RV camping in Colorado with kids
When I say RV camping in Colorado with kids… that means so many things, to so many different types of people! Do you want to camp at luxury resorts or do you want a state park with full hook-ups or do you want to dry camp at some amazing off-the-beaten-path places?
No matter what type of RV camper you are, Colorado has the perfect place for you! But…RV camping with kids makes your search a little harder.
Are you looking for an indoor pool so they can swim until they turn into raisins? Does the campground charge extra for each kid? (so annoying!) Is there a fishin hole nearby for your avid fisherman kiddo? Is the environment safe for kids to walk around by themselves? Does the campground require that your kids are watched over every minute?
If it was just David and I trying to find a camping spot, we’d probably dry camp all the time. I wouldn’t bother looking at all the private campground reviews, rules and fees and rules and fees, did I say that already?
Let’s dive into what type of RV camper you are, why it matters, and how to find these types of RV camping spots. And we’ll give you a list of places based on what type of RV camper you are.
What type of RV camper are you?
What type of family camping do you want to do in Colorado? Or what type of experience are you looking for or want to feel, while you are in Colorado camping with your family?
A perfect scenario to me would be some secluded location with a creek and trees, away from the rest of the world. Those types of locations are usually in dry camping areas. Since we have a tiny camper with even smaller holding tanks and no type of generator and a teeny tiny bit of solar, those types of trips are not going to be for our family of 5….at least not now.
We fall in the full-hookups category, but not quite the luxury resort place. Enter… State Parks and National Parks. Those are the places that we like to visit. Some State Parks and National Parks have full hook-up or some type of water and dump station available for you. The fees are usually reasonable and the spots have elbow room.
We do enjoy private campgrounds as well. Any private campground that we visit needs to have a playground, safe environment, good reviews, and children are welcome.
Luxury RV resorts are your Jellystones, YMCAs, KOAs, Sun Outdoors, Margaritaville (not in CO, I’m just giving examples) and some private campgrounds. NOW… I’m not saying all Jellystones or KOAs are resorts style campgrounds, there are certainly several that are just regular campgrounds. So definitely do research on the location you have in mind. BUT these ALL do have a reputation of being super fun, family friendly, places to camp.
So what type of campground are you and the family looking for?
- Luxury resort style RV camping in Colorado with kids
- Full hookups RV camping in Colorado with kids
- (Dry Camping) No hookups RV camping in Colorado with kids
Why do I ask?
If you are searching google for best RV camping spots in colorado with kids, your search results will come up with a very wide variety of results.
It’s up to you to fish through them and figure out what’s a good fit for your family. There are some VERY popular dry camping spots that are near off-road trails. Those sites book up fast and are busy due to the off-road trails. So there is a lot of traffic around. Which might not be good for you.
There is a Jellystone in Larkspur that is the size of an amusement park. But there is nothing else around it. So if you are not “camping just to camp”, this might not be a good fit for you.
Colorado is FULL of amazing places to camp. We don’t have a lot of “retirement” campgrounds that don’t allow families or anyone under 55. So chances are that the places you are finding will allow kids. You’ll have to find the places that will suit your family best.
How do I find kid-friendly RV camping in Colorado?
Read the reviews! On all platforms! Look at the google reviews, then go to Facebook, then any camping app that you may already have. If there aren’t any reviews in over a year… double check they are still opened. If the only negative reviews you see are 3 years old, chances are new management has come in and changed this up a bit.
I would go back as far as 2 years. See if/when new management has come in. Are there good reviews after they took over or are there bad reviews since they took over? Are all the reviews in the past 2 years the same complaint?
Does anyone mention children having fun? Or the playground? What are the fun activities your kids could do there? Is there a creek, can you fish there or swim in a pool?
Think about your family, how do you like to camp? Do you want elbow room between each site? Do any of the reviews say the campground is old? Chances are, the sites are close together then. Campgrounds built in the 70’s were built for 25 foot trailers, not 42 foot 5th wheels.
Can you have a campfire in their provided fire pit or do you have to bring your own? Do the campsites have picnic tables for eating outside?
Think about the experience you want to have with your family and find that type of campground.
Family RV camping spots based on what type of RV camper you are
Ok, ok. You clicked on this website to find the best places to camp in colorado with kids. Now that you know what type of experience you are looking for and the amenities that you need…. here’s the list.
Luxury resort style ($$$)
- Mountain Views RV Resort
- Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountain (Y’all this is like the country club of RV resorts)
- Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Resort
- Jellystone at Larkspur
- YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park and Winter Park
- Tiger Run RV Resort
- Fun Valley Resort
- KOA Fort Collins Lakeside Holiday
- Garden of the Gods RV Resort
**Related Post: Luxury Family RV Resorts in Colorado
Full Hook-ups ($$)
- Colorado State Park
- Colorado National Parks
- Arrowhead Point Campground
- Dolores River Campground
- Manor RV Park
- Alpen Rose RV Park
- Camp Eddy
- Palisade Base Camp
- Glenwood Canyon Resort
- Clear Creek RV Park
- KOA Campgrounds
Dry Camping ($)
- Camp Dick Campground (I know, not a kid friendly name, but neither is the sporting goods store :/ )
- Moraine Park (RMNP)
- Telluride Town Park Campground
- Molly Brown @ Turquoise Lake
- And several other places, check this site out, Sweet Little Journey. They have a great list of places.
If you are looking for something fun to do near your campsite, we have an eBook all about fun free things to do in Colorado. You can snag a copy below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrapping up kid-friendly RV camping in Colorado
Depending on the type of RV camper you are will depend on the type of RV park you are looking for. We listed a bunch of different types of RV parks from luxury to dry camping and everything in between. We hope you found a great place for your next camping trip!
Happy trails!
