The best camping near Boyd Lake State Park

Right in the city of Loveland, Colorado, Boyd Lake is beloved by water sports enthusiasts, with about 1,700 surface acres of water that can be used by motorized and non-motorized boats alike. Other popular summertime activities include swimming, fishing, and birdwatching, while sledding, ice skating, and ice fishing are a source of winter fun. There’s only one place to camp in the park, Cottonwood Campground, which is suitable for RVs and tents, and offers solid amenities, including dump sites, hot showers, flush toilets, playgrounds, laundry facilities, and horseshoe pits.

1. You can reserve one of the Cottonwood Campground’s 148 tent and RV sites through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife online reservation system or over the phone.
2. Reservations can be made up to six months advance.  Same-day reservations are also available.
3. While the campground is open during the winter season (November-March), the number of available campsites are reduced and only one restroom (with showers and flush toilets) remains open. Laundry is also not available during this period.

High season at Boyd Lake runs from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, and the park and its campground are at their busiest when school is out for summer. May has pleasantly warm weather but also gets the most rainfall out of any month of the year, while September is a good month for warm, dry weather without the summer vacation crowds. Spring and fall are the best times for spotting migratory waterfowl.

• The closest place to pick up groceries and supplies is in Loveland, right by the park. Supermarkets, restaurants, and medical facilities are within a five-minute drive of the campground.
• All campers must have both a camping reservation and a separate Colorado State Parks Annual Pass or a Daily Pass.
• Campsites at Boyd Lake can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. The entry gate clearance is 14 feet and 2 inches.
• Three wheelchair-accessible sites are in the campground.