264 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campers using Monument as a base get a useful mid-point between Colorado Springs and the Denver metro, with quick access to Pike National Forest roads and a handful of developed campgrounds in the surrounding area. The town sits at around 7,000 feet along the I-25 corridor, which means some higher-elevation campgrounds to the west are accessible without a long drive.
The Dyrt check-ins from this stretch peak in summer, with most campers coming through for the forest access and the Palmer Lake to Woodland Park route rather than Monument itself. Developed campground count is limited in the immediate area, so most campers treat Monument as a staging point. Camper-reported sites near Colorado Springs cover the dispersed options to the south, which are the highest-traffic dispersed corridor in this part of the Front Range.
Booking a few weeks out is generally enough outside of summer holiday weekends, when the I-25 corridor sees higher traffic from both Denver and Colorado Springs.
"Stayed in a site off from Rampart Range FS roads, but took a service road back to Monument and passed all of the Mt Herman sites. So sad we didn’t find these sooner!"
"Not far from the monument exit on I-25. The road is rocky bumpy & rutty in many areas. In others its smooth. Yet suitable for 2wd vehicles. Some campsites have mobile data & many do not. "
"Campground Review Note: This is a military campground only, on the grounds of the US Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs, CO. "
"Downtown Colorado Springs is minutes away and close to attractions. Plus you can take advantage of on base shopping and more."
"The park is conveniently located close to everything to do in Colorado Springs. Spaces were VERY close together. There is no view of any of the surrounding beauty."
"This campground is a great central location for everything around Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. It is very close to Garden of the gods park and red rock open space."
"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
"It is in Cascade, CO right off of Highway 24. It is minutes away from Pike's Peak, Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds, Red Rocks Open Space, and Colorado Springs."
from $40 - $87 / night
Check Availability"We tent camped at a walk-in site on “Prospector’s Ridge.” Big wheelbarrows we’re provided to haul stuff to and from the campsite, which was definitely useful!"
"My kids loved playing at the playground and exploring the nearby national monument of Florissant Fossil Beds. Was very chilly at night when we went in June."
from $18 - $270 / night
Check Availability"Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer."
"Tucked back in National Forest land."
"Luckily our teardrop trailer is small and somehow we managed to turn around back."
"Made friends with nearby campers."
"Great campground on Monument hill about 25 miles north of Colorado Springs. It has a outstanding view looking south of front range."
"This campground features a fishing pond, pool, standard amenities (showers, store, laundry) and is close to Monument stores. Spaces can be tight."
"This park has set up campgrounds, but we chose to drive off road a bit and set up camp on the edge of a rocky overlook. Given we went in October, but we were the only campers around our area."
"There were a few pull-off roads off of rampart. Each pull off had a few camping spots with a place for a tent and a fire circle. The view was great and it was a beautiful area."
"Colorado campground is situated outside of Woodland Park (10 minute drive) and right next to Manitou lake. "
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: COLORADO CAMPGROUND PIKE NATIONAL FOREST https://www.recreation.gov/camping/colorado-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?"
from $28 - $38 / night
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RangerBathrooms were very nice and clean. Lots of sites with minimal privacy. Pretty packed and noisy in October. Our site had electrical hookups and its own water. Picnic tables and fire rings available as well. Looks like a very family friendly campground. Stayed one night.
ScoutGreat spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
GuideCool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
GuideQuite the drive but worth it. They were repaving some of the road and I personally had no issues getting to a site. It’s gravel, but doable for most vehicles. There was a propane tank and some trash left behind when I got there (always disheartening to find), but it didn’t feel “lived in” like some other spots have so I ultimately felt pretty safe. It was truly beautiful. I got a spot right at the creek that was tucked away from the main road. Maybe a handful of cars passed throughout my stay, so very peaceful and quiet. Zero amenities, so come prepared. No Verizon cell service. Lots of milky quartz laying about, beautiful birds and minimal bugs. Would make the trek here again in a heartbeat.
ScoutLake Wellington is a beautiful family and dog friendly campground just about 90 minutes from Denver. There are 75 sites, and even when it's pretty full they are decently spaced out that you don't feel too on top of other guests. We brought our dogs and a group of friends and had a great few nights, even seeing Bald Eagles mating!
ScoutNot the nicest but the owners have helped me out a lot.
ScoutI 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.
TravelerIf 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.
ScoutFound a great spot a bit further in surrounded by Juniper trees and a bit of grassy patches and rock fire pit. Love the open space and secluded spots! Definitely not ideal for the cacti. Our pup ended up sniffing one and got the needles in her muzzle. 😬 Weather is pretty nice with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s
Dispersed camping sites near Monument, Colorado range from 6,500 to 8,500 feet elevation with significant temperature fluctuations even in summer. Mount Herman Road offers primitive camping while Rampart Range Road provides dozens of established pull-offs with views of Pikes Peak. The area experiences afternoon thunderstorms regularly during summer months, with overnight temperatures commonly dropping into the 40s.
Fishing at Rampart Reservoir: Located approximately 20 miles west of Monument, the reservoir offers trout fishing and a scenic 12-mile trail. A visitor to Thunder Ridge Campground mentioned, "The walk around the lake (12 miles) is awesome and gorgeous. The site does not have any hookups, it does have toilets."
Explore mountain towns: The charming towns near Monument offer shopping and dining options. A camper at Lone Duck Campground noted, "Easy access to local eateries and shopping. Verizon, 2 bars."
Visit Mueller State Park trails: Located 45 minutes from Monument, the park offers extensive hiking opportunities. A visitor shared, "The trails were beautiful, well maintained, and not crowded at all."
Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas feature deer, elk, and small mammals. One camper at Lone Duck Campground reported, "We woke up one morning at our tent site with deer walking and eating down the creek right next to us."
Natural privacy: While some campgrounds have tightly packed sites, dispersed areas offer seclusion. A Mount Herman Road camper shared, "Looking for a quick spot to stay the night as we were traveling through. Easy drive up, found a pull out fairly close to the main road with established fire ring. Great views of the city lights and then sunrise."
Fall colors: September brings spectacular aspen displays. A Rampart Range Road visitor wrote, "The nights were cold some lows 32° and it snowed the first night which we were hoping for❄ The sunrises were stunning watching the sunlight slowly shed light on the golden aspens was a beautiful sight."
Cooler temperatures: Higher elevations provide relief from summer heat. A visitor commented, "The air is crisp, people are up early strolling with their dogs and the vague sounds of local traffic mix with the sounds and smells of bacon."
Established fire rings: Many dispersed sites come with previously built fire rings. One camper noted, "Pretty great dispersed site. Beautiful sun sets. I had great phone service. There are three campsites running along three different fingers. The second one has a portable bathroom."
Road conditions: Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles. A visitor to Colorado Campground warned, "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."
Weekend crowds: Dispersed sites fill quickly Friday afternoons. One camper reported, "Ended up a parking lot by the end of the night. Too busy with inconsiderate neighbors. Beautiful views though. I think it's luck of the draw depending what night you go."
Weather variability: Mountain weather changes rapidly. A visitor noted, "We stayed there 4 days through every type of weather imaginable. Look out when the sky clears the views are amazing. The road in is a bit rough but quite manageable."
Limited amenities: Most dispersed sites lack facilities. A camper stated, "No water sources so you'll have to pack out water. All the fire pits are hand build and being on the finger you're pretty exposed to the wind keeping the fires small and not very hot."
Choose established campgrounds: Families often prefer sites with amenities. At Garden of the Gods RV Resort, a visitor noted, "Paved roads throughout made for nice bike rides with the kids and larger than usual dog run area was nice (right next to the playground made it easy to run both the dog and the kids)."
Pack for temperature swings: Even summer nights get cold at elevation. One camper shared, "Very nice quiet stay in the woods. All camp sites are very easy to get to and nicely groomed. Very pleasant stay. Got below freezing so be ready for the cold."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. A visitor commented, "This campground is exceptionally nice and the staff is amazing, but if you are in a tent there is a lot of noise pollution from the interstate and trains that come by at all hours of the night blaring their horns."
Bring entertainment: Some campgrounds offer additional activities. A camper mentioned, "All of the amenities. Pool, laundry room, gift shop/Grocery. Arcade, pond, clean bathrooms. Best place every. And surrounded by mountains!"
Site access challenges: Large RVs face restrictions at several campgrounds. A visitor to Colorado Heights Resort warned, "This is not a big rig friendly park. Really did not like it. A lot of trees close to the road, making it hard to move around. Sites are close together and haphazardly played out. Trees are not trimmed to a good height for a large rig."
Water pressure issues: Some campgrounds have unusually high pressure. One RVer noted, "Water pressure here is really strong so make sure you have a water pressure regulator handy."
Electrical supply fluctuations: Power can be inconsistent at some sites. A camper cautioned, "Electricity fluctuated throughout the park 104 to 118. Be careful."
Leveling requirements: Be prepared to level your rig. One RVer explained, "Our location is quite unlevel. It took four blocks under all tires on one side of our Class A to bring near level."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available in Monument, Colorado for weekend trips?
Monument offers diverse camping options for weekend trips. Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping provides free, primitive sites with beautiful views and rock formations. This dispersed area has numerous site options as you drive up the road, making it perfect for spontaneous weekend getaways. For those wanting more amenities, Colorado Campground in nearby Pike National Forest offers reservable sites and is central to numerous trails. Some sites are strictly walk-up, so you can show up if available. The area around Monument provides a mix of free dispersed camping and developed campgrounds, all within easy driving distance for weekend trips from the Front Range urban areas.
Where are the best campgrounds near Monument, Colorado?
The best campgrounds near Monument offer stunning Rocky Mountain views and outdoor recreation access. Colorado Heights Resort sits on Monument Hill with outstanding views of the Front Range and convenient access to the Air Force Academy and Colorado Springs attractions. Mueller State Park Campground is another excellent option with large sites featuring level gravel tent pads, spacious tables, and nice fire pits. The park offers easy access to trails, a visitor center, and scenic drives. Other notable options include Lone Duck Campground and Castle Mountain Recreation Area, both providing different experiences from lakeside settings to forest environments within driving distance of Monument.
Is RV camping available in Monument, CO?
Yes, RV camping is available in and around Monument, CO. Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur is located close to Monument with easy highway access, making it convenient for RVs traveling between Colorado Springs and Denver. While it's not a wilderness experience, it offers good accessibility to regional attractions. Pikes Peak RV Park in nearby Manitou Springs provides 47 RV sites at the edge of downtown. For those with military access, Peregrine Pines FamCamp near the Air Force Academy accommodates RVs with hookups. Most RV parks in the area offer full or partial hookups, though availability may be limited during peak season, so reservations are recommended.
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