We were looking for an inexpensive 3 nights near the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Drake Campground fit the bill. We chose the dry camping area which was right on the river and and that also gave us more campsite room. Lots of trees and mostly grassy areas. Fire ring was provided with firewood available for $6 a bundle...moreWe were looking for an inexpensive 3 nights near the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Drake Campground fit the bill. We chose the dry camping area which was right on the river and and that also gave us more campsite room. Lots of trees and mostly grassy areas. Fire ring was provided with firewood available for $6 a bundle. Free water available as well. Dump station was $20 bucks (we went elsewhere for free). A cash only operation was fine with us but I don’t think I’d pay $35 a night again to dry camp. To get any T-Mobile service at all we had to head east into Loveland or west into Estes Park. Quiet (except for mountain road traffic heading to RMNP) and peaceful, and a beautiful 30 minute drive away from Rocky Mountain National Park.

I camped here while working up on the mountain. I didn't want to drive all the way back into town each day, just to get up early and do it again. My needs were minimal. I specifically asked for a no-hookups site and they put me in an overflow field with no fire ring or picnic table. I was fine with this and paid $35 for each night....moreI camped here while working up on the mountain. I didn't want to drive all the way back into town each day, just to get up early and do it again. My needs were minimal. I specifically asked for a no-hookups site and they put me in an overflow field with no fire ring or picnic table. I was fine with this and paid $35 for each night. With hookups the fee is likely higher. Tent campers may pay a similar fee.The transaction was cash only!The campground is at the confluence of the Big Thompson River and the North Fork of the Big Thompson River. The entrance sneaks up on you. If you're coming up the canyon, it's just past the Drake post office, on the right and before the turnoff for CO-43 (to Glenhaven). The office is kind of hard to find. It's just past RV row. Take a left when you see/hear the chickens.The vault toilet was clean. The dump station, as well as the potable water station, were very clean. The roads were well maintained. The campground stretches between CO-43 and the North Fork of the Big Thompson. Consequently, traffic going along CO-43 can be heard.The WiFi has a horribly long password and it may not reach everywhere. I think it's primarily oriented towards the RV visitors. It does a good enough job to make up for the lack of cell coverage if all you need is to get text messages through. Beyond that, there simply isn't enough bandwidth to be useful. Oddly enough, some cell signal has been rumored to be available at the crapper.Since I was in a field, my site wasn't level and I was OK with that. However, I saw a number of RV's that used leveling blocks under one side of their trailer to get to decent starting point of levelness. Come prepared.The only way I could find to make reservations was to call. The number listed for this campground was correct.The nice thing about this location is that it isn't Loveland and it isn't Estes Park. It's close enough to either one that you can be there in about 25 minutes.