One of the greatest ways to see is to go Rocky Mountain National Park is camping.
We’ll teach you how to find a nice campsite and show you where to find the greatest campsite in the park in this guide.
There are five campsites in Rocky Mountain National Park.
During peak season, three of them (Glacier Basin, Moraine Park, and Aspenglen) demand advance reservations, typically months in advance.
Make a campground reservation as soon as feasible. Reservations for camping have a limit of up to six months in advance.
Longs Peak and Timber Creek, the park’s two remaining campsites, are first-come, first-served. There are no showers in any of the park’s campsites.
Summary
| Guide | Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, tent, etc. |
| Campgrounds | Glacier Basin Campground and more |
| Best places | Downtown Estes Park, and more |
| Situated | U.S. |
Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park
1. Glacier Basin Campground
The views—a procession of jagged Front Range peaks marching across the Continental Divide—are the nicest part of Glacier Basin Campground.
The closeness to Bear Lake, which offers easy access to several of the park’s most popular treks, is the campground’s second greatest feature.
You can drive along Bear Lake Corridor without a special permit if you have a reservation at Glacier Basin Campground during peak season.
During the summer, complimentary park buses stop at the campsite regularly.
Glacier Basin Campground is one of the favorite campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park for all of these reasons.
Address: Highway 36 West, Estes Park, CO 80517
2. Moraine Park Campground
With 244 campsites, this park’s largest campground is directly north of Moraine Park.
Like Glacier Basin Campground, Moraine Park Campground is inside the Bear Lake Corridor.
So if you’ve made a camping reservation in Moraine Park, you may travel through Bear Lake Corridor without a permit during peak season.
During the summer, complimentary park buses stop at the campsite on a regular basis.
Moraine Park Campground is especially beautiful in the fall when you can hear the haunting sounds of elk bugling in adjacent Moraine Park.
Address: US-36, Estes Park, CO 80517
Read: Camping In Ohio
3. Aspenglen Campground
Aspenglen is the nearest campsite to Horseshoe Park and Old Fall River Road near Fall River Entrance.
It’s significantly smaller than Glacier Basin or Moraine Park, with only 52 campsites, so it seems a little less crowded.
Although Aspenglen is not in the route of the park’s shuttle system, it is along the banks of Fall River and has a gorgeous setting.
Address: US-34 & Old Fall River Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517
4. Longs Peak Campground
Rocky Mountain National Park’s smallest campground has only 26 campsites.
With a height of 9,500 feet above sea level, it’s also the park’s highest campsite. The closeness to Longs Peak Trailhead is its primary draw.
Longs Peak is one of the park’s most difficult climbs, with climbers typically beginning around 2 a.m. Because Longs Peak is one of Colorado’s most popular fourteeners, getting a spot at this first-come, the first-served campground can be difficult.
There are no RVs allowed at this campground, which is just for tents.
Address: Longs Peak Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517
5. Timber Creek Campground
This is the only Rocky Mountain National Park campsite west of the Continental Divide in the verdant Kawuneeche Valley along the banks of the Colorado River.
It is in a beautiful setting, near several excellent hiking paths.
The main drawback is that beetle infestation destroyed most of the surrounding trees. Thus, there is no shade at the campsites.
Address: Timber Creek Campground, Grand Lake, CO 80447
Top Things To Do In Rocky Mountain National Park
Best Places To Visit Near Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road
Between 1929 and 1933, Horace Albright, the head of the National Park Service, remarked of Trail Ridge Road, “It’s difficult to put into words how exciting this new road will be.
You’ll be able to see the entire range of the Rockies in all directions.”
Trail Ridge Road, which runs from Estes Park to Grand Lake and rises beyond the tree line for 11 miles at the height of almost 12,000 feet, was a sensation when it was opened in 1932 and continues to be so today for those who travel the 48-mile route.
Downtown Estes Park
Estes Park serves as the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and as a base of operations for many tourists.
It has a wide range of lodging options for all budgets, from inns and motels to hotels like the Stanley.
The surrounding wilderness is the main draw of Estes Park, and a horseback riding trip is one of the greatest ways to see it.
Climbing and rafting expeditions round out the activities available in and around Estes Park.
The main thoroughfare, Elkhorn Avenue, in Estes Park is in line with pubs and stores.
Brownfield’s is a good place to go for inexpensive souvenirs, including T-shirts, blankets, key chains, and koozies.
Visit the traveler-favorite Rock Cut Brewing Company or The Barrel beer garden for a drink.
Read: Camping In Oklahoma
Read: Camping In Santa Barbara
Checklist Before Camping In Rocky Mountain National Park
More than determining which campsite best suits your needs is involved in planning your Rocky Mountain National Park camping excursion.
There’s also the critical task of ensuring you have all the necessary equipment for a successful journey.
- Tent
- Sleeping bag/pad
- Stove
- Portable water container
- Cooler
- Map
- Guidebook
- Light/thick jacket (depending on the season)
- Boots
- Socks
Read: Camping in yellowstone
FAQ
Can we stay as long as we want in Rocky Mountain National Park Camping?
No, you can not, unfortunately. From June 1 to September 30, the park’s campsite stays limitations are seven nights, with an extra 14 nights in the year-round campgrounds the rest of the year.
Can we go camping during winter in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Yes, you can, but you must be aware that all-year-round campsites cut off the water in the winter.
At entry points and open tourist centers, drinking water is accessible. So, it could be hard to camp during these times.
How many people can come for Rocky Mountain National Park Camping altogether?
Each site is limited to eight persons at all campsites and two tents OR one car and one camping item (tent, RV, or trailer/tow vehicle).
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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- https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/camping.htm[↩]
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g28927-d146464-Rocky_Mountains-Colorado.html[↩]
- https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/news/pr_winter_visit.htm#:~:text=Frontcountry%20and%20backcountry%20camping%20takes,allowed%20in%20designated%20areas%20only.[↩]
- https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/news/pr_winter_visit.htm#:~:text=Frontcountry%20and%20backcountry%20camping%20takes,allowed%20in%20designated%20areas%20only.[↩]