Mariena M.
Scout
ScoutDenver Meadows RV Park
Convenient
Not the nicest but the owners have helped me out a lot.
Camping near Lone Tree, CO
307 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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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.
Best Campgrounds near Lone Tree (307)
1. 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 Availability2. Cherry Creek State Park Campground
"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 Availability3. Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park
"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."
4. Dakota Ridge RV Park
"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."
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. Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur
"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 Availability7. 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."
8. Clear Creek RV Park
"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 Availability9. Denver Meadows RV Park
"Lots of good food nearby."
10. Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney
"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."
Drive Time
- 18 min from Denver, CO
- 41 min from Boulder, CO
- 43 min from Colorado Springs, CO
- 1 hr 9 min from Greeley, CO
Recent Camping Photos near Lone Tree, CO
765 Photos of 307 Lone Tree Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Lone Tree, CO
2177 Reviews of 307 Lone Tree Campgrounds
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.
- C
Caroline B.
TravelerGrays Peak Summer Trailhead Dispersed Camping
In the clouds
So beautiful, dispersed camping at 11,200 feet surrounded by mountains. Area is busy with day hikers, go past the parking lot and set up at one of the handful of spots. Definitely for small rigs or tents, don’t come up here with a non 4x4 vehicle, and trailers would be close to impossible.
- 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.
- aamber H.
GuideGordon Gulch Dispersed Area
beautiful area too much trash
I was pulling a camper and couldn't make it to the higher up spots. the spots near the entrance are littered with gross trash. I cleaned my area but there's too much . Hiking around has beautiful views.
- aamber H.Guide
Gordon Gulch Dispersed Camping II
wrong coorinates
Takes you to a private road. After walking around probably someone parking towards the back pinned the location Follow the coordinates on the other Gordon Gulch and its easy to find
Brent A.ScoutWest Magnolia Campground
West Magnolia Campground
Solid lil campground. Surprisingly busy mid week but everyone seems to be nice and polite. Few sections would be a bit rough for low clearance but sites 1-10 should be easily accessible. The views are gorgeous with the aspens turning this time of year.
- MMary A.Scout
Forest Road 332 Dispersed
No T-Mobile signal
Rough road but doable in a minivan. About 12 minutes from Nederland, which had a lot of good restaurants, bars, and a fair size grocery store. Saw a moose and mountain lion.
- LLori M.Guide
Mueller State Park Campground
Nice and well kept
Our Campsite was nice, very clean and well kept. It did seems like the sites were a bit to close together and every spot filled. Pads were level, area around the picnic table spacious. Pit toilets were clean. The dump station was very nice and easy to use. We were driving down through Colorado to view the Fall Aspen leaves. I wish we would have stayed longer at this campsite. We stayed at the Conifer Ridge loop site 46 ...
Guide to Lone Tree
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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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!"
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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?
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?
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?
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.
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