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Camping near Cañon City, CO

279 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Cañon City works as a base for Royal Gorge and the Arkansas River corridor, with campground options ranging from full-hookup RV parks to dispersed sites on the surrounding national forest land. The town sits at lower elevation than most of Colorado's camping destinations, which keeps it accessible year-round when higher passes are closed. Check-ins logged on The Dyrt here run steadily across spring, summer, and fall, with reviewers flagging the river access and canyon views as the main draws.

    Cañon City dispersed camping covers the free and undesignated options on Pike and San Isabel National Forest roads if you want to skip the reservation window entirely. Developed campgrounds closer to the Royal Gorge entrance book up on summer weekends, so mid-week arrivals give you more options. Pueblo is about 40 miles east if Cañon City sites are full.

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    Best Campgrounds near Cañon City (279)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites

      4.6(39)7mi from Cañon CityTents

      "Stopped in Cañon City then drove out to phantom canyon gold belt tour. The coordinates will take you to where the paved road turns to dirt."

      "I was nervous about going here in my Nissan Versa because I had read it was a 4 wheel drive road on several sites, however I was also optimistic after speaking to someone at Canon City because they mentioned"

      2. East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge

      4.3(25)5mi from Cañon CityRVs, Tents

      "Cañon City deserves a lot of praise for this fantastic spot that provides a great opportunity to enjoy all the views that the Royal Gorge has to offer."

      "Right next to the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City Colorado, the highest suspension bridge in North America ! Do the Segway tour over the bridge!!"

      from $20 / night

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      3. East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge

      4.6(17)5mi from Cañon CityRVs, Tents

      "Tucked away and very nice campground close to the Royal Gorge and Canon City if you need to get camping supplies. Get water and ice at the filling station by the Goodwill store for a great price."

      "Cañon city view and rock climbing minutes away."

      from $20 / night

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      4. Red Canyon Park

      4.4(23)11mi from Cañon CityRVs, Tents

      "The park is fairly remote from Cañon City and has plenty of trails to explore. Sites are large and relatively easy to access by dirt road."

      "Cañon City local here! Red Canyon Park is a Cañon City-owned "mountain park." Fun to explore by day through the little canyon or along the rocks above, there's a walk for everyone here."

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      5. Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA

      3.9(18)8mi from Cañon CityRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Beautiful views and a great walking path for my dog. I could have gone for miles. People are super friendly and it’s clean! Close to hiking. Well worth the visit"

      "The site we got had our door facing another camper's door and our picnic tables were next to eachother, so we didn't spend much time hanging out outside."

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      6. Penrose Common Rec Site

      3.8(12)10mi from Cañon City

      "Easy access and not too far out of Pueblo or Cañon City. We didn't venture much further than the gate at the latrine, but we saw people coming out so I can assume there are spots further in."

      "It’s not the best dispersed camping, but feels like a paid campsite with individual campsites, vault toilets close by, and a simple drive to get to."

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      7. Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins

      4.6(7)9mi from Cañon City7 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The camp store was well stocked with firewood, camping supplies, a s’mores bar, cold drinks and lots of Colorado made items. The view from the hot tub was amazing!"

      "We had a great tent spot up on the hill with a great view of the valley behind. So it was a quiet tent spot to ourself, but 30 seconds down the hill foe access to the amazing restroom and showers!"

      from $45 - $74 / night

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      8. Sand Gulch Campground

      4.2(9)13mi from Cañon City31 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Nice views of rock walls and surrounding mountains. Pit toilet clean enough. Decent buffer between sites. Direct access to multiple trails."

      "There was nearly no one else camping here. It was beautiful. It is more open with little shade but we had storms so it was just fine."

      from $20 - $40 / night

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      9. The Bank Campground

      4.3(9)14mi from Cañon City35 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Close enough to canon city (bout a 20 min drive) so easy to get gas and supplies at local Walmart."

      "Off-roads/trails near by with even better views. Loved this place."

      from $20 - $40 / night

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      10. Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort

      4.5(15)18mi from Cañon CityRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "A great midpoint basecamp location for going up to Colorado Springs area or down to Canon City(Royal Gorge) areas.  The campground was always quiet in the evenings and felt secure. "

      "This is a lovely park about 30 minutes south of Colorado Springs. We camped here for 5 nights in a back in spot with full hookups, site 51."

      from $69 - $79 / night

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    Recent Camping Photos near Cañon City, CO

    609 Photos of 279 Cañon City Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Cañon City, CO

    1623 Reviews of 279 Cañon City Campgrounds

    • GThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 11, 2026

      Forest Service Road 250 Dispersed

      Very easy to access / lots of flat open ground

      Works well for campers and low clearence vehicles, not ideal for tent campers who prefer seclusion. We stayed quite close to the main road, it is very easy to get to but there is very little forest cover, no water within walking distance, and not much privacy. Plenty of open, flat ground and space to park RVs / Campers etc.

      About 2-3 bars 4G Verison Sometimes 1 bar on both T-Mobile and AT&T

    • Sarah F.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 10, 2026

      Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2

      Right off the road, great view though!

      The spot I got seemed at the start of the camping area, more are further up.

      I recommend not attempting road with 2WD… seems quite rough in spaces. Having the extra support made me feel better.

      A bit of an incline but I found plenty of space to set up my tent!

    • Jem S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 10, 2026

      Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite

      Beautiful Spot

      The spots definitely go fast on the weekends. Awd and 4wd is necessary in a lot of spots. Very scenic views!! Lots of tree coverage.

    • Jem S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 10, 2026

      Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead

      Delicious trout

      The drive in you definitely need awd or 4wd, lots of rocks but once you make it to the bottom of the trail there are camping spots where you park or you can walk the trail and find little fire pits along the way. We ended up staying about 2 miles in next to the river.

    • RThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 8, 2026

      Shavano BLM Designated Camping Area

      Excellent Views, Plenty of Space

      Tons of sites in this area with enough space between each to not be on top of one another.

    • I. N.
      Jul. 7, 2026

      Pleasant Valley RV Park, 0018 County rd 47, Howard, CO

      Book near the river asap 🖤

      My husband, 8 month old son, and I spent our first 4th of July here with our new camping trailer (lol we’re still learning all the ropes about using it and supplies needed). We forgot we needed those hose slinky things 😵‍💫 and the facility had an extra one for us to borrow for free which was insanely nice 🙏🏻 the whole staff is incredible and sweet. They have a working laundry facility and at least 2 restrooms. And a very nice shower. Like it makes me think of an actual spa! They have a really nice playground with those bench swings you can sit at and watch your kids and a propane fireplace. Down by the river they have more chairs, benches and another bench swings and another propane fireplace pit to enjoy the scenery, play in the water, or fish. My husband and I really enjoyed our 3 night stay here 🖤 and my son really enjoyed the attention lol 😆 it sounds like they’re continuing with small upgrades as well like they’re waiting to receive a baby swing to add to their playground.

      Even if you don’t have an RV to bring out here they have a few to rent as well as 1 or 2 cabins and a few tent spots.

      I think the only con is that the tents are the furthest from the restrooms but also don’t see it as a huge deal breaker because it is a cozy area where everywhere is still close.

      If you want one of the spots near the river definitely book way in advance! They book fast for a good reason! Definitely jealous of the people that manage to get the spots with a water front view after looking up the place on tiktok 🖤

    • Bryan S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 7, 2026

      Colorado Springs KOA

      Good family oriented campground

      Lots of cabins and things for the kids to do, but not a lot of shade. We did manage to get a spot with a tree, but many spots didn’t have any shade at all. Since we don’t have kids with us, most of what the park has to offer was wasted on us, but it made a nice enough place to spend the night. It is right by a river and has a decent view of the mountains.

    • L
      Jul. 5, 2026

      Lazy Boy Campground — Eleven Mile State Park

      Amazing sunset spot

      We stayed at #501 and loved it, if you can reserve 507, 506 or 505 will be even better!

      There was a fire ban so we couldn’t have a campfire, otherwise it was perfect, low wind mid day and late night, but not bad. Bring bug spray!! There’s a lot of mosquitos and ants. Lots of wildlife and nice water for paddle boarding and kayaking, didn’t have much luck with fishing. There’s no trees around that area so make sure to bring shade as well. Rangers were checking in every couple of hours. You can’t be in the water while fishing or have floaties, not sure if you can swim on that are, but playing with the dogs in the water was ok (and really fun).

    Guide to Cañon City

    Campgrounds around Cañon City, Colorado range from established sites with amenities to primitive areas on public lands. The region includes several notable options like East Ridge Campground at Royal Gorge, offering tent and RV camping with picturesque views just minutes from the Royal Gorge Bridge. Phantom Canyon Road provides BLM dispersed sites for those seeking more solitude, while developed options like Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA feature cabin rentals and full hookups. Both public and private lands support diverse camping experiences within short drives of town, with some campgrounds positioned at higher elevations that capture panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape.

    Access to most camping areas remains seasonal, with some campgrounds like Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA operating from April through October. Many primitive sites have no drinking water available, requiring campers to bring their own supplies or fill containers in town. The dirt roads leading to several campgrounds are well-maintained but can become challenging during winter months or after heavy rain. Vault toilets are common at established sites, while developed campgrounds provide full shower and bathroom facilities. Maximum stay limits of 72 hours apply at some locations, particularly at East Ridge Campground. A camper noted, "Night temps were good for car camping in winter months. Hikes of any length can be started right from the campground or a short drive away."

    Campers consistently praise the quiet atmosphere and scenic surroundings at most sites near Cañon City. East Ridge Campground receives particularly positive feedback for its level tent pads, metal picnic tables, and fire pits with cooking grills. Several visitors mentioned wildlife encounters, with one review noting "Lots of mule deer" and "the sounds of crickets and gentle breezes will help you sleep soundly." Proximity to outdoor recreation stands out as a major advantage, with multiple trails accessible directly from campgrounds for hiking and mountain biking. While sites closer to town offer convenience for supply runs, the more remote locations provide greater seclusion. The area's camping options balance accessibility with natural immersion, positioned between the higher elevations of Colorado's mountains and the more temperate climate of the lower Arkansas River Valley.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where are the best campgrounds in Cañon City, Colorado?

    Cañon City offers excellent camping options for every style. East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge stands out with its spectacular views of Cañon City and proximity to Royal Gorge Bridge. Accessible via dirt roads on CR-3A, this city-maintained campground provides a perfect base for exploring the gorge area. For those seeking a natural setting, Red Canyon Park offers large, accessible sites with plenty of hiking trails to explore, though it's somewhat remote from town. Other notable options include BLM Shelf Road Banks and Sand Gulch Campgrounds for budget-friendly sites with basic amenities, and Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA for those wanting essential RV services. For a basecamp that allows exploration in multiple directions, Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort sits perfectly between Cañon City and Colorado Springs.

    When is the best season for camping in Cañon City?

    Spring and fall offer the most pleasant camping weather in Cañon City. Red Canyon Park is particularly enjoyable during these seasons, as summer temperatures can get quite hot in the area. April through May and September through early October provide moderate temperatures ideal for outdoor activities. In mid-April, temperatures typically stay above 40 degrees, making it comfortable for overnight stays. BLM Shelf Road Banks and Sand Gulch Campgrounds are accessible year-round but are most comfortable during spring and fall. Summer camping is possible but prepare for heat, especially at lower elevations. Winter camping is available for the adventurous, though you should be prepared for cold nights and potentially icy conditions on access roads.

    What camping amenities are available near Cañon City?

    Cañon City area campgrounds offer a range of amenities to suit different camping styles. Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA provides essential services including water and electrical hookups, located conveniently about 8 miles from Cañon City and 4 miles from Royal Gorge. For RV campers, Haggards RV Campground features spacious pull-through sites that can accommodate large rigs without unhooking, with full hookups available. Public campgrounds like East Ridge offer more rustic experiences with pit toilets and well-maintained sites. Most areas have picnic tables and fire pits, while BLM sites provide vault toilets and campground hosts. For water and ice, campers recommend the filling station near the Goodwill store in Cañon City. Cell service varies by location, with ATT coverage reported in many areas around the region.

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