Buckley AFB FamCamp

Sorry to hear that nothing has changed or improved at Buckley. We stayed a month last summer and had hoped to stay again this summer but we may reconsider. This famcamp as the potential to be a gold mine if just managed correctly. Very sad news.

First the good news, the sites are concrete and you can level easily, there are two free washers and dryers, the staff is friendly but not involved, you are close to Denver, you can walk to the commissary/BX (1.5 miles)on a paved walking path. The bad news: 1. the showers were dirty, used soap and shampoo was never removed even though they do have a cleaning team but no one checks on them and they do a terrible job, the toilets are like prison toilets (all metal with no toilet seat), it takes forever to get hot water in the showers; 2) the last reviewer was kind saying that the grass couldn't grow because of the drought, there is very little grass and what they tried to plant has been washed away by rain and snow onto the roads, 2) there are deep ruts were it appears the snow removal truck or RVs ran off the road when the roads were snow covered, 4)there are 2 dumpsters at the west end of the campground so the campers on the east end apparently use the trash cans outside of the bathhouse/laundry building and no one empties them, 5) there is a camp host but they have no duties and do not receive any compensation so they are really not camp hosts so it appears no one cares what happens at the famcamp. The famcamp is located at the end of the runway so you will hear "the sound of freedom" but they do not fly at night. There is no lake (it is being drained because birds and airplanes do not get along well), the wind blows all the time and there are no windbreaks (again trees and bushes attract birds), the near by playground consist of two swings. So if you are looking for anything other than a place to park you camper and visit Denver or the mountains you might want to go to the Air Force Academy. However, if you just need a place to park while visiting or exploring the area this famcamp is OK, it is safe has full hook ups, and I think is a little cheaper than commercial campgrounds and the state parks around Denver.

The campground is convenient to both on and off base amenities. Didn't check out any other campgrounds in the area to compare but we like the security of being on base and having commissary, BX, fitness center and all the advantages of being on base. When you come in the commercial gate (good directions above) there is a sign that RVs are to go to right through the truck checkpoint -- ignore and go to gate. The campground itself is very well laid out. The bathrooms/showers are very nice and clean. The laundry room is in the same building and as mentioned, free. They have been trying to grow grass but with the severe drought that has been difficult. It has been mowed. The area has a tendency to be VERY windy so do not leave awnings out when not at site. We had no problems with leveling and the concrete pads with patio area are nice and wide. The hook ups are well placed. But issue with cold weather is that water pipe does not have heat strip on it -- found this strange since this is a year round campground. The folks at the Rec Center are ok with the check- in but make sure you pick your site then go register. But they really don't know anything about the campground and there is no Host. Overall they have done a good job, just hope they maintain and improve where needed.

T.M. left this review using the Directory software: - While I agree with the other comments especially their lack of organization, it is a nice camp, large sites and free washers & dryers make up for extra cost of site. Try and fine a campground around Denver as nice as Buckley for the money.

This is our second stop here to visit family. I first thought this new famcamp was on its way to be a very good famcamp. I think the first reviews (including mine) were optimistic. All the grass is dead (experiencing a severe drought) except around the restrooms/laundry where it is sprinkled. The camp host situation as I was told by Jeff has changed...they are looking for a camp host but there are no benefits to host here except you can stay as long as you host. No commitment, no compensation and no defined duties. Hopefully there will be a commitment from the base to put some trees in to break the wind, to replace the grass, and to do something with the pond area over the winter and next spring. Signage is still a problem, as is the check in procedure. The only famcamp signage is when you have driven the entire length of the base. If you have anything bigger than a class b van you can not go to outdoor rec to sign in and get a site because their parking lot is small and already had many vehicles parked in the parking lot. So you need to go to the campground and find a site, go back to outdoor rec and only to find out that you must move to another site since they reserve a specific site when you call in for reservations. Even with the lower ratings I gave the famcamp, it is better than local campgrounds. If you are using this as a home base to see Denver you would do well to stay here, if you are also traveling to Colorado Springs. The Academy is cheaper and has more to offer.

Arrived at the commercial gate and found numerous traffic barriers to zig zag through. Not a problem with a 30 footer, but 40 DP's must have fun. Parked at the camp and used toad to go and sign in since they assign spaces. Really booked up that weekend, on Saturday there were about 20 units. Very little grass around camp spots, mostly weeds. Had to cut a few knee high ones around the pad. The noise from the aircraft wasn't real bad while we were there, but if you have dogs that are sensitive to sharp noises be aware of the gun fire from the hill beside the park. Skeet and trap I think. Pond is almost dry and area around it is grown up with tall weeds. I figure as the budget allows this will become a real nice park. However I think $22 is a little pricy right now, more like $15. The state parks run about $30. and are super nice.

This is our second stay since the first part of June 2012. I concur with all the previous reviews. I am dismayed at the laxness of emptying the dumpster..it has been over a week and it is running over. Fourth of July is 2 days away and you know it won't get picked up then. I actually bought a cheap lawn watering ring and have tried to water the "grass" around our rig. The wind is bad and newbies learn quickly you can't leave your awning down for very long. Prevailing winds seem to be from the SE and are very strong, especially in the afternoon when thunderstorms build up. We are Colorado residents and yes, the state parks are VERY pricey...over $40 for a small camp up north of Denver, so $22 doesn't seem too bad. When you consider we have had 100 degree days for over a week, being plugged in to 50amp vs. running the generator 24/7, $22 seems to be a bargain. Being close to the VA hospital and clinics is a big plus for us.

Previous reviews are fair. Location to Denver and value are good (we've stayed at two really nasty private parks on the south side of town at higher rates). The state park is nice but if you are not a Colorado resident it's pricey. So, $22/night is very fair. All water connections have pressure regulators installed; sites are level, concrete, and can handle a 45-footer. The grass was mowed while we were there. The contractor was very cautious in proximity to rigs - came back to mow sites after they were vacated. Yes, this fam camp has a ways to go to be a five, but it's new and what's been done to date is remarkable in these austere budget times. Give it time, it can only get better. Max number of rigs on any day was 10; most times 6 or 7. So, there should be no problem finding a place to stay.

I stayed here for 39 days in May-June 2012. The previous posts did a good job of describing this FamCamp. Having been to the military campgrounds in Tuscon, AZ and Kings Bay, GA, I doubt this campground will ever be a 5 rating. This campground charges $22 a day – at the top end for military campgrounds and I don’t consider it to be among the best of those campgrounds. The biggest problem is the grass which is a type of prairie grass planted in rows about 6 inches apart and allowed to grow to seed with the expectation that the seed will fill in the area between the rows. There is currently a race between this and the erosive effects each time it rains. Right now, the grass is losing. In addition to the bare areas between the rows, there are other areas next to the roads that are bare, probably the result of campers running off the pavement during wet, muddy times. After each heavy rain, large amounts of silt cover the roads and site pads and it looks terrible. At one corner, they have laid down a special patching material to stop erosion and grow new grass. Because of the sloping terrain, they must do that in many more areas in order to stop the erosion and give the grass a chance to stabilize the soil. There is no camp host. I asked for a Job Description for the position and was told that there is none. The camp host is charged full price for his site and is then paid a salary/wage. This is going to raise issues of residency for future camp hosts that are full-time RVers. I asked how many hours of work was required each week and was told that there is no set amount of hours – it depends on the time of year and the number of campers in the campground. How could one consider this camp host position without knowing the job description and the weekly hours required? Outdoor Recreation manages this new campground and you have to see their reservation system to understand how far they must go to climb the learning curve. It is a manual system where the 38 sites are listed on a separate sheet for each day and then each camper’s name is shown next to their site number for each day that they are in residence. I am not sure how many days into the future this runs (reservations can be made 60 days in advance), but when someone calls to make a reservation or a camper wants to extend his stay, the guy at Outdoor Rec must go through each page, starting with the first day of the reservation, and find an empty site for the duration of the reservation. Since sites are assigned with each reservation, he may go through several pages before he discovers that the site he started with is reserved for someone else and he must start over with another site. During a busy period, this process could get very frustrating as it did when I extend my reservation. Those are some of the negatives and others have pointed out the positives. The sites are far apart and when the jets aren't taking off, the place is very quiet.

J.M. left this review using the Directory software: - Buckley AFB Famcamp is a brand new camp that opened 1 April 2012 and it certainly has some positives (i.e. location, FHU sites, FREE LAUNDRY, etc …) but also some negatives ($22/night, barren sites, very noisy …). We stayed a week in April/May and would stay again if we need to visit Denver. So, first the pros. (1) Location, location, location. The camp is only 17 miles (under 30min) from downtown Denver with Coors Field (baseball), the Denver Mint, etc. It was a great location for touring Denver. We even found a great Moroccan restaurant just a few miles down E. Mississippi Ave. Yummy. (2) Everything at the camp is brand new. There are concrete pads at each site; all are FHU with 50A/30A, water and sewer. Our site was nicely level. All the roads in the camp are paved and it was easy to maneuver our MH. We saw big 5th wheels being pulled by Semi’s easily maneuvering around too. (3) The bathrooms and laundry were very clean (i.e. brand-new). Both the showers and the laundry were FREE. No quarters required!! (2 new LG washers and 2 new LG dryers). (4) The E. Mississippi Ave gate (aka the south gate) where you must enter with your RV is the only gate that stays open 7x24. So we used it all the time, every time. The “main” gate at Aspen St off of E 6th Avenue and also the BX/ Commissary gate at Telluride St off E 6th Avenue are both closed nights and at other times. (5) While there is no dog walk area designated (no off-leash), there were doggie bags provided at a couple of locations. There is a walking / exercise trail that runs next to the camp and parallels the road back to the main gate. (6) While this is a small-ish base, there is a medium sized commissary and BX, 7x24 gas station (sorry, no diesel), car wash, a pharmacy and fitness center. Now for the cons. (1) it’s $22 a night. Bit pricey. (2) Right now there is no landscaping at the camp – it is frankly barren; a gently sloping hillside with tall rye grass planted everywhere to stabilize the slope in this just completed facility. The grass was 9” to 24” tall. No trees or shrubs had yet been planted in the sites. The camp is next to a pond run by Outdoor Recreation with some trees and a bigger/older restroom that was still “closed for the season”. (3) It’s noisy. The camp is right next to the main runway and the “sound of freedom” can be literally deafening. When the F-16s taxi to the the start, warm-up and then take off, they are just over a berm from the camp. If they are headed away - the ground shakes, the air quakes and the RV rattles. Frankly, the noise was louder here than it was during night ops down at Pensacola. The good news is that there were fewer jets operating here than at Pensacola. And on the other side of the camp is the Joint Services Sportsman club (AKA the gun range). Skeet /trap shooters start sometimes at 6:30am and run until dark. So, park your rig and go touring. (4) I had a little trouble getting hold of the staff in the Outdoor Recreation office. Called a few times to make a reservation, left messages but then when I did get a call back they were extremely polite and friendly and helpful. They do ask you to pay up-front for your entire stay when you make the reservation. Then when I showed up with my USAF Frequent Camper book and a free night’s coupon – they stamped the book and cheerfully gave me a refund for the coupon. (5) Currently there is no camp host on site. You do business at the Outdoor Recreation office which is 2.3 miles and is closed Sundays. Still, all in all, a nice place and we will return.

It isn’t necessary for me to repeat most of the information that others have posted for the campground. I found most of it accurate with a couple exceptions. First, this facility most likely will never be a ‘Five’. It will need to make huge advancements toward the common resort type amenities that actually deserve that rating. Wi-Fi, landscaping, cable, etc. would be some of those necessary to garner a five. If anyone thinks that the military is just going to cut a check for that then they haven’t been to many FamCamps. There is a body of water at the campground, but it is not a “lake.” At best, it is a small pond and there is a posted sign that tells you to stay away from it. The laundry facility is clean and it is free. It is true that you can get a refund if your stay is shortened. However, what is not published is that there is a one day charge if you fail to honor your reservation time-frame without prior notice. I was only able to interact with the staff via telephone calls. All of them were courteous, helpful, and professional. As had been said before, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” Knee deep grass is not a first good impression for anyone. I am not going to second guess the rational for not moving the grass, but since that comment made it into most of the other reviews, then it’s a given that it is not a good first impression. If you need a decent place to stay this C/G is easy access on and off, a good value for the money, and you can take advantage of the on base facilities.

Agree with all of the comments so far. We enjoyed our stay BUT the newly planted grass was allowed to grow and go to seed which the field mice loved. We are now in a totally mouse free area and have removed four mice from inside our rig and still counting! We've been full time for 14 years and have never had a mouse. No reservations would be a good change or make reservations but don't assign site until arrival. That would make it so you would not have to change sites in mid-stay. After the fact we discovered that it would have been better to make a reservation for the longest time you might stay and then get a refund if you left early. Strangely, that would not have been a problem for management. Who knew??

We are leaving in a couple of days and I wanted to add a few comments before I forget them. As others have said the Famcamp is experiencing the new RV park growing pains (the reason for the 4 rating),i.e., letting the grass grow too long (it will be mowed very soon according to the staff) signage,no shade trees,one dumpster only, hosts to help with checkin and letting the staff know what is needed in the campground. Many pluses: near I-70 and I-225, located in the greater Denver metro area, 4 miles from a world class hospital complex including VA, washer and dryers are new and free, clean bath facilities, large sites with hardstand parking (almost level), a lot of space between sites, new lake and playground facilities, BX and Commissary close, miles of walking paths located at the famcamp, outdoor rec center staff are very helpful and friendly (a major plus). Negatives that will not go away: flightline is close (but they do not fly at night, so far), windy (nothing to break the sometimes strong winds), a firing range not far from the famcamp (little popping noise only but constant during the day), the base does not have a golf course or auto hobby shop. One other plus IMHO is the 30 day stay policy from April to October (no homesteading! Although Jeff did say the 30 day limit can be extended if the campground is not full (again they are flexible but once this famcamp gets to be known we expect it will be full in the summer). It is very quiet at night and the security people do patrol periodically. As the famcamp matures this will be one of the best in the system if they can keep up with what they have started, definitely on the right track. We hope the future plans call for planting trees to break the wind and add shade, both are needed.

New campground - that says it all. The sites are all concrete with blacktop access. Large, easy access pull throughs and some back ins. Because campground is new, the grass was not cut yet - also because early in the spring and they haven't had a chance. They are looking for a camp host and this will only improve the park. My only neg is there is no signs to identity the location of the famcamp. You come in off of Mississippi Ave and continue past outdoor rec to almost the other side of base. Turn right at the stop sign to the famcamp. The only sign there is to the RV/POV storage lot. I talked with Jeff at outdoor rec and they are waiting for the signs to be made and installed so when that happens, will be easier to find. Great famcamp, great location and this is one we will stay at again.

First, let's lok at each category. Location: Some might think Buckley's location in greater Colorado is rather industrial and very close to the flightline, but on the other hand consider it is just minutes from I-70, a major E-W Interstate, and just a few more from I-25, major N-S road. And then there's BIG Denver, just minutes west on I-70, or through some reasonably nice suburbs, via old US-40 (THE E-W road before I-75 was built, via mainly residential Alameda Avenue, or south on I-225 to booming Douglas County and every imaginable shopping experience including IKEA, Nordstrom's, Macy's, etc etc etc, All things considered, this one rates a clear 4 of 5, only thing lacking is a rural, quiet, pastoral, dreamy, "perfect" setting, but hey, that's almost perfection! Cleanliness/Hospitality: The park is almost brand new, and lots of growing pains and kinks are being worked out. First, cleanliness. 100% paved roads and nice concrete pads throughout. Pads tilt very slightly to allow water runoff, so you may wish to use a chock under either side of your RV, or you can just live with what we found as a 'no big deal' very slight tilt. There is no camp host yet, so clean up duties are being shared by Outdoor Rec staff. The place is reasonably clean, and there's every indication it is headed for a "5" in a month or two, once a host is hired and in place. Hospitality: Top drawer. Ask to see "Sue" when you check in. None finer or more cooperative! Same for Jeff, the Manager at Outdoor Rec. Both repeatedly told me they WANT to get on-the-spot feedback from campers as they want their RV Park to be pleasing for all their clients! Again, as the place grows and matures, there will be more sineage in place at the park, a knowledgeable host, etc. If you come soon after this report was rendered, you might find the grass looks like it sure needs mowing, and the reason for its length is that it was recently seeded, and it needs to settle in before the first mow. It is planned to be kept mowed and trimmed. For now a "4", headed to a "5" for sure! Amenities and Facilities. About as god as it gets! A mile and a half west on Steamboat Road where the park is located is huge, new, well stocked Commissary, BX, gas station, and Fitness Center, which has hot showers. great workout facilities, a nice lounge, and great, helpful people. Handball, racquetball, a gym, and excellent outdoor running trail, paved, runs right thru the campground. The RV park is also adjacent to a nice lake, picnic tables, and is open for use in warm weather months. And off base there is literally almost everything. If you can't find it, you don't need it. There's even a NY City Deli in Denver complete with fresh tongue sandwiches! Great ethnic restaurants, and of course the Rockies within an hour's drive. Clearly a "5" Value: For $22 you get full hookup on every site, 50 Amp, nice bathhouse with hot water, free washers and dryers, fully paved park, tons to do and see in Denver, and nice, new shipping facilities on base. ONE THING: Buckley, because of the adjacency of so much shopping, has CLOSED their chow hall! The old 'Dining Facility' now is a small club, serving all ranks breakfast and lunch M-F, and is also open Thursday - Saturday afternoons for snacks, beer, soft drinks, etc. Value? A 5+. Overall: All things considered for the typical camper? A 4. Once cleaned up, mowed, and with a host on site, this park should be a 5. YOU SHOULD KNOW: Buckley is unusual for a military RV park in a non-resort area in that it takes RESERVATIONS. As of this writing, here's how it works: You may make reservations per the instructions on this website for Buckley, and you're encouraged to. You'll be asked to pay in advance for your entire planned stay, but you'll definitely receive a REFUND if you leave early. YOU MAY REQUEST A SPECIFIC SITE. If available it will be assigned to you when you reserve. Otherwise, you WILL be assigned a site number when you reserve. You may also merely arrive and take your chances. If you arrive without reservations, you'll be assigned a site when you check in at Outdoor Rec, or if after hours, you can take a site that is NOT MARKED RESERVED. Because this park assigns sites when people reserve, you MAY be asked to move IF you've plopped down on a site that is being held for someone who reserved. Most of the time those sites that are reserved should be so marked. But if you stay for, say a week, and want to stay longer after you've checked in, you MAY have to move. Campers should be AWARE of this policy before arriving! The staff will do all they can to accommodate your wishes within this policy, including assisting you in every way possible to give you a site without having to move in the event you stay longer. But, remember this policy and know you MAY have to move under certain circumstances outlined above.

This new FamCamp will only improve over time. It has only been open for a few weeks so the facility and the administration are in their infancy. Directions. The base has no markings showing the entrance. Stay in the left-hand lane when crossing Tower. There are two left-hand turn lanes going into the base. Do not follow the commercial trucks into the base. Stay left and just show your ID cards Continue with the rest of the directions once on base. There are no signs leading to or at the FamCamp. Registration: There is no host or MWR presence at the FamCamp. Sites have no "reserved" notes. We chose a site and called Outdoor Rec, (720)847-6100. They confirmed the availability and took our credit card number in payment. We obtained a base map from a fellow camper, scanned it, and sent it in to this site for posting. Thanks. Fee: The fee of $22 seemed a bit high. Eighteen to twenty would have been a bit better at this time. Facilities at the FamCamp: We did not use or visit the bathrooms, but other campers said that they are available and clean. The cement spaces are well designed, level, and separated nicely. Once some landscaping matures, it will be nice. Facilities on Base: We did not visit them but fellow campers confirmed availability of a Commissary, Exchange, and Fitness Facility. Noise: Be prepared. You are right near the flight line. These Top Gun Rocket Jockeys can really bring it! Ahh, the sound of freedom. We may have been a bit critical with our star ratings above, but they reflect a current evaluation with the obvious potential. We are glad that they are open for business and welcoming guests at this time. budandjan@dragoo.us