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Posted: 1/4/2021 6:13:57 AM EST
[Last Edit: 1/4/2021 5:25:20 PM EST by AJE]
I'm looking into planning a camping trip sometime this summer to CO and hoping to get some advice from locals.
None of us have ever been there before and I'd like to hit some of the major attractions (Rocky Mtn National Park, Garden of the Gods). From my reading, it sounds like its the busy season but I'm limited in when I can travel so I may be stuck with late June to mid July. I don't mind booking sites at a few different campgrounds, trying to keep the trip under 2 weeks total roundtrip to Ohio. We are KOA members and I was looking at the KOA sites at Estes Park, Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek, and Buena Vista, but I'm not limited to KOA campgrounds (though we would prefer full hookup sites, and my wife would prefer to check in with her business so wifi or at least nearby cell signal would be preferred as well). Thanks for any advice! |
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CO, USA
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Posted: 1/4/2021 9:49:12 AM EST
There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer.
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CO, USA
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Posted: 1/4/2021 4:40:52 PM EST
Will you have another vehicle or only the RV?
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Posted: 1/4/2021 5:21:17 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By TT4life: There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TT4life: There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer. "open dispersed" = anyone can come and go? I like the look of that area on the map, and it would be good to plan on a spot or two that every tourist isn't trying to visit at the same time. Originally Posted By newracer: Will you have another vehicle or only the RV? Truck and travel trailer. I should have been more specific. |
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Posted: 1/4/2021 5:56:37 PM EST
Park county off of county road 56 is our go to for dispersed camping. Lots of various spots big enough for a travel trailer. We have a 32’ fifth wheel we take.
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CO, USA
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Posted: 1/4/2021 7:31:19 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By AJE: "open dispersed" = anyone can come and go? I like the look of that area on the map, and it would be good to plan on a spot or two that every tourist isn't trying to visit at the same time. Truck and travel trailer. I should have been more specific. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AJE: Originally Posted By TT4life: There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer. "open dispersed" = anyone can come and go? I like the look of that area on the map, and it would be good to plan on a spot or two that every tourist isn't trying to visit at the same time. Originally Posted By newracer: Will you have another vehicle or only the RV? Truck and travel trailer. I should have been more specific. Yep, open and dispersed. It will be very busy on weekends, but it is still a cool place to camp and easy to get in/out of. |
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Posted: 1/5/2021 1:07:51 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By TT4life: Yep, open and dispersed. It will be very busy on weekends, but it is still a cool place to camp and easy to get in/out of. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TT4life: Originally Posted By AJE: Originally Posted By TT4life: There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer. "open dispersed" = anyone can come and go? I like the look of that area on the map, and it would be good to plan on a spot or two that every tourist isn't trying to visit at the same time. Originally Posted By newracer: Will you have another vehicle or only the RV? Truck and travel trailer. I should have been more specific. Yep, open and dispersed. It will be very busy on weekends, but it is still a cool place to camp and easy to get in/out of. Maybe I'll leave a day or two open in the middle of the week between the other sites to plan for that. There's nowhere to stay like that around us so I'm not familiar with having it in the plans. |
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Posted: 1/6/2021 11:23:41 PM EST
Depends on what you like to do. I agree with Buena Vista being a good choice because:
- close to Leadville/Twin Lakes for fishing/hiking/biking - Not terribly far from Aspen for a day trip - close to Crested Butte - super pretty, hiking, biking, neat town - close to Salida for shops/hiking/biking But, Rocky Mountain National park is very pretty and should be on the must-do list. With Covid, though, even dispersed camping mid-week has been full. If things continue as they have been, you may want to keep reservations for your entire trip. That area in Twin Lakes was FULL most of the summer. |
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CO, USA
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Posted: 1/6/2021 11:26:33 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By AJE: Maybe I'll leave a day or two open in the middle of the week between the other sites to plan for that. There's nowhere to stay like that around us so I'm not familiar with having it in the plans. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AJE: Originally Posted By TT4life: Originally Posted By AJE: Originally Posted By TT4life: There are two KOAs over by Salida and Buena Vista that I would check out. Beautiful areas. If you can do without hook ups for at least a night, go to Twin Lakes. There is open dispersed camping on the southern part of the lake, and the views are amazing. I camped there at least three times this past summer. "open dispersed" = anyone can come and go? I like the look of that area on the map, and it would be good to plan on a spot or two that every tourist isn't trying to visit at the same time. Originally Posted By newracer: Will you have another vehicle or only the RV? Truck and travel trailer. I should have been more specific. Yep, open and dispersed. It will be very busy on weekends, but it is still a cool place to camp and easy to get in/out of. Maybe I'll leave a day or two open in the middle of the week between the other sites to plan for that. There's nowhere to stay like that around us so I'm not familiar with having it in the plans. If you want a friendly face around, let me know when you plan to be there via email, and I would be happy to camp there but show you the ropes. I get it is a little nerve racking if you have not done it, but I bet you will love that area. I camp out over 30 nights a year, so I would be happy to come up. I won’t even bother you and your family after getting you settled unless your bring imitation crab meat  |
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Posted: 1/7/2021 8:09:43 AM EST
I appreciate the offer!
I'm playing with the dates trying to make some reservations. I'm looking towards the end of July in Colorado Springs, a couple days during the week for the Twin Lakes area, and then up to Estes Park over the next weekend. |
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CO, USA
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Posted: 1/8/2021 9:38:38 AM EST
IMO you should reserve as much as you can. This last summer even the off the beaten path areas were full almost all week. Fort Collins has a nice KOA and it is not a very far drive from Estes and RMNP.
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