Happy Meadows Campground
Happy Meadows Campground is located three miles north of Lake George off County Road 77. Parking spurs are 20-30 feet with a maximum trailer length of 22 feet; elevation is 7,900 feet. Facilities include toilets, tables, water and fire rings. The South Platte River is nearby for fishing.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · tent only in Colorado
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. (29.00 for premium sites) Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle. $11.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check, or money order. Self-service fee tube is available. |
| Dark sky | 8.1 miles from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Mid May (depending on conditions) to Mid October |
| Forest | Pike-San Isabel National Forests |
| Booking | Reservations are recommended in the busy summer months and can be made 180 days in advance maximum/4 days in advance minimum by calling 1-877-444-6777 or by visiting recreation.gov. |
| Fees | $24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. (29.00 for premium sites) Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle. $11.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check, or money order. Self-service fee tube is available. |
| Rules | Maximum of eight people per site. No more than a 14 consecutive night stay in campground. Maximum three tents per site or one RV and two tents. Dogs, including service dogs, must be leashed at all times. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Campfires are restricted to fire rings only. Be sure that your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 39.0141° N, 105.3633° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
3 mi from the campground · 267 acres
- PrescribedRoad Gulch 2 Rx
9 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRainbow Gulch Rx
20 mi from the campground · 912 acres
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
36 mi from the campground · 390 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | South Platte Fly Shop ↗ | 17 mi |
| RV sales & service | RVs of America Off-Road ↗ | 35.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping on the South Platte River at Happy Meadows Campground - Lake George CO
Worth a stop
- 5.9 miEleven Mile Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 6.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miPlatte River4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miElevenmile Fishing Access0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miLongwater3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miPlatte Springs1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.8 miHardrock0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miBeaver Creek ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Lost Creek Wilderness begins about 11.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.1 miLost Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 114,864 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Happy Meadows Campground?
Sites at Happy Meadows Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are recommended in the busy summer months and can be made 180 days in advance maximum/4 days in advance minimum by calling 1-877-444-6777 or by visiting recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Happy Meadows Campground?
$24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. (29.00 for premium sites) Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle.
Source: Forest Service
Is Happy Meadows Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Mid May (depending on conditions) to Mid October.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Happy Meadows Campground?
Happy Meadows Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Is Happy Meadows Campground good for stargazing?
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 8.1 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
What if Happy Meadows Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Blue Mountain (3.6 mi), Riverside Campground (3.7 mi, partly first-come), and Round Mountain (3.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby