Looking for the best options for RV camping near Swink? Find the best information on RV campgrounds near Swink, including sites, reviews, and tips. Search nearby RV campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Hi my name is Brandy Mapes my husband name is Bill Mapes we are the new owners of Mapes Lakeview RV park. We've made a lot of changes, I hope you guys come in and see us, and if you've been here before I hope you come in and give us another chance thank you so much and we now serve coffee we have electric and water hookups and free shower and bathrooms for campers $29 a night $175 a week and $650 a month
$29 / night
$30 / night
This popular meeting spot, about 33 miles south of La Junta, offers wildlife interpretation and corrals for public equestrian use.
The smaller of the two sisters, Lake Henry offers campers an opportunity to play and camp at a site where the stars are actually visible to the naked eye. Normally calm waters, a stocked lake, easy access the water, and fee free camping are perfect for individuals and families who feel that vacation is more about communing with nature, visiting with friends and family, and great fun in the sun, rather than a hustled and hurried routine.
Less than three miles west of Lake Henry, in the Town of Ordway, one will find two gas stations, a handful of restaurants, a grocery store, a drug store, medical services, a water spray park and quiet and fully shaded parks. Behind the Junior High School you will find tennis courts and a baseball stadium which you are welcome to use. In addition, JR's Country Store offers garbage and sewage dumping services, free Wi-Fi, fishing and hunting licenses, along with laundry facilities.
Camping is free and based on a first come basis. Campfires are permitted in designated areas. PLEASE call the local Sheriff's department to get CURRENT FIREBAN information. 719-267-5235
Lake Henry is located between Ordway and Sugar City, just two miles north of Highway 96 on Lane 20 (see map below). This large lake is a great place to fish for catfish and bass, and has plenty of room for swimming, power boating, sailing, water-skiing and jet skis. The lake is a favorite among bird watchers, who include this lake in local birding tours. The lake offers primitive campsites, vault toilets and a boat ramp...all available for free.
Camping: Free first come first served basis. No trash service, please take home what you bring. Campfires are permitted in designated areas. Facilities: No Toilet, shower, water service or electricity. All supplies and facilities located within 3 miles. Activities: No ATV's. Boating and water vehicles welcome. Swimming, fishing, horseback.
Traveler
I wish I could give this place negative stars. 😑 First and foremost you cannot arrive after hours without a reservation and by creating an account. Then upon paying for your site, which only has electric by the way, you also have to purchase a $9 parking pass. We had to purchase one for our RV AND one for our car. Camp hosts are nonexistent. The facilities were FILTHY ! One shower open that YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR. $1 in quarters got me 2 mins and upon shooting out freezing water without warning , it took over a minute to get warm so then I had under 60 seconds to do a quick wash. Mind you- I typically boon-dock and off grid camp but figured I would splurge and hook up for the night ( traveling across country) and use a facilities shower. The floor was filthy and there were excrements left not only in the toilet but also on the seat. I’m just really bummed out.. would not recommend. On the plus side, I had a gorgeous balled Eagle fly right over head that left me in awe. And the sunrise was very beautiful.
Ranger
Very well taken-care-of campsite. Tons of spots for RV’s, with hookups. Tent sites have a designated tent spot, fire pit, table, and even a sink. The office store has anything you need, but there’s also a Walmart right around the corner. The wifi is strong, the laundry is cheap, and the toilet paper is soft. This site was a terrific break from camping on the road without paying for a cheap, terrible motel. All for $40 (tent site)! Very happy with our stay.
Scout
Not pretty but cheap with hookups. No one bothers you
Traveler
This is the place you want to be! Campsites are nicely spaced and mostly level! I’d estimate that 80% have really nice shade trees. Electric provided with water nearby but I understand it’s not worth drinking but suitable for showering etc. I always carry drinking water anyway!
GuideWell spaced sites with many trees and Lake Hasty. Bents Fort and Sand Creek Monument in area. Clean showers and rest rooms. Water is available, but no hookups.
Guide
We boondocked with the kiddos in a travel trailer. Saw two other cars, two people, and one other campsite was occupied. There are 4 numbered campsites, and an overfill pull off with a fire ring just before the campground on the left that may or may not supposed to be there. April weather is great, we came here for some reprieve from our mountain winter and were not disappointed. Even in April, bring plenty of water, it’s easy to dehydrate here. The canyons and rock formations are beautiful. Campsite 1 has great rocks right behind it, fun for the kids to play on but more exposed to winds. Campsite two is better for tent camping and has a cool sand pit. Campsite 3 is flat and great for a trailer or RV, and right by the toilet (where we stayed), and campsite 4 is a short walk to some fun terrain.
ScoutIt’s a KOA, so yes, everything is pretty nice! However, jacking up the price because it’s a holiday weekend, isn’t that price gouging? $52 WITH a veteran discount, for a TENT SPOT! REDICULOUS!!! If it hadn’t been so late in the day, I would have kept going down the road! Also, lots of highway noise, and the occasional train!
GuideWe loved staying here, but there were certainly much better camp sites with trees and views. We booked an electric site on the east side of the dam and it was one with a lake view but had zero trees around. We had never been there prior so we know better now which spot we would book. The spots closest to the damn have zero trees and you're out in the open. My only complaint is we called the park to ensure that our friend with a roof top tent could share our spot, and we were told no since the tent is "attached" to the truck it is considered a "camper". So our friend had to cancel his trip since the park was sold out. Come the weekend, and we saw countless violations to this said park rule. One campsite had 5 vehicles, 8 tents and we counted at least 18 plus campers! The park rangers just drove on by. The other issue was we paid the reservation fee and pulled our travel trailer in. They still charged us an additional $9/day fee for our truck...that pulled the trailer. I have not heard of that before so it was a bit of a surprise. Cell phone service is a bit spotty, so prepare to be off-grid. The views are gorgeous and it is very peaceful there at night. The closest town to get anything you might have forgotten is about a 30 minute round trip drive.
ScoutSpent the night in early March 2023 on our way back to Colorado from picking up our new Casita travel trailer in Texas. Only four sites were occupied on the evening that we stayed there. The trees were leafless and the grass was that lovely winter brown color, but we loved the solitude and peacefulness of a nearly empty campground.
GuideWe stayed in the Cool Caboose for a night! It was definitely cool. We were greeted with a warm welcome upon our arrival. An ice cold bottle of water for each of us was a nice touch. The caboose is very cozy and has everything you need for an overnight stay. We made great use of the back patio for dinner and breakfast. The only feedback I have is regarding the beds. They’re not the most comfortable, but they’re sufficient. We’d stay here again. We walked the property and I’d have to say, out of the dozen or so KOAs we’ve stayed at, this is definitely among the best!
Scout
$20 for campsite plus $9 fee if you don’t hold a Colorado State Park pass, total $29 for no electric or water and pit toilets not near campsites. No shade at the “Pointe”. It’s a dam on the Arkansas River set in the prairie. Buggy. No easy access to the water near campground. Smell of cattle feed lots on the breeze.
GuideI'm not sure what you'd do for more than a day in La Junta, but this was a great overnight spot for us in late September. (Old Bent's Fort is worth the side trip). Not crowded and restrooms were clean. Nice pull through sites, cute older playground, and a pool if you're in season. Late arrival instructions were obviously posted.
GuideEasy in and out. Big pull through sites. Clean. Year round water/sewer/electric. Cell coverage one bar for Verizon and one to two bars AT&T
Ranger
If it wasn't so late and stormy, my husband and I would have moved on... but there aren't a lot of options in this area anyway. This isn't like any "campground" I know--this was basically one open dirt lot. There was one poor tenter having a hard time keeping their tent on the ground during the storm, a few RVs that have seen better days, and a couple parked vehicles during my stay. The occasional car with a rattling bass would drive by throughout the night. But worst of all, the wind changed in the middle of the night and I woke up gagging from the smell of pig s***. It was bad enough we left as soon as the sun began to rise. No vault toilets and no privacy to be found here, either.
LegendLots of sites, electric service and water from a tap close. A few nice places to walk and from the back of a bike, plenty of places to ride and explore. Also has a small hike and a frisbee golf course.
ScoutI recently camped near a couple who made the experience quite unpleasant. First, there’s the constant, heavy use of cannabis—while not an issue for everyone, it was overwhelming at times. They also had eight dogs that were continuously barking, making it impossible to find any peace and quiet.
The vehicle they arrived in seemed suspicious, too. The tag on the travel trailer says "in transit," but the plates are from 2018, which felt a bit sketchy.
And then there’s the woman, who was constantly yelling at her phone, seemingly about online trolls. This went on day and night, making the entire experience unsettling.
If you're seeking tranquility or a peaceful connection with nature, I'd recommend steering clear of this area if you see them camped out. Or call the police.
TravelerStayed 3 days in October. Site's are in prairie among wooded river bottom. Shade is abundant. Reservations required, easy to obtain at gate. Site's electric only. Water at hydrants. Good facilities,shower laundry and restrooms. Plenty of activities for exploring and fishing. T-mobile cell was spotty as well as radio reception. Streaming is possible but not dependable. Our campsite had an issue with flies. Not a deal killer but have your repellant handy.
GuideWe stayed at this campground on a weekend sightseeing trip. It is an hour away from Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (and another 2 hours east one would arrive at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site).
This is your basic State Park Reservoir camping site. You will need a reservation and either an annual park pass or daily parking fee for your vehicles. There is large reservoir for boating and fishing. Swimming is allowed seasonally, but not during our stay. There was a few playgrounds for young kids near Hasty campground and a geocache nearby (watch out for cacti for the small children). Lots of space for the kids to run, play and ride bikes.
A lot of turkey vultures and a skunk were spotted from our campground. Very windy in a tent during our late April stay. We had lunch at a picnic spot, but we were glad it was 70 degree April day because there was no shade at there.
TravelerStayed in September 2022, stopped in on the way home to KS. Unfortunately lake down to 4% at present so don’t plan on fishing swimming. They are going to be working on the dam. Campsite level & nice on Hasty lake side of Dam. Shower are pay. Probably a nice place when the lake is full.
RangerWe were traveling cross country & really just needed a place to settle in for the night . We decided on this campground based openings. There are 2 sides to this campground- 1 more on the water , with more trees between sites & the other in what’s basically an open field . We stayed on the open side. While I usually wouldn’t choose such little privacy , we were pleasantly surprised! The sites are really spread out & there was only a small handful of folks , so no one was anywhere near us. It was quiet , dry neat & there was a central water source if needed. The site did have electricity. It was very dark at night but it made for amazing star gazing ! This campground is definitely off the beaten path. It fit the bill for the night but I’m not sure what else is around it for entertainment value. It’s supposed to be a great place if you fish & we were told there many opportunities to see eagles but more on the reservoir side.
RangerIt's hard to give this place the credit it deserves when you come off of a mountain over 10,000 feet!!! Sites 1-20 something are up next to the dam and levee. Site 9 is the farthest from the road that separates this section from the bigger portion of the campground. There is only electricity at these sites with community water. There are restrooms (that we didn't use) and garbage containers scattered throughout. This park's saving grace is the lake and the abundant wildlife... mostly birds, but beaver and skunks were seen! Roads are paved, sites are rock with little cabana-type shelters, a picnic table and fire ring. Sites 1-20 something have scattered small trees... site 9 probably had the largest... a young cottonwood. The largest section of Hasty campsites are well treed, some at water's edge. If you're going to stay longer than 1 night, especially during the summer, try to reserve in the big section with trees! It's a popular, year-round park with fishing on Hasty Lake and boating on the reservoir side!
GuideCalled in a rainstorm looking for a site just for the night. They give no discount and also charge a fee just to drive into your site if your out of state. They were far from full. Why not make revenues and give a discount under these conditions. GS Agent sounded haughty regarding questioning the fees. Ppl like to travel but don’t always have deep pockets like the huge RV to spend esp. when just passing thru being an out of stater
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 55 for 2 days in mid June. The pull-through sites are very roomy, lots of open space and fairly level. This is a fairly large CG and there were only a few other campers here mid-week. The road leading to the CG is a little bumpy, but not too bad. The gravel roads within the CG are filled with fairly significant pot holes that must be maneuvered around and there are a few low branches that need to be trimmed. The men’s showers were rust stained, but otherwise fairly clean, but my wife said there was hair on the floor and walls of the women’s showers. The showers are coin operated and mine was amply hot, but the water heater kept shutting off every 45 seconds or so. Turning the faucet off and back to hot would start it again. My wife said hers didn’t shut off, but only got warm. Water spigots available around the CG, but the one nearest us was out of service. AT&T coverage was decent, with 1-2 Bars of LTE service and speeds up to about 3.5 MB/s. We had a clear view of the southern and northern sky, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink had speed up to 5 MB/s.
Legend
This is more of a review on the Colorado's reservation system than the campground it self. This is a by reservation only campground, which I did not know about before arriving as I was traveling and this was not my intended stopping point for the night. As it turned out I was unable to camp here. Arrived at 7pm after hours and they only way to make a day of reservation was to use their online system which started out fine. Made a account with Colorado, then made one for the reservation system got to the final step and then it would not let me agree to the terms of service, tried numerous times with out luck. They have two ways to pay for your entrance to the park, by paper or electronic means at a kiosk, but only through their reservation system for a campsite. Would be nice if the kiosk would let you reserve a site. So if you are traveling and need a campsite get here early while park staff are still on duty or you might be out of luck.
RangerWe camped here in mid May during the week. We were one of only 5 campers in the entire campground. It is dry camping so come prepared. It is also wide open with trees only off in the far distance. If it is windy, which it often is in eastern Colorado, come prepared. During the summer the sun will be unrelenting. I have no doubt on a hot summer weekend, the sound of generators will be very annoying.
But on the day we were there, the weather was fantastic, the wind mild and the temps cool for night time sleeping. One side note, if you need a dump station there is one in the Hasty campground also in the park. It has 4 lanes but it does not have water of any kind so you do not have the ability to wash your tanks.
RangerThis has been a very good 3/4 of the way stop for us when heading to CO and UT.. we have the same site we had last time.. supper nice people and easy access.. Walmart is next door and there is food close by if your looking for an easy meal..
RangerVery nice clean and convenient campground. Sites are well equipped and the prices are very affordable. We’ll stop here again.
Discover the charm of RV camping near Swink, Colorado, where you can enjoy a mix of scenic landscapes and well-equipped campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Swink, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Swink, CO is Mapes Lakeview RV Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Swink, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 RV camping locations near Swink, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
