Camping in Colorado: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Colorado's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild in May and September, with average highs of 75 to 82 F and lows of 45 to 50 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to May, most often in December, when they average 30.2 a month. State park sites are booked through CPWshop.com reservations, up to six months ahead.
Check this weekend’s weather at your campsite
Live from the National Weather Service
The best months for camping in Colorado
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Colorado is mild May and September. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan44° / 17°Freezing nights
- Feb48° / 21°Freezing nights
- Mar58° / 29°Freezing nights
- Apr65° / 36°Freezing nights
- May75° / 45°Freezing nights
- Jun87° / 55°Hot
- Jul93° / 61°Hot
- Aug90° / 59°Hot
- Sep82° / 50°Mild
- Oct68° / 37°Freezing nights
- Nov55° / 26°Freezing nights
- Dec44° / 17°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Denverelevation 5,286 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47 F | 18 F | 29.6 |
| February | 48 F | 19 F | 26.2 |
| March | 56 F | 27 F | 22.5 |
| April | 63 F | 34 F | 11.7 |
| May (mild) | 72 F | 43 F | 2.2 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 53 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 59 F | 0 |
| August | 88 F | 57 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 48 F | 0.5 |
| October | 67 F | 36 F | 9.1 |
| November | 55 F | 26 F | 24.1 |
| December | 46 F | 18 F | 29.8 |
Grand Junctionelevation 4,858 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38 F | 17 F | 30.1 |
| February | 46 F | 24 F | 24.3 |
| March | 58 F | 32 F | 17 |
| April | 66 F | 38 F | 6.2 |
| May (mild) | 77 F | 47 F | 0.7 |
| June | 89 F | 57 F | 0 |
| July | 95 F | 64 F | 0 |
| August | 91 F | 62 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 82 F | 53 F | 0.1 |
| October (mild) | 67 F | 40 F | 5.5 |
| November | 52 F | 28 F | 23 |
| December | 39 F | 18 F | 30.2 |
Puebloelevation 4,720 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48 F | 15 F | 30.2 |
| February | 51 F | 19 F | 27 |
| March | 61 F | 27 F | 24.2 |
| April | 67 F | 35 F | 12.1 |
| May (mild) | 77 F | 46 F | 1.5 |
| June | 89 F | 55 F | 0 |
| July | 93 F | 61 F | 0 |
| August | 90 F | 59 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 83 F | 50 F | 0.6 |
| October | 70 F | 36 F | 12.4 |
| November | 57 F | 24 F | 26.4 |
| December | 48 F | 16 F | 30.5 |
How to book a state park campsite in Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife takes reservations through CPWshop.com reservations. The longest advance booking its page states is six months.
How far ahead you can book
A reservation can be made no more than six months before your arrival date.Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
With over 4,600 campsites across 43 state parks, the hardest part will be picking one.Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Colorado Parks and Wildlife pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Colorado
Dispersed camping (camping without any developed facilities) is allowed in most areas of the Forest without a permit. However, you must follow travel management restrictions for driving and parking and you are limited to no more than 14 days stay at the same location.USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Colorado
Campfires in state parks and forests
Buy or gather firewood locally, near where you intend to burn it. Don’t transport firewood into Colorado from out of state. Keep campfires small, manageable and attended.Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
You may have campfires in developed campgrounds but only in the metal rings or boxes provided at the site. You may also have campfires anywhere you are legally camped when you are "dispersed camping" (camping outside of developed, fee campgrounds) in the general forest areas. In hot, dry seasons, there may be SEASONAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS that prohibit open flames of any kind.USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
The CSFS does not track specific information about current wildfires, fire bans or restrictions in Colorado. Use the following links to find updated information.Colorado State Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Colorado camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Colorado. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.