Shawnee is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Shawnee is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Shawnee and user-submitted reviews.
$40 - $120 / night
"Regardless, the lake is pretty and the trail is fun for hiking. Word of caution- every year I see/hear about multiple dogs going down the waterfall. No major injuries but it scares the owners."
"The campground and lake are very nice. There are several campsites that sit right on the water. There are also campsites that sit further up on the mountain."
"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."
$28 / night
"This was a great stay, conveniently located just down 285 for a short get away during the work week. We stayed for 3 days and during that time there were only a few other campers here."
"Super easy access for a quick trip to hit the Colorado Trail. We stayed in sight 22, and realized the map on the reservation system was a bit skewed as it is very close to the bathrooms."
"Absolutely stunning area of Colorado with camping next to a beautiful fresh mountain stream. Very popular - try to come up early on a Friday if possible.
Equestrian friendly!!"
"Had lots of fun hiking around and playing in the river. Only negative was that you are under DIA flight path and you hear airplanes all night so you are reminded how close to the city you are."
"Kirby Gulch is a fantastic spot for anyone seeking a peaceful, off-the-grid camping experience near Grant, Colorado."
"We were able to get a site further back from the entrance, so traffic was to a minimum."
$26 / night
"There are 4 sites that are down by the creek in the trees that are walk-in only but have the most space between them and are right on the creek. They are my favorite spots on site."
"Close hikes near by including one of Colorado’s 14ers."
$28 / night
"You can hear the water and the creek is right next to your site. Bathrooms were very well maintained. You are close to your neighbors. I just wish they had a dumpster for your trash."
"This campsite is just outside of Denver, good for new campers or those who want to be more in town. Lots to do nearby"
$36 - $200 / night
"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."
"This is the first time I’ve found a state park so close to a major metro area!!
Because of its proximity to Denver, Chatfield fills up quickly, so book well in advance."
$27 / night
"This campsite is nestled in a wooded area very close to beautiful vistas and trailheads. Campsites were reasonably well spread out with fire rings."
"Despite how busy it was we landed a site that felt secluded and was only a short walk to the shelf lake th."
$28 / night
"Welcoming campground, spur trails connecting it straight to the Colorado Trail and other connections in the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area."
"The site was large (could easily fit a large RV) and tree lines but was pretty close to the road. There were cars going in an out but everyone was being super cautious and going slow."
ScoutCouldn’t find any designated camping spots, but if you keep driving there’re so many spots that are just pull offs. You can sleep there for a weekend. Some are big enough for 2 cars and tents. No bathroom or fire ring. Pack in pack out. Mosquitos were relentless. Views were beautiful.
TravelerIt's a beautiful park just wasn't expecting a lot of people to be here. Also wish the camp spots was further from another spot.
GuideEasy road for 2wd but incredibly busy throughout the day for day hikers. The trailhead parking fills up and everybody tries to park on the road - making for a tight squeeze in some areas. Not big-rig friendly, but perfect for pop-ups.
GuideGot a last minute weekend reservation thru recreation.gov (someone must have canceled). Stayed here to hike La Plata which was about 50 minutes away but the closer campgrounds were only FCFS and full the weekend before. Our spot (19) was level and had shade. There was one open spot left on Friday night. It was pretty quiet and the host was attentive. It is close to the highway but that didn’t affect my sleep. Would recommend.
GuideWe enjoyed our midweek stay here. The creek flowing adjacent the campground is a plus. Site 17 was spacious and overlooked the creek. One vault toilet is located toward the east end of the CG. Expect hiking (popular 14ers nearby) and UTV traffic, especially on weekends. Kind of pricey at $26/night. And there is good dispersed camping along the road leading to this CG.
GuideWe dispersed camped here. If you exit off of 82 then turn onto 24, that will take you up to Lakeview campground which is a pay for site. Keep going past that campground and up there you can pull off many different places to camp. Very amazing views with trails nearby. You will be up by Mt Elbert forebay lake looking out over Twin Lakes. WE LOVED IT. No one bothered us, it was like we were in our own world up there. No trash cans, no toilets, no nothing. Bring your own gear/power. There are some motorcycle riders in the area usually but it's not to bad. They are just going out on the trails. Ppl in the distance with gas generators didn't leave them making noice all night either. Solar is the way!!! Pack it in, pack it out, so we can keep these gems. Big rigs will drag in some spots and would be dangerous to enter with. Most of the big rigs camped at the very top hill if you can get up the steep entrance.
ScoutMy family has enjoyed paddle boarding and kayaking at Terryall State Wildlife Area for many years. On July 27, 2025, we were issued a collective $837 citation for being present in the area without a fishing license. Apparently, you cannot use the campground, picnic areas or lake for ANY purpose other than hunting and fishing. There is NO signage to explain this. A Keep Colorado Wild pass DOES NOT allow access.
TravelerCampground is quiet 🤫 plenty of space. Only 5 miles to woodland park.
TravelerThe photos did not do this area justice!! There were some mixed reviews about needing a high clearance vehicle/4x4. We took our Subaru Crosstrek and the drive up was rough. We made it unscathed because my husband is a great driver but I wouldn’t try this unexperienced!!
The coordinates will take you to the start of the rocky part of the drive (Stewart road I think?) so from there to our campsite it probably took us another 25 minutes.
We set up camp a little prematurely because we were ready to be done driving, but once we started hiking up towards Loch Lomond Lake, we quickly saw a ton of even better spots with mountain and water views. Next time!
Camping near Shawnee, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning views and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Exploring the campgrounds around Shawnee, CO, can lead to memorable adventures, whether you're camping in a tent or an RV.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Shawnee, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 484 campgrounds and RV parks near Shawnee, CO and 177 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shawnee, CO is Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake with a 3.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 177 free dispersed camping spots near Shawnee, CO.
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