another mentioned, "There is definitely a lot to do!"
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds around Lone Tree have limited seasonal operations. At Indian Creek Equestrian Campground, the season runs "May 23 to September 7" with vault toilets and water spigots available during this period. Outside these dates, facilities close and water systems are winterized.
Fire restrictions: Regulations vary by location and current conditions. At Bear Creek Lake Park, some campers noted fire restrictions: "No fires allowed" despite having designated areas for them. Always check current fire bans before visiting.
Site availability challenges: Popular areas fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. A Buffalo Creek visitor shared: "This is a very nice area with many walking/biking trails. The area is busy and can easily fill for the weekend by Thursday mid-day." Another camper warned, "We got up there around 6:30pm on Friday night and after driving around for a couple hours ended up bailing and going home."
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds feature dedicated areas for children. A visitor to Chatfield State Park recommended: "This is one of our favorite spots to stay when visiting Denver area. Great for biking and all kinds of water sports." Another mentioned the "playground for kiddos" making it suitable for families.
Educational opportunities: Jellystone Park at Larkspur offers themed activities. A camper shared: "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 kids to keep busy." Another mentioned, "My kids LOVED the activities they offered like the pancake breakfast, pool, hayride, Yogi Bear, and a kid 'escape room'."
Weather preparation: Temperature swings are common, with 30-40°F drops after sunset even in summer. One visitor to Rampart Range Recreation Area advised, "We arrived Wednesday morning and realized it was too far in than we would've liked so we landed at site 33 and it was AMAZING!" They recommended layers and proper sleeping gear.
Reservation timing: For RV sites with hookups, book well in advance. At Cherry Creek State Park Campground, "The sights were concrete and level. It was a little pricey, but we would stay again when visiting family, because there is definitely a lot to do!" Another noted, "Reservations can be made six months out. Two week limit."
Site spacing considerations: Some parks have tighter spacing between sites. A visitor at Dakota Ridge RV Park stated, "Sites are not necessarily level & certainly aren't spacious. Grass is pretty sad or nonexistent except right at the office." Consider site dimensions when booking if your rig has slides or you need outdoor space.
Hookup availability: Electrical service varies between campgrounds. At Chatfield State Park, a camper explained, "There are no 'tent only' sites. The minimum has electric ($26). There are 3 different areas - each has multiple bathhouses, which have coin-laundry available." Most state parks around Lone Tree offer at least electric service at RV sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Lone Tree campground?
Amenities at campgrounds near Lone Tree vary widely. At Colorado Campground, you'll find established campsites with fire pits, picnic tables, and proximity to Manitou Lake for recreational activities. The campground provides access to numerous hiking trails in the Pikes Peak wilderness area while remaining just a 10-minute drive from Woodland Park for supplies. For those seeking more facilities, Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur offers convenient highway access and modern amenities, though it's less secluded and wilderness-oriented.
Do I need reservations for camping at Lone Tree?
Reservation requirements vary by campground. At Kenosha East Campground, sites are first-come, first-served with no reservation option. Visitors note that arriving by Friday afternoon usually secures a spot, though it fills to 90% capacity by evening during peak season. In contrast, Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake requires advanced planning, especially for weekend stays during summer months. For dispersed camping options, no formal reservations exist, but popular areas fill quickly on weekends.
Where is Lone Tree camping located?
The Lone Tree area offers several camping options in Colorado's beautiful landscapes. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area provides dispersed camping with approximately 15 numbered sites along forest road 233.1, with additional unnumbered sites further down the road offering scenic views. For a different experience, Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail offers remote camping accessible via 4x4 vehicles due to rocky terrain and water crossings. These locations provide access to Colorado's wilderness while remaining within reasonable driving distance from urban areas.
Keep Exploring
