Olive Ridge vs Peaceful Valley: side-by-side comparison
RVs to 40 ft vs 45 ft · 11.6 vs 17 mi from downtown Estes Park (straight-line).
Verdict: Pick Peaceful Valley for room for a longer rig (45 ft official limit vs 40 ft official limit) and being open today (Olive Ridge 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 | Olive Ridge | Peaceful Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USDA Forest Service (Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests) | USDA Forest Service (Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests) |
| Official RV limit | 40 ft (USDA Forest Service) | 45 ft (USDA Forest Service) |
| Guest rating | 4.0 (198 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 5.0 (84 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | A mix of reservable sites (Recreation.gov) and first-come, first-served sites; the Forest Service page lists which site numbers are which (USDA Forest Service) | Sites 1–7 and 9 reservable on Recreation.gov; sites 8 and 10–17 first come, first served (USDA Forest Service) |
| Official fees | $29/night single site, $58 double (USDA Forest Service) | $29/night single site, $58 double (USDA Forest Service) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $19/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $19/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Official limit 40 ft longest parking spur (Forest Service campground status table); RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's spur (USDA Forest Service) | 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) |
| Hookups & power | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) |
| Electric service | No electricity or hookups (USDA Forest Service) | No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service) |
| Pull-through / back-in | 0 pull-through, 52 back-in (listing) | 0 pull-through, 11 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 53 gravel site driveways (listing) | 11 gravel site driveways (listing) |
| Water | No dump station or showers; vault toilets and bear lockers (USDA Forest Service) | Potable water; vault toilets; bear locker (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 (USDA Forest Service); Allowed (listing) |
| Bear & food storage | Bear locker at every campsite with a tent pad (USDA Forest Service) | Bear locker provided (USDA Forest Service) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (67 reports), AT&T 0 (49 reports), T-Mobile 0 (40 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (30 reports), T-Mobile 0 (15 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 53 of 53 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 9 of 9 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | 8 people per site; tents on the 14×16 ft pads (USDA Forest Service); 14 nights max (listing) | 14-day limit; 8 people per site (12 at site 17); tents on the 14×16 ft pad (USDA Forest Service); 14 nights max (listing) |
| Getting there | West side of CO-7 at mile marker 14 between Allenspark and Meeker Park, about 15 miles south of Estes Park near Wild Basin; elevation 8,350 ft (USDA Forest Service); 11.6 mi from downtown Estes Park · 0.9 mi to Wild Basin (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | Off CO-72 about 6.5 miles north of Ward on Middle St. Vrain Road; elevation 8,500 ft (USDA Forest Service); 17 mi from downtown Estes Park · 6.1 mi to Wild Basin (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to downtown Estes Park, Olive Ridge or Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge is closer: 11.6 miles from downtown Estes Park versus 17 miles for Peaceful Valley (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Olive Ridge and Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge: A mix of reservable sites (Recreation.gov) and first-come, first-served sites; the Forest Service page lists which site numbers are which (USDA Forest Service). Peaceful Valley: Sites 1–7 and 9 reservable on Recreation.gov; sites 8 and 10–17 first come, first served (USDA Forest Service).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Olive Ridge: No electricity or hookups (USDA Forest Service). Peaceful Valley: No electricity, hookups, dump station or showers (USDA Forest Service).
How long an RV fits at Olive Ridge vs Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge: Official limit 40 ft longest parking spur (Forest Service campground status table); RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's spur (USDA Forest Service). Peaceful Valley: 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). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Olive Ridge and Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge: No dump station or showers; vault toilets and bear lockers (USDA Forest Service). Peaceful Valley: Potable water; vault toilets; bear locker (USDA Forest Service); Drinking water listed (listing).
Is there cell service at Olive Ridge or Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (67 reports), AT&T 0 (49 reports), T-Mobile 0 (40 reports) (listing). Peaceful Valley: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (30 reports), T-Mobile 0 (15 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Olive Ridge and Peaceful Valley?
Olive Ridge is rated 4.0 from 198 reviews on Recreation.gov; Peaceful Valley is rated 5.0 from 84 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
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