Best Campground In Rocky Mountain National Park

A lot of people end up spending their vacations here in Estes Park because there’s so much to see and do. It has a nice downtown area and there are some great RV parks and campgrounds. There is also a number of campgrounds that are National Park campgrounds located just outside of Estes Park.

Estes Park and Grand Lake, Colorado, are popular gateway towns, each offering a different vibe. Here are top choices near each side of the national park. This site is about Boondocking, it is also called Dispersed Camping, and Wild Camping. I have been camping for many years and did not know it was called boondocking. There are so many National Forests and B L M grounds that you can camp and stay that it amazes me.

While it may be disappointing to have your dream trip suddenly disrupted by a lack of campsite availability, you shouldn’t cancel your plans. Most popular national parks are located near gateway towns where you’ll find private campgrounds that may not book as quickly as campgrounds located inside of the park. On the back side of the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park there is Timber Creek Campground.

Best Campgrounds In Estes Park, Co

So make reservations in advance before going there so you are sure to have a spot. You’re not likely to be able to walk in and find a campsite in the National Park. Private RV Parks can also have sites so that’s always another backup plan. If all else fails you could drop south into the forest and try to find some forest camping too. During this time, you can also apply for a wilderness permit for backcountry campsites, such as those at Fern Lake.

Glacier is nice, but the sites are very small but spaced apart, and there are length restrictions on what can camp there. No water or electricity but some generator hours are allowed. RMN Park on the east side near Estes Park is very crowded, but the west side not so much. Glacier Basin Campground is adjacent to Estes Park in Rocky Mountain National Park.

They include food storage lockers, ice for sale, potable water, trash-recycling collection, flush toilets, firewood for sale, and an amphitheater. Located near Fall River Entrance, Aspenglen is the closest campground to Horseshoe Park and Old Fall River Road. With just 52 campsites, it’s much smaller than Glacier Basin or Moraine Park, so it feels slightly less congested. Although Aspenglen is not served by the park’s shuttle system, it enjoys a beautiful location along the banks of Fall River. Staying at the RV parks within Rocky Mountain National Park means that you do not need daily reservations to get into the Park.

List Of Campgrounds Near Rocky Mountain National Park

I have heard it is open again, but not sure what it looks like now. All Hosts should review and adhere to these standards around providing a positive Hipcamp experience, being a thoughtful neighbor, and serving as a responsible citizen. We have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp and are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper community be inclusive. Sign up with your email address I would like to receive news, exclusive offers, and fun updates from Hipcamp. I am a freelance architect by profession but a camper by passion. I own a Forest River Berkshire XLT Diesel 45A Class A Motorhome.

For experienced mountain enthusiasts, backcountry skiing in the park is world-class, as is the winter mountaineering. Also, while early fall is often snow-free, you can usually expect regular snowfall to occur by November. By mid-October, Trail Ridge Road is almost always closed, too, so be prepared for variable road conditions at this time. With 4 distinct seasons, Rocky Mountain National Park is a year-round outdoor recreation destination.

Take a left onto Bear Lake Road and stay on it for another mile. When you se the sign for the riding stable and trailheads, take a left. Note this is on the edge of the park south of the main entrance on the eastern side.

Driving Through Rocky Mountain National Park In Your Rv

Campers are encouraged to purchase firewood in the area where they are camping. Transporting firewood from out-of-state is discouraged since it may hold harmful insects which could be spread to Rocky Mountain National Park. Because of the distance required to get to Ouzel Lake, you’ll find few people and plenty of solitude once you set up camp. Park officials ask that you pitch your tent close to the indicated site out of potential hazards of standing dead trees. A maximum of 7 people are allowed at individual sites and 12 maximum at group sites.

Unlike the Aspenglen Campground, it has a dedicated dumping station for RVs. Plus, you also have easy access to utility sinks and drinking water. Three require advance reservations during peak season, and they are often booked months in advance.

Camp, Rv, And Explore Outdoors

Here’s a list of private park campgrounds that receive high reviews on Campendium and are conveniently located near popular national parks in the U.S. Meeker Park Overflow Campground, located just outside of the park’s eastern edge, is a first-come, first-served campground with 29 car camping spots. There is no potable water in the campground, and few other amenities. However, it is a beautiful place to camp, with large sites and nice views of the surrounding mountains. They include flush toilets, shuttle bus service, picnic table, fire pit, and firewood for sale.

Within the campground, there are flush toilets, dish washing stations, and drinking water available. As quite possibly the most famous camping areas in the recreation area, booking ahead of time are fundamental here. Each of the campgrounds is outfitted with food, extra spaces, fire meshes, and admittance to clean water and an incredibly delightful amphitheater.

I have done this every summer since I got the camper in 2005. I vowed when I bought it to spend a year just roaming and exploring the national parks; not all at once, but six trips of two months each. I have made it happen for five summers in a row and then the economy got the best of me.

In our case we camped there once with our truck and backed right in and so it’s a nice place to stay and often not as crowded as the other side of the park. Moraine Park Campground is an RV accessible campground and Aspen Glen is also RV accessible. Rocky Mountain National Park is a popular destination and campgrounds fill up from Spring all the way through to fall.

Longs Peak and Timber Creek campgrounds, however, do not take reservations and are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. In July and August, the campgrounds generally are full every day of the week, while in June and September, visitation numbers drop. By mid-week you are more likely to find an available campsite at any given location without a prior reservation. The private camping sites outside of the park gates may offer hookups and amenities not found at the more rustic national park campgrounds. WiFi, pools, and planned activities can be more common at campgrounds outside of the park, and sometimes the sites are larger as well. If you have a larger rig—in many cases, one that’s longer than 30 feet—you might not fit at most standard national park campgrounds.

Hermit’s Hollow Campground

All park campgrounds sit at an elevation of 8,000 feet or higher. Rocky Mountain National Park is a lovely place to visit in any season. It’s especially gorgeous when the wildflowers are in peak bloom in late June, early July, and fall when the aspens are a brilliant gold. The park is busiest during the summer and on fall weekends. To avoid the crowds, visit when the Trail Ridge Road first opens from the town of Estes Park to Grand Lake, typically around Memorial Day or on weekdays in the fall. All campgrounds are open seasonally, except for Moraine Park, which remains open year-round.

Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park’s various lake trails , waterfall trails and summit trails . You may have to drive in and out of the park each day, but chances are, the drive is beautiful. Plus, national park gateway towns usually offer conveniences not found within the parks, like restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and family attractions.