Going on a road trip to Colorado at the end of May! So excited. Need help figuring out CO Springs portion when it comes to kayaking and camping (free). Any ideas on calm water areas to kayak that aren't too much of a hike? Thank you!

Colorado Springs and kayaking aren't generally used in the same sentence. No water. Head west to Buena Vista. Not a hike, but a 90 minute drive.

Not aware of any free camping either, but take a look here: https://www.campendium.com/colorado/free-camping

Your best bet for kayaking on the Colorado River is east or west of Glenwood Springs.

Are you talking river kayaks or lake kayaks? If you are using lake kayaks, you may not want to be running rivers in May during generally higher cfs.

for camping, check out blm land or reasonably priced nps campsites in the area.

Glenwood Springs is a long ways from Colorado Springs so need a better understanding of your plans especially as they related to CS. If you are looks for "calm waters" I assume that means a lake or reservoir. The southside of Denver metro area has Chatfield. Chatfield is a huge reservoir but a number of the access points are closed this summer as they prepare to raise the water level by several feet. Denver is getting too thirsty.