camping in the winter in Colorado (Denver, Canon City: RV parks, how much, trailer)

[ruhlmanw]

I would like to spend Christmas in Colorado this year. What type of weather is typical for this time of year? Are the RV parks open? I am pulling a travel trailer with my F150 4x4. Do you think I will be able to camp or am I crazy to try to do so? I would appreciate any information anyone can offer.

[Miss Hepburn]

I am not an expert...but it is Dec 7 and it was 65 in the sun today, gorgeous
...you just never know!
Xmas week could drop to 10 degrees...It is SO doable...fun idea.

Ha, I remember going to the Hot Springs, somewhere
around Canon City... NY's Eve, prob 2007 or 8...it was 3 degrees.
The following week 35....who ever knows!

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

There are RV parks in the Denver metro area that are open year-round. I just googled RV campground Denver and a couple came up. Or are you thinking of camping in the mountains?

The bigger question, though, is your plan to haul a travel trailer to Colorado in the winter. How much winter driving experience do you have, especially pulling a trailer? Where are you coming from?

The weather in Colorado in December can be like Miss Hepburn says -- either sunny and warm or there could be a raging blizzard. There's no "typical" weather for this time of year.

[6.7traveler]

Depends on a variety of factors
-Where you are going to?
- How well insulated your trailer is
-How much you are willing to rough it.
My 4 seasons trailer had no problems in 0 degree weather over night. I had heated tanks and would just fill up my insulated fresh water tank and had no problems. I do know people however with older RV's that have problems with everything freezing right at 32*

Make sure your propane heater is working good.

Be careful pulling in the high mountains that time of year. I ran into a snow storm in April on raton pass which is relatively low in elevation by colorado standards.

Make sure your f-150 has good snow tires if heading into the mountains.

I would be very careful and stick to lower elevations and check the weather regularly, I know of a few campgrounds open year round (a lot shut off water).

Once your trailer starts to sway, slip or slide the laws of physics can take over very quickly. I have seen some nasty travel trailer wrecks. Extreme caution is advised. Google pulling travel trailer in snow and mountains and see what you find.

Good luck.

Maybe a good time to go to moab instead?

[Miss Hepburn]

Ah, Moab, Utah...that crossed my mind to mention!

[JMM64]

Which direction are you coming from? Will you be driving from Denver to the mountains, or from the west?

I ask this because several mountain passes can be tricky in the wintertime if weather is bad, and I want to recommend campgrounds based on how easy they will be to get to.

BTW weather in the wintertime is usually consistent for a week or more (temps in the 20's to 50's and mostly sunny) and then big changes can come and last a few days, then it's back to normal. So understand that although weather can be crazy, it is far from being that way the majority of the time. Hopefully this will give you more confidence in driving in the winter here. The big snow is usually predicted before it comes so just check the weather ahead of time.

[Colorado Rambler]

I agree with those who suggested that it might be wiser for you to head out for Moab instead. And even Moab can get pretty cold in the winter months. I've been out there in the winter time, and you better be willing and able to spend some very chilly nights. Moab has a typical high desert climate - sunny days followed by an extreme drop in temperature once the sun sets. Is there some special reason why you want to come out here hauling a travel trailer in the winter? If not, I'd advise you to stick to more southerly climes.

I also agree that you really need to be an experienced winter driver if you're contemplating driving out here towing something like a camping trailer. There's a good chance of running into a snow storm, no matter what direction you may come from. Or you may luck out and hit a spell of mild winter weather. There's just no telling, so it's best to prepare yourself for the worst - bitter cold and snow.

[jim9251]

What part of Colorado? It's a big state.

[CosmicWizard]

Assuming that the OP is coming to CO from the east, even IF the destination IS Moab, there is still the challenge of pulling a travel trailer across the Rockies on I-70, and that 'could be' a daunting task.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

I wouldn't want to be going over the divide in a half ton pulling anything of any size.