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TravelerIdaho Springs RV Campground
Great Hosts Great Location Great Price
Cannot say enough, family owned and operated. Well kept, very clean restrooms, showers, laundry. Close to sooo much.
Best Campgrounds near Pinewood Springs, CO
The region surrounding Pinewood Springs, Colorado features diverse camping opportunities in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Located between Estes Park and Lyons, this area provides access to both developed campgrounds and dispersed camping. Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds like Moraine Park and Glacier Basin lie approximately 20 miles northwest, offering established sites with amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Several dispersed camping areas including Hell Canyon Dispersed and Allenspark Dispersed Camping provide free, primitive options for those seeking a more rustic experience. Both tent and RV camping are accommodated throughout the region, with certain developed campgrounds also offering cabin rentals.
Road conditions and accessibility vary significantly by location and season in this mountainous terrain. Many campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park operate seasonally, with Glacier Basin open from late May through early September. Reservations are essential for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer months when sites frequently reach capacity. Dispersed camping areas like Hell Canyon require high-clearance vehicles in some sections, with primitive road access and no facilities. Winter conditions often limit access to higher elevation sites, while spring snowmelt can impact trails and roads. Cell service is unreliable in many camping areas, particularly in dispersed sites and remote sections of national forest land. A visitor noted that "dispersed camping near Allenspark has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down you will find many more unnumbered campsites."
Campers consistently praise the scenic mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the area. Several developed campgrounds provide easy access to hiking trails, with some sites positioned near lakes or streams. The proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park represents a major draw, allowing day trips for hiking and sightseeing while maintaining a base camp. Areas near Estes Park provide convenient access to town amenities while still offering natural settings. Dispersed camping locations typically provide more privacy and solitude compared to established campgrounds. A review highlighted that Allenspark Dispersed Camping earned high ratings, noting "This is one of my all-time favorite places to hike and camp in Colorado. You simply cannot find more scenic and free camping in Colorado." Mixed-use campgrounds accommodating both tents and RVs are common in the region, with most developed sites featuring fire rings and picnic tables.
Best Camping Sites Near Pinewood Springs, Colorado (384)
1. Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park
93 ReviewsEstes Park, CO14 milesWebsite+1 (970) 586-1206$30 - $60 / night
"Took the kids camping in Colorado for the first time and we had a blast. It rained on us a lot but it didn't stop us. Took a great hike up deer mountain....stunning views. Can't wait to go back."
"Very enjoyable spot, close access to trails and entrance and exit of the park."
2. Glacier Basin Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park
60 ReviewsEstes Park, CO13 milesWebsite+1 (970) 586-1206$35 - $70 / night
"Firewood sold next to the entrance by the same husband and wife that have been selling firewood there for 35 years. There is a shed full of firewood."
"The spaces are large, but quite close to one another with few trees for privacy. Each site here is variable, with some open with no trees and others nestled in some mature trees."
3. Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake
46 ReviewsEstes Park, CO11 milesWebsite+1 (800) 964-7806$45 - $70 / night
"There’s access to a small playground for kids. The pool looked nice, the lake is right across the road. Overall a good campsite."
"Since there was construction going on at the national park campgrounds and none were available, we found Mary’s Lake to be a great alternative to take our chances at camping in the park."
4. East Portal Campground at Estes Park
40 ReviewsEstes Park, CO13 milesWebsite+1 (800) 964-7806$45 - $80 / night
"The bathrooms were clean, and close to almost every site. They had a very nice playground for the kids with a climbing wall."
"Estes Park Campground at East Portal is a short drive away from both RMNP and the city of Estes Park, so you are nearby everything."
5. Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park
28 ReviewsEstes Park, CO8 milesWebsite+1 (970) 577-2090$35 / night
"Best place to camp in Estes Park/Northern Colorado! Wooded sites mean privacy from your neighbors and shade during the day. Vault toilets are very clean, well kept."
"Hermits Hollow is a nice place to camp near Estes, offering a quiet retreat away from the crowds. We only stayed the night, arriving late and leaving early. "
6. Hell Canyon Dispersed
27 ReviewsPinewood Springs, CO6 milesWebsite+1 (970) 295-6600"4x4 drive is a requirement. Good Verizon signal. Narrow road, however not busy at all. Stayed here for 4 days, no issue. The Google Maps directions is slightly wrong."
"Driving down to town during the day, there were some people (probably from the adjacent campground) hiking the road. Overall quiet at night (other than some road noise from 36). Not a bad spot!"
7. Allenspark Dispersed Camping
27 ReviewsAllenspark, CO11 milesWebsite+1 (970) 295-6600"We found a spot with several fire rings close to the water and just a short walk from parking along the road."
"Take the road far enough and you’ll get past those with homes and find some decent BLM off road camping/overnight parking places. Road gets a bit more 4x4 like as you keep going"
8. Beaver Park Reservoir - Dispersed
35 ReviewsWard, CO14 milesWebsite"You are pinned up against private property around the lake, the camp sites are in the dirt area when you get to the lake down to the left."
"The location is great, there’s about 10 designated camp sites to choose from and great hiking trails nearby. The drive in is easy."
9. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Estes Park
19 ReviewsEstes Park, CO6 milesWebsite+1 (970) 586-4230"Minutes away from NP entrances and Estes Park, yet totally secluded in the mountain wilderness. We got a site furthest away from the entrance / highway, up a steep road (Yogi’s “Hey Hey Highway”)."
"We stayed in site 100 and the other sites were a bit close by. No trees between us and the site on either side, but we did face the hill so the view was nice."
10. Estes Park KOA
25 ReviewsEstes Park, CO10 milesWebsite+1 (970) 586-2888"We didn't feel the "Oh, God... another tourist" vibes we got from basically everyone else in Colorado. On the contrary, they couldn't have been happier to see us and welcome us to their little city."
"We have stayed here 3 or 4 times due to the close proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. The campground is extremely well managed, clean and well maintained. "
Recent Camping Photos near Pinewood Springs, CO
871 Photos of 384 Pinewood Springs Campgrounds
Taylor C.
Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot
michael M.
LaVern M. Johnson Park
Cooper P.
Hell Canyon Dispersed
Adam G.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Estes Park
Kell H.
Pinewood Reservoir Campground
Vincent P.
Big Thomson Campground at Carter Lake
Sarah L.
South Shore Campground at Carter Lake
Ryan M.
Forest Road 119
Shana D.
Bobcat Campground — Hermit Park
Mike T.
Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park
Melissa V.
Eagle Campground at Carter Lake
Jessica H.
Flatiron Reservoir Campground
Recent Reviews near Pinewood Springs, CO
2531 Reviews of 384 Pinewood Springs Campgrounds
- MMeisa M.Traveler
Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite
Perfect for tent or SUV
Stunning views here! There are only a few areas with multiple camping spots and most would only suit suv/tent. Wouldn’t recommend for a trailer. Easy in/out, quiet only a few cars and sxs’s coming through during my two day stay.
- MMATTHEW R.
GuideLaVern M. Johnson Park
A river runs through it
Public park and campground. Tent sites by the river but you have to park and carry your gear in. Tents sites 1-8 are “car camping” sites, but those are adjacent to the rec field so lots of people walking by in the daytime. The park is in town so easy access to stores restaurants and an arcade!
Ethan C.GuideFall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail
Truck Camping
A little bumpy but found a beautiful spot right next to the stream.
- Ethan C.Guide
Lost Lake Dispersed
Great start
This is a great place to start car camping or backpack camping. The roads for my truck were easy to traverse and navigate. Saw some hatchbacks, SUV’s, and other lower clearance vehicles. They did just fine so if you have that you can do it if you take your time. But stay on the main road to the lake some side roads are extremely hard even for my truck. But there is plenty of sites to disperse camp. Pretty much if you explore around you’ll find a nice place to set up with a made campfire already. Also please take care of the fire, pet and alcohol restrictions. They had a fire restriction and they gave out tickets to those who had them, just be aware. Have a great time, it’s beautiful country out there
- ttaylor K.Traveler
Santa Fe Trail Dispersed Site
Beautiful but treacherous
The site was so beautiful and the views took my breath away but the way up gave me so much anxiety that I wanted to turn around multiple times. Granted I drove up in the middle of the night so it looked like I was driving on the side of a cliff, which there is on some parts of the trail but it looks way worse in the dark so if you're going definitely make sure it's during the day when there's light.
Had gorgeous views of the mountains but the trail requires a 4WD vehicle with a lot of clearance in order to make it up.
- JJessica B.
ScoutApplewood RV Resort by Rjourney
Only dumped
We just stopped in for a quick and easy dump. $20 to dump, $10 to fill.
Sarah S.
LegendMoraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park
Winter camping
This time of year the park is really quiet and you have plenty of options for camping spots. There are a lot of camping trails nearby and we went to Cub Lake for a day where we saw so much wildlife. The deer in the elk were out, turkeys were roaming, ran across a couple of woodchuck’s. All in all it was beautiful but park has vault toilets which are the worst!!
Kyle P.GuideSanta Fe Trail (Top Site)
Fantastic views!
Stayed 2nd night on Santa Fe trail up top. Took a hike and scouted an open site further up so moved camp. This site is a less protected from wind and somewhat less private but stellar views.
Guide to Pinewood Springs
Dispersed and established camping options surround Pinewood Springs, Colorado, nestled in proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. The area provides access to multiple camping environments, from the free Hell Canyon dispersed sites to developed facilities like Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds within the national park. Campground categories include established sites with amenities, primitive dispersed areas on public land, and private camping operations such as Estes Park KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Most established campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, while some sites like Allenspark Dispersed Camping primarily serve tent campers seeking a more rustic experience.
Road conditions and access vary significantly throughout the region, with many dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles or 4x4 capabilities. Sites in Hell Canyon and Allenspark areas follow forest service roads with limited signage and sometimes challenging terrain. Most developed campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through September, while dispersed sites may be accessible year-round depending on snow conditions and elevation. Fire restrictions frequently apply, particularly during summer months when wildfire danger increases. A visitor noted of the Hell Canyon area: "There were a few spots following up the trail. Beautiful area and pretty quiet overall. The weather was so nice we slept in hammocks all week."
Campgrounds with amenities such as flush toilets, showers, and electric hookups cluster near Estes Park, where they serve as convenient basecamps for Rocky Mountain National Park exploration. LaVern M. Johnson Park in Lyons provides family-friendly camping with playgrounds and water features, situated within walking distance of town services. Dispersed camping areas receive mixed reviews regarding privacy and site quality. One camper reported: "Initially, the campgrounds were hard to find. Keep driving down Ski road until you find a fork in the road, and from there onwards are the campsites. Good whitenoise from the creek." Cell service remains sporadic throughout the region, especially at primitive sites and in canyon areas. Wildlife encounters, including bears, occur regularly, necessitating proper food storage at all camping locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pinewood Springs, CO?
What camping is available near Pinewood Springs, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pinewood Springs, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 384 campgrounds and RV parks near Pinewood Springs, CO and 124 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pinewood Springs, CO?
Which is the most popular campground near Pinewood Springs, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pinewood Springs, CO is Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 93 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pinewood Springs, CO?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pinewood Springs, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 124 free dispersed camping spots near Pinewood Springs, CO.
What parks are near Pinewood Springs, CO?
What parks are near Pinewood Springs, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Pinewood Springs, CO that allow camping, notably Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland and Rocky Mountain National Park.
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