State park · Denver · Colorado
Cherry Creek State Park Campground is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife campground in Aurora, one mile south of I-225 on Parker Road, inside the Denver metro area. It is the best base camp in the city, judged as a base camp: about 14 miles from downtown, close to DIA and provisioning, wrapped in a 4,200-acre park with an 880-acre reservoir, swim beach, marina, 35 miles of trails and a 107-acre off-leash dog area. It suits anyone visiting Denver itself, fly-in RV renters staging out of the airport, remote workers and road-trippers wanting one comfortable night before the mountains.
| Hookups | Mixed basic + full-hookup inventory |
|---|---|
| Max RV length | Exact CPW site |
| Cost | $32–$41 |
| Fees | Separate vehicle pass and mandatory $1 water-basin fee. |
| Reservations | CPW reservation; up to 6 months |
Source-backed: Official Cherry Creek page (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Cherry Creek State Park Campground is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife campground in Aurora, one mile south of I-225 on Parker Road, inside the Denver metro area. It is the best base camp in the city, judged as a base camp: about 14 miles from downtown, close to DIA and provisioning, wrapped in a 4,200-acre park with an 880-acre reservoir, swim beach, marina, 35 miles of trails and a 107-acre off-leash dog area. It suits anyone visiting Denver itself, fly-in RV renters staging out of the airport, remote workers and road-trippers wanting one comfortable night before the mountains.
Roughly 100 of its 125 to 135 sites have full hookups with 20/30/50-amp, water and sewer; the rest are electric-only or tent. Full hookups run about $41 a night, basic about $28, plus an $11 daily vehicle pass and a mandatory $1 water-basin fee, so budget around $52 to $53 all-in. Everything is reservation-only through CPW up to six months ahead. Showers, laundry and a dump station are on-site, cell signal is excellent, and directory listings put the maximum length up to 80 feet. Winter camping runs November through March in the Abilene loop only. The trade-off is highway hum from I-225 and Parker Road, and prairie loops like Gold Rush that bake in summer.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Cherry Creek State Park Campground Review: Camping Inside Metro DenverAn honest review of Cherry Creek State Park Campground in Aurora — full-hookup sites, loop-by-loop shade reality, highway noise, fees, and whether Denver's in-city state park is worth booking.
Our verdict
Book it if you are visiting Denver, staging from DIA or need a full-hookup, well-connected night before the mountains; skip it if the campground itself is the destination and you want alpine silence.
Yes. Roughly 100 of the 125 to 135 sites have water, sewer and 20/30/50-amp electric; the Gold Rush loop is entirely full hookup. The rest are electric-only or tent sites.
About $41 for a full-hookup site and about $28 basic, plus an $11 daily vehicle pass (or $83 annual pass) and a mandatory $1 water-basin fee, so roughly $52 to $53 all-in for full hookups. Confirm the exact CPW rate at checkout.
Directory listings put it up to 80 feet, and most sites take large rigs without drama. The exact CPW site record controls, so check it when booking.
Yes. All Colorado state park camping is reservation-only, at cpwshop.com or 1-800-244-5613, up to six months ahead. Summer weekends go fast; stays are capped at 14 days in any 45-day period.
Yes, with a catch. The full campground runs roughly April through October; from November 1 to March 31 only the Abilene loop is open, and winter hookup availability can be limited.
About 14 miles, or 20 to 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. DIA is 30 to 40 minutes.
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