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Published on March 17, 2022. Last Updated on November 30, 2025.
Nestled in the bustling city of the Denver, Colorado lies a hidden gem for nature lovers and camping enthusiasts – Cherry Creek Campground. This tranquil oasis offers a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of big city life. The state park allows visitors to reconnect with nature and unwind in a serene setting. After tent camping in this urban oasis, Buddy and I are sharing our Top 3 Tips for camping at Cherry Creek State Park Campground.
We love camping! So much so, we decided to stay at Cherry Creek State Park instead of staying in a Denver hotel. We stayed at Cherry Creek State Park on day 8 of our Arizona to South Dakota family road trip. After driving from South Dakota through Nebraska and Wyoming, we arrived at our campsite in the early evening.
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Cherry Creek Campground: The details
Cherry Creek Campground is located within Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora, CO. The address of Cherry Creek State Park is 4201 South Parker Road Aurora, CO 80014. The heart of Cherry Creek State Park is the Cherry Creek Reservoir, an 880-surface area reservoir. The campground is to the east of the reservoir, about a little more than a half mile or about a 10-minute walk from the Swim Beach.
Cherry Creek State Park campground is open year-round, however in the winter the showers, laundry facilities, and dump station might be closed. There are tent, RV, and groups sites available at Cherry Creek Campground. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance. Rates for campsites range from as low as $28/night for a non-electric basic site to $432/night for group sites.
The campground office is open Monday through Sunday from noon-7pm. Check in is 1 p.m. on the day of arrival and check out is 12 p.m. on the day of departure. Camping is limited to 14 days and campsites allow a maximum of six people and two cars per campsite. The campsites also offer picnic tables, benches, ADA-accessible campsites, showers and laundry facilities. The campsite has WIFI. Best of all, the campground is pet friendly! For the most up-to-date information, visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
And the park charges various entrance fees. Daily vehicle passes are $10, a dog off-leash daily pass is $3, and a daily water basin authority is $1.
Pro Tip: Park fees are not included in campsite reservation fees. Be prepared to pay for your daily passes when you enter the park.
Cherry Creek State Park
Located within the Denver-metro area, the state park is often referred to as Denver’s “backyard” or an “oasis” within the city.
Besides camping, Cherry Creek State Park offers many activities like trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. And, of course, water sports. If you are interested in fishing, boating, jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. Rentals are available at the Marina.
If you visit in the winter, there are also winter activities, like sledding and ice fishing. But those activities dependent on snow conditions.
Our visit to Cherry Creek Campground
We camped at a tent site in mid-July on a Friday night. We stayed in a non-electric site on Cottonwood Grove Loop. The site had a grill, fire pit, and a very large picnic table. It was a quiet site. We did not have any fellow camping neighbors near us during our stay.
Unfortunately, we arrived at Cherry Creek Campground later in the evening. As such, we did not have time to hike or rent a kayak. Earlier that morning, we woke up at the Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park. We ate a quick breakfast, packed up the tent. After driving through South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming, we arrived in the early evening. With only enough time to pitch the tent, cook dinner at the campsite, take a shower, and go to sleep.
Eager to visit family in New Mexico the next morning, we did not hike or go out on the reservoir that day either. I do wish we would have made time for one hike as the wildflowers, butterflies and other flying insects were lovely. Next time!
The best part of the stay was the wildlife. It was lovely listening to the symphony of birds chirping in the morning. The parks wildflowers and butterflies inspired a Movement Postcard. And in the morning, we awoke to a young child who was following a “wabbit” who happened to wander close to our tent. The “wabbit” was indeed a chipmunk. It was delightful to see all this wildlife in the heart of a large metropolitan area.
The urban wildlife at Cherry Creek Campground is plentiful. Especially the birds. In fact, Cherry Creek State Park offers many opportunities for bird watching along the trails.
3 Tips for Visiting Cherry Creek Campground in Denver
1. Reserve your campsite in advance
To guarantee availability and secure your preferred dates, make sure to book your campsite ahead of time. Reservations can be made online or by phone. There are no first come first served campsites!
Pro Tip: Camping reservations must be made in advance and cannot be made onsite. Book online!
Cherry Creek State Park is a popular place. This is especially during holidays like Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or Labor Day. If you plan on visiting during these times, make sure to book your site in advance.
When we visited, I booked our campsite online in advance. It was simple and easy.
2. Embrace urban camping
Planning a family camping trip? We have the ultimate camping packing list for families!
The Pros of urban camping
Despite its proximity to the city, Cherry Creek State Park offers a peaceful retreat. It is a nice way to camp near an urban area. Or visit Denver without having to stay in a hotel.
Cherry Creek State Park in Denver is a perfect urban camping oasis. For example, if you are on a car camping road trip (like we were), and traveling with all your gear, it is much easier to camp here than get a hotel. Another benefit of camping in the heart of the Denver metropolitan area is that it is easy to stock up on supplies. And, if need a break from preparing meals at campsites, there are many local and chain restaurant options surrounding Cherry Creek State Park where you can grab a some food!
We loved urban camping, especially at this late in our road trip, for all of the reasons listed above. First, we stayed in Denver overnight without having to worry about unloading camping gear into a hotel room. Second, we did stop by a Target and stock up on some supplies. And third, I was burned out of campground cooking! So, for breakfast the next day, we went to a local restaurant. It was lovely!
Pro Tip: Even though it is urban camping, still practice the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.
The Cons of urban camping
There are some downsides to camping so close to the city, like traffic and road noise.
Depending on when you are arriving at Cherry Creek State Park, you may hit Denver traffic. And navigating through stop and go interstate traffic right before your camping trip, might not be the most relaxing.
However, you won’t necessarily hit traffic on your way to Cherry Creek State Park. Check-in is at 1 pm and if you are arriving at that time, you may miss traffic.
And speaking of traffic, at the campground, you can hear the freeway traffic in the distance. The campground is near the intersection of Interstate 225 and Colorado State Highway 83. From some places in the campground, the interstate and passing cars can be seen in the distance. Camping in an urban area where views of the Rocky Mountains also include views of the interstate is not the preference of every camper. But Cherry Creek State Park does offer the Denver community a quick and fun get away.
Our thoughts on the pros and cons of urban camping
We arrived in Denver in the late afternoon and did hit freeway traffic both coming into Denver and once in the Metropolitan area. I did not account for Denver traffic when planning our drive time. It took an extra hour to arrive to the Cherry Creek Campground than expected. But we arrived with enough daylight to put up the tent and make dinner.
Pro Tip: Factor Denver traffic into your trip planning so you arrive at your desired time!
And about the freeway noise, we could hear some of the traffic noise. But the I 225 was far enough away from the campground that the sound was not bothersome to us. We watched someone get pulled over while sitting around the campfire. That was a first for us!
We stayed at Cherry Creek Campground because Denver was the second to last stop on our 10-day camping road trip. And we preferred to camp rather than stay in a hotel since we had all our gear ready to go. I also love that we had the option to eat breakfast at a local restaurant after packing up our tent the next day. After nine days of preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner at campsites and cabins, I needed a break!
3. Cherry Creek Campground showers and facilities
The campground facilities are nice. They had ample laundry facilities and vending machines at the center near the campground. And although Cherry Creek State Park has both compost and flush toilets, the facilities near the campground are flush toilets. But the best part about the campground are the shower facilities. The showers are big and clean.
About the showers
When we visited the campground, the showers were coin operated. However, they have since moved to a card system. Bring your debit or credit card if you plan on using the showers.
The showers close at a certain time. Campground staff closing the facilities rushed me and Buddy out of the showers during our stay. Check the bathroom’s opening and closing time and plan accordingly.
What to bring to Cherry Creek Campground
Buddy and I have a complete camping packing list with everything you need for a camping trip. It is literally the packing list that we used to pack for our 10 day car camping trip from Arizona to South Dakota and places in between.
However, if there is just one thing to bring with you to Cherry Creek Campground (besides your tent or camper of course) it is bug spray!
The Cherry Creek Campground is by the Cherry Creek Reservoir. As such, there are mosquitoes and other flying insects that can bite and bother, especially around dawn and dusk. Mosquito repellent is a must.
We used brands OFF! and Murphy’s Naturals and both worked for us. Well, almost all of us.
Buddy and I were fine at our campsite with mosquito repellent. But Sal, who mosquitoes absolutely love, had to sit in the tent during peak mosquito times. Even with mosquito repellent, the flying bugs were feasting on him!
Another must have item is a Black Diamond SpotLite headlamp. This is one of our favorite camping items. We have been using these both camping and around the house since 2021. They come in handy for home repairs as well as camping! It is one of our top recommended items for family camping!
A Teenager’s Perspective
I liked Cherry Creek Campground. The amenities were great, especially when we were tired at the end of our trip. Unfortunately, we did not get to go kayaking or swimming, which I really wanted to do. Maybe next time. I liked this place and I visit again.
I recommend this place for teenagers who like to camp or do outdoor activities.
Cherry Creek Campground Fast FAQ
1. How much is it to camp at Cherry Creek State Park?
Camping fees vary depending on the type of site selected. Visit the website for the most up-to-date information and reservation policies.
2. How much does it cost to get into Cherry Creek Reservoir?
Entrance fees apply for day-use visitors accessing the reservoir area. Daily vehicle passes are $10. Daily water basin authority is $1.
3. Can you swim in Cherry Creek Reservoir?
Yes, swimming is allowed at designated areas within the reservoir. Swim beach is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Final Thoughts
We enjoyed our time at Cherry Creek State Park. And we would stay again when we pass through Denver on another car camping road trip. And we would stay an extra day next time to hike, kayak, and swim.
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Have you camped at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver? What did you think of your urban camping experience? Let us know in the comments below.
Do you have questions about family travel or traveling with teens? Feel free to reach out! We are happy to chat and share our experiences and look forward to connecting with you.
If you enjoyed reading this, check out these blog posts!
- The Ultimate Camping Packing List for Families: Travel Made Easy
- 10 Small But Important Tips for Camping at Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park
- 10 Important Tips for Camping at Twin Peaks Campground in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
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Sure enjoyed the campground traveling in Colorado. Reading and sharing in your traveling experiences makes me feel that I am actually there too! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Great post! I really enjoyed how you organized the pros and cons and provided thoughtful explanations. It’s been a while since I’ve been camping but this post peaked my interest! Thanks for sharing ❤️
Thanks for sharing this! this is really a great article! it’s full of useful information
It’s so nice to stay at campgrounds with lots of amenities, especially if you are passing through on a road trip, and it sounds like Cherry Creek Campground fits the bill! Thanks for sharing your experience
Great tips for Cherry creek Campgrpund. Your insider knowledge is super helpful.
Thank you!
I love reading about new campgrounds to stay and explore around!