Plan Ahead: 2020 Changes to Camping Reservations in Colorado State Parks
Planning this summer’s camping adventures in February might seem way too early, but Colorado State Park's new reservation rules might change your mind.
You might be thinking: It’s literally snowing and way too early to start planning for the camping season! The reality is, if you want to camp in Colorful Colorado, i70 and our influx of population will remind you that it's never too early to start thinking about it.
2020 is bringing a big change to state park campsites. Previous years you could bank on the first-come, first-served method. Colorado's 41 state parks have officially moved to a plan ahead model. You can now reserve spots up to 6 months in advance. And, get this, that started January 1st. Meaning, if you wanted a spot for June 1st in a popular area, you might already be out of luck.
Reservation Tips
Good news, you can start booking today. If you’re hoping to camp along the Arkansas headwaters, enjoy the views at the Ridgway Reservoir, or wake up near the Miricle Mile, you'll want to plan ahead. Go to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website to make your reservations.
Almost all of the 41 state parks are located near a river or lake, making them some of the best places to camp if you're hoping to be near water — something most campers look for. When building Campin, close access to a lake was our biggest request. Because of this, you'll probably find a bit of competition for these reservations.
Fees to be aware of:
You can reserve multiple sites, and can cancel 14 days beforehand, but you will still be charged a $6 cancellation fee. This is to keep people from booking 99% of the sites just to cancel all but one.
If you miss that two-week cancelation period, you will be charged the $6 plus the first night's fee. For some sites, this can get real expensive. For example, the sites around Ridgeway averaged around $40 per night.
If you don’t show, you still get charged the full fee.
The lesson? Reserve early and set a reminder in your phone for cancelation dates.
Tips for Non-Planners:
If you’re still admiring the snowy landscape and focused on that sweet, sweet pow, don’t worry, there’s a couple of loopholes.
Since people have to cancel 14 days in advance, start looking to reserve around 20 days beforehand. Even for those most coveted sites, you have a good chance of snagging a great camping spot from a cancelation. Once a site is canceled, it goes live for booking immediately.
Just don’t pay. What? Yep, you heard right. Stop paying to sleep outside. If you don't mind giving up some luxuries, dispersed camping might be perfect for you. You still have to spin the Wheel of Fortune in some respect. There are no reservations when it comes to dispersed sites and you won’t have a camp host to keep an eye on you, but, you also won’t have to plan 6 months in advance. Every area is first-come, first-serve! Best of all, you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees, costs per night, and camping next to the other 89 guests who booked early. With Campin, you have over 75 dispersed camping areas (not sites) to choose from with more added every summer.
So, if you’re like me and plan your weekends on Thursday night, you might enjoy the alternative to paid camping...free camping! It requires less work, less money, and way fewer neighbors. If that sounds enticing, check out our app that shows you where you can camp for free in Colorado.
Further Resources:
For more information on the new state park booking procedure, check out the article, Camping reservations required at all Colorado state parks starting in 2020.
If you're wanting to know where Colorado's 41 state parks are located, check out this Colorado Parks and Wildlife Map.