Let Nature Refresh You. Plan a Summer Getaway Now.
Start planning your adventure today! Our six month advance campsite reservation window means it’s time to start booking your summer adventures in Colorado state parks. Choose your preferred overnight accommodations within a park with activities you enjoy, and then book your campsite, cabin or yurt!
Let Nature Refresh You. Plan a Summer Getaway Now.
Start planning your adventure today! Our six month advance campsite reservation window means it’s time to start booking your summer adventures in Colorado state parks. Choose your preferred overnight accommodations within a park with activities you enjoy, and then book your campsite, cabin or yurt!
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Couple sitting in front of campfire outside camper at night within Vega State Park.
Camping
Camping in Colorado
Lying beneath a starry canopy and drifting off to the sound of nature is just one draw to camping in Colorado. Breathtaking natural beauty, few bugs and the abundance of outdoor activities at your fingertips make the Centennial State one of the nation’s most popular places to camp.
Compare Campsites
Backcountry Campsites
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Limited facilities or improvements
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Vault toilets
$13
- $18
Per Night
Basic Amenities Campsite
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Tent pad
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Table
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Grill and/or fire ring
$22
- $28
Per Night
Electric Amenities Campsites
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Electrical posts are 30 amps or more
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Tent pad
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Picnic table
$27
- $36
Per Night
Full Hook-up Amenities Campsites
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Individual pressurized water, sewer and/or electrical connections
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High-use tent pad with a table
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Grill and/or fire ring
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Flush Toilets
$32
- $41
Per Night
Accessible Amenities Campsite
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Paved or gravel walkway
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Elevated fire rings
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Table extensions
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Relatively close to the restrooms
$22
- $41
Per Night
Group Amenities Campsite (varies by park)
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Host groups up to 100 people or less
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Tent or RV camping
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Group picnic areas available to rent
$22
- $41
Per Night
Plan Your Camping Trip
Reservations
All parks are reservation only. A reservation can be made no more than six months before your arrival date. Any reservations made with more than one day outside of the six-month reservation window will be frozen to changes for 14 days from the date the reservation was made. Reservations go live online at midnight through CPWshop.com and by phone at 1800-244-5613. For example: At 12:00 a.m. MST on January 3, an arrival date of July 3 will be available.
Reserve Your Spot
Park Finder
With over 4,600 campsites across 43 state parks, the hardest part will be picking one.
Find a Park
Park Passes
Daily park entrance fees of $10–11 apply in addition to camping fees, or a valid annual pass must be displayed. The Keep Colorado Wild Pass is a great value for residents, available only with your next Colorado vehicle registration.
Purchase a Park PassKnow Before You Go
Length of Stay
There is a 14-day maximum stay allowed per park during any 28-day period. This may be 14 consecutive days or 14 days spread throughout the 28 days. Violating this rule may result in a citation, and you will be asked to leave the park. Camping fees may be kept for any reservation violating this rule. This restriction is for anyone staying on the campsite, whether or not they are formally listed on the reservation.
Campsite Occupancy
One camping unit with up to six people is allowed per campsite. A camping unit is defined as the maximum combination of camping equipment allowed in one campsite. If you have more than six people, another site will need to be booked.
The allowable combinations are:
- One passenger vehicle and two tents; or
- One motorized vehicle towing a camping trailer and one tent (if space allows). If space permits, one additional passenger vehicle and/or motorcycle may be parked at a campsite.
A violation may result in the visitor being required to purchase an additional campsite (if available), or the reservation may be terminated and the appropriate fees refunded.
Guests
Guests are allowed during the day, but a maximum number of six people are allowed at night/overnight. All guests must pay the entrance fee for their vehicles.
Vehicles at Campsite
State park regulations allow for one vehicle in addition to camping equipment at each site. Many parks will allow a second vehicle if space allows. If there is no room on the site, or the park stipulates it, extra vehicles may be parked in designated parking areas.
Vehicle Pass
A vehicle pass is required for all vehicles entering a state park. Vehicle fees are separate from camping fees.
Towed Vehicles
The towed vehicle pass is intended for a vehicle that is towed in by a motorhome. The motorhome is required to have a paid pass, and the towed vehicle pass is issued at no charge to a vehicle towed or carried in by a motorhome.
To receive the towed vehicle pass, a camping permit or proof of a camping reservation must be presented at an attended visitor center, office or entrance station. The towed vehicle pass is placed on the vehicle being towed, and the tow vehicle must be under tow at the time of entry. The towed vehicle pass is valid for the same time period as the camping permit/reservation. Slide-in truck campers do not qualify for towed vehicle passes.
Dogs
Some campsites are dog friendly. Dogs must be on a leash that is no longer than six feet in length at all times. Pets are restricted from some trails. Owners are responsible for removal of pet waste. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
Horses
There are only a few parks that allow horses in their campground. Please call the park for these restrictions. Campers should use weed-free hay for horses when using equestrian campsites to prevent the introduction of noxious weeds.
Discounts
The following pass holders are eligible for camping discounts at individual campsites, Sunday through Thursday, excluding holidays and the day prior to a holiday. This discount does not apply to fees for cabins or yurts.
- Aspen Leaf Pass
- Columbine Pass holders over the age of 64
- Centennial Pass holders over the age of 64
- Blue Spruce Pass holders over the age of 64
- Senior volunteer pass holders
- Keep Colorado Wild Pass holders over the age of 64 (pass must be linked to customer profile prior to making the reservation)
Discounts can be applied to an internet reservation. You must hold a valid pass at the time of reservation AND the time of your stay for the discount to be valid.
If you believe the discount was not applied correctly, please contact the Aspira call center at 1-800-244-5613 for assistance. Be prepared to give your reservation number to the agent.
Special Discounts
The Aspira call center does not have the authority to give discounts to campers. Please call the park you are interested in visiting and ask the park staff about special permits.
Reserve Multiple Campites
Customers booking multiple sites online or through the call center will need to provide a primary occupant for each site. Each primary occupant must be over 18 years of age and have an account in the system. The customer making the reservation will need the primary occupant’s customer identification number (CID) in order to make the reservation.
For customers who need to make reservations for multiple sites, such as Boy Scout groups, family reunions, schools, etc., where the exact primary occupant may not be known for each site, please call 1-800-244-5613.
Campsite Changes
All changes must be made through cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613. A different park cannot be booked as a reservation change; it will be considered a new reservation.
The fees for changing the reservation dates (arrival date and/or departure date) for a campground site, group campground site, group picnic area and event facility are as follows:
- If the change in the reservation dates is made seven days before the arrival date through the arrival date, 20% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the change in the reservation dates is made 28 days before the arrival date through 8 days before the arrival date, 15% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the change in the reservation dates is made more than 28 days before the arrival date, 10% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the change in the reservation dates is made between the day after the arrival date and the departure date, the fees for any nights or days passed will be retained.
- If adding nights to your reservation, the additional charges and change fee are due at the time of the change.
There will be no additional fee to change the departure date if the reservation is extended beyond the original departure date.
There will be no additional change fee to change the site of a reservation at a campground, group campground, group picnic area or event facility if the reservation dates remain the same or are further extended. If the customer changes the site of the reservation, they will be charged or refunded the difference in the price for the site type only, if applicable.
Once a reservation is checked-in (no later than 11 p.m. the day of arrival), it can only be changed at the park office.
For detailed information on CPW reservation changes or cancellation policies, please review our Camping & Park Facility Reservation Regulation and Policies.
Canceling a Campsite
To cancel, please visit cpwshop.com or call 1-800-244-5613. Once a reservation is canceled, it cannot be undone. Rebooking a canceled reservation will incur any necessary fees to make the new reservation. Once a reservation is checked in (no later than 11 p.m. the day of arrival), it can only be canceled through the park office.
Cancellation Fees
Cancellation fees depend on how far in advance a reservation is cancelled. The fees for cancelling a reservation for a campground site, group campground site, group picnic area and event facility are as follows:
- If the cancellation is made seven days before the arrival date through the arrival date, 100% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the cancellation is made 28 days before the arrival date through 8 days before the arrival date, 50% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the cancellation is made more than 28 days before the arrival date, 25% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the cancellation is made between the day after the arrival date and the departure date, the fees for any nights or days passed will be retained.
If the customer fails to occupy the site of their reservation during the selected dates or fails to contact the park, recreation area or vendor to inform them that they will not occupy the site of their reservation during the selected dates, the fees for any nights or days passed will be retained and the customer will be ineligible for a refund for those nights or days passed.
Grace period - Customers who cancel their reservation within 24 hours of making the reservation are eligible for a full refund unless the date of arrival is the date of reservation.
Refunds
When an online or phone reservation is canceled, a credit is applied to the credit card used for the original purchase. If the original credit card is unavailable, or the reservation was made directly with a park, a refund check will be processed and will take up to 90 days to receive.
Customers who wish to receive a refund outside of these rules will need to contact the park at which they have the reservation directly. No exceptions to the refund policy will be given for bugs, bad weather, campfire bans or water conditions.
No Show Policy
If you do not show up within 24 hours of your scheduled check in time, and you do not notify the park that you will be arriving late, your site may be resold and may not be available when you arrive.
Campfires
To prevent wildfires and protect natural spaces and local communities, always extinguish your campfire completely. Before you light a fire, always have a plan to extinguish it and ensure you have plenty of water available. Unattended or improperly extinguished fires can easily reignite, posing significant risks to the environment and surrounding communities. Use the "Drown, Stir and Feel" method: Drown the fire with plenty of water until all hissing stops, then thoroughly stir the ashes and embers to expose any hot spots. Continue to add water and stir until the area is completely cool to the touch. Finally, feel the ashes with the back of your hand to ensure they are cool before leaving. Repeat as many times as needed until there are no hot spots left. Always check for local fire restrictions before building a fire, please do not burn trash, and remember to pack out everything you pack in, follow Leave No Trace Principles, and leave the area better than you found it.
Firewood
Buy or gather firewood locally, near where you intend to burn it. Don’t transport firewood into Colorado from out of state. Keep campfires small, manageable and attended. When it’s time to extinguish, make sure the embers are cold to the touch to avoid reigniting a flame. Burn all firewood before leaving the campsite.
Keep Animals Away from Your Campsite
Stash your Trash
Use bear-proof trash containers if they’re available at the campground. If the containers are full, double bag your trash and lock it in your car or RV; never leave trash outside. Don’t bury garbage — bears will find it and dig it up. Never burn garbage or leftovers — a campfire isn’t hot enough to completely incinerate trash.
Store Food, Beverages and Other Items Safely
Store food, beverages and toiletries in air-tight containers and lock them in your trunk. Never leave them in your tent or any place where wildlife can see, smell or reach them — many smart and resourceful animals have figured out that coolers contain food. Leave highly odorous foods like tuna, sausage and bacon at home. Citronella products, especially burning candles, have a strong smell that can attract bears.
Keep a Safe Cooking Area
Where you eat, cook and store food and supplies should be at least 100 yards from your sleeping area. If there’s not enough room, give yourself a wide breadth: Store food well away from the tent and be sure the campfire is far enough away so that smoke doesn’t blow into your tent. Cooking intensifies and disperses food odors, so be extra careful to clean up and store food properly after cooking.
Keep a Clean Tent
Don’t bring anything with an odor into your tent, including foods, beverages, scented toiletries, gum, toothpaste, sunscreen, candles and insect repellant. Don’t sleep in the clothes you cooked in or keep them in your tent; store them with your food.
Lock RVs and Vehicles
Before you leave your campsite or go to sleep at night, close the windows and lock the doors of your vehicle.
Help Protect Campgrounds
Buy or gather firewood locally, near where you intend to burn it. Don’t transport firewood into Colorado from out of state. Keep campfires small, manageable and attended. When it’s time to extinguish, make sure the embers are cold to the touch to avoid reigniting a flame. Burn all firewood before leaving the campsite.
Have a Plan Beforehand and Extinguish Completely
To prevent wildfires and protect natural spaces and local communities, always extinguish your campfire completely. Before you light a fire, always have a plan to extinguish it and ensure you have plenty of water available. Unattended or improperly extinguished fires can easily reignite, posing significant risks to the environment and surrounding communities. Use the "Drown, Stir and Feel" method: Drown the fire with plenty of water until all hissing stops, then thoroughly stir the ashes and embers to expose any hot spots. Continue to add water and stir until the area is completely cool to the touch. Finally, feel the ashes with the back of your hand to ensure they are cool before leaving. Repeat as many times as needed until there are no hot spots left. Always check for local fire restrictions before building a fire, please do not burn trash, and remember to pack out everything you pack in, follow Leave No Trace Principles, and leave the area better than you found it.
Pack in the beautiful views by packing out the trash and leaving a place better than you found it. And make sure not to forget the peels and cores. Just because it’s good for you doesn’t mean it’s good for the wildlife. Conservation starts small, and every individual can take proactive steps to reduce their impact on natural resources.
Before leaving the parking lot or campsite, inspect your vehicle and belongings. Clean off any mud and remove plants, seeds, insects and animals, and brush your pets. This helps to stop the spread of forest pests across Colorado.
Campfire Safety
To prevent wildfires and protect natural spaces and local communities, always extinguish your campfire completely.
Explore S’more
Get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration to create sweet memories. The pass gives you entry to all state parks and supports wildlife conservation.
Featured Issue
Colorado Outdoors Magazine
2026 Annual State Parks Issue — View the contents.
The annual state park issue is full of recreation ideas: Bird watch at Barr Lake, go into the backcountry at State Forest, experience whitewater thrills at Arkansas Headwater.