Best Tent Camping near Manitou Springs, CO

Pike National Forest and surrounding public lands provide diverse tent camping opportunities around Manitou Springs, Colorado. Dispersed tent camping in the Pike National Forest offers primitive sites without facilities, while established campgrounds like Lone Duck provide more amenities for tent campers. The Rampart Range Area features dispersed campsites popular with backcountry tent campers seeking solitude and natural settings, located approximately 7 miles northwest of Manitou Springs.

Tent sites throughout the region vary significantly in terrain and accessibility. Many primitive tent areas in Pike National Forest require high-clearance vehicles to access, with rocky or rutted forest roads leading to secluded campsites. Vault toilets are available at some established campgrounds but absent at most dispersed sites. Walk-in tent locations, particularly along Mt. Herman Road, offer flat tent pads but require campers to carry gear short distances from parking areas. Most primitive tent areas enforce 14-day stay limits and seasonal fire restrictions, particularly during summer months when wildfire danger increases.

Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking quiet experiences. The Phantom Canyon Road area offers tent camping alongside a seasonal creek, with sites tucked among rock formations that provide natural windbreaks for tents. Red Canyon Park provides distinctive tent camping among red rock formations with seasonal water access. A visitor commented, "We saw deer all over the place, and there was plenty of shade at every site." Walk-in tent locations typically offer more privacy than drive-up sites, though they require additional planning for gear transport. Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including bears, as one camper noted that bear scat is common in certain backcountry tent areas and proper food storage is essential.

Best Tent Sites Near Manitou Springs, Colorado (33)

    1. Lone Duck Campground and Cabins

    34 Reviews
    Green Mountain Falls, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 684-9907

    $40 - $87 / night

    ": 5 Amenities: 4 Customer Service: 5 Cleanliness: 4

    In the mountains of Manitou Springs/Colorado Springs, just off the 24 highway, Loneduck Campground is tucked away down a driveway you will surely miss"

    "Our site had grass, shade, a picnic table, and a fire ring - everything you need for a basic campsite."

    2. Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite

    12 Reviews
    Green Mountain Falls, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 553-1400

    "Honestly so many spots some trash I picked up. But nothing to crazy. Lots of self made fire pits"

    "Some people left trash, which is annoying. Views are great. Rough road getting there though"

    3. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites

    38 Reviews
    Cañon City, CO
    27 miles

    "Driving down to this campsite I was happy to have a small car because the road is very narrow to say the least. I cannot imagine the feeling of driving a large rig here."

    "We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."

    4. Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest Divide

    9 Reviews
    Woodland Park, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 636-1602

    "There are a lot of dirt bikes and atvs driving during the day however I didn’t find it overly disruptive."

    "Restrooms at base of road. Found our spot 2.5 miles up the road, definitely needed AWD."

    5. Wye

    4 Reviews
    Manitou Springs, CO
    8 miles
    +1 (719) 636-1602

    "Has fire rings and picnic tables. Closed for good, apparently because of bears, but far down the road so it’s very unlikely you’ll be bothered"

    6. Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2

    5 Reviews
    Palmer Lake, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 636-1602

    "Found a great little campsite and had a fox as a neighbor! Only downfall was there was broken glass everywhere 😔"

    7. Turkey Roost Group Camp — Cheyenne Mountain State Park

    1 Review
    Manitou Springs, CO
    10 miles
    +1 (719) 576-2016

    $144 / night

    "Wonderful tent pads and facilities with space to wash dishes and store goods from wildlife."

    8. Red Canyon Park

    21 Reviews
    Victor, CO
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 269-9028

    "This was my first time solo tent camping. It went well. The space had a fire ring and picnic table. I might have been the only person at the park and it was quite peaceful!"

    "Views were terrific, whether you want something a bit more open or further into the canyon where it’s surrounded by gorgeous red rocks. I chose an open site and if you do, beware of the wind."

    9. "Glamping" Pike's Peak Camping Spot- Reservation Only Site

    1 Review
    Midland, CO
    13 miles
    +1 (719) 400-9283

    $99 - $150 / night

    "Camp site has everything you need without the hassle of pitching your tent and packing it up."

    10. Rocky Mountain Oasis!!

    2 Reviews
    Midland, CO
    16 miles
    +1 (303) 748-2969

    $150 / night

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Tent Camping Reviews near Manitou Springs, CO

1284 Reviews of 33 Manitou Springs Campgrounds


  • Staci W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2022

    East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge

    Pricey but beautiful

    This campground used to be free when I first found it years ago while visiting the Royal Gorge. Since the city has invested money into fixing up the campsites with fire rings, tent pads, and what seems to be pretty good county road maintenance, it’s definitely understandable why they charge a fee.

    No water is available. There are vault toilets.

    There are NO bear boxes.

    Rules worth nothing (according to the sign upon entering camp):

    1. no alcohol (that didn’t seem to stop anyone from enjoying themselves at their site)
    2. You can only stay for 72 hours per visit unless otherwise noted.

    There’s lots of hiking and mountain bike trails near the campground, which brought lots of mellow mtb riders in during my stay.

    Because of the rules/amenities, i felt the price was a little steep as others have mentioned. However it is clean, close enough to Cañon city that you can go to town if needed, but far enough away to “unplug” from the world in a beautiful location. Overall I’d recommend visiting this campsite! I’ll happily return.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 13, 2018

    Colorado Campground

    There are many campgrounds in Colorado, but only one Colorado Campground!

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: COLORADO CAMPGROUND PIKE NATIONAL FOREST

    https://www.recreation.gov/camping/colorado-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70684

    Colorado Campground is one of several campgrounds less than 10 miles north of the city of Woodland Park off Route 67 in the Pike National Forest.

    Situated at 7800 feet elevation, even summer nights get cool. Nearby 5 acre Manitou Lake is a trail walk away. You can toss your canoe or kayak in, but unless you are simply trout fishing, it’s tiny size doesn’t offer much variation.

    Numerous foot trails lead into the National Forest, offering wonderfully quiet hikes and exploration.

    There are 81 sites available, but some are adjacent to highway 67, so periodic road noise will be heard. The ponderosa pines assist in muffling highway noise.

    Neighboring sites are visible across the entire campground, but they are situated in such a way that you are not directly on top of each other.

    The back loop sites are larger and set deeper (Site 19, 20,21, 22, 23) which are my choice. Sites can be secured on www.recreation.gov. There are double sites which garner double fees. At the time of this review, sites are $23.00 nightly (a bit pricey for no showers or modern facilities). When there during the week, not including the host and groundskeeper, only four sites were filled. Most sites were reserved for weekends and upcoming Labor Day holiday.

    No RV/Campers over 36 ft permitted. Parking pads are gravel, a few are pull-through. Sites are non-electric with no hookups…no showers Water spigots, metal trash containers and pit latrines are spaced out through the campground. Each site has one stationary picnic table and a fire pit. Most sites appeared fairly level. No specific tent pad locations.

    With the towering ponderosa pines, there is ample shade.

    Plenty of trails permit mountain biking as well as the paved centennial bike path that runs along highway 67 from Woodland Park 15 miles north…that you can walk, in-line, cycle and even ebike.

    You have plenty of local activities to keep you busy, including the Red Rocks a couple miles south…or drive east on Rt 24 to Pikes Peak, or further into Manitou Springs for the Incline, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Garden of the gods and more!

    Just six miles south into Woodland Park offers every food or shopping option.

    All in all, a nice, clean campground in a great location.

  • J
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Rocking Chair Campground — Eleven Mile State Park

    High Winds, Rough Roads - Won't Stay Again

    The reservoir and surrounding areas are beautiful, but we don't plan to return to this campground. The roads in are so rough and created so much vibration that it was actually damaging to our A-Liner camper (with an off-road package). The speed limit is 55 and we weren't able to go much faster than 10 mph without the vibration becoming unbearable. The campsites are totally exposed with no tree cover, but it was too windy to set up our shade tent. The winds were so strong that we slept poorly; a neighbor in a tent said the wind ripped off two of his rain fly straps overnight. We chose Site 612 because the sites in that loop looked more private and spacious, but we failed to note that there was no bathroom on that side of the campground, with the nearest facilities being a short drive away. We left after the first night.

  • K
    May. 2, 2019

    Mueller State Park Campground

    Amazing Facilities

    Some friends and I camped here in early October. It got a bit chilly at night, two layers, smartwool socks, a Carhart beanie, sleeping pad plus a medium temp sleeping bag kept me semi warm in our tent. The hikes we went on were beautiful and the restrooms were clean and close to our site. Because it was a last minute reservation we ended up in the RV section of the campsite so it was a little nosier than neccessary. We saw the park ranger ride through about every half hour to hour during our weekend stay. I would defintely stay there again!

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Buffalo Campground

    Great Campground for Hikers and Bikers

    This campground is set a couple miles down road 550 after all the free recreation area campsites.

    The sites are pretty close together but there are well maintained pit toilets as well as a dumpster on site for trash. The surrounding area is filled with hiking and biking trails, including the Colorado Trail. 

    The campground is over 7k feet of elevation and a lot of trails intersect so make sure you keep track of where you are and what trail you are hiking on for the day. Not many are loops on their own. 

    There are a couple pit toilets places throughout the campground. Clean fire rings and picnic tables at all the sites. 

    Keep your eyes out for ticks and mosquitos. We found a couple of ticks on the dogs after they ran through the tall grass and the creek. 

    Across the road is a creek that is great for water hangouts and light fishing. We were here in May and the weather was about 70 during the day and 35-40 at night with plenty of shade and wind protection. It has sites for RV’s, tent, or van stay.

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2019

    Swift Puma Heights Campground — Cheyenne Mountain State Park

    Easy to get to, not the most secluded

    We stayed at this campground in order to help out with the Xterra Race that was taking place the next day. We reserved two walk in sites (30 and 34) and it was easy to find them. The walk in sites are between 20-40 feet form the parking lot and on a slight (and rocky) hill. There was plenty of privacy by way of shrubs so it felt secluded even though the sites are right next to each other. 

    You can only set up tents on the tent pads in the sites so that was a little challenging being that we needed to sleep 10 and could only fit 1 tent per site. But we were able to make it work. Also, the ground is very compact, so stakes were hard to get into the ground and we had to tie off our guy-lines to the bushes to keep them in place during the night.  

    Keep in mind that you are on a military base area so you will hear TAPS periodically throughout the day and night. Campground is open year-round 

    It has:

    51 Full Hook-Up sites 

    10 Basic Tent sites 

    Coin operated showers and laundry (Seasonal; These amenities are for active campers only.)

    Overall the sites were great. Bear food lockers and water at each site. The firepits were large and well ventilated. The bathrooms were super clean and accommodating. Lots of trails and ranger led events happening to keep you (and your kids and dogs) entertained.

  • Cara W.
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake

    Private but Crowded

    Beautiful lakeside camping just outside of Denver. Campsites are a bit close together, but great for groups! No hookups here but you have bathroom facilities and a visitor center where you can buy firewood. Campfires allowed in the fire pits. If you have an RV beware quiet hours from 10pm to 8am, no generators allowed. Lake is perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing and you will most likely have phone service if you are with AT&T or Verizon. Many day use areas, however vehicles and individuals are charged. For campers, if you bring more than one vehicle you will be charged daily for any additional ones. No drinking water is available, you must bring your own. Dirt roads to the lake are rough and narrow. Close to Deckers for incidentals. Intersects with the Colorado trail for hiking and biking and close to the Colorado River for tubing!

  • Kristin D.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Buffalo Campground

    Spacious sites, great trail access

    Love this place. I’m a new mountain biker and it’s currebtly my favorite trail system to ride. There’s currently a fire ban in most of Colorado, and Buffalo Creek is included. We just got creative with a small lantern so it felt like we were sitting around a fire.🔥The sites are very full on the weekends being so close to Denver, so a few people asked to share. The signage isn’t always clear, make sure you only camp where there’s a site number or it’s a $1K fine! It’s a favorite place, but don’t tell everyone! 😂

  • Jenni O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2019

    Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park

    So clean!

    We just left campsite 531 at Kettle Creek Loop! Our 3 kids loved playing around the little inlet of water and the playground was not too far! Very clean vault toilets close to that campsite and a bigger bathroom by the playground with showers! It’s a rocky tent pad so bring a footprint and sleeping pads. Shade provided over picnic table blocking the evening sun- it’s pretty sunny in the am but nice! It was HOT while we were there but it cooled off at night. Bring a shade tent! We will Be back!


Guide to Manitou Springs

Dispersed camping options near Manitou Springs extend beyond Pike National Forest to surrounding wilderness areas at elevations ranging from 6,400 to 9,000 feet. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures dropping below freezing, while summer brings afternoon thunderstorms from July through September. Many areas require self-registration at trailheads or maintain seasonal closures due to wildlife activity.

What to do

Hiking access to backcountry tent sites: Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2 provides access to less crowded camping spots with close proximity to hiking trails. A camper noted, "Found a great little campsite and had a fox as a neighbor! Only downfall was there was broken glass everywhere."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Red Canyon Park camping areas offer chances to observe local wildlife in their natural habitat. "We did have a bear encounter as we were driving out of the park," reports one camper, highlighting the importance of proper food storage even at developed sites.

Seasonal creek exploration: Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites feature seasonal water access that varies throughout the year. "Stayed for the weekend, found a place tucked back away from the road and felt completely secluded from the world. No service, no noise, just the sound of the creek and an occasional car driving by," explains a visitor who enjoyed the isolation.

What campers like

Solitude away from main roads: Dispersed Camping in Pike National Forest near Divide provides privacy not found at developed campgrounds. A camper observed, "Each spot is far away from another, especially if you drive further down. We didn't hear anyone late into the night due to the distance."

Natural windbreaks: Many tent campsites near Manitou Springs, Colorado feature rock formations that provide natural protection from wind. At Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite, a visitor shared, "There aren't many sites and everyone was taken except the turn around at the end of the road... Not sure why others didn't take it since it has an amazing view of Pick's Peak!"

Established facilities at select locations: For those seeking more amenities, Lone Duck Campground and Cabins offers developed tent sites with conveniences. One camper appreciated that "The staff was super friendly and helpful! The facilities were always very clean. They had breakfast for you in the morning if you wanted for $5."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements vary significantly: Roads to dispersed sites frequently deteriorate after wet weather. At Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites, a visitor explained, "It took us three attempts to get our overweight 2-wheel drive van up the hill and back onto the road. There are a lot of loose rocks."

Insect activity levels change seasonally: Biting flies and mosquitoes can be problematic, especially near water sources. A camper at Red Canyon Park advised, "BRING BUG SPRAY! Mosquitos were a bit annoying but DEET helped."

Temperature fluctuations: Many camping areas around Manitou Springs experience significant day-to-night temperature changes. A camper at Phantom Canyon noted, "Gets warm during the day but it does get pretty cold at night."

Tips for camping with families

Easy access tent sites: Turkey Roost Group Camp at Cheyenne Mountain State Park offers accommodations specifically designed for groups with children. A visitor commented, "Wonderful tent pads and facilities with space to wash dishes and store goods from wildlife."

Wildlife education opportunities: Tent camping areas near Manitou Springs provide chances for children to observe wildlife safely. At Lone Duck Campground, a family shared, "We woke up one morning at our tent site with deer walking and eating down the creek right next to us."

Amenities for children: Some developed campgrounds offer kid-friendly facilities. A visitor to Lone Duck Campground mentioned, "Lone Duck also had a small pond/lake to fish in, a jungle gym, a game room and a basketball court... they make Lone Duck a very family friendly campground where kids can stay entertained!"

Tips from RVers

Limited access roads: Many forest roads leading to tent campsites near Manitou Springs have clearance restrictions. At Dispersed Camping in Pike National Forest near Divide, a camper noted, "The road gets rougher the further you go in but no problem for a 4x4. Even a small car could get to some nice sites."

Waste disposal planning: Most dispersed camping areas lack sanitation facilities. An RVer at Red Canyon Park reported, "Vaulted toilets, fire rings, covered tables and Flatish camp spots. Free. Stayed the full three days and loved the hikes and quiet without anyone close by."

Size restrictions and maneuverability: Forest roads often have tight turns unsuitable for larger RVs. A camper at Red Canyon Park warned, "The road is dirt and goes for 7+ miles if you keep going to exit the park a different way... after 2/3 miles the road gets extremely rough... Cars and campers cannot make it past a certain point."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find tent camping sites near Manitou Springs?

Several excellent tent camping options surround Manitou Springs. Lone Duck Campground and Cabins in nearby Cascade offers established tent sites minutes from Manitou Springs, Pike's Peak, and Cave of the Winds. This campground provides a comfortable base with amenities while maintaining a secluded feel. For a more rustic experience, Red Canyon Park offers peaceful tent camping with basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables. Both locations provide convenient access to Manitou Springs attractions while offering different camping experiences – Lone Duck with more facilities and Red Canyon with greater solitude.

Is there free camping available near Manitou Springs?

Yes, free camping options exist near Manitou Springs. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites offer free dispersed camping with established sites featuring fire rings. The road is passable for most vehicles despite some rough sections. Another free option is Matukat Road Dispersed Camping, which provides shady sites with rock fire pits and surrounding wood. The road in is rough, so drive slowly. Both locations have no water, garbage service, or toilets, so come prepared with supplies and practice Leave No Trace principles. Cell service varies by location and carrier.

Where can I camp near the Manitou Incline?

Idylease Campground offers tent camping with a short hike-in requirement that makes it a good option near the Manitou Incline. It features five numbered tent pads accessible via a half-mile hike with moderate elevation gain from the parking area. Reservations must be made in person at Jeffco Open Space in Golden. For those seeking a campground with more amenities, Osprey provides sites with picnic tables and fire rings. While not the closest option, it's within reasonable driving distance to the Manitou Incline and offers a relaxing atmosphere with scenic views.