Best Campgrounds near Longmont, CO

Campgrounds near Longmont, Colorado range from established sites with full amenities to dispersed areas in nearby forests. Boulder County Fairgrounds provides a centrally located option with basic facilities within city limits, while St. Vrain State Park offers water access and more developed campsites just minutes away in Firestone. The region supports both tent and RV camping, with some locations like South Shore Campground at Carter Lake also offering cabin rentals and glamping options approximately 20 miles southwest of Longmont.

Many locations operate year-round, though facilities and amenities vary seasonally. The Boulder County Fairgrounds charges $15-25 depending on hookup requirements, with electric and water available at many sites. "We came late at 8:30pm. Enough space available for campervans. Could pay at the machine and stayed one night. Clean toilets and showers," noted one visitor about the fairgrounds. Several campgrounds implement strict stay limits, with Boulder County Fairgrounds capping visits at 14 days per calendar year. Higher elevation dispersed camping areas like Gordon Gulch near Nederland may have seasonal road closures or fire restrictions depending on conditions and time of year.

Established campgrounds in the region receive positive reviews for cleanliness and convenience. The proximity to town while maintaining a rural atmosphere appears as a recurring theme in camper feedback. "It's nice. I like how close it is to stores and shops and such. Also not far from Boulder," mentioned one camper about the fairgrounds. Sites with water access tend to be particularly popular, with locations like Boyd Lake State Park providing boating access alongside camping options. Fairground camping offers urban convenience with walkable access to stores and restaurants, while state parks and national forest sites provide more natural settings with wildlife viewing opportunities. Reservation requirements vary significantly between locations, with some operating strictly on a first-come, first-served basis while others require advance planning.

Best Camping Sites Near Longmont, Colorado (326)

    1. St. Vrain State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Firestone, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 678-9402

    $36 - $41 / night

    "Plus it’s close to Longmont where we found a couple cute breweries/cideries."

    "Very convenient campground with great access to North Denver/Boulder area. Only downside is proximity to I-25 and traffic noise. But there are many nice trails and lakes to fish from."

    2. Boulder County Fairgrounds

    20 Reviews
    Longmont, CO
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 682-6762

    $35 / night

    "Arrived in Colorado little after midnight, got a spot right away plenty of availability and close enough to some good hiking areas"

    "We couldn’t find anything near family in Highlands Ranch in July, but ran across this place- Tight spots for our 38 ft fifth wheel but, we made it."

    3. Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park

    45 Reviews
    Loveland, CO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 669-1739

    $36 - $41 / night

    "Had a really tough time getting an rsvp for a place near Longmont where my daughter lives. Online reserving said nothing available."

    "All sites have great access and close to the ponds. Variety of fish in the ponds. They allow ice fishing as long as the ice is safe."

    4. LaVern M. Johnson Park

    13 Reviews
    Lyons, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 823-6150

    $52 / night

    "On the edge of Lyons, this place is great for families. Tubing, playgrounds, and soccer field. Just blocks away from Main Street. A great family spot with small children."

    "Walking trails and river access was abundantly available. Easy walking or biking distance to various eateries in Lyons."

    5. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    24 miles
    Website

    "So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."

    "Getting here is easy, only a few miles away from Nederland and I had cell service (verizon) the entire time."

    6. Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    91 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 586-1206

    $35 - $70 / night

    "Took the kids camping in Colorado for the first time and we had a blast. It rained on us a lot but it didn't stop us. Took a great hike up deer mountain....stunning views. Can't wait to go back."

    "Very enjoyable spot, close access to trails and entrance and exit of the park."

    7. South Shore Campground at Carter Lake

    10 Reviews
    Lyons, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 - $30 / night

    "Location good for rocky mountain national park & brewery nirvana: Longmont, berthoud, loveland, & ft Collins. $$$36/nite+$9/day entry. Electric only, vault toilets."

    "Tucked away at the South Marina. You're close to paddle boarding, kayaking, or swimming. Wildlife walks thru usually daily, shaded spots go quickly!!"

    8. Riverview RV Park & Campground

    19 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 667-9910

    "Campground is situated along the Big Thompson River. Big cottonwood trees. Easy accessibility for big rigs. Some items … water valves leak in lakes around entire park and many are leaking."

    "Right next to the river. Close to some easy MTB trails. Would definitely stay here again."

    9. Deer Creek Campground — Golden Gate Canyon

    48 Reviews
    Eldorado Springs, CO
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 582-3707

    $18 / night

    "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."

    10. Pinewood Reservoir Campground

    16 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $25 - $30 / night

    "This was our second visit to Pinewood Lake and while some things stayed the same others were much the same.  Our first visit last fall was during the final stages of a blizzard. "

    "Even with the snow and us being novices we set up without a hitch and were soon enjoying the magical panorama of the lake below us and the hills and mountain tops around us."

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Recent Reviews near Longmont, CO

2399 Reviews of 326 Longmont Campgrounds


  • L
    Oct. 16, 2025

    LaVern M. Johnson Park

    Downtown Lyons

    Nice campground downtown Lyons and on the river. Full hookups. Tents sites right next to the river. Slow and not reliable wifi but 5G. Showers nearby closed and further showers you need to pay for. Very nice camp host. I will return.

  • Ken B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are spacious and far enough apart. Not much for views but the place was clean and the staff very welcoming. Close to the park and t-shirt shopping in Estes Park.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Cherry Creek State Park Campground

    Good spot close to city

    Nice park with lots of things to do here. Bathrooms and showers are nice and kept clean every morning. Laundry wash $1.50 to $2.00 and dry for $1.50! Cell Verizon and att decent with up to 20Mb download Spots are level (101) Water to fill a jug but some spots have full hookups. Free dump station. You can hear the freeway and road traffic but it’s not terrible. Over nice park.

  • A
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Manor RV Park

    Location Excellent - Campground and showers OK

    The campground is extremely conveniently located and in a pretty area. The campground itself is just ok. Super close together spaces and zero privacy at sites. Nice concrete pads to park beside to help with mud and tracking so that was nice. Each site has its own picnic table. The shower house was centrally located within the grounds. The women's side entrance wasn't very well lit at night. There are no private changing areas in the shower house, except the handicap stall, which I am not a fan of. Water wasn't very hot even on straight hot.

    Men's side was even less private my husband said.

  • leah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    The Lost Site - Dispersed Campsite

    The lost site

    Beautiful quiet spot. Large sites with pull thru. Easy turn around. No facilites and cold in October

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney

    Great hiking and biking trails

    The park was okay if you are looking for something overnight. And very expensive and very crowded and no room between rigs. Looks like fulltime living in some spaces. It does have laundry service. And it has a great park just beside it. And there are beautiful hiking and biking trails right next to the facility. And it is very dog friendly.

  • Vinny D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot

    Great spot, quiet

    Good spot, this is my second time staying here. You have to drive through a neighborhood to get to the serving road. Follow the directions on Google and you’ll be fine. The best spots are a little further back. The road will come to a Y go left. Once you go left down be hill you’ll go back up a hill and go around the curve to the right. There’s a creek on the left and great spots.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    South Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir

    Eh… it’s ok

    For what you’re paying for it could be better. Vault bathrooms are not clean and smell awful. Look I know they smell and are dirty but people do your part to close the lid and clean up afterwards. Showers are good but you have to pay $2 per shower Dump is $15 too! Good cycling around here Cell service is ok. Sometimes drops. Verizon and att People working here are very friendly and helpful. Leave it better than you found it.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    ESTES PARK / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK KOA HOLIDAY

    Great Views

    This is a really nice KOA. It doesn't seem like there are any bad sites, but there are a few premium sites that would totally be worth the extra money if you are here a few days and spending evenings at camp. Amazing views from a private deck. We were next to these, and still had great views and a nice fire pit and table area.


Guide to Longmont

Camping spots near Longmont, Colorado sit primarily within Boulder County, where elevations range from 5,000 feet in town to over 9,000 feet in nearby mountain terrain. Winter camping requires preparation for below-freezing nights, while summer temperatures average 85°F with afternoon thunderstorms common from June through August. Many local camping areas require advance entrance permits purchased separately from camping fees.

What to do

Water activities at reservoirs: Fishing, paddleboarding and swimming options exist within 30 minutes of Longmont. At St. Vrain State Park Campground, campers can enjoy multiple fishing ponds. "Numerous ponds, stocked ponds, trails, biking, birds, paddle boarding. The view of the mountains is to die for!" notes Kate B. The park also has wildlife viewing opportunities with several water bodies where "one even had a nest of eagles."

Hiking nearby trails: The area offers trails of varying difficulty, from family-friendly paths to challenging mountain routes. At Pinewood Reservoir Campground, visitors can access a 3-mile loop trail around the lake. "The view was great and the trail hike was nice and not difficult to navigate," comments Daniel. For more adventurous hiking, Gordon Gulch near Nederland connects to numerous forest service trails.

River activities: Several campgrounds offer direct river access for tubing, wading, and relaxation. At LaVern M. Johnson Park, "There is a river that runs right behind it and it's so pleasant to listen to and fun for the kids to play near," according to Lindsay R. The park also offers "tubing, playgrounds, and soccer field" with access just "blocks away from Main Street."

What campers like

Mountain views: The proximity to the Front Range provides scenic backdrops at most area campgrounds. At Cottonwood Campground — Boyd Lake State Park, campers appreciate the vista. "Clean, relatively quiet. During week not crowded. Look for a spot with a tree to park in shade. Nice path along lake," says Michael. The park remains accessible year-round with some campers noting winter stays.

Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities across various campgrounds. St. Vrain State Park offers eagle watching with Alli J. noting, "There are a couple of bald eagles nesting in the tree in the middle of the lake that is amazing to watch!" At Pinewood Reservoir, campers reported seeing bears with one reviewer mentioning, "Bear warning was on, but smokey left us alone for the weekend."

Proximity to towns: Many campers appreciate the balance between natural settings and access to services. South Shore Campground at Carter Lake earns high marks for its location. "Location good for rocky mountain national park & brewery nirvana: Longmont, berthoud, loveland, & ft Collins," according to George R. Sites cost "$36/nite+$9/day entry. Electric only, vault toilets."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the area require advance booking, especially during summer months. Boulder County Fairgrounds limits total stays to 14 days per year, with one camper reporting, "We stayed here 13 days total on and off during weekends when we can't get a spot at campgrounds and they just kicked us out for the year."

Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds more than others. At St. Vrain State Park, noise from I-25 can impact the camping experience with Paul Z. warning, "I-25. The interstate is so close as I type this I can hear in my travel trailer every truck, motorcycle, and car. Going to have to use earplugs tonight to sleep." Similarly, Ronda C. advises to "Check the map of the campground and choose a spot far from the Interstate highway, it's closer than you think!"

Seasonal changes: Facilities vary significantly depending on time of year. Several campgrounds shut off water systems during colder months. At Riverview RV Park & Campground, winter visitors note certain limitations: "We stayed in Nov so water and bathrooms were closed. But it's a safe place to hook up to electricity so we enjoyed it," explains Lanie M.

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for children. LaVern M. Johnson Park provides extensive recreation options with Max B. noting, "This campground has everything. Full hook up, shower, restrooms, a great playground and a fantastic river." Another camper mentions the park features "Two playgrounds, splashpad, and kid zip line."

Swimming access: Look for designated swimming areas with gentle water entries. Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers varied family camping options including cabins and yurts. A reviewer mentions it's "Great for families" with "nice facilities for bathrooms and even dishwashing."

Spacing between sites: Family privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. At Boulder County Fairgrounds, sites can feel cramped with little separation, while South Shore at Carter Lake offers more generous spacing. "The tent sites were well spaced for privacy, and even on a busy weekend, we felt like we had our own space to enjoy nature," reports one visitor.

Tips from RVers

Hook-up availability: Electric hookups are common at most established campgrounds, but full hookups are limited. Riverview RV Park offers complete services for RVers, with one camper noting, "Beautiful river going beside many of the sites. Newer bathrooms. Huge park with playground for kids. Our site was very wide and open, but we might just have been lucky."

Leveling considerations: Many campgrounds in the foothills have uneven terrain requiring leveling blocks. Cottonwood Campground at Boyd Lake State Park features "pull through and back in spots" with relatively level concrete pads according to reviewers, making it suitable for larger rigs.

Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with RV sites offer on-site dump stations. Carter Lake campers mention the availability of "sanitary-dump" facilities, while visitors to Pinewood Reservoir need to plan for off-site dumping as no sanitary services are available on the grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any lakeside camping options near Longmont?

Several stunning lakeside camping destinations surround Longmont. South Bay Campground — Horsetooth Reservoir offers some of the best waterfront views in Colorado according to longtime campers. With both traditional campsites and cabin rentals available, it's a popular summer destination that requires advance reservations. South Shore Campground at Carter Lake provides electric hookups with convenient access to both water recreation and nearby attractions. Just $36/night plus a $9 daily entry fee, it's well-positioned for exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. For a more remote experience, Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail offers lakeside sites, though 4x4 vehicles are necessary to navigate the rugged access road.

Where are the best campgrounds near Longmont, Colorado?

Longmont offers excellent access to diverse camping experiences within a short drive. Roosevelt National Forest Camp Dick Campground delivers the quintessential Colorado experience with stunning mountain views, a rolling river, well-maintained fire pits, and hiking trailheads accessible directly from camp. For those seeking a more rugged experience, Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area provides free camping with spacious sites and mountain views. The area features numbered sites along the main road, but venturing further on Forest Road 233.1 reveals additional unnumbered sites with even better views. Other excellent options include Ceran St. Vrain Trail for streamside dispersed camping and CR 47 for spectacular mountain views (though 4WD is recommended).

What RV camping facilities are available around Longmont?

RV campers near Longmont have several excellent options with varying amenities. Boulder County Fairgrounds offers big-rig-friendly sites with water and toilets just minutes from downtown Longmont. For those seeking a resort experience, Winding River Resort provides beautiful RV sites with family-friendly activities and direct access to the headwaters of the Colorado River. The resort is particularly popular during summer months. Riverview RV Park & Campground near Loveland offers full-service sites with water and electric hookups in a convenient location. Most RV parks in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer season, and typically offer at minimum electric hookups with dump stations available onsite or nearby.