Camp Dick vs Pawnee: side-by-side comparison
RVs to 45 ft vs 100 ft · listed from $17 vs $29/night.
Verdict: Pick Camp Dick for being open today (Pawnee is closed for the season).
Forest Service campground vs forest Service campground. Official facts link to their source; listing facts say so; anything nobody publishes is marked as not listed. Distances are straight-line.
| Attribute | Camp Dick | Pawnee |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USDA Forest Service (Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests) | USDA Forest Service (Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Brainard Lake Recreation Area) |
| Official RV limit | 45 ft (USDA Forest Service) | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | 4.0 (177 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 5.0 (244 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Reservable on Recreation.gov between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends (sites 7–10, 12, 21–23, 25, 27, 29–38); the rest first come, first served — usually full for the weekend before Friday morning (USDA Forest Service) | First-come sites not available until 2 p.m. daily and not guaranteed; a campground reservation replaces the Brainard Lake timed-entry ticket (USDA Forest Service) |
| Official fees | Peak $29/night single, $58 double; non-peak $17.25 single, $34.50 double. Senior/Access pass 50% off single sites (USDA Forest Service) | $29/night single site, $58 double; Brainard Lake Recreation Area fees apply (USDA Forest Service) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $17/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $29/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Official limit 45 ft longest parking spur (Forest Service campground status table); RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's spur (USDA Forest Service) | RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's parking spur; the Forest Service status table lists a 100’ max spur for Pawnee, which we don't treat as a site length (USDA Forest Service); Longest RV site listed: 100 ft (36 of 37 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) |
| Electric service | No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service) | No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service) |
| Pull-through / back-in | 0 pull-through, 20 back-in (listing) | 7 pull-through, 39 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 20 gravel site driveways (listing) | 2 paved, 45 gravel site driveways; 8 hike-in sites (listing) |
| Water | Potable water; vault toilets; bear lockers at tent-pad sites (USDA Forest Service); Drinking water listed (listing) | Potable water; vault toilets; bear lockers at tent-pad sites (USDA Forest Service); Drinking water listed (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | Dogs on a hand-held leash (USDA Forest Service); Allowed (listing) | Dogs on a hand-held leash May 1–November 14 (USDA Forest Service); Allowed (listing) |
| Bear & food storage | Bear locker at every campsite with a tent pad (USDA Forest Service) | Bear locker at every campsite with a tent pad (USDA Forest Service) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (67 reports), AT&T 0 (35 reports), T-Mobile 0 (29 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (83 reports), AT&T 0 (53 reports), T-Mobile 0 (48 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 14 of 15 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 36 of 36 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | 14-day limit; 8 people at most sites (USDA Forest Service); 14 nights max (listing) | 8 people per site (15 at sites 12 and 32) (USDA Forest Service) |
| Getting there | Off CO-72 about 6.5 miles north of Ward, one mile up Middle St. Vrain Road; elevation 8,650 ft (USDA Forest Service); 17.1 mi from downtown Estes Park · 6.1 mi to Wild Basin (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | At Brainard Lake, about 4.5 miles west of CO-72 at Ward; elevation 10,400 ft (USDA Forest Service); 17.1 mi from downtown Estes Park · 6.2 mi to Wild Basin (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to downtown Estes Park, Camp Dick or Pawnee?
Camp Dick is closer: 17.1 miles from downtown Estes Park versus 17.1 miles for Pawnee (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Camp Dick and Pawnee?
Camp Dick: Reservable on Recreation.gov between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends (sites 7–10, 12, 21–23, 25, 27, 29–38); the rest first come, first served — usually full for the weekend before Friday morning (USDA Forest Service). Pawnee: First-come sites not available until 2 p.m. daily and not guaranteed; a campground reservation replaces the Brainard Lake timed-entry ticket (USDA Forest Service).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Camp Dick: No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service). Pawnee: No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service).
How long an RV fits at Camp Dick vs Pawnee?
Camp Dick: Official limit 45 ft longest parking spur (Forest Service campground status table); RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's spur (USDA Forest Service). Pawnee: RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's parking spur; the Forest Service status table lists a 100’ max spur for Pawnee, which we don't treat as a site length (USDA Forest Service); Longest RV site listed: 100 ft (36 of 37 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Camp Dick and Pawnee?
Camp Dick: Potable water; vault toilets; bear lockers at tent-pad sites (USDA Forest Service); Drinking water listed (listing). Pawnee: Potable water; vault toilets; bear lockers at tent-pad sites (USDA Forest Service); Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at Camp Dick or Pawnee?
Camp Dick: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (67 reports), AT&T 0 (35 reports), T-Mobile 0 (29 reports) (listing). Pawnee: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (83 reports), AT&T 0 (53 reports), T-Mobile 0 (48 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Camp Dick and Pawnee?
Camp Dick is rated 4.0 from 177 reviews on Recreation.gov; Pawnee is rated 5.0 from 244 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
Related guides
Other comparisons for Camp Dick
- Camp Dick vs Olive Ridge — RVs to 45 ft vs 40 ft · 17.1 vs 11.6 mi from downtown Estes Park (straight-line)
- Camp Dick vs Peaceful Valley — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
Other comparisons for Pawnee
- Pawnee vs Peaceful Valley — RVs to 100 ft vs 45 ft · listed from $29 vs $19/night
- Pawnee vs Olive Ridge — RVs to 100 ft vs 40 ft · listed from $29 vs $19/night