Camping near Florence

A high desert basecamp for river running, rock climbing, and mountain bike adventures.

96% (2668 reviews)
  1. Florence
96% (2668 reviews)

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12 top campgrounds near Florence

91%
(201)

Sweetwater River Resort

72 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents31 acres · Cotopaxi, CO
Sweetwater River Resort is located right on the Arkansas River, 30 minutes from Canyon City and 30 minutes from Salida where Hwy 50 follows the river through Bighorn Canyon. Skiers, we are only 40 miles from Monarch Ski Resort. We do offer fly fishing lessons and fly rod rentals on arrival. Sweetwater is the perfect getaway for anglers, hikers, rafters or nature-lovers. You’ll find uncrowded sites to unwind on our private 1/2 mile stretch of the Arkansas. At night you’ll find the clearest skies around, perfect for stargazing. Experience a range of accommodations at Sweetwater River Resort, from budget-friendly cabins to glamping tents to old-timey cabins and RV sites. For larger groups, we offer a spacious house overlooking the Arkansas River, all just a short distance from the river itself. Sweetwater is a short drive from 45 miles of 4x4 and ATV trails at Texas Creek, the Arkansas Headwaters Hiking Area, Vallie Bridge, Loma Linda, Lone Pine, Hayden Creek, Royal Gorge and Rainbow Trail near Westcliffe. It's the perfect base for river rafting trips throughout the season as well as a private stretch of blue-ribbon water for trout fishing. Come stay with us and experience all that Sweetwater River Resort has to offer!
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$40
 / night
86%
(51)

Lone Duck Campground and Cabins

64 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Cascade, CO
Lone Duck Campground sits just outside the city lights of Colorado Springs at the base of Pikes Peak, at an elevation of 7,600 feet. Our prime location puts us within a short distance of the many beautiful Colorado attractions. This makes us an ideal stop for families looking for a summer adventure or folks just passing through for a couple of days. We strive to make every stay a special experience. We know you will love it here at "the Duck"! Lone Duck Campground and Cabins is your stop for a memorable vacation in the Colorado Rockies. We have all the necessary amenities to make your stay a comfortable one. We offer tent sites, cabins, and RV sites. Make your reservation with us today and allow our family to treat yours!
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$43
 / night
100%
(134)

Mountain Bird Alpine Desert

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Moffat, CO
Our land is out away from all the noise and lights. You can see the milky way and the stars at night are amazing. then to have the view of the Sangre de Christo mountain range is amazing to enjoy. The surrounding valley has lots to offer from the quant little towns and coffee shops to the home style meals at the restaurants. and all the hot springs are amazing. Your site is overlooking the Sangre de Christo mountain range. The land is Alpine desert with sagebrush and ground cactus and incredible star gazing. There are 2 great hiking trails within a couple miles. There are 3 hot springs within 30 minutes. The Great sand dunes national park is within 1hr. The San Luis valley offers, hiking, mountain biking, ATV trail, Horse back riding, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, rafting, refuges for wildlife watching. New for 2024, The flushable toilet and shower are now operational. The shower house is located in the center of the loop with sites 1,2,3 on the south side of the building. It has an on demand water heater, there is also a a flushable toilet located in the same space. An important note about the toilet, Do Not flush anything other than toilet paper please. DO NOT flush feminine hygiene products, napkins or hand wipes or anything other than toilet paper. These type of things plug and burn up the pump while pumping out the tank. This will cause the toilet to be unusable. ATTENTION: THE SHOWER HOUSE AND TOILET WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN AND GETTING WINTERIZED OCTOBER 1ST UNTIL MAY 1ST. No fireworks are permitted at any time.
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$25
 / night
94%
(8)

M Lazy C Ranch

27 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents80 acres · Lake George, CO
Step into the boots of a cowboy and ride into the old west, the way it used to be! Ride off into the old west at our world-famous historic guest ranch built in the 1900's. Camping sites, cabins, primitive camping, pet friendly, and ATV friendly. Here, we do things the cowboy way…the way it used to be! Bring your horses or ride one of ours. With views of magnificent Pike’s Peak and surrounded by over 350,000 acres of Pike National Forest, soak in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains while you relax in your cabin or RV site. We offer a taste of the real old west at our famous Old West Colorado guest ranch. Listen to the sounds of the wind through the Ponderosa Pines, Elk bugle echoes through the hills, howls of coyotes in the distance, deer moving nearby. It's peaceful but never silent. Come visit the ranch’s 115-year history. Started as a homestead back in 1906, M Lazy Ranch is now a thriving guest ranch and cowboy playground. M Lazy C Ranch is the ideal location for a family trip, time with friends, romantic horse rides and more. Our original turn of the century Cabins dating back to that time period, have been lovingly restored. Not your typical dude ranch. We are flexible and offer a multitude of options to choose from. We also offer RV sites, Equestrian RV Sites, an Arena, Cabins, Weddings, Hunting, Fishing, Events, and more! Surrounded by 350,000 acres of Pike National Forest on three sides provides our guests with unlimited riding potential and amazing views. Ride horses on our property for a perfect relaxing gateway the whole family can enjoy. Sit on the porch of your very own piece of heaven, relax, put your feet up, and stay awhile.
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$35
 / night
97%
(757)

High Peaks Campground

22 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Moffat, CO
Welcome to the San Luis Valley; the largest Alpine Valley in the world! San Luis Valley is a region in south-central Colorado with a small portion overlapping into New Mexico. The valley is approximately 122 miles long and 74 miles wide, making it the largest alpine valley in the world. It extends from the Continental Divide on the northwest rim into New Mexico on the south. This campground sits close to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. I encourage binoculars or even a telescope to view wildlife and check out the Rockies and then the night sky views! Looking to submerse yourself in nature? The Sangre de Cristo Range in Colorado contains the following 14ers: Blanca Peak, Challenger Point, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Culebra Peak, Ellingwood Point, Humboldt Peak, Kit Carson Peak, Mount Lindsey, and Little Bear Peak. Great Sand Dunes are visible from every site. With unlimited mountain views, beautiful starry night skies, come see the Milky Way, Eclipse, even Meteor showers!!! History: this land was originally part of a large cattle ranch in the 1980s. The main ranch is still up and running but this parcel was used for many purposes over the years. In 2021, we were featured in USA Todays Ten Best for star gazing! My property has 360 degree mountains views with the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range as our back yard. Nearby you can find many different trail systems for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking to jeeping, ATV or dirt biking and equestrians - you can find it all! You will be surrounded by BLM land, BACA land, and Wildlife Refuge just two miles away. Be sure to bring extra bug spray and protection needed against biting insects such as flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. For those bringing your pets, they MUST be on a leash/lead at all times. While I do not have much cactus on my property, I do have an abundance of greasewood (Chico brush) which is very thorn-like if stepped on. Accommodations for those with livestock or horses, just make sure you chat in advance your initial message. Close to BLM, and National Forest as well as 3 hot springs within 20 miles and the Great Sand Dunes. We are still under construction and making changes often so bear with us while we continue to add and change things for the better!
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$38
 / night
95%
(72)

Twin Bridges Campground

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Coaldale, CO
Overnight, Seasonal, and Extended Stay Camping, we are open year-round. We have 30/50amp sites (shade and partial shade) around our lake, 20 amp in the "upper campground," and dry camping (full facilities) along the Arkansas River (Gold Medal fishing) with access for all campers for fishing and floating. Many of our sites are great for star-gazing, watching meteors, looking for fireflies, and seeing the birds zip on by. We are conveniently located on Hwy 50, in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and have all sorts of rental options for your outdoor adventure needs. Whether you want to pitch a tent, try out the glamping experience, enjoy the convenience of an RV, or rent one of our fully equipped RVs, we have the perfect spot for you. We have four entrances marked by sail flags into the campground, two by the lake, one near the bathhouse, and one by the post office (on our property). The map of the Arkansas River has our campground listed! Adventure awaits with home to the highest mountain peaks in Colorado and the river and 102 miles of Trout Gold Medal Water. There is access to white water rafting, guided fishing, and fishing lessons. There are at least 5 hot springs within 60 miles of Twin Bridges Campground. Salida is considered the white-water rafting capitol of the US by some and has a whitewater park and surfing wave. Salida area is also home to a ton of hiking (14'ers anyone?) and mountain biking trails. The Royal Gorge is a quick 30 minute drive with restaurants and other fun near Canon City. The Sand Dunes are 90 minutes and Monarch Ski Area is 45, we have some of the best bird watching! Warbling Vireo, Western Wood-peewee, Cassin's Kingbird to name a few.
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$27
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98%
(27)

K-Bar Ranch

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Guffey, CO
K-Bar Ranch is a small hobby farm situated on over 20 acres of beautiful, rolling grassland sprinkled with pine trees and offering breathtaking views in every direction. Just off of CR102, we are conveniently located to the little town of Guffey and are only 3 miles from the wildly popular Guffey Gorge. Additionally, Eleven Mile Reservoir, The Royal Gorge, gambling at Cripple Creek, the Colorado Wolf Sanctuary, the Florissant Fossil Beds and many more areas of interest and recreation are within an easy drive. You can open camp here and be completely off-grid or you can park near our barn and have access to electricity and wifi. We also offer Glamping Overnights in Gypsy, an adorable tiny camper with a double bed, sofa, 2 burner cooktop and everything you need to have a comfortable stay while still having a camping experience! Glamping stays are still largely off-grid with a "Luggable Loo" and an outdoor Joolca shower (upon request). Our large 5m Bell Tent offers plenty of room whether you just want to stretch out or if you're traveling with family or friends. If you want to upgrade your experience, we offer Romance Packages with charcuterie boards, a bottle of bubbly, chocolate covered strawberries and can create unforgettable special occasions since we are in the wedding/events industry! Wanting to get engaged? Looking to elope? We can do that! Ask us for details! We will be adding more off-grid accommodations in the future so stay tuned for updates! We have Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Mini Donkeys, Chickens and 2 Livestock Guardian Dogs. *Please be aware that the dogs are working dogs and you WILL hear them bark at night as they are doing their job in deterring predators. We are excited to share our beautiful property with Happy Campers from everywhere!
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$31.50
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Other options near Florence

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Florence guide

Overview

Set alongside the Arkansas River in the high desert of southern Colorado, Florence is a small town with a ton of outdoor activities nearby. There’s a kayak whitewater park right in town, fantastic mountain biking nearby in Canon City, and excellent rafting through Royal Gorge. Florence also marks the beginning of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, a travel route that connects many of Colorado’s most famous Gold Rush communities. Campers will find plenty of options, including several RV parks close to town and lakeside sites at Lake Pueblo State Park.    

Where to go

Pueblo

Located 45 minutes east of Florence, the city of Pueblo is a culturally diverse city with a vibrant downtown riverwalk. Pueblo offers miles of hiking and biking trails including over fourteen miles of paved trails right alongside the Arkansas River. The nearby Lake Pueblo State Park has several year-round campgrounds as well as boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.    

Royal Gorge

Only 10 minutes from Florence, Royal Gorge is a massive 10-mile long 1,200 foot deep canyon  of the Arkansas River and one of Colorado’s most popular tourist destinations. It’s a bit of a tourist trap but it’s still an amazing sight to see. There’s plenty of family-friendly activities here such as gold panning, ziplining, and via ferrata climbing and visitors can walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the U.S.   

Cripple Creek

This once bustling gold rush town has maintained much of its old western character. Cripple Creek’s downtown is lined with casinos, saloons, and shops, and several gold mining tours are offered at area mines. Cripple Creek is located a little over an hour north of Florence via the Goldbelt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, an unpaved backcountry route through some of the country’s greatest old gold rush camps. Campers will find gorgeous forested spots in Mueller State Park, thirty minutes north of Cripple Creek.  

When to go

Kayaking and whitewater rafting is best on the Arkansas River from April through August. High water is the most exciting time on the river and that’s usually between late May and late June. The best time to hike, bike, and camp in Florence is from March through October. In comparison to Colorado’s high country, Florence experiences a bit more mild winter and many area campgrounds including those at Lake Pueblo State Park remain open year-round. 

Know before you go

  1. Florence is a pretty small town so services are few and far between. Find grocery stores, gear shops, and department stores in Cañon City, 10 miles away. 
  2. Camping at Lake Pueblo State Park is very popular in summer. Reservations are available online and over the phone up to six months in advance. 
  3. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at outfitters in Canon City, Pueblo, and at Lake Pueblo State Park.