Fort Collins-Lakeside KOA

We stayed at the Fort Collins KOA for two nights. The number of RV destinations in the area is quite limited enabling the KOA to charge a premium. It was OK but nothing special. I was glad to have it. Fort Collins is a great college town, the beer is worth visiting it for. The spot I was in number 93, was pretty crowded, with very little privacy.

I recently stayed at the Fort Collins Lakeside KOA Campgrounds, and I must say it was a fantastic experience. The location of the campgrounds was incredibly convenient, serving as our basecamp for exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park.

Getting to the campgrounds was a breeze, thanks to its easy accessibility. We found it without any trouble, and it provided a great starting point for our adventures in the national park.

One aspect that truly stood out during our stay was the exceptional service provided by the staff. They were always available, incredibly helpful, and friendly. Whether we needed assistance with directions or recommendations for nearby attractions, they were more than happy to lend a hand. Their warmth and attentiveness made our stay even more enjoyable.

One of the highlights of our camping experience was discovering that some sites, including the one we occupied, featured private hot tubs. After a long day of hiking and exploring the stunning landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park, soaking in the hot tub was an absolute delight. It provided a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, allowing us to unwind and soothe our tired muscles. This added feature was truly a fantastic touch and made our stay at Fort Collins Lakeside KOA Campgrounds even more memorable.

Overall, I highly recommend the Fort Collins Lakeside KOA Campgrounds. Its convenient location, friendly staff, and the luxurious addition of private hot tubs on select sites make it an excellent choice for those visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park. Whether you're an avid hiker or simply looking for a tranquil getaway, this campground provides a delightful experience that will leave you wanting to come back for more.

We originally were going to stay a single night but took advantage of extending our stay for 50% off.

I am usually a boondocker so when I have to visit a campground I am disappointed with the noise and crowding -but I was very happy with my stay at this KOA. We had a back in site and it was a little tight maneuvering into it. We are used to not-ideal sites while boondocking so we did not have trouble but if you are wary about tight locations I suggest a pull-though site here.

The sites were clean an well spaced for a KOA. The bathrooms were immaculate as was the expansive laundry room. The campground has a shaded walkway around the lake and a large pool (which was already closed for the season). There were no loose dogs and no dog poop left around. The staff was very proactive with garbage pickup and very friendly.

The only small downside is its proximity to a quarry so you do hear some construction noise, but it didnt bother us when sleeping. Starlink service was not ideal due to the trees but we made it work.

We were originally scheduled to stay here for a week, but mechanical issues en route reduced our visit to an overnight stay. The campground is on the outskirts of town. A private entrance road leads to the office, where there are 3 lanes for parking your RV during check-in. The road connecting the office to the furthest eastern end of the campground, and the one-lane road used to exit the campground, are the only paved roads; the rest are gravel. The RV sites are a mix of back-ins and pull-throughs. All of the have concrete pads (though the concrete may not cover the entire length of the driveway), a BBQ grill, and some sort of seating: a picnic table at standard sites, or a set of chairs at patio sites. Most sites seemed to have a tree nearby, if not right next to their site. Our site was level, and the hookups were in the standard location, with the spigot insulated to better handle colder weather.

The campground has a ton of amenities. The office is at one end of a long building that includes a large conference room, a laundry room with several washers and dryers, and a set of restrooms. The campground store in which the office is located sells souvenirs, convenience store items, and some RV equipment. The propane refill station is near the office. Across the road from the office is a large swimming pool and adjacent splash park. East of the pool are a collection of outdoor amusements: a beach volleyball court, a pickleball court, a basketball court, bike and paddleboat rentals, a jump pad, a shuffleboard court, a ladder toss setup, a poly-pong table, and a mini-golf course. The walkway to access the floating docks where the paddleboats are located is just in front of the cabins, and there is also a covered pavilion next to the docks for anyone who just wants to watch or to fish. There is also a huge playground that could easily accommodate 50 children. In the middle of the campground is a large pavilion and a “chuck wagon” concession stand that was serving pizza and wings the evening we were there (they also apparently served something for breakfast the next morning, but I don’t know what).

The enclosed dog park is at the far eastern end of the campground, just beyond the end of the paved road. It’s a decent sized dog run with some trees and an airlock-style gate. Beyond the dog park is a short walking trail that I saw but didn’t have time to explore. There is also a large grassy area near the splash pad and pool area for walking dogs on-leash.

In terms of cell service, the best speed I got on my Verizon Jetpack with MIMO antenna was 64Mbps down and 10 up, so we were able to streaming video without any issues. The best speed I got on my AT&T smartphone was 6Mbps down and 1up.

We would stay here again if we were in the area.

This campground is quite large but has a nice overall feel to it. I can certainly see that on summer weekends it would be crazy busy with families trying to have a little getaway due to all there is to do here. The lake is very nice and allows fishing and includes a nice walking path around the entire lake. The staff was very friendly and the spaces are crammed in like many KOAs can be. Lots of trees but also many sites with open views to the sky if you have solar or Skylink needs. The only real negative so far is the wifi signal which is weak so plan for a backup source if you need it. For the kids, there is a great playground, paddle boats for the lake, mini golf, swimming pool, peddle cars and a train ride too. The camp store is well stocked and has most everything you might need plus ice cream treats. Another nice feature of this particular KOA are the themed weekend events they have all year long. Things like Campsgiving, Pet weekend, Run the Lake weekend, Halloween Weekends 1,2 and 3 and others. Really impressed by this KOA overall.

We used this as a longer stopover in a big trip. We intended to use all the amenities to tire out kids, but the rain changed our plans. The spots were TIGHT and nothing seemed longer than 30’, every truck or tow vehicle had to park on the side of the lanes. The actual layout does not match the online map for the KOA. They also charged $5 for my mother in law to come in and have coffee with us, which is a bit ridiculous.

Overall, a good stop but overpriced as far as other KOA Holidays.