Camping in Colorado Springs, Colorado

A complete guide to camping in Colorado Springs

Panoramic landscape of Colorado Springs, CO mountains

Photo Credit: J Infantini

Overview

Colorado Springs sits at 6,076 feet on the Front Range where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Pikes Peak rises to 14,115 feet directly west of town, and Garden of the Gods puts red sandstone formations within the city limits. The camping here serves both Front Range residents looking for a weekend escape and travelers using the city as a base for the surrounding mountains.

Garden of the Gods RV Resort provides the most recognized campground name in the area, with full-hookup sites and views of the red rock formations. Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort sits in the foothills with cabins and RV sites among pine forest. Peak RV Resort and Foot of the Rockies RV Park serve the RV crowd with hookups and amenities. Golden Eagle Campground offers a more traditional camping experience. Goldfield RV Park and Sunview RV Park add additional options along the southern corridor.

Lone Duck Campground in nearby Cascade (15 minutes west on Highway 24) provides a mountain-stream setting at the base of Pikes Peak. Colorado Springs KOA Holiday in Fountain (south of town) has the resort-campground experience with pool and organized activities. Mueller State Park 45 minutes west near Divide puts campers in mountain meadows at 9,500 feet with elk, deer, and wild turkey as regular visitors to the campground roads.

Browse All RV Parks & Campgrounds in Colorado Springs

Weather & Best Seasons

Best months: May through October

Colorado Springs sits drier and sunnier than the mountain towns to the west. Summer highs reach the mid-80s at city elevation with cool nights in the 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms develop over Pikes Peak most summer days but pass quickly. Fall is dry and clear with aspens turning on the mountain slopes in late September. Winter brings occasional snow but many days stay sunny and mild in the 40s and 50s. The Pikes Peak Highway typically opens May through October.

Season

Things to Do in Colorado Springs

Hike through Garden of the Gods on paved and unpaved trails winding among 300-foot red sandstone formations. Free entry. The Perkins Central Garden Trail provides the most iconic views. No climbing on the named formations.
Drive or ride the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet. The highway winds 19 miles to the top with pulloffs above treeline. The summit house has been rebuilt with a visitor center and high-altitude donuts.
Explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, relocated Ancestral Puebloan structures displayed in a canyon setting west of town. A 20-minute drive from most campgrounds.
Hike the Incline, a former cable-car route climbing 2,000 feet in one mile on railroad ties. One of the most popular fitness hikes in Colorado. The trailhead is in Manitou Springs.
Visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the only mountain zoo in the country, built on the slopes above the Broadmoor with giraffe feeding and mountain views.
Walk through North Cheyenne Canon Park to Seven Falls, a series of cascading waterfalls accessible by a short walk from a canyon road. Night lighting in summer.

Camping Tips for Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods park itself is free to enter and sits within the city. The RV Resort is a private campground adjacent to the park, not inside it. Both share the red rock scenery.
Pikes Peak Highway has a toll and reaches 14,115 feet. Altitude sickness affects some visitors at the summit. The cog railway provides an alternative to driving. Both operate May through October depending on weather.
Mueller State Park campgrounds at 9,500 feet run 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Colorado Springs. Pack cold-weather layers even for summer camping there.
The Front Range wildfire risk increases in dry years. Check fire restrictions before building campfires. Red flag warning days may close some campgrounds.
The Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center, and Broadmoor area are accessible day trips from any campground in the Colorado Springs area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Garden of the Gods free?

The park itself is free and open year-round with no entrance fee. Trails, parking, and the visitor center are all free. Garden of the Gods RV Resort is a separate private campground adjacent to the park that charges for camping. The free park and the paid campground share the red rock scenery.

How high is Pikes Peak and can I camp near it?

Pikes Peak reaches 14,115 feet. No camping on the peak itself. Lone Duck Campground in Cascade sits at the base of the Pikes Peak Highway. The Crags Campground on the west side (near Divide) provides the closest Forest Service camping to the mountain. Mueller State Park at 9,500 feet sits nearby.

Which campground is best for RVs in Colorado Springs?

Garden of the Gods RV Resort has the most recognized name with red rock views. Peak RV Resort and Foot of the Rockies RV Park offer full hookups along the I-25 corridor. Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort sits in the foothills with a pine-forest setting. Colorado Springs KOA Holiday in Fountain has pull-throughs with resort amenities.

What is the weather like for camping in Colorado Springs?

Summer highs reach the mid-80s at 6,076 feet with cool nights in the 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common but brief. The city averages 300 days of sunshine. Fall is dry and clear. Winter sees occasional snow but many sunny days in the 40s and 50s. Mueller State Park at 9,500 feet runs 15 to 20 degrees cooler.

Spring	Mar-May	60°F	48°F	Colorado Springs sits drier and sunnier than the mountain towns to the west.
Summer	Jun-Aug	78°F	66°F	Summer highs reach the mid-80s at city elevation with cool nights in the 50s.
Fall	Sep-Nov	60°F	48°F	Fall is dry and clear with aspens turning on the mountain slopes in late September.
Winter	Dec-Feb	42°F	30°F	Winter brings occasional snow but many days stay sunny and mild in the 40s and 50s.

Camping in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Overview

Weather & Best Seasons

Featured Parks in Colorado Springs

Mountaindale Cabins & RV Resort

Garden of the Gods RV Resort

Golden Eagle Campground

Peak RV Resort

Nearby National Parks

Great Sand Dunes National Park