Picking a campsite around Denver and Lakewood starts with one decision: state park or private RV park. Cherry Creek and Chatfield, the metro’s 2 big state park campgrounds, put your site near large reservoirs with swimming beaches, boat ramps, and trail networks, and they sell out summer weekends as much as 6 months ahead. The metro’s private parks trade the water views for full hookups, year-round availability, and a much shorter drive to the city itself.
Applewood RV Resort in Wheat Ridge anchors that second category. It sits about 15 minutes from downtown Denver, right off I-70, with 76 RV sites, 65 of them full hookup, and Prospect Park and its fishing lake right next door. One thing to know up front: Applewood is RV-only with no tent sites, so tent campers should aim for the state parks. This guide compares the best campsites in the Denver and Lakewood area, what they cost, and how far ahead you need to book each one.
Full Hookup Campsites vs State Park Sites
The biggest practical difference between Denver-area campsites is what’s plumbed to the pad. Cherry Creek and Chatfield run electric-only sites at roughly $28 to $41 a night plus a daily vehicle pass, which means filling fresh water on the way in and queueing at the dump station on the way out. Applewood runs 65 full hookup sites, water, electric, and sewer at the site, split into 38 pull-throughs and 27 back-ins, plus 11 electric-only sites; 14 sites carry 50-amp service for rigs running 2 air conditioners. For a weekend, tank discipline at a state park is a fair trade for the reservoir. For a week or more, sewer at the site stops feeling like a luxury fast, and that’s the main reason searches for full hookup campsites keep landing on the metro’s private parks.
Campsites on the Lakewood Side of the Metro
If your search says campsites Lakewood, the west metro works in your favor. Lakewood sits against the foothills, with Green Mountain’s trail network and Bear Creek Lake Park inside the city and Red Rocks just past its western edge. Applewood RV Resort is in Wheat Ridge, the adjacent suburb to the north, so it covers the same side of the metro: Red Rocks is about 15 minutes from the park, Golden about 10, and downtown Denver 15 minutes the other direction. The state parks pull you the opposite way, southeast to Cherry Creek in Aurora or south to Chatfield in Littleton, so staying on the west side saves real windshield time if your trip leans toward the mountains. Whichever you pick, plan around Friday afternoon I-70 traffic; it’s the one constant of Front Range camping.
When to Book a Denver Campsite
Summer is the squeeze. State park campsites at Cherry Creek and Chatfield open reservations 6 months out, and the good summer weekends go almost immediately, so set a calendar reminder and book the day your window opens. May and September are the sweet spots: warm days, cool nights, and far less competition. Applewood holds more last-minute and monthly availability since it runs year-round and serves a mix of overnighters and long-term guests, but summer weekends still fill, so call a few weeks ahead. Winter flips the script entirely: state park campgrounds thin out while Applewood’s hookups keep furnaces and water running through the cold months, which is why skiers and traveling workers treat it as a winter base.
Applewood RV Resort by RJourney (Wheat Ridge)
Applewood RV Resort by RJourney, at 11600 W 44th Ave in Wheat Ridge, is a centrally located Denver-metro RV park about 15 minutes from downtown and right off I-70. It is an urban, no-frills, mostly gravel park, not a destination resort, and it earns its keep on location and convenience: close to I-70, the RTD light rail, Red Rocks, and Golden, with Prospect Park and Prospect Lake right next door. The park has 76 sites, 65 full-hookup (38 pull-through and 27 back-in) and 11 electric-only, with 30- and 50-amp service. Sites are gravel and tight, so rigs run self-contained, with big-rig caution advised. Monthly rates run from $1,300 (electric-only) to $1,550 (full-hookup pull-through). As manager Melissa Soderberg puts it, it is a relaxing, centrally located base in the Denver metro.
Sites & Hookups
Applewood has 76 RV sites: 65 full-hookup (38 pull-through and 27 back-in) and 11 electric-only, with 30- and 50-amp service across 14 designated 50-amp sites and 30-amp on the rest. Pads are gravel and sites are tight, so rigs must be self-contained; there are no tent sites and no car camping, though Class B vans are fine. Big rigs should call ahead before booking, since the tight layout is the most common point guests raise. A public dump station is on-site: $20 to dump ($10 for a fresh-water fill, free tank-rinse), free for registered guests, with after-hours dumping via a cash dropbox.
What's On-Site
Applewood keeps it practical rather than resort-style: 24-hour coded coin laundry, a coded bathhouse with showers, a small fenced dog park, and package delivery at the office breezeway. There is no pool and no swimming on-site. The real draw next door is Prospect Park and Prospect Lake, where fishing is catch-to-keep with a license (no swimming or boating). The on-site public dump station ($20 dump, $10 fresh-water fill, free tank-rinse for guests, after-hours cash dropbox) is a genuine convenience for travelers passing through the metro. Set expectations for an urban, gravel park that serves both overnight travelers and long-term residents, and the location does the heavy lifting.
What Guests Say
Applewood is an urban, no-frills, mostly gravel park rather than a destination resort, and it serves both overnight travelers and long-term residents. What guests most consistently praise is the location: about 15 minutes from downtown Denver, close to I-70, the RTD light rail, Red Rocks, and Golden, with Prospect Park next door. Sites run tight and gravel, so come for the convenience and the dump-station access and set expectations accordingly. If you need a big-rig pull-through with room to spread out, call ahead to confirm a site that fits your rig.
Other Top Campgrounds Near Denver, CO
<p>For campers who want a site near the water with trails out the back of the campground, these 2 state parks are the strongest alternatives to a full hookup base at Applewood. Both fill months ahead for summer weekends, so book early.</p>
Cherry Creek State Park (Aurora)
Cherry Creek packs a surprising amount of nature into a park surrounded by suburbs, with an 880-acre reservoir popular for swimming, fishing, and sailing. The campground has paved pads, electric hookups, flush toilets, showers, and a dump station, but no full hookups. It is the closest state park campground to downtown Denver, which is both its draw and its headache: it gets crowded on summer weekends and some sites pick up highway noise from I-225. Reserve early. Visit website.
Chatfield State Park (Littleton)
Chatfield sits along the South Platte River with a 1,500-acre reservoir that draws boaters, paddleboarders, and anglers from across the metro. The campground is large and well-maintained with paved roads, flush toilets, showers, electric hookups, and a dump station, though full hookups are not available. Reservations fill fast May through September, so book months ahead for summer weekends. It is farther from the city center than Applewood, but a strong pick if you want a state park atmosphere with water access. Visit website.
Things to Do from Your Denver-Area Campground
Prospect Lake sits right next door to Applewood with catch-to-keep fishing for guests holding a Colorado license, though swimming and boating are not allowed there. For open water, the area’s state parks carry the load: Cherry Creek’s 880-acre reservoir and Chatfield’s 1,500-acre reservoir both draw boaters, paddleboarders, and anglers from across the metro, and both are within about 20 minutes of central Denver.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Park is about 15 minutes from Applewood and free to enter during the day, with hiking trails winding through 300-foot sandstone formations; the Trading Post Trail is a manageable 1.4-mile loop. Mount Falcon, North Table Mountain, and Lookout Mountain all sit within 30 minutes, and the Colorado Trail starts about 45 minutes southwest in Waterton Canyon. Rocky Mountain National Park is roughly 90 minutes north.
Downtown Denver is a 15-minute drive from Applewood, with the 16th Street Mall, Union Station, the Denver Art Museum, and Coors Field, and the RTD light rail connects much of the metro. Golden, 10 minutes away, is home to the Coors Brewery and free tours. I-70 also links the metro to major ski areas: Loveland is about 60 miles west, and Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Breckenridge are within 90 minutes, making camp-and-day-trip skiing a legitimate budget strategy.
Seasonal Guide for Camping Near Denver
Spring (March through May)
Daytime temps climb from the 50s into the 70s, but nights still dip below freezing through early April and snow is possible into May. State park campgrounds start filling in late April. Applewood is open year-round, which makes it a reliable option when state parks are still shaking off winter closures.
Summer (June through August)
Peak season. Highs regularly reach 90 to 95 degrees in July, and afternoon thunderstorms roll in most days between 2 and 5 PM. State park campgrounds book out weeks ahead. Applewood holds more flexible availability, but summer weekends still go fast, so call ahead.
Fall (September through November)
September is arguably the best camping month along the Front Range: warm days in the 70s, cool nights in the 40s, and golden aspens in the mountains. Crowds thin after Labor Day. October brings the first hard freezes, and by November you will want full hookups for your heater.
Winter (December through February)
Denver averages about 57 inches of snow a year, but its roughly 300 days of sunshine mean it melts fast. Winter camping is doable with a properly insulated rig and electric hookups. Applewood’s year-round operation makes it a solid winter base, especially for skiers who would rather pay monthly than nightly resort rates.
Practical Tips for Camping Near Denver
Denver is at 5,280 feet and Wheat Ridge, where Applewood sits, is a bit higher. If you are coming from sea level, drink extra water, take it easy on day one, and hold off on a 14er until you have acclimated 48 hours. Alcohol hits harder up here too.
Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings on I-70 between Denver and the mountains can add 2 to 3 hours to a 90-minute drive. Leave early, come back late, or go midweek. Applewood's spot near the I-70 exits means you are one of the first off the highway heading home.
Applewood's sites are gravel and tight, and big-rig fit is the most common thing guests raise. Confirm a pull-through that fits your length before you arrive, and ask about the 14 fifty-amp sites if you run two AC units.
Applewood's public dump station is $20 (free for registered guests), with a $10 fresh-water fill and free tank-rinse. After-hours dumping uses a cash dropbox by the office, so carry cash.
Chatfield and Cherry Creek often fill 6 months out for summer weekends. Private parks like Applewood tend to have better last-minute and monthly availability, but confirm open sites before you roll in.
Denver can go from 70 and sunny to a blizzard in 12 hours, and a 40-degree swing in a day is normal. Pack layers, keep the furnace ready even in spring, and do not be surprised by snow in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campsites near Denver?
It depends on what you’re optimizing for. Cherry Creek and Chatfield State Parks have the best settings, with reservoirs, beaches, and trails at the campground. Applewood RV Resort in Wheat Ridge has the best position and plumbing: 65 full hookup sites about 15 minutes from downtown, open year-round. State parks win on scenery; Applewood wins on hookups, availability, and drive time to the city and the foothills.
Are there campsites in Lakewood, CO?
Camping options inside Lakewood city limits are limited, so most campers base just outside it. Applewood RV Resort sits in Wheat Ridge, the suburb directly north of Lakewood on the same foothills side of the metro, with full hookup RV sites and quick access to Green Mountain, Red Rocks, and Golden. Chatfield State Park, south of Lakewood near Littleton, covers the tent and state park side.
Where can I find full hookup campsites near Denver?
Applewood RV Resort in Wheat Ridge has 65 full hookup sites, 38 pull-through and 27 back-in, with 30- and 50-amp service, about 15 minutes from downtown Denver. The metro’s state park campgrounds at Cherry Creek and Chatfield run electric-only sites with dump stations, so if sewer at the site matters for your stay, a private park is the way to get it.
Can I tent camp at Applewood RV Resort?
No. Applewood is an RV park with no tent sites and no car camping; rigs need to be self-contained, though Class B camper vans are fine. Tent campers should book Cherry Creek or Chatfield State Parks, which both run traditional campgrounds with flush toilets and showers. If you’re towing a trailer or driving a motorhome, Applewood’s 76 sites cover you year-round.
How much does a campsite cost near Denver?
State park campsites at Cherry Creek and Chatfield run roughly $28 to $41 per night plus a $10 to $11 daily vehicle pass. At Applewood RV Resort, monthly rates run from $1,300 for electric-only to $1,550 for a full hookup pull-through; confirm current nightly rates directly with the office, since nightly pricing wasn’t confirmed at last verification.
How far ahead should I reserve a summer campsite near Denver?
For Cherry Creek or Chatfield, book the moment reservations open, up to 6 months out; summer weekends at both parks are among the most competitive in Colorado. Private parks are more forgiving: Applewood tends to hold last-minute availability, but summer weekends still fill, so calling 2 to 3 weeks ahead is the safe play for nightly stays.
Book Your Stay at Applewood RV Resort
Applewood RV Resort by RJourney is a year-round RV park in Wheat Ridge, about 15 minutes from downtown Denver and right off I-70, with full-hookup and electric sites, a public dump station, a small dog park, and Prospect Park next door. Monthly rates run from $1,300 to $1,550. It is a practical, centrally located base for exploring Denver, Golden, and Red Rocks. Sites are gravel and tight, so call ahead if you run a big rig.
See all site types, rates, and live availability on the Applewood RV Resort page.
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