Many lodging companies are offering deals to get rooms booked. Still, the hands-down cheapest option out there for those planning Colorado rafting & road trips is camping.

In a three-part post, we’ll cover some of our favorite camp spots near our three Colorado rafting base camps: Breckenridge/Summit County, Idaho Springs and Buena Vista.

Breckenridge/Summit County Camping
Camping is not allowed within town limits. In many areas, street parking is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. So where do we go?

• For the luxury RV experience and those seeking in-town convenience, Tiger Run RV Resort offers spots ranging from $37-$67/night, depending on the season.
• The Dillon Ranger District website has great information on campgrounds located near Lake Dillon (15-30 minutes from our Breckenridge office) and Green Mountain Reservoir (30-45 minutes from our Breckenridge office).
• For those who want a backcountry experience, (free) dispersed camping is available in the areas surrounding Breckenridge. Read more about dispersed camping in the Arapaho National Forest or dispersed camping in the Pike National Forest.

Due to removal of trees infested with pine beetle, some campgrounds are closed or have delayed openings for the 2009 season. As of spring 2009, the best bet for Summit County camping are the campgrounds located around Lake Dillon, which run about $17/night.

Because of so many closures, reservations (when available) are encouraged. Our favorites around Lake Dillon are Peak One campground and, for large groups, Windy Point campground.

For detailed info on National Forest Campgrounds throughout Colorado, visit the USFS Colorado site, http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/camping/campgroundlist/#co.