Looking for opinions & experiences in Colorado?

[Freightguy]

Hi, So I am planning a trip out west and will see some sights along the way and than I want to settle down somewhere in Colorado not to far from the Denver area. I dont need to be really close to Denver, but I still work and need the services of a big city now and then. I know nothing about Colorado. I am hoping to get to a place that will be cool for the summer and my cell phones will work. Find a nice campground or RV park with decent long terms rates. Restaurants close by are great too and how about some jeep trails?

I know this is a big list, but I am thinking why not ask because someone out there has done it all already. What are your experiences there and wheres a good spot to plant for the rest of the summer?

[Freightguy]

Rice wrote:

But Colorado state parks have a 2-week limit, so they're not available for settling down, as you mentioned in your first post. And their "camping fee" is a little disingenuous because you also have to pay the daily entrance fee for vehicles on top of that. At least they stopped making you pay TWO vehicle entrance fees for motorhomes with a toad (but only one for truck pulling a trailer)--talk about feeling like nothing but a wallet.

Their 2 week limit has to do with "consecutive nights with a 45 day period" So its not to bad to work with. I am bouncing between state and county now to get around that issue. I purchased the yearly vehicle pass for $70 as well to cut down that cost.

[Rice]

Freightguy wrote:
Took some trips into the mountains looking at RV parks. Honestly I am completely disgusted with private RV parks. They view us as noting more than wallets. Spacing and atmospheres are just awful, I think I am done for good with anything other than state, ACOE, county and federal parks.

Well, to be fair, private RV parks are in existence to make money, just like all other businesses. Maybe some businesses do a little better job of hiding it from those of us they're trying to take money from.

But Colorado state parks have a 2-week limit, so they're not available for settling down, as you mentioned in your first post. And their "camping fee" is a little disingenuous because you also have to pay the daily entrance fee for vehicles on top of that. At least they stopped making you pay TWO vehicle entrance fees for motorhomes with a toad (but only one for truck pulling a trailer)--talk about feeling like nothing but a wallet.

[Busskipper]

Freightguy wrote:
Here is an update. Thanks again to all that posted. We ended up entering CO from Wyoming and stayed a while in Fort Collins. That is a nice city! Now in Longmont for a while at a newly rebuilt state park. Very nice. Took some trips into the mountains looking at RV parks. Honestly I am completely disgusted with private RV parks. They view us as noting more than wallets. Spacing and atmospheres are just awful, I think I am done for good with anything other than state, ACOE, county and federal parks.
Anyway, going to head over to Moab after it cools off there a bit and then to Durango. All the info was a great help. Thanks again!

Aaron,

Thanks for getting back to us on the post – Don’t give up on all the parks as there are a few that are OK, you will find if you head to the Great spots in Colorado, you will spend little time in the Park, so the fact that they are not like Florida will not matter as much.

When you head out you should really try to at least drive through these areas before the snow – Peak to Peak – Leadville - Buena Vista – Collegiate Peaks – Ouray - Lake City – Silverton – Maroon Bells – Rt 128 into Utah off I-70 all these are on the way to your next stops of Durango and Moab, just might not be a straight drive, but I doubt you will be disappointed for making the effort.

Enjoy Colorado - once you get used to the lack of Humidity the east coast just is never the same.

BOL,

[Dance_Chick]

Freightguy...as I was reading this thread I was going to mention Longmont since we just left St. Vrain SP today and lo and behold, you're in Longmont. I really liked Longmont. We didn't make it to Ft. Collins, but did drive to Boulder and thought it was a really great place. You might give that a visit. We're headed to Durango next.

I noticed you're from River Ranch. We're in the Lake Wales/Winter Haven area not far from you (about 1 hr.). I've fallen in love with Colorado and am amazed that 93 degrees can actually not feel hot compared to FL. I haven't sweated for weeks (been in SD, WY, and now CO). I'm usually dripping wet in FL all summer long.

Good luck on your search. I envy you being able to spend a lot of time in Colorado.

[Freightguy]

Here is an update. Thanks again to all that posted. We ended up entering CO from Wyoming and stayed a while in Fort Collins. That is a nice city! Now in Longmont for a while at a newly rebuilt state park. Very nice. Took some trips into the mountains looking at RV parks. Honestly I am completely disgusted with private RV parks. They view us as noting more than wallets. Spacing and atmospheres are just awful, I think I am done for good with anything other than state, ACOE, county and federal parks.
Anyway, going to head over to Moab after it cools off there a bit and then to Durango. All the info was a great help. Thanks again!

[2gypsies1]

If you don't need to be IN or near Denver, our favorites are the Durango or Montrose areas in the SW corner. Cell will work and there's good shopping and restaurants. However, the reason we like it is because of the beauty and surrounding areas.

[Ivylog]

Reading between the lines... I take it you are planning a 3-5 month trip for next summer seeing some sites on the way to CO and then after exploring CO, finding a spot for several months until you go back to Fla for the winter. I would not worry about cell service as a tower on a high spot (Fla does not have any) provides a large area of coverage.

I would suggest joining Passport America and start in the CO Springs (several PA CGs) area as a base camp and explore the area as day trips Next I'd move to South Fork (one PA) and do day trips, even as far as Lake City in the car. We like to boondock in USFS CG during the week (less crowds and plenty of spaces for a big rig) and then resupply and re position on the weekends when the locals go to the woods. From there I would take 160 to the Pagosa Springs/Vallecito Lake (one each PA) area for the next week. Next I would go to the Silverton/Ouray area but no PA. Next I would head to 50 and the Gunnison area (2 PA). We like Taylor Park but cell service might be a problem. From there I would head to the Breckenridge/Silverton (9 and I-70) which will be your most expensive area. Next 9 north to the Kremmling area and then east on 40 to Grand Lake for RMNP. Then back south and towards the Denver area or to one of the previous areas that you liked best.

The beauty of a big rig is how well you can go without hookups for 5-7 days without cutting back on anything. All of the areas above should not need AC. Granted you will have to run your generator 1.5 hours at night and 1 hour in the morning... partly to recharge the batteries that power your home refer while boondocking.

[pconroy328]

Just LIL - so folks out east think Colorado is the "Sticks"? No cell service, no indoor plumbing, no grocery stores? 😉

Denver:


Boulder:


Fort Collins:


The Springs:


🙂

[2112]

We stayed a week at the Lost Burro outside of Cripple Creek a few years ago. We liked it, nothing fancy, all unpaved but it was quiet, secluded and roomy. We had Verizon cell service while there. We would go back.

[4runnerguy]

If you want to be near Denver but up a little in elevation, how about Chief Hosa CG? Never stayed there, but it is fairly close to Denver and at 7700' a little cooler. Don't know about limits on how long you can stay there. Most of the nearby SP's have such limits.

As noted, you don't need to be near Denver to have some amenities. Many of the Front Range cities have everything you are asking about. How about Salida (or Buena Vista), which have restaurants and a Walmart but is only a couple of hours from Pueblo. Or Durango, which has many different stores. Or head out west and camp near Montrose or Grand Junction. You may have a problem getting into the more popular CG's as we are well into the camping season and many are filled for the summer. Many sites are filled with seasonals that return year after year.

[C7XR7]

You might try something like this place. I have no idea of their pricing, you'll have plenty to do in the area, it is cool weather wise and you'll have close access to city amenities.

[Busskipper]

Freightguy wrote:
Thank you all for your thoughts. Really appreciated. Denver does not have to be the city, I just need to make sure cell phones work, there is a post office not to far away and restaurants would be nice.
As far as climate, yes I am from FL so I would like to be under 88 for daytime highs. As far as price goes, I like to find a place that will give me a deal if I book a couple months. 2 years back we stayed in Asheville and paid $575.00 per month in a nice park with concrete pad for the motor home with a small concrete patio all on a small creek. I understand I may not find that again but its good to have goals. I will be investigating all your suggestions tonight after work.

Ok for the most part your cell phone will work anywhere you can get a long term site, so that should be a non-issue (in some of the passes it might be a test but almost anywhere there is a campground you will have service).

Denver and the Front Range are what I call a High mountain Desert. Hot in the summer, but if you find shade and a breeze for the most part bearable (low humidity) – (IMHO anywhere/anytime, in Colorado beats the pants off Florida)( that said I KNOW nobody wears pants in Florida – only shorts) Still just saying, you are making a great decision. Not as big as Asheville, the Leadville to Buena Vista section of Rt 24 is loaded with possibilities for a site, think about just getting a week and ask around/explore and possibly find the perfect site. You are near the Collegiate Peaks short dirt road drive to Crested Butte, with more CG options, near world class White Water, just a short drive (in the summer) to Aspen. This is THE PLACE to be in Colorado today. Great restaurant’s, good weather, Pure Beauty, and a great place that is only 2.5 hours from downtown Denver, The drives and trails you can get to from here are just hard to beat.

You mentioned Asheville, IMHO it is (actually the Lake Toxaway area) one of the few spots that are even close to the Buena Vista area, it also is just Beautiful, likely you will be able to find something comparable in the area to what you had in Carolina. Now the next thing you will need to do is decide on the Winter location.

We have Wintered a couple times in Golden – is a test usually for only a couple of weeks – and we loved it – the thing that you realize is that the SUN in Colorado is what dictates how you feel – it is shining most of the time (might get an argument from everyone for the last 6 months) but history says it is sunny and when it is sunny, it feels warm, and in turn you feel great -.

That should cover my thoughts.

BOL,

[Thom02099]

So I am planning a trip out west and will see some sights along the way and than I want to settle down somewhere in Colorado not to far from the Denver area

Can you clarify by "settle down somewhere", as being moving to Colorado to seek employment opportunities and long-term residency, or "settling down somewhere" as in wanting to spend a few weeks/months exploring what Colorado has to offer?

Others have addressed the weather issue as it relates to elevation here. General rule of thumb is that you will lose about 3.5 degrees for each 1000 feet in elevation gain. For the next few months (remainder of July/August/September) at lower elevations, the temps will frequently get into the 90s and pushing 100 in places, such as Pueblo. Head up to spots like Nederland or Estes Park or Conifer/Evergreen, and it will be in the 80s, sometimes getting into the upper 80s or low 90s.

If you are looking at long term, ie, 4-6 months or more, keep in mind that many (as in most) RV resorts/campgrounds at elevation close generally in September or early October and don't reopen until April or May. Even at lower elevations in the Wellington/Fort Collins to Colorado Spring/Pueblo Megalopolis (the Front Range Urban Corridor where 4.5 million of the 5.4 million people in Colorado live), many places have seasonal dates, with closures for a few months over the winter. Yes, there are places that are open all year, and have already been suggested. Just keep that in mind when looking for an area and research whether there are places to stay that are open year round.

[Freightguy]

Thank you all for your thoughts. Really appreciated. Denver does not have to be the city, I just need to make sure cell phones work, there is a post office not to far away and restaurants would be nice.
As far as climate, yes I am from FL so I would like to be under 88 for daytime highs. As far as price goes, I like to find a place that will give me a deal if I book a couple months. 2 years back we stayed in Asheville and paid $575.00 per month in a nice park with concrete pad for the motor home with a small concrete patio all on a small creek. I understand I may not find that again but its good to have goals. I will be investigating all your suggestions tonight after work.