Campgrounds not far from Denver International Airport

[BettyBoop7]

We are picking up some family at Denver International Airport who will be camping with us. It will be late in the evening so we don't want to drive a long way after picking them up. Any suggestions on a campground in that area

[Martyn]

Veebyes wrote:
Before that it was Stapleton & virtually nothing on 36 from Westminster to Boulder back then. How times have changed!

You should see 36 now! One big construction project - it's awful. 🙂

[Martyn]

Gooselover wrote:
I don't know how close this is to the airport, but after much researching here and on the net, Chatfield State Park in Littleton is the one everyone recommends. In fact, we have reservations there for the 17th of April thru the 24th!

Nice park and we stay there several times a year, but it is to the far southwest of metro Denver. DIA is to the far northeast, and to get there you would have to cross the entire metro area. Both Cherry Creek and Chatfield have nice lakes (Chatfield is larger) and we take the boat to both, multiple times a year. Cherry Creek would still be my choice as closest 'good' campground to DIA. 🙂

[Veebyes]

Martyn wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
470!!! Never used 470. Pena to Tower Rd to 104th to I25 north. Who needs to pay any tolls? If going to SD after pickup one would be using I25, no? So why stay at a place SE of Denver & then have to deal with the traffic getting out of the area?

I was presumimg that not being local they might not know the 'back' route. In any case, the 104th route is nearly 42 miles. Big round trip to get the airport and come back the same way. Not sure when you last drove 140th, but it is one of the busier roads in the area now - I try to avoid it whenever possible. I will agree to differ with you! 🙂

No argument that using St Vrain SP & using 104th to get there is longer but the OP is planning on heading to SD, which is north. Every other CG suggested is to some degree south of DIA & will involve metro traffic getting out to head north.

That is OK. He will have to put up with it. Not me. Been caught in the mousetrap area before. Before I knew what was happening I was headed to Kansas instead of Salt Lake.

Oh yes 104th is much busier these days & getting worse by the year. Been using it to get to Boulder every year since DIA opened. Before that it was Stapleton & virtually nothing on 36 from Westminster to Boulder back then. How times have changed!

[LowRyter]

http://www.southparkcommunity.net/index.html

South Park, it's not close to the airport but a good place to stay. Flying Saucer was just east and it looked pretty good from the highway.

[Gooselover]

I don't know how close this is to the airport, but after much researching here and on the net, Chatfield State Park in Littleton is the one everyone recommends. In fact, we have reservations there for the 17th of April thru the 24th!

[Martyn]

Veebyes wrote:
470!!! Never used 470. Pena to Tower Rd to 104th to I25 north. Who needs to pay any tolls? If going to SD after pickup one would be using I25, no? So why stay at a place SE of Denver & then have to deal with the traffic getting out of the area?

I was presumimg that not being local they might not know the 'back' route. In any case, the 104th route is nearly 42 miles. Big round trip to get the airport and come back the same way. Not sure when you last drove 140th, but it is one of the busier roads in the area now - I try to avoid it whenever possible. I will agree to differ with you! 🙂

[Veebyes]

Martyn wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Since you are heading north after the pickup why not stay north & avoid the Denver traffic when you want to leave? St Vrain SP at the I25 exit for Longmont has FHUs & is an easy run to & from DIA. Done it a few times for the same reason.

Get right on 25 the next day & BOOM, you are clear of metro Denver traffic & headed north. No messing with rush hours traffic in the morning & a bunch of interchanges.

That is if you don't mind paying high tolls both way on E470. Will cost about $25+ if towing and, even then, is 36 miles from DIA. Cherry Creek is all freeway to DIA. IMHO that is still by far the best choice.

470!!! Never used 470. Pena to Tower Rd to 104th to I25 north. Who needs to pay any tolls? If going to SD after pickup one would be using I25, no? So why stay at a place SE of Denver & then have to deal with the traffic getting out of the area?

[Martyn]

Veebyes wrote:
Since you are heading north after the pickup why not stay north & avoid the Denver traffic when you want to leave? St Vrain SP at the I25 exit for Longmont has FHUs & is an easy run to & from DIA. Done it a few times for the same reason.

Get right on 25 the next day & BOOM, you are clear of metro Denver traffic & headed north. No messing with rush hours traffic in the morning & a bunch of interchanges.

That is if you don't mind paying high tolls both way on E470. Will cost about $25+ if towing and, even then, is 36 miles from DIA. Cherry Creek is all freeway to DIA. IMHO that is still by far the best choice.

[Veebyes]

Since you are heading north after the pickup why not stay north & avoid the Denver traffic when you want to leave? St Vrain SP at the I25 exit for Longmont has FHUs & is an easy run to & from DIA. Done it a few times for the same reason.

Get right on 25 the next day & BOOM, you are clear of metro Denver traffic & headed north. No messing with rush hours traffic in the morning & a bunch of interchanges.

[Dog_Trainer]

I have stayed at Cherry creek many times. It has full hookups and very large paved sites.lots of wildlife and an overall great experience. Don,t know about the others but CC is a very nice campground and will not dissapoint

[Martyn]

BettyBoop7 wrote:
Have made reservations at Denver East/ Strasburg KOA

Actually Cherry Creek SP (24 miles) is closer to DIA than Strasburg is (32 miles - 29 if you know the back roads). Strasburg KOA doesn't hold a candle to Cherry Creek.

I live near Strasburg and have never been impressed with the KOA. I camp several times a year at Cherry Creek as we put the boat on the lake there. If you stay at the KOA there is a very good barbecue place right near the entrance - it's very small but has a good reputation. In Bennett, 5 miles to the west you might like the High Plains Diner - my favourite breakfast place.

[strongbad]

Might want to look at St Vrain State Park if you're headed north. I-25 and hwy 119. Full hook ups available.
http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/StVrain/Pages/Camping.aspx

[crabbin_cabin]

BETTYBOP - YOU HAVE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. aLL THE OTHERS - RECOMMENDING cHERRY cREEK ARE JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE dia LOCATION!! oops sorry about he caps - senior moment and certainly noT meaning to shout at anybody!!
Anyway - the Strasbourg location is about as close to DIA as there is!
(formerly resident in Aurora- adjacent to Cherry Creek SP!)

[Dennis_M_M]

Cherry Creek has full hook ups and is the best bet in the Denver area. Easy drive on interstate from the airport. There is also a KOA about 30 miles east on I-70, never been there.

We stop in Cherry Creek regularly, big 80' pull throughs and quiet. $24 a night, plus $7 vehicle pass. We get an annual vehicle pass for $73 to eliminate the daily fee since we hit here a couple of times a year to visit family. Sitting in Cherry Creek right now, 8" of fresh snow this morning!

On edit - others were quicker than I was!