RV Camping at Cheyenne Mountain State Park: What to Know

Sourcing note: this guide is desk research, checked against Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s own park and camping pages and the CPW reservation platform at cpwshop.com on October 5, 2026, and cross-checked the same week against RV-focused listings from RVezy, Cruise America, Outdoorsy, and Campflare, plus camper-submitted trip reports on Campendium and The Dyrt where CPW’s page does not spell something out. Where those sources disagree with CPW or with each other, that gets named and flagged below with a pointer to the official page to confirm before booking, rather than smoothed into one blanket number. One example: a couple of RV-rental sites used to list a nearby “Golden Eagle” campground with over 200 sites as if it were part of this park. Cruise America’s own listing now makes clear that Golden Eagle is a separate campground entirely, roughly 216 sites with its own WiFi and dump station, not a loop inside Cheyenne Mountain State Park, so do not confuse the two when comparing options.

Short answer: book Cheyenne Mountain State Park if a site matching your rig’s length has a full hookup open on your dates. Here is how to sort the rest:

• Rig fits, full hookup open: book it on cpwshop.com for state-park quiet and real trails close to town.
• Want WiFi, a pool, or resort amenities: a private RV park nearby suits that better than a state park.
• Dates already full: use the Booking links below for a hotel near the Broadmoor/south Springs area and day-use the trails instead.
• Just want to hike or ride for the day: skip the overnight and pay the day-use vehicle fee only.

RV camping at Cheyenne Mountain State Park puts you 61 sites deep in the foothills on the south side of Colorado Springs, with 51 of those full-hookup and set up for rigs anywhere from a small trailer to a 70-foot motorhome. It is close enough to town for a grocery run and quiet enough at night that the city disappears.

Most RV travelers researching this park want three things: which sites take a big rig, how reservations actually work right now, and what to do if the campground is full. This guide covers all three, plus the gear that makes a pedestal-power site less annoying.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a solid choice for RV camping near Colorado Springs, but it is a state park campground, not a full-service RV resort. Reservations book out fast on weekends, and knowing the current fee structure and reservation system (it changed) will save you a wasted call.

Exploring Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Cheyenne Mountain State Park sits just south of Colorado Springs, tucked under the eastern flank of Cheyenne Mountain. Coming from the south side of town or the Broadmoor area, it is a short drive west on Highway 115 to JL Ranch Heights Road and into the park entrance.

Park Overview and Terrain

The park spans about 2,700 acres of former ranch land, with elevation running from roughly 6,200 to 8,000 feet. Terrain moves from open grassland near the entrance to ponderosa pine forest and rock outcrops higher up.

Because it borders Fort Carson, some campers report hearing daytime artillery or training noise from the base. It is not constant and it is not close, but it is worth knowing before you pick a quiet-weekend site.

Diverse Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Wildlife here is genuinely active: deer, fox, coyote, and reported black bear and mountain lion sightings, plus hawks and other raptors overhead. Early morning and near dusk are the best windows for a sighting.

Store food and trash properly, especially with bear activity in the area, and keep a respectful distance from anything you spot. The Trails End Visitor Center has current wildlife and trail condition info if you want it before heading out.

Hiking and Biking Trails

The park’s trail system totals more than 27 miles across roughly 20 named trails, rated from easy to genuinely difficult. Most of it is easy-to-moderate, with a smaller set of steep, technical routes for people who want them.

The flagship is the Dixon Trail, a roughly 17-mile round trip that climbs to the summit of Cheyenne Mountain; most hikers turn around well before the top. For something shorter, the Zook Loop is an easy mile-long walk, and the Blackmer Loop is a favorite for mountain bikers looking for real singletrack without an all-day commitment. If you’re bringing bikes, our guide to mountain biking trails near Colorado Springs covers more routes outside the park worth the drive.

Trail maps are posted at the visitor center and at trailheads, and signage on the ground is good, so getting lost is unlikely if you check a map first.

Camping Options and Reservations

The campground is split into a few named loops, each with a different feel. Reservations are required (this is not a first-come, first-served park), and weekend and summer dates go fast.

Variety of Campgrounds and Campsites

There are 61 total sites: 51 with full hookups (water, electric, and sewer at 20, 30, or 50-amp service) and 10 walk-in tent sites for a more primitive stay. RV site length limits vary by loop, from around 25 feet up to 70 feet, so check the specific site’s max length before you book, especially with a bigger rig.

Other guides list different max lengths for this park, some say 55 feet, some say 70. That is not one guide being wrong so much as everyone rounding a loop-by-loop number to a single figure. CPW’s own listing tops out at 70 feet, and that ceiling only applies to specific pull-through sites in The Meadows; a 55-foot rig will fit plenty of sites elsewhere but not all of them, so match your actual rig length to the individual site’s posted max on cpwshop.com rather than trusting a single blanket number from any guide, including this one.

• The Meadows: the loop for the biggest rigs, sites up to 70 feet, near the coin-op showers and laundry.
• Raptor Glen: full hookups at the highest elevation in the park, with some of the best views.
• Swift Puma Heights: more space between sites and concrete pads, good if you want elbow room.
• Gobbler Grove: a smaller loop with a scenic overlook; a few RV-rental guides note it has no restrooms directly on the loop, so plan on a short drive or walk to the camper services building.
• Group camping areas: available for larger parties who want to camp together.

Two ADA-accessible cabins in the Meadows loop are an option if you want a roof without towing anything. They run $120 a night with a two-night minimum stay (three nights on holiday weekends), and no pets, smoking, or WiFi inside, per CPW. For more roofed options nearby, see our guide to cabins in Colorado Springs.

Here is where the guides genuinely disagree, and it is worth laying out plainly instead of picking one number: CPW’s own page tops the park at 70 feet but does not break that down by loop. Cruise America and Outdoorsy, working from the reservation system’s own filters, put Raptor Glen and Swift Puma Heights closer to a 50-foot ceiling, with the full 70-foot pull-throughs limited to specific Meadows sites. Nobody’s blog post overrides the reservation system, so treat the table below as a starting point for which loop to search first, then let cpwshop.com’s site-specific length filter make the final call before you book.

None of those is a wrong answer. It depends on whether a short walk to the showers matters more to you than elbow room, wind, or quiet, and whether your rig’s actual length rules a loop out before preference even comes into it.

How to Reserve Your Spot

Reservations for Cheyenne Mountain State Park now run through Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s own booking system at cpwshop.com, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613. ReserveAmerica still lists the park, but CPW has moved most booking and account functionality to its own platform, so cpwshop.com is the more reliable place to actually check live site availability. You can also start from the ReserveAmerica park page if you already have an account there.

1. Search for your dates: input arrival/departure dates and rig length.
2. Filter by hookup type: 20, 30, or 50-amp full hookup, or a walk-in tent site.
3. Book and note the no-show policy: if you cannot occupy the site on day one, call the park office. Otherwise the site can be resold with no refund.

Reservations can typically be made up to six months in advance, so if you want a specific loop or a summer weekend, book as early as the window opens. Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak demand; September thins out fast once local schools are back in session, and the weather is often drier, so it is worth a second look if your dates are flexible.

Stay Limits, Check-In Times, and Group Size

Per CPW’s own park rules, the maximum stay is 14 days within any 28-day period, so this is not a place to plan a month-long stay without moving. Check-in is 1 p.m. and check-out is noon, and each site is limited to six people and one camping unit, so a second RV or a second family’s tent on the same pad is not allowed even if there is physical room. If you are traveling with another rig, book a second site.

Campground Facilities and Amenities

Facilities are solid for a state park but seasonal in places, which matters if you are planning a cold-weather trip.

Restrooms and Showers

Flush restrooms are available year-round across the campground. The camper services building, which houses the coin-operated showers, laundry room, and activity room, generally runs mid-April through mid-November and closes for the winter months.

If you are camping outside that window, plan on vault toilets and no on-site showers in some loops. Bring your own solar shower or wipes as a backup. CPW also keeps fewer loops open during the winter months, so check cpwshop.com for which sites are actually bookable before you lock in an off-season reservation.

Full Hookups and Laundry

Full-hookup sites give you water, electric, and sewer right at the pad, which means no dump-station trip mid-stay. Amperage varies by site (20/30/50A), so match your rig’s shore power cord to what your reserved site actually offers before you arrive.

Laundry is coin-operated and located in the camper services building, available during its seasonal open months noted above.

Pets, Cell Service, and WiFi

Leashed pets are allowed at campsites, on a leash no longer than six feet, and you are expected to clean up after them and never leave them unattended. Pets are not allowed inside the cabins. Trail access for dogs is limited to a handful of designated trails, so check the current trail map at the visitor center rather than assuming your dog can join every hike.

Cell service is generally reported as strong from all three major carriers, per CPW and camper reports on The Dyrt and Campflare, so you should not need to plan around a dead zone here. There is no WiFi at the campground or the cabins, so bring a hotspot or your own data plan if you need to work from the rig.

Since 51 of the 61 sites already have sewer at the pad, most RVers will not need a separate dump station during their stay. If your site does not have sewer, or you are extending a trip beyond your reservation, call the park office to confirm dump-station access before you arrive.

Outdoor Activities and Recreation

Beyond the campground, the park has enough on-site recreation that you don’t have to drive anywhere for a full day.

Archery Range and Equestrian Trails

The archery range is open to both beginners and experienced archers; bring your own equipment, since rentals aren’t available on-site.

Horseback riding is allowed, but only on designated trails, mainly the Dixon, Talon North, and Talon South trails, plus part of the Sundance Trail. Horses and trailers are not permitted in the campground loops or general parking areas, so equestrian visitors use the Limekiln Trailhead lot specifically.

Picnicking and Group Events

Several designated picnic areas have tables and grills, and a reservable pavilion works for larger group gatherings with shade included. If you’re planning a group event, book the pavilion ahead and check the forecast, since afternoon storms are common in summer.

Planning Your Visit

A little fee and logistics knowledge goes a long way here, since the park pass and the campsite fee are two separate charges.

Park Fees and Vehicle Passes

Every vehicle needs a state park pass in addition to the camping fee. Based on current Colorado Parks and Wildlife pricing, expect a daily vehicle pass in roughly the $10 to $15 range, and an annual pass around $80 if you’ll visit more than a few times this year. If you are arriving on foot or by bike without a vehicle, CPW also sells a $4 individual daily pass, which none of the RV-focused guides mention but is worth knowing if you are dropping a rig and walking back in. Campsite fees run roughly $21 to $41 per night, scaled mainly by hookup type: full 50-amp service costs more than a basic 20-amp site, and a walk-in tent site is the cheapest way to stay in the park if you do not need shore power. Rates can shift, so confirm the exact current numbers on CPW’s Cheyenne Mountain State Park page before you book.

Camp Store and Facility Hours

The camp store carries basics like firewood, snacks, and small camping supplies, along with trail maps. Hours can shift seasonally, so it’s worth a quick call to the park office if you’re arriving late or need something specific.

The Trails End Visitor Center is the best source for current trail conditions, wildlife activity reports, and park maps if you want a paper copy for the trail.

Author: Dominic