A Beginner’s Guide to RVing in Colorado Part 1: Eastern Highlights

What this episode covers

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we’re taking you to one of the absolute best RV vacation spots in the whole country: Colorado. If you think Rocky Mountain National Park is the only thing to see there, pay attention because our friend Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy is here to give us an introduction to RVing in Colorado in this two-part series. In this episode, we'll cover Denver, Colorado Springs, and locations in Eastern Colorado. Then, come back for Part 2 to hear about the mountain towns, national parks, and other highlights from Western Colorado. Here is a guest post from Kerri complete with all the information and links you'll need as you begin thinking about RVing in Colorado: Deciding Where to Start Home to some of the highest peaks in the U.S., the tallest sand dunes in North America, charming mountain towns, epic outdoor adventures, AND cool cities, Colorado is just brimming with RV vacation potential. But, where do you begin when planning an RV trip to a state that is packed with as much potential as Colorado? Luckily, the Colorado Tourism Office gives us a head start by dividing the state into 8 regions, which I will use as a road map for sharing travel highlights and great campgrounds from each part of the state, going from east to west. Plus, I dug deep into the RV Atlas archives for some blast-from-the-past campground reviews! Getting the Lay of the Land First, let's first get a grasp of Colorado's layout and geography. Most travelers cross the state using interstate I-70, which cuts across Colorado somewhat north of the midline. The Rocky Mountains run perpendicular to the highway, bisecting the state.  While the mountains dominate the middle of the state, the eastern half seems more like Kansas and the western half is more like Utah. Even within the mountains themselves, there is a lot of geographic diversity and plenty to explore outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. To hear more about RVing in Colorado, including travel highlights and campgrounds, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite podcasts. General Colorado RV Travel Tips Research roadways if you’ll be traveling through the mountains. Some are nice and wide with broad curves, while others have extreme switchbacks and open drop-offs. My pro tips: Use the Street View option in Google Maps to check out any roadways that resemble intestines, and if you see a "pass" marked on the map, do a little extra research.  Cell phone coverage can be sketchy, especially deep in the mountains. Even with cell signal, you don’t always have reliable internet access.  Many state or national park campgrounds book soon after reservations open. Pro tip: Being able to stay in popular parks during the week and not on weekends will help, as will being able to split your stay across multiple campsites. Otherwise, find out when reservations open and book immediately, if possible. The state offers a lot of free and cheap camping if you are willing/able to venture off grid. Check out BLM lands and national forests for dispersed camping. While most don't offer hookups, the national forest campgrounds offer excellent views and some amenities. The weather varies by both season and by elevation. Fall leaf peeping usually starts in September for the golden aspens at higher elevations. Summer in the mountains is nice and cool, though daily rainstorms are common during the July/August monsoon season. Snow and freezing temperatures can persist during spring and fall at higher elevations. Winter camping requires extra prep due to extreme temperatures and precipitation, and be aware that roadways may be shut down, even I-70 at times. Take the elevation seriously!