It’s no secret that Colorado is a tremendous place, particularly when you’re an outdoorsy individual. Contemplating it has a few of the finest snowboarding, fishing, climbing, and kayaking on this planet, you’re certain to have a tremendous time on this stunning state. You’ll additionally love the museums, amusement parks, and nationwide park websites discovered right here, and recollections will completely be made throughout your time within the Centennial State.

After all, the easiest way to expertise all of it is by RVing in Colorado! Colorado RV tenting provides you an opportunity to actually expertise the state’s pure magnificence. You possibly can have a campsite with a view, watch the dawn out of your window, and hit a path with out ever getting within the automotive. 

All that stated, there are some issues you need to learn about RVing in Colorado earlier than you get going. This information will provide help to perceive the ins and outs of tenting on this wonderful state so you possibly can have the very best journey attainable. 

Getting ready for RV Tenting

First issues first, you will have to do some prep work with a purpose to guarantee your Colorado tenting journey goes easily. This includes ensuring you’ve the fitting RV—and naturally, packing that RV with all the fitting stuff.

Unsure the place to start? This part is for you!

Selecting the Proper RV for Your Wants

The fitting rental RV for you may not be the fitting RV for the subsequent man. Likewise, the fitting RV for one journey may not be best for the subsequent. Colorado is comparatively RV pleasant, however the mountain passes could make driving a giant rig a little bit tougher. Think about this when selecting your rig (except you’re having your RV delivered, after all). 

You’ll additionally need to take into consideration whether or not you favor a driveable or a towable rig, and within the latter case, whether or not you’ve the fitting truck to tow a trailer. As soon as these issues are decided, issues like flooring plans and facilities may be considered.

Packing Necessities for a Profitable Journey

With the fitting RV picked out, the subsequent step is to begin packing. Clearly, you will have the standard clothes and toiletries, however these aren’t the one issues needed for a profitable Colorado tenting journey. 

Under is a primary checklist of belongings you may need to take into account taking with you:

• Garments
• Toiletries
• Drugs
• First help equipment
• Bug spray and sunscreen 
• Instruments
• Leisure (books, video games, motion pictures, toys for youths)
• Out of doors recreation gear
• Electronics and chargers
• Pots, pans, and dishes
• Paper towels
• Groceries
• Flashlights
• Folding chairs
• Mattress sheets
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Pet gear
• RV leveling blocks
• Sewer hose and adapter
• Freshwater hose
• RV surge protector

Needless to say this can be a very primary checklist. For a extra in-depth packing information, attempt checking out this post.

Concerns for Tenting in Colorado

The mountain passes are one factor to bear in mind when RVing in Colorado, however they aren’t the one factor you’ll want to contemplate. You’ll additionally need to ensure you’re following visitors legal guidelines and, when you’re visiting in winter, keeping track of the climate in case of incoming storms. 

In Colorado, rigs could be a whole of 75 ft lengthy (together with tow automobile), however now not than that. Trailers and motorhomes shouldn’t be greater than 45 ft lengthy, and no RV must be greater than 8.5 ft vast and 14.5 ft excessive. You’ll additionally want a security chain and breakaway swap on any trailer you pull, in addition to brakes on any trailer that weighs greater than 3,000 kilos. 

Discovering Campgrounds

Now it’s time to search out the perfect campground for your Colorado RV camping trip. Thankfully for you, Colorado is residence to all types of campgrounds. From luxury RV parks to rustic campgrounds within the woods to parks set right in the middle of the city, there actually is one thing for each sort of RVer on this state. 

Exploring Public Campgrounds in Colorado

First up, let’s discuss Colorado’s public tenting choices. These are usually extra rustic selections, interesting to the adventurous crowd, campers on a funds, and those that love a great view. They embrace every part from nationwide park campground to state park tenting and boondocking in nationwide forests. 

Nationwide Park Tenting

Colorado is residence to 4 nationwide parks. These embrace:

1. Rocky Mountain National Park
2. Mesa Verde National Park
3. Great Sand Dunes National Park
4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

All 4 are distinctive and exquisite, and all 4 are price visiting. Fortunately, the entire Colorado nationwide parks provide onsite tenting, so discovering someplace to park an RV is a cinch. 

Nationwide Forest Tenting

Colorado national forests are one other unbelievable choice for individuals who want a extra conventional tenting expertise that includes a little bit of “roughing it.” There are a complete of 11 wonderful nationwide forests on this state, and each one is price seeing. In these forests, you’ll discover campgrounds in addition to dispersed tenting websites. 

State Park Tenting

State park camping in Colorado is a pleasant mixture of facilities and rustic tenting in nature. A few of the finest Colorado state park campgrounds are present in Mueller State Park. This place affords some unbelievable views of the Rocky Mountains, campsites with hookups, and easy accessibility to out of doors recreation. 

Different nice Colorado state parks embrace Trinidad State Park and State Forest State Park. 

Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) Tenting

Colorado Bureau of Land Management campgrounds and dispersed tenting websites are a lesser-known tenting choice. Usually talking, BLM campsites don’t provide many facilities, however they do are usually in stunning locations. 

There’s tons of BLM land in Colorado and all of it’s unbelievable, so take the checklist linked above and go exploring!

Exploring Personal Campgrounds and RV Parks

Favor extra facilities so you possibly can have a glamping expertise? Want issues like showers and dump stations? Colorado’s private campgrounds may be a greater choice for you. 

The Views RV Park and Campground is one in every of our high picks. Because the title suggests, this stunning campground options wonderful views. You’ll additionally admire the big RV websites with hookups, laundry services, and bathhouses with showers. 

We additionally love Solar Outside Rocky Mountains. That is the proper residence base for individuals who need to discover Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, and the top-notch facilities are onerous to beat. 

Boondocking in Colorado

Those that want to search out free tenting or need to attempt their hand at dry tenting may need to search for boondocking in Colorado. There are a variety of unbelievable boondocking spots within the state. These embrace the dispersed tenting in McInnis Canyons Nationwide Conservation Space, in addition to the boondocking choices at Penrose Widespread Recreation Space. 

Researching Campground Choices and Making Reservations

After all, you will have to make reservations. To see much more superior choices for RV tenting in Colorado and begin reserving on-line, attempt websites like Campspot, BookOutdoors, RoverPass, and The Dyrt. You would additionally try the KOA chain for family- and dog-friendly tenting. Or take a look at Jellystone, Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, and Hipcamp for distinctive and memorable tenting experiences.

Planning Your Itinerary

Subsequent on the to-do checklist: planning your RV tenting in Colorado itinerary, after all! That is the enjoyable half throughout which you’ll decide and select from quite a lot of wonderful sights, actions, and sights to take a look at. Whether or not you’re exploring Denver or occurring a mountain hike, you’re certain to have an superior time!

Options and Sights in Colorado

First issues first, we extremely suggest driving on Colorado’s scenic byways. This can provide help to get a great really feel for the place you’re visiting and offer you an opportunity to see a number of the gorgeous vistas with out a lot effort. San Juan Skyway and Peak to Peak are two glorious selections!

When you’re out exploring, make sure to cease and see landmarks like The Stanley Resort, Pikes Peak, and Backyard of the Gods. National parks sites like Dinosaur National Monument and Colorado National Monument are additionally good stops which are certain to make your journey extra thrilling. 

Festivals, Festivals, and Occasions in Colorado

What about including some Colorado events to your itinerary? Planning your journey round a pageant, live performance, or different occasion is a wonderful method so as to add an additional layer of enjoyable to the entire journey. 

A few of the finest annual occasions in Colorado embrace the Telluride Bluegrass Pageant, the Crested Butte Wildflower Pageant, Denver Underground Music Showcase, and the Vail Worldwide Dance Pageant. 

Exploring Out of doors Actions

Clearly, you will need to spend a great chunk of your journey having fun with the wonderful pure great thing about the state. Thankfully, there are tons of locations to do that, and many various leisure alternatives await. 

Clearly, you’ll want to give snowboarding or snowboarding a attempt when you go to in the course of the winter, but when you end up in Colorado within the hotter months, attempt a few of the choices beneath. 

Mountain climbing, Biking and Nature Trails

Mountain climbing and biking are nice methods to immerse your self in nature and rise up shut and private with the vegetation and animals of this wonderful state. We love these choices when visiting nationwide parks and state parks, however actually, you’ll discover nice trails round each nook in Colorado. 

A few of the finest climbing trails in Colorado embrace:

So far as biking goes, we extremely suggest the next:

AllTrails has much more nice path choices!

Fishing, Boating, and Water Actions

Water provides extra enjoyable to each journey, and Colorado has a number of nice our bodies of water to select from. The fishing in Colorado is top-notch, particularly within the Animas River and Dolores River. Lakeside beaches are excellent for sunbathing and swimming. In the meantime, many individuals get pleasure from chasing waterfalls as they discover the state. 

Wildlife Viewing and Pictures

With so many pure areas round, it ought to come as no shock that the wildlife viewing is fantastic in Colorado. You’re prone to see bighorn sheep, moose, elk, and all types of birds. You may even see a black bear or two!

Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park is a good place to see animals in Colorado. You’ll additionally in all probability see some animal pals at Alamosa and Monte Vista Nationwide Wildlife Refuges, in addition to Pawnee Nationwide Grassland. 

Household-Pleasant Actions and Sights

Taking the youngsters alongside? There are many nice family-friendly sights in Colorado. Whether or not you’re headed to Grand Junction, Estes Park, Thornton, or some other place solely, you’ll discover enjoyable methods to make recollections along with your little vacationers.

Historic Websites and Museums

Visiting historic websites is an effective way so as to add an academic component to your journey. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is one nice decide. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and Yucca House National Monument may be good selections, relying on the ages and pursuits of your children. 

Another choice? Add some museums to your itinerary. Colorado has tons of superior museums, together with some hands-on choices. 

A few of our favourite Colorado museums embrace:

• Denver Artwork Museum
• Kids’s Museum of Denver
• Wings Over the Rockies Museum
• Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
• Denver Museum of Pure Historical past
• Molly Brown Home Museum

Irrespective of which one you decide, you’re certain to have an superior time studying one thing new!

Amusement Park, Zoos, and Wildlife Refuges

After all, we have now to say Colorado amusement parks! Glenwood Caverns Journey Park is a singular amusement park that mixes out of doors recreation and amusement park enjoyable. Different nice choices embrace Royal Gorge Bridge and Park and The North Pole. Trying to cool off? Head to The Bay Aquatic Park and Pirate’s Cove Household Enjoyable Aquatic Park. 

Zoos are additionally a fantastic decide when visiting Colorado with children. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is a enjoyable decide, as is the Denver Zoo. Those that love water animals will admire the Downtown Aquarium in Denver, and gator fanatics will adore the Colorado Gators and Reptile Park in Mosca. 

Security and Preparedness when RV Tenting in Colorado

Clearly, security ought to all the time come first, even while you’re having a great time. Because of this, you’ll want to go into your journey to Colorado figuring out what to be careful for and be ready with instruments to deal with the worst. 

The excellent news? That is straightforward sufficient to do!

Climate Circumstances and Pure Catastrophe Preparedness

As talked about above, Colorado has a number of mountainous terrain. This implies you’ll want to make completely certain your rig is supplied to make climbs and descents. Guarantee your truck is rated to tow your trailer, test the brakes in your rig, and study some tips on driving mountain passes. It’s additionally vital to remain hydrated and provides your self time to regulate in case altitude illness is an issue for you. 

You in all probability already know that Colorado can see some blizzards within the winter. Because of this, we really don’t suggest RV tenting in Colorado within the wintertime. That stated, when you should do that, ensure you have an app to warn you of upcoming storms and put collectively an emergency equipment with issues like further meals and water, emergency blankets, and further propane. 

Consider it or not, Colorado also can see some fairly intense storms in the summertime. These thunderstorms usually are not normally a risk, however they are often in the event that they trigger flooding. Due to this fact, it’s good to have climate apps put in so that you get notifications if you have to take shelter or transfer out of a flood zone. 

Wildlife Encounters and Precautions

As we acknowledged above, Colorado is residence to quite a lot of wild animals. These creatures are usually present in pure areas the place one may be tenting, climbing, or having fun with different kinds of out of doors recreation, they usually can embrace black bears, mountain lions, and extra. 

As a way to defend your self, all the time give wild animals their distance. If an animal is damage, name in skilled assist reasonably than trying to assist them your self. It’s additionally sensible to make loads of noise when climbing so bears and different animals hear you coming and keep away from you. After all, bear spray might show helpful as properly, however carry it with warning. 

Extra Inspiration for Your Colorado Travels

Clearly, RV tenting in Colorado is unbelievable. Nonetheless don’t really feel prepared in your journey? Use the hyperlinks beneath for much more inspiration so you possibly can plan the proper journey: