Best Campgrounds near Meredith, CO

Meredith, Colorado features tent and RV camping options within White River National Forest, including established sites like Chapman Campground along the Fryingpan River. The landscape provides a mix of lakeside and river access spots, with both developed facilities and dispersed camping opportunities. Chapman Campground offers designated sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes, while areas like Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground and Yeoman Park provide more primitive camping experiences for those seeking fewer amenities.

Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring high-clearance vehicles. Many sites open seasonally from May through September due to mountain weather patterns and elevation. Visitors should check current conditions before traveling. "We reserved campsite #49. It was about 100 ft from the Frying Pan River. We fell asleep to sound of rushing water- so peaceful," noted one camper about Chapman Campground. Temperature swings can be significant even in summer months, with cool nights common at higher elevations. Some areas implement fire restrictions during dry periods, and campers should come prepared with appropriate gear for changing mountain weather.

The Fryingpan River and nearby Ruedi Reservoir represent major attractions for campers seeking water activities. Fishing opportunities draw visitors to the gold medal waters, while hiking trails and mountain scenery provide additional recreation options. Many sites include basic amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables, though hookups are limited across most campgrounds. A visitor remarked that the Meredith area is "absolutely breathtaking" with opportunities for swimming and fishing at Chapman Reservoir where "no motorized boats are allowed." The small store in Meredith provides essential supplies for campers who forget items. Several campgrounds in the area feature designated fire rings and bear-resistant storage, reflecting the wilderness setting and wildlife considerations travelers should anticipate.

Best Camping Sites Near Meredith, Colorado (369)

    1. Difficult Campground

    35 Reviews
    Aspen, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 927-0107

    $33 - $120 / night

    "So much of Colorado is impressive, let me just start with that."

    "Campground managed by the Forest Service. we went on the first weekend it was open, which was the weekend before Memorial Day. the campground has access to the roaring fork river, the flow was too high"

    2. Little Maud Campground

    13 Reviews
    Meredith, CO
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 226-3564

    $32 / night

    "We came to this campground right after wildfires in 2018 decimated the surrounding area. Despite this tragedy the campground was lush and green, full of adult pine, aspen and spruce trees."

    "The road around the loop is paved but the sites themselves are not. You tent peg into the dirt. It’s a 5, 10-minute walk to the reservoir but you feel a world away from it’s busy day visitors."

    3. Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF

    11 Reviews
    Meredith, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 927-0107

    $30 - $260 / night

    "There is a small store in Meredith, 10 min away, in case you forgot any essentials. Ruedi Reservoir is about 15 minutes away and motor boats are allowed. This area is absolutely breathtaking!!!"

    "On the whole you visit Chapman to enjoy the backcountry experience and to get away from everything. "

    4. Sylvan Lake Campground — Sylvan Lake State Park

    12 Reviews
    White River National Forest, CO
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 328-2021

    $28 - $190 / night

    "Located 15 miles south of Eagle off of I-70 in the White River National Forest sits Sylvan Lake State Park."

    "Slyvan Lake State Park is located outside of the Town of Eagle, CO. It takes about 20 minutes to drive from town to the park. Upon entering, there is a multitude of activities you can partake in."

    5. Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground

    28 Reviews
    Aspen, CO
    17 miles
    Website

    "Even though this campground is right below the highway, we still felt very secluded. We spent 6 nights camping all over Colorado and this was definitely the most beautiful spot we found."

    "No water so bring in your own, or filter from the running stream/lake surrounding camp."

    6. Mollie B_white River

    10 Reviews
    Meredith, CO
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 927-0107

    $32 / night

    "The heart of Colorado beats quietly and steadily at this campground."

    "There's running water, and secure dumpsters around the grounds. Each campsite also has its own secure bear box that was large enough to fit my 50qt cooler."

    7. Homestake Road Dispersed - CO

    21 Reviews
    Red Cliff, CO
    14 miles
    Website

    "Homestake Road is your gateway to a variety of off-road and primitive camping sites in the beautiful White River National Forest. We spent two nights here, each night at a different campsite."

    "Campsites with fire rings close to the river. Fishing and off-roading are added attractions to this area. Will definitely make a second trip here outside of holidays."

    8. Dearhamer Campground

    8 Reviews
    Meredith, CO
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 226-3564

    $29 / night

    "Stay away from camp grounds 4 & 7 is you can. They are the only ones with no tree coverage."

    "Easy access to the lake and good fishing. Each site has a fire ring and table. Host was friendly and kept campground clean."

    9. Little Mattie Campground — White River National Forest

    7 Reviews
    Meredith, CO
    4 miles
    +1 (970) 927-0107

    $29 / night

    "This is a very calm campground, surrounded by trees, aspens, coniferous, etc. It is a little far from the lake but there is one entrance next to the campground."

    "The site was tucked in the corner but very close to site 15."

    10. Yeoman Park

    8 Reviews
    White River National Forest, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 328-6388

    $8 / night

    "Creek at entrance. Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children. Sylvan lake is approx 20 min drive."

    "i went on a sunday night so it was completely empty but if you get as lucky as me make sure to get the spot next to the trailhead"

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Recent Reviews near Meredith, CO

1968 Reviews of 369 Meredith Campgrounds


  • H
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Coffee Pot Road Dispersed

    Picked up a Rodent Hitchhiker

    I tried to stay here in Oct 2024.  The marked sites at deep creek seemed taken, so I drove up the hill and checked out the dispersed spots. One of them, a large one on the hill vs. dropoff side of the road, had a large shrine set IP for a suicide victim. I went back down and saw that site 1, on the creek was actually open. Backed in and set up my SUV for sleeping...  As I turned off my light, I heard critter sounds.  It was so loud, I thought it might be a coon on my roof, so I hit the road. Long story short, it was IN my sunroof channel (and actually came down the pillars into my front seat foot well).  Although I did not stay the night, i did finally rid my vehicle of the critter using bright motion sensor lights.  If you stay here, beware of the critters down near the creek.

  • Hillary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Peak One Campground

    Convenient and beautiful

    Convenient to town and all that Frisco/Dillon has to offer, but also right on the perimeter trail (6-mile dirt) and also the Dillon Reservoir loop (18-mile paved). Our site had a small path right to the beach.

    No hammocks are allowed here (we learned this by having one). There are bathrooms, but they were locked during our stay. Potable water was still available.

  • Hillary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    White Star

    Nice campground with great water and trail access

    Beautiful campground that is big but felt pretty quiet and chill, even on 4th of July weekend. The paved loops were perfect for my kids to bike around and we loved being able to walk to the water and trails

  • Hillary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Oh Be Joyful Campground

    Beautiful quiet campground

    This is a beautiful small campground with great trails nearby. Feels far from town, but really it's just a 20ish min drive into Crested Butte. There are also trails to bike or run into town. We filled water here. https://townofcrestedbutte.colorado.gov/rv-dump-station

    Docked it a star because the host really isn't around much. She was on site just one of our 4 days there. We talked to cyclists who spend a lot of time there and it sounds like that's about typical for her. It didn't impact our stay, but some others were complaining that someone else was occupying their spot despite them having a reservation. Since nobody is there to monitor, they get a lot of squatters.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Creekside Along Georgia Pass

    Nice and quiet with trees and creek

    Camped here on off-season. Wonderful babbling brook, lots of trees, peaceful quiet

  • C
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Stone Cabin

    Loved this option

    We stayed here on Fourth of July weekend and wished we had longer. Safe water so the kids could try fly fishing and one caught a brown trout, great spots for hammocks, availability on a holiday weekend and the early risers got to see a moose down near the water.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    CR 306 -Dispersed Site

    Some nice sites along the creek, easy to get to.

    Multiple sites along the creek, some of the road through a wooded area looks dicey for a large vehicle. There are multiple access points to various sites right off of CR306, some look more accessible to regular vehicles. A couple of those access roads seem pretty challenging for a two wheel drive.

    The site I camped at was just opposite the road to Avalanche Trailhead. It was a little bumpy but not challenging. All of the sites are within about 100 feet of CR306, separated by woods from the road, very quiet at night.

    I camped out in a tent in early October and temps were down in the 30 s at night. Had to keep my heater going. Camped there three nights, really peaceful.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    West Lenhardy Cutoff

    Awesome views

    We stayed 5 nights in our 25ft travel trailer. Found a great spot on fr376 that provided enough privacy even with neighbors. Fellow campers were very quiet. Beware, this area is used for OHV and can become noisy on the weekends.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Upper Colorado River BLM Dispersed

    Good Overnight Spot

    Convenient spot right off of I70. It’s really just a dirt parking area, but good enough for an overnight stop! We pulled in after 11:00 PM. It was dark! There were a few other cars spread about. We had our pop up camper, and we were able to find a level spot and set up to get a few hours of sleep. Left around 5:30 AM, and it was still dark out, so didn’t really get to see the view of the river, and didn’t get any pics. The area was fairly quiet, other than the train that went by.


Guide to Meredith

Dispersed camping near Meredith, Colorado offers sites across multiple elevations in White River National Forest, from 7,800 to 8,500 feet. Temperature swings between day and night can exceed 30°F even in summer months, with nighttime temperatures frequently dropping into the 40s. Several campgrounds provide bear-resistant storage containers as black bears are active throughout the region.

What to do

Fishing spots for all levels: Chapman Campground attracts anglers to both its small reservoir and the Frying Pan River. The reservoir allows only non-motorized craft and is stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout. "Walked down there a few times and caught a bunch of little rainbow and cutthroat trout - they were very eager to take flies," noted one visitor who spent time fishing the area.

Water activities beyond fishing: At Ruedi Reservoir, visitors can swim, kayak, paddleboard, or boat. The reservoir offers multiple access points from different campgrounds. "The campground is adjacent to the reservoir and is within walking distance of the marina grounds. With plenty of beachfront access, many campers were able to set up day tents by the lake, anchor boats, and launch paddle boards and canoes easily," reports a Little Maud camper.

Hiking trails for different abilities: Several trail networks connect throughout the area, with options for short family walks or longer backcountry excursions. A Chapman camper recommends: "Shorter ones - Sawyer Lake, Chapman Lake, Frying Pan Overlook. Longer ones - Lyle Lake, Tellurium Lake, NY Lake, Eagle Lake." Most trails start between 7,800-8,000 feet, providing access to alpine lakes and mountain views.

What campers like

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Difficult Campground visitors regularly spot large mammals. "There was a bear raiding vehicles at night so make sure you lock everything and use the bear boxes provided at each site," warns one camper. Another mentions, "We camped at Difficult CG and really enjoyed our stay... Bear boxes were at each site and we saw moose both days on the drive into the site!"

Late season camping advantages: September and October camping offers fewer crowds and spectacular fall colors. "We camped here in late fall last year, a few weeks before closing. Chapman is huge, 80 something sites I think. We were the only ones there!" reports a Chapman visitor. Cooler temperatures also improve fishing conditions in many areas.

Site privacy levels vary: Campgrounds offer different privacy options depending on vegetation and layout. At Little Maud, a camper notes: "It was small and nestled in the middle of the site, but we were surrounded by bushes so we did have some privacy." Site selection matters, as another camper at Yeoman Park shares: "We were able to secure a great spot on a hill overlooking the valley. In the morning we were treated to a herd of elk crossing the creek."

What you should know

Road conditions and vehicle requirements: Many camping areas require careful driving. For Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground, "You will need a high clearance vehicle to drive the road past Portal, but if you can make it, there are plenty of dispersed sites with incredible views," advises one visitor. Another notes, "The road is a bit rough. I got my BMW X3 through but it was tough and a bit stressful driving."

No cell service: The entire region has extremely limited connectivity. "Zero cell service. You need to drive 25 min into the town of basalt for service," reports a Mollie B camper. Another camper at Little Maud confirms: "There is no cell service at all out here though, and it is easily a 20-30 minute drive to Basalt."

Bear safety requirements: All campgrounds in the area require proper food storage. Most established sites provide bear boxes at each campsite. "Each campsite also has its own secure bear box that was large enough to fit my 50qt cooler," noted a camper at Mollie B. Another mentioned that "bear-proof boxes, but no other amenities" were available at Lincoln Creek.

Tips for camping with families

Best campgrounds for children: Sylvan Lake State Park offers family-friendly amenities and activities. A camper shares: "Perhaps this is nice if you have kids, want to allow them on the lake but in close view, and are new to camping." Another visitor mentions, "There is a day use area with grills and picnic tables" making it easier for family meals.

Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer ranger-led programs. At Yeoman Park, a camper notes: "Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children." These programs typically run weekends during peak summer months.

Kid-friendly water access: Look for gradual shorelines for safer water play. "The lake is beautiful and you can always walk away with some fish," notes a Sylvan Lake visitor, making it perfect for teaching children to fish. At Chapman, "You can swim and fish in Chapman Reservoir. No motorized boats allowed. There were a few people jumping off the dam into the reservoir. Only about an 8 ft jump."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations for different campgrounds: Many forest roads have tight turns and limited parking. For Lincoln Creek, a visitor warns: "I wouldn't take an RV up there unless its a sprinter!" Another camper points out that Yeoman Park offers "easy access with 30 ft TT [travel trailer]" showing the variation between campgrounds.

Water and supply planning: With limited amenities, water management is critical. At Dearhamer Campground, "There was water available and clean vault toilets. There was no electric and no cell service." Another camper at Yeoman Park advises to "Make sure you have full water supply" as there's no potable water on site.

Hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Meredith have minimal or no hookups. "No electric hook ups. We brought in our 27foot camper and had a spectacular visit," notes a Yeoman Park visitor. Those needing electricity should consider Sylvan Lake State Park which offers electric sites, though it's about 30 miles from Meredith.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Lake Meredith camping located in Colorado?

Lake Meredith camping is located in central Colorado, approximately 30 miles southeast of Aspen in the Roaring Fork Valley area. The lake sits at the base of the Fryingpan River Valley, close to Ruedi Reservoir. Dearhamer Campground is situated near Meredith, offering boat-in and drive-in access to the lake. Nearby, Mollie B_white River overlooks Ruedi Reservoir and provides excellent access to the water. The area is part of the White River National Forest region, making it a central hub for outdoor recreation in western Colorado.

What activities can you do while camping near Meredith, Colorado?

The Meredith area offers diverse outdoor activities for campers. Water enthusiasts can enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming at Ruedi Reservoir. Hikers can access numerous trails, including portions of the Colorado Trail near Twin Lakes Dispersed camping areas. The surrounding mountains provide opportunities for summit hikes, with Dexter Point Campground offering stunning views of Mt. Elbert. Mountain biking trails crisscross the region, while wildlife viewing, photography, and stargazing are popular passive activities. During winter months, the area transforms for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adventures, making Meredith a year-round outdoor destination.

What amenities are available at Meredith Campground?

Meredith area campgrounds offer varying levels of amenities. Near the town, Little Maud Campground provides water, toilets, and accommodates RVs with its big-rig-friendly spaces. Sites are typically reservable through recreation.gov. For those seeking more developed facilities, Chapman Campground And Group Camp in the White River National Forest offers similar amenities with established fire rings and picnic tables. Most campgrounds in the area feature vault toilets, designated camping pads, and access to water (either from spigots or natural sources). Cell service can be limited, so plan accordingly. Some sites are first-come, first-served while others require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months.