I’ve Been RV Camping Around the Springs for Years
One of the best things about living in Colorado Springs is how many RV camping options you have within an hour of town. Full-hookup resort with a pool? Got it. Dispersed camping in the national forest with nobody around for miles? Got that too. State parks with incredible trails right outside your door? Plenty of those.
I have been RVing out of the Springs for over 20 years. My Google username is literally “Colorado RVMoto” — RVing and motorcycles are kind of my thing. I worked for Delta Airlines before settling here, and I chose Colorado Springs over every city I visited. The access to mountains, open land, and public forests from a mid-size city is hard to beat anywhere in the country.
This guide covers the campgrounds I would actually recommend, where to boondock, which day trips are RV-friendly, and some altitude and connectivity tips that most camping guides skip. If you are planning to RV camp near Colorado Springs, this is everything I wish someone had told me before my first trip out here.
New to the area? Start with our 20-year local’s honest guide to Colorado Springs for the full picture of what the city is all about.
Campgrounds Worth Your Time
There are a lot of campgrounds in the Pikes Peak region, but these are the ones I would actually point a friend toward. Every one of them has something that makes it worth the drive or the nightly rate.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
This is probably the best campground inside city limits in the entire state. Cheyenne Mountain State Park sits on the south side of Colorado Springs with views of the Front Range and direct access to over 28 miles of trails. The campground has 51 full-hookup sites and 10 walk-in tent sites. Sites are well-spaced with good privacy, and the park rarely feels crowded even when it is full.
Reserve early — especially for summer weekends. This park books up fast because it is that good. You can hike the Talon Trail loop right from your campsite and see mule deer, wild turkeys, and the occasional black bear. It is a 10-minute drive to the Broadmoor area and 20 minutes to downtown.
Garden of the Gods RV Resort
If you want full amenities — pool, hot tub, laundry, camp store, the works — Garden of the Gods RV Resort delivers. It is a privately owned park about two miles from the actual Garden of the Gods park. Big-rig friendly with pull-through sites, full hookups, and concrete pads. It is a comfortable home base if you are spending several days exploring the area.
One thing worth knowing: you can drive your RV to the Garden of the Gods park itself. There is a big parking lot near the main entrance that handles RVs just fine. But do not try to drive a large rig through the interior park roads — some of those curves and tunnels are tight, and you will regret it. Park at the entrance lot, walk or bike the interior trails, and save yourself the stress.
Mueller State Park
Mueller is about 45 minutes west of the Springs near Divide, and it is one of my favorite state parks in Colorado. Sitting at around 9,500 feet, it has 132 campsites — a mix of electric hookups and basic sites — spread across aspen and pine forests. The park has over 55 miles of trails with views of Pikes Peak and the Sangre de Cristo range.
The drive up Highway 24 through Woodland Park and Divide is easy and scenic. This park feels more remote than it actually is. Wildlife is everywhere — elk, deer, hawks, and if you are lucky, you might spot a black bear at dawn. This is a great option if you want to escape the heat of town in July and August. At that elevation, nights are cool even in midsummer.
Goldfield RV Park (Near Cripple Creek)
Goldfield RV Park sits just outside Cripple Creek, the old Gold Rush town turned casino town. Getting there in an RV is straightforward — take Highway 67 south from Divide. The road is well-maintained and RV-accessible the entire way. Do not try to come up from the Victor side in a big rig. Highway 67 from the north is your route.
The park itself has full hookups, pull-throughs, and sits at about 9,500 feet with mountain views. Cripple Creek is a fun day — the casinos are there if that is your thing, but the real draw is the historic district, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine tour, and the narrow-gauge railroad. It is a cool piece of Colorado history.
Royal Gorge Area Campgrounds
The Royal Gorge is about 45 minutes south of the Springs near Canon City, and there are several campgrounds in the area. I have camped at a place a couple miles from the bridge — pretty nice setup with good views and easy access to the gorge. Royal Gorge KOA and several private campgrounds in the area offer full hookups and are well-run.
The Royal Gorge Bridge itself is worth the trip. The gorge is 1,000 feet deep, and the views are genuinely stunning. The drive down to Canon City on Highway 115 is scenic and easy, passing through open rangeland with views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Eleven Mile State Park
Eleven Mile is about an hour west of the Springs, sitting at 8,600 feet on the edge of Eleven Mile Reservoir. This is the spot if you want to fish — the reservoir is stocked with kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, northern pike, and more. The campground has over 300 sites, some with electric hookups and some primitive.
Fair warning: it can be windy out there. The reservoir sits in an open valley, and afternoon winds are common. But the sunsets over the water are incredible, the fishing is excellent, and the night skies are dark enough to see the Milky Way clearly. If you are into stargazing, Eleven Mile is one of the best spots within an hour of town.
Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort
Mountaindale is in the Ute Pass corridor between Woodland Park and Colorado Springs, tucked into the mountains along Highway 24. It has full-hookup RV sites, cabins, and a nice creek running through the property. The location is convenient — 20 minutes to downtown Colorado Springs, 15 minutes to Woodland Park, and right on the route to everywhere west.
Painted Rocks Campground (Pike National Forest)
Painted Rocks is a Forest Service campground on the south slope of Pikes Peak, accessible from Highway 67 between Woodland Park and Cripple Creek. It is a basic campground — no hookups, vault toilets — but the setting is beautiful. Surrounded by granite formations and ponderosa pines. Best for smaller rigs and tent campers, though some sites can accommodate mid-size RVs. Check road conditions before heading in, especially early in the season.
Boondocking and Dispersed Camping
If you would rather camp for free on public land, there are solid options near the Springs. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land around here, and there is some BLM land within a couple hours. The key is knowing which roads your rig can handle.
Pike National Forest — West of Town
Pike National Forest wraps around the west side of Colorado Springs, and there are dozens of dispersed camping spots along forest service roads. Most of these are accessed from Highway 24 or the roads branching off it toward Woodland Park, Divide, and beyond. Look for established pull-offs with fire rings — that is a sign other people have camped there and it is an accepted spot.
Standard dispersed camping rules apply: 14-day stay limit, pack out everything, no camping within 100 feet of water sources, and check for any active fire restrictions before you build a campfire. Fire bans are common in summer, especially during dry years.
Rampart Range Road
Rampart Range Road runs south from the Garden of the Gods area into Pike National Forest, and you will see it mentioned in a lot of camping guides. I want to be straight with you: Rampart Range Road is not RV-friendly. It is a rough, unpaved forest road with rocks, ruts, and tight clearances. It is great for Jeeps, trucks, and tent camping. It is not where you want to take your 30-foot travel trailer.
If you have a small, rugged setup — a truck camper or a short Class B — you might be fine on parts of it. But if you are in anything bigger, skip it and look at the forest roads further west off Highway 24. Those tend to be better maintained and more forgiving for larger rigs.
BLM Land Options
There is not a ton of BLM land right next to the Springs, but if you are willing to drive an hour or two south or west, you can find open BLM land near Canon City, Salida, and the San Luis Valley. These areas are wide open, usually flat, and completely free. The tradeoff is that you are further from town and services.
For finding dispersed camping spots, I recommend the apps Campendium, iOverlander, and FreeRoam. They are crowd-sourced, so the information is usually current, and you can filter by RV size and accessibility.
RV-Friendly Day Trips from Your Campsite
One of the questions I get a lot is where you can actually take the RV versus where you should leave it at camp and drive the tow vehicle. Here is the breakdown.
Take the RV
- Garden of the Gods — Drive to the main parking lot near the entrance. RV parking is available there. Explore the park on foot or by bike from the lot. Do not drive a large RV through the park interior roads.
- Royal Gorge Bridge area — The main roads and parking areas handle RVs. The drive down Highway 115 is wide and easy.
- Cripple Creek via Highway 67 — The highway from Divide south to Cripple Creek is paved, maintained, and RV-accessible. Some casino lots can accommodate larger vehicles.
- Canon City — Highway 115 south from the Springs is a straight, easy drive. Plenty of parking in town and at attractions.
- Woodland Park and Divide — Highway 24 west is a major highway. No issues with any size rig.
Leave the RV at Camp
- Pikes Peak Highway — The road to the summit is paved now, but it is steep, winding, and has sharp switchbacks. Trailers and large motorhomes are restricted. Take the tow vehicle or consider the Cog Railway from Manitou Springs instead.
- Manitou Springs downtown — Parking is tight. Street parking will not work for anything bigger than a van. Drive in with your car.
- The Manitou Incline — Limited parking even for cars. Get there early and leave the RV behind.
- Gold Camp Road — Narrow, unpaved in sections, tunnels. Not for RVs.
- Old Stage Road — Scenic but narrow and winding. Car or truck only.
For more ideas on what to do once you are here, check out our guide to the best day trips from Colorado Springs and the best hiking trails in the area.
Altitude Tips for RVers
Colorado Springs sits at 6,035 feet. Most campgrounds in the mountains west of town are between 7,500 and 9,500 feet. If you are coming from sea level or low elevation, altitude affects more than just your breathing — it affects your RV equipment too.
Generators
Your generator loses roughly 3.5 percent of its power output for every 1,000 feet above sea level. At 9,000 feet, that is a meaningful drop. If your generator barely handles your AC at sea level, it probably will not keep up at altitude. Some newer generators have altitude adjustment kits or automatic compensation. Check your manual before you head up.
Air Conditioning
Here is the good news: you often do not need AC at altitude. Summer highs at 9,000 feet are usually in the 70s, and nights drop into the 40s. At 6,000 feet in the Springs, July highs hit the upper 80s to low 90s, but the humidity is so low that shade and a fan usually do the job. If you do run your AC, it will work harder in the thin, dry air. Keep your filters clean and your coils clear.
Propane
Propane works fine at altitude, but water boils at a lower temperature up here — about 202 degrees Fahrenheit at 6,000 feet instead of 212. Your stove and oven will take a little longer to cook things. Morning coffee takes an extra minute. It is not a big deal, but if you are baking, add a few minutes to your cook time.
Your Body
Drink more water than you think you need. The air is dry and you dehydrate faster than you realize. Give yourself a day to adjust before doing any strenuous hiking, especially if you are headed above 9,000 feet. Altitude sickness is real and it does not care how fit you are.
Connectivity on the Road
If you work remotely or just want to stay connected, here is what I have found after years of RVing around the Springs.
Cell Coverage
In Colorado Springs and along the major highways (24, 115, 67), cell coverage is solid on all the major carriers. Once you get into the national forest or up side roads, coverage gets spotty fast. AT&T and Verizon tend to have the best mountain coverage in this area, but there are still dead zones, especially in canyons and valleys.
Starlink
I run a Starlink setup in my RV, and it has been a game-changer for boondocking. You get reliable internet in places where cell service does not exist. The dish needs a clear view of the sky — trees and cliffs can block the signal — but in most open camping spots it works great. If you are a remote worker or you just want to stream something at night, Starlink is worth the investment for RV life.
I also carry an AT&T hotspot as a backup. Between Starlink and the hotspot, I have not been without internet in a long time, even in some pretty remote spots.
Campground WiFi
Most private campgrounds and RV resorts advertise WiFi. I will be honest — campground WiFi is usually slow and unreliable, especially when the park is full. Do not count on it for anything beyond checking email. If you need real bandwidth, bring your own solution.
Best Time to RV Camp Near Colorado Springs
The prime season is May through October, and within that window, here is how it breaks down.
May and June
These are my favorite months. The weather warms up, wildflowers start blooming, and the campgrounds are not at peak capacity yet. Some higher-elevation campgrounds and forest roads may not open until late May or even June, depending on snowpack. Check conditions before heading above 8,000 feet early in the season.
July and August
Peak season. Campgrounds are full, reservations are required at popular spots, and afternoon thunderstorms are almost a daily event from mid-July through August. The storms usually blow through in an hour, but they can be intense — lightning, hail, and heavy rain. Plan outdoor activities for the morning, and be back at camp or in a safe spot by 2 PM.
September and October
Shoulder season and arguably the best time to be outside in Colorado. The aspens turn gold, the crowds thin out, and the weather is crisp and clear. Nights get cold — into the 20s and 30s at higher elevations — so make sure your furnace works and you have enough propane. Late October can bring the first real snow to the mountains, so keep an eye on forecasts.
November Through April
Winter RV camping is possible in the Springs area, but it is not for beginners. Temperatures drop below zero on cold nights, water lines can freeze, and many campgrounds close for the season. If you are set up for four-season camping with heated tanks and good insulation, Cheyenne Mountain State Park and a few private campgrounds stay open year-round. Just be prepared.
Start Planning Your Trip
Colorado Springs is one of those places that was made for RV camping. You have got mountains, desert rock formations, reservoirs, national forest, and a real city with good food and services — all in one spot. Whether you are pulling a travel trailer to a state park or boondocking with a truck camper in the national forest, there is something here for every style of RVer.
If this is your first trip to the area, I would start with Cheyenne Mountain State Park or one of the campgrounds along Highway 24. Get your bearings, explore the Garden of the Gods, take a day trip to the Royal Gorge or Cripple Creek, and then decide if you want to venture further into the backcountry. You will probably end up coming back.
I have been here 20-plus years and I still find new spots. That is the beauty of this place — you never run out of places to explore.
About the Author: Dominic Ferrara has lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. After working for Delta Airlines and visiting just about every major city in the United States, he chose Colorado Springs for its scenery, sunshine, and outdoor lifestyle. He lives on the west side near Ute Valley Park, where he e-bikes, camps, and explores the mountains regularly. His recommendations come from two decades of eating, hiking, and living here — not from a weekend visit.
