Searching for the best camping near Watkins, CO? Watkins is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Watkins, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
This recreation area is part of Cherry Creek Lake
This recreation area is part of Chatfield Lake
This recreation area is part of Bear Creek Lake
Situated between the mountains of Summit County and the bustling excitement of Denver. 141 full-service and premium sites available year round are level and paved. Pull-through and back-in sites are both available.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers multiple campgrounds, cabins, yurts, RV sites, group sites, and a guest house. From Memorial Day to early October, there are 132 campsites in two campgrounds: Reverend’s Ridge and Aspen Meadow. Reverend’s Ridge offers 38 tent sites and 59 sites with electrical hook-ups. Facilities at Reverend’s Ridge include flush toilets, shower, ice machine, laundry facilities, and a dump station. Aspen Meadow offers 35 tent sites and vault toilets. As of January 1, 2019 both campgrounds will be Reservation Only. Golden Gate also offers 20 backcountry tent sites and four backcountry shelters. Our backcountry sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis year-round. Please register for backcountry sites at the Visitor Center.
$18 - $90 / night
Clear Creek RV Park is owned and operated by the City of Golden and is located at 1400 10th Street. It offers a relaxed country-like setting within walking distance of historic downtown Golden. The RV park is open year-round, equipped with 22 full hook-ups, 11 50-amp electric only, 3 tent campsites, large clean restrooms, showers, laundry facilities and a dump station Come for quiet seclusion along the banks of Clear Creek, with easy access to downtown via the Clear Creek Trail. Situated in the heart of Golden with scenic views and the bubbling sounds of Clear Creek, the Clear Creek RV Park is the perfect getaway. Outdoor adventures await steps from your RV site including hiking trails, kayaking, tubing, fishing, parasailing, biking and more! Take a short stroll to historic downtown Golden, world class restaurants, shopping and cultural activities. Majority of our guests are repeat visitors! If you have any questions, our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to help!
$32 - $80 / night
Discover the natural beauty of Colorado with the family all year at Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur! You can explore, relax, and play at our award-winning resort with 100 acres near Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park. We have a great selection of spacious full hookup RV sites and upscale mountainside cabin rentals.
Our resort offers an array of exciting amenities for all ages! Dive into fun at Yogi Bear's™ Water Zone or challenge your skills at Arcade Alley and mini bowling. You can also find serenity at the yoga lawn, savor delicious meals at the Campfire Canteen, or have a tasty treat at Frostbites Sweet Treats. Other popular amenities include two heated swimming pools and hot tubs, miniature golf, a basketball court, and multiple pickleball courts. We also have a great variety of planned activities and events that are great fun for all ages.
Come join us on your next Colorado getaway for wholesome fun in the great outdoors at Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur.
$50 - $170 / night
St. Vrain contains a total of 87 campsites in eight campgrounds located on or near the banks of seven ponds at the east end of the park. Your campsite will be an easy walk away from fishing, kayaking, or simply birdwatching on the trails that circle the ponds.
Site 1-41 have electric hookups at each site with water hydrants available to fill tanks and a dump station at the exit of the campground. Sites 42-87 have water, sewer, and electric hookups at each site.
The addition to the park include several new fishing ponds and two additional hiking trails.
Conveniently located 8.5 miles away from Downtown Denver and 15 miles from DIA.
Year Round, Full hook-up sites (Water, Sewer and Electric included). We only accept RV's with working showers/restrooms. WE DO NOT ALLOW TENTS. Back in and pull-thru sites available. All pull thru sites are 20x80
Cable ready through Comcast.
Laundry on site available
We serve 30 and 50 amp RV's. All RVs must be 1995 and up, Insured and current plated.
Scout
Great camping spot, esp, if you like mountain biking.
Not whistler in terms of terrain but plenty of trails for various ability levels.
Much of the area still shows scars from the 1996 fire here, but the sprouts and smaller trees show you a preview of how nature heals and is ultimately uplifting.
Big camping spots, fun campground vibes, noise restrictions so don't worry your kiddos won't be able to hit a reasonable bed time.
Scout
Our family loves this spot, the privacy and natural beauty all easily accessible for a 1 night trip for a family breaking in some unruly toddlers to the camping experience.
Panorama Point offers amazing views that even my 70 year old parents were able to join us on.
PP gets really busy but get there early enough after camping and you'll have it mostly to yourselves.
Frazer Meadows is also a fun hike that you can easily accomplish with a kid carrier.
Traveler
Great spots in here! Lots of shade in the morning at our spot. We were by a dirt road and did have a few vehicles drive by but not bad. There is bear scat, not old and not new, in the area but no wildlife was seen.
Guide
I started camping this area a couple of years ago and have been coming back several times a year. Over 30 dispersed campsites along a moderately smooth dirt road. Sites are spaced well apart, some sites are covered in trees while others are wide open. I haven’t seen one there yet but it’s good to stay BEAR AWEAR. Sites are clean. I camped at sites 15, 18, 22(twice), 26 (twice ), and there’s two sites close to Wellington lake that I’ve stayed three times . Yes it’s a good place to camp and only about a hour from Denver. My visits were between May to October. Only a fire ring is provided,everything else you’ll need to bring……AND PACK OUT when you leave so the next camper can enjoy the site like you did.
Guide
My first experience was a couple of years ago (2022) I paid for three days camping . It snowed and was unable to camp….no refunds… The following year I bought 6 day passes to go fishing and only used 3. They said no refunds….. told them to keep the money and give the passes to the next three people who came in and wanted one….they said that they couldn’t do that.. So, I still tell people about how beautiful the place is…..and I also tell them that they WILL keep your money no matter what happens…. I’ll camp in the dispersed camping sites on the road that takes you to the private over priced campground….. Oh by the way…it’s catch and release. So, if you want fish for supper you better bring your own.
Scout
Had a great time here with hardly anyone there so very peaceful.
Guide
If you want to get into the Park, suggest you go EARLY, EARLY, EARLY in the day. Traffic backs up all the way from the Entrance on Parker Rd to the Entrance Booth on weekends and holidays. Plan on an hour OR MORE to just get to the booth. Once the capacity for the Park is reached, you will not be allowed in.
Nice Swim Beach with brand new Bldg. Many covered Picnic sites, but again, you MUST arrive at the break of day to secure one.
Please plan to pack your trash out. Seems to be a severe shortage of dumpsters or trash cans and people leave behind huge bags of trash - or, sadly, just trash strewn around. Please respect our space!
Campground is usually fully booked all season. Reservations can be made six months out. Two week limit.
I live close to the Park and visit every month of the year.
Ranger
A hidden gem in the Colorado Rockies, Rainbow Trout Ranch offers a serene mountain retreat. With its riverside setting and towering trees, this campground is perfect for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The sites are rustic but well-kept, and the peaceful environment is ideal for disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of Denver. Nearby hiking trails and wildlife add to the charm.
AIM for a site along the creek. And beware of the rules. No wildfires nor swimming in the creek.
Scout
Clean shower and rest room. Easy self check in.
Ranger
The road here has some gnarly washboards. I had to slow down to a crawl at points because it was thrashing my rig around so much. There is also one turn on the road where if you’re not careful, I could imagine getting stuck. However, the views are incredible and it was well worth the effort. Cell signal from Verizon is extremely good, I am getting 5G UWB and download speeds of 180mbps. There’s some cool hills to climb and many great views.
Ranger
Stayed in spot RV24. Easy access right off freeway and convenient to TPB start. Some nice small trails in area for easy walking. Mostly pine trees. Orderly, camp hosts seem inclined to enforce rules. Quiet.No campfire pits so no burning allowed at all and most folks seem to knock off early. Showers are available for.25/2 min with a 4 min max. Appeared old, clean.
For road cyclists: Good place to stay for Triple Bypass
Food aside: Cooked Hatch green chile sausage and added to Sprouts Hatch mac and cheese and put into burritos. Ate leftovers for breakfast. Low FQ (fart quotient).
Guide
I spent the night at Base Camp because the campgrounds North and South of Ned were full and it was dark and getting late. You have to be lucky with those ones to get one of the few good spots that are there. I have been to the convenience store at BC before and it was closer to Idaho Springs (I was going there the next day to meet a friend). $39 per night for a tent site is INSANE. I could have stealth camped and there was another spot I could’ve gone too but BC was close and I was tired. I guess that’s how they make their business. Begrudgingly it worked for what I needed.
Legend
Very clean, very well maintained. Large spaces near the lake.
Guide
Beautiful, but really need a compact 4x4 to get into and out of parking lot and there are tent sites only. We almost didn’t make it out with our 24 ft van (checked it out but didn’t stay overnight). Very crowded on a Saturday at 4:30pm.
Guide
Not a lot of options on I 70 east of Denver for overnight parking so opted for a KOA last minute. Easy last minute check in process. Served great for a quick in and out.
Guide
Idk who did this but luckily there is service but anything nearby is outta the way. Says need permit online access filled it all out $10 plus camping. Dispersed without wheels requires a $4 fee too
Scout
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GuideFinally, a nice campsite on a road that isn't horrible. There are 30+ designated, numbered, dispersed campsites on this road. Each of them have a parking area right along the road with a fire ring a short distance away surrounded by awesome rock outcroppings. The parking areas tend to be very unlevel and there are only a few that you can pull right up to your campsite. #6 had a level spot large enough for my van and the camping area just a few steps away. These are great campsites and the area is really awesome. After so many horrible roads and places closed, it was a blessing to find this spot. The road is a bit of a washboard, but that is nothing compared to most of the forest roads in Colorado. Highly recommended! Cell service with At&t in site 6 is decent. Calling is 2 bars. at least half of the sites are big rig friendly. All of the sites are 100% free.
TravelerWe camped a very short walk from the parking lot. Amazing camp site with not many people around.
Guide
Busy and right off highway
Scout
Overall a very fun spot if you have a vehicle with some ground clearance to get to the nice sites by the reservoir. My Peak Edition Atlas handled it well. Only complaint is the damn project at Gross reservoir is a 24 hour site and the lights are ridiculously bright.
Guide
Overall Nice site. Stayed one night. Too pricey for a stopover. Propane fire pit looks nice but could not use. Must have a 20 pound tank. Store was closed as we arrived at 5 pm.
Train and traffic noise as expected for location.
Lot of stuff for kids. Nice facilities. Clean park.
ScoutThere is no discernible reason that the road is closed 2 miles before where this app says the site is. Internet search says it should be open til middle of November unless there is some weather or other issue. Lovely weather, locked gate.
ScoutStayed the last night with a rental RV that we needed to return to Denver by 10;30 AM. Campground has an unusual lay out with "loops" being 3 rings of sites. Sites are spread out well. Lots of privacy, Within an hour's drive of the RV rental return location (with a Costco on the way to fill the gas tank). Some sites have elec/water/sewer at the sites. Some have just electrical - this was our site. A communal water/sewer was available with ability to handle two vehicles at the same time.
Scout
just now New Don't give this owner any business. Former homeowners of the mobile home park offered 20.5 million in 2019. The greedy owner Sean L. rejected the offer because he was dealing with the former mayor and counsel to have the area rezoned so he could make more. Hundred or residents were displaced! Karma is a bitch for this greedy owner and the politicians who went along with him. SHAME. Their was a documentary documentary made about the subject of mobile home parks being bought up and raising rents at will. The film is called A Decent Home.
TravelerThis was a one-night overnight tent spot after a work conference in Golden. Drive to the site was not bad. The roads are a little bumpy to get into the tent-only camping but even my little Chevy did okay. Bathroom facilities are good with coin-operated showers. Relatively quiet but there is quite a bit of road noise from I-70.
Guide
If you are used to RV sites or KOA you will be ok with this. On a scale of 1-5 here are my impressions.
Camping near Watkins, Colorado, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Watkins, Colorado, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the specific campground details to make the most of your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Watkins, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Watkins, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 115 campgrounds and RV parks near Watkins, CO and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Watkins, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Watkins, CO is Cherry Creek State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 47 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Watkins, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Watkins, CO.
What parks are near Watkins, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Watkins, CO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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