Best Tent Camping near Peyton, CO

Tent campers visiting the Peyton, Colorado region can choose between established campgrounds and dispersed sites in Pike National Forest. Lone Duck Campground offers dedicated tent sites with grassy areas and shade trees, while dispersed camping options like Rampart Range Area and Mt. Herman Road provide more primitive experiences without designated facilities. Several tent-friendly areas in Pike National Forest Divide allow campers to experience backcountry conditions within reasonable driving distance.

Most primitive tent sites require campers to pack in all supplies including water, as amenities are minimal or nonexistent. Fire rings constructed by previous visitors mark many dispersed sites, though seasonal fire bans are common during dry periods. Phantom Canyon Road offers numerous tent camping opportunities along a creek, with sites accessible via dirt roads that may require careful navigation. Vault toilets can be found at limited locations, such as along Phantom Canyon Road, but most dispersed areas have no sanitation facilities. Pike National Forest dispersed camping follows standard 14-day stay limits and requires campers to practice Leave No Trace principles.

Tent campers seeking solitude often find the best experiences by traveling farther down forest roads. Sites along Matukat Road provide secluded tent camping with rock formations and hiking opportunities nearby. The terrain varies from open areas with limited shade to forested sites offering natural shelter from sun and wind. Wildlife sightings are common, with several visitors reporting bear activity in the Phantom Canyon area. According to one review, "We found a pull-off on the left hand side pretty soon after the second tunnel. Very private and quiet! Nice and level too, with two fire pits." Campers frequently mention the trade-off between accessibility and privacy, with more remote sites offering greater seclusion but requiring more effort to reach.

Best Tent Sites Near Peyton, Colorado (24)

    1. Lone Duck Campground and Cabins

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

    $40 - $87 / night

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

    "Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs."

    2. Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite

    12 Reviews
    Green Mountain Falls, CO
    28 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. Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2

    5 Reviews
    Palmer Lake, CO
    25 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 😔"

    4. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites

    38 Reviews
    Cañon City, CO
    50 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."

    5. Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest Divide

    9 Reviews
    Woodland Park, CO
    35 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."

    6. Turkey Roost Group Camp — Cheyenne Mountain State Park

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

    $144 / night

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

    7. Matukat Road Dispersed Camping

    16 Reviews
    Lake George, CO
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 553-1400

    "Rock fire pits, wood around. No water, garbage, nor toilets. Cool temps, road in is rough go slow. Nice shady trees. First few spots you encounter left, then right seem ok."

    "We drove a couple of miles up the decently maintained dirt road and found the second dispersed camping spot and decided to set up our roof top tent for the night. "

    8. Wye

    4 Reviews
    Manitou Springs, CO
    32 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"

    9. Osprey

    8 Reviews
    Buffalo Creek, CO
    43 miles
    Website

    $24 / night

    "Cell service- none (t-mobile) Firewood- none Camp host- none Water - non Toilets- port a potty Fire ring- yes No leveled tent sites- generally flat land."

    "Trash and Port a potties are provided. Site is right next to the Platte River. Picnic Table and Fire Ring is provided per site. Very relaxing, great views , and respectful neighbors."

    10. Platte River Campground

    6 Reviews
    Deckers, CO
    43 miles
    Website

    $24 / night

    "It should be noted the higher up sites are right on the road, and the ones closest to the river are by no means far enough to deafen the road noise."

    "Had a nice little hike around the area. My lab loved being able to swim in river. I will make this place my go to place in the middle of the week to get away from the metro area."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Peyton, CO

964 Reviews of 24 Peyton Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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! 😂

  • 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.

  • Tyler W.
    Aug. 22, 2018

    Swift Puma Heights Campground — Cheyenne Mountain State Park

    Great Walk-In Sites!

    Stayed in the Swift Puma campground, walk-in site 29, great privacy, very clean and well maintained with level camp pad, picnic table and bear box. Short walk from parking spot to the campsite. Close to bathrooms and showers, both very clean, showers are quarter operated, 4min/$1. Several deer nearby, many trails within the park that are worth checking out and accessible from campgrounds! Helpful Staff!

  • Bob K.
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Painted Rocks

    Great, but for neighbors and road noise

    The campground is well maintained and well managed, with a friendly and efficient campground host. 

    The campground is meant for campers (mostly tents, but can accommodate RVs). RVs are not supposed to run generators. 

    Site 9 looked to be phenomenal. Our site, 8, was unfortunately too close to a family of four that felt no need to observe quiet hours. In addition, there is a road that runs behind sites on that side of the campground and traffic noise was very loud. 

    The pit toilets were well-maintained and clean. There are dumpsters for trash and at this time, potable water. 

    Some sites have very little level ground. Even our tent pad was uneven.

  • Stephanie F.
    Jul. 3, 2022

    Buffalo Campground

    Mid-week Perfection

    We love this campground! We are a family with school aged kids and dogs. We tent camp so there are only a few sites with a good flat spot. No water is a bit of a hassle but manageable. Garbage dumpster is nice but there are bears in the area so be bear aware. The biggest downfall were the biting black flies from the full vault toilet. Final note,.the campground hosts were LOUD: their generator kicked on at 4am every night and they had at least 10 dogs that barked constantly. They were our only neighbor mid-week and they never checked in with us. They swapped out with another host the day we left and the new people were at least friendly. Plenty of shade, plenty of hammock trees, and peaceful mid-week nights. Bring your bug screen and be prepared for rainstorms.

  • Cory D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2018

    Sand Gulch Campground

    Great access to climbing in a beautiful area full of cliffs

    We stayed here because it was close to shelf rd rock climbing areas. Very basic, almost primitive campsites. There are 16 Individual campsites that are $7/night and accommodate 8-10 people. group campsites are $14/night and accommodate up to 20 people. All sites are first-come, first-served. The campsites include picnic tables, fire rings and tent pads. Fire ban is currently in effect.

    There is an exhilarating drive on on lane dirt road through the canyons just past the campsite. so amazing, but be careful! one wrong move could send you and your car over the cliff!

    climbers trail to "the gallery" climbing area starts bw sites 9 and 10


Guide to Peyton

Tent camping near Peyton, Colorado offers a blend of scenic beauty and outdoor adventure, making it an ideal getaway for nature enthusiasts.

Local Attractions and Activities

Tent Camping Prices

  • Tent camping at Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2 is free, making it a budget-friendly option for campers.
  • Rates for tent sites at Mueller State Park Campground typically range from $20 to $30 per night, depending on the season and site selection.
  • At Wye, camping is free, but be aware that the site has been reported as closed, so check for updates before planning your visit.

Tips for Tent Camping Near Peyton

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Peyton, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Peyton, CO is Lone Duck Campground and Cabins with a 4.2-star rating from 34 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Peyton, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Peyton, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.