Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park

Famous for its grand mountain peaks rising over 14,000 feet, glacier-carved U-shaped valleys, dense coniferous forests, snow-fed alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife roaming freely, Rocky Mountain National Park has a lot to offer. Drive the scenic park roads, hike up a mountain, or stroll around a lake; there’s plenty for all visitors to enjoy.

You’ll want to spend a few days camping in Rocky Mountain National Park. Whether you choose to camp inside the park or at an established or dispersed camping area outside the park, there are plenty of options! Use this guide for tips and to help you find the best camping in Rocky Mountain National Park for your Escape Camper Vans camping trip!

Best Time of Year for a Rocky Mountain National Park Camping Trip

While Rocky Mountain National Park technically remains open year-round, most of the park is inaccessible throughout the winter months due to its high elevation and snow coverage.

Trail Ridge Road, US Highway 34, runs from the east to the west side of the park, and is typically open between late May/early June and mid-October, depending on snowfall.

While the park is not crowded in the winter, it’s fairly inaccessible without winter snow skills, making late May to early October a great time to visit the park!

In the spring, wildflowers bloom, but expect snow on trails, especially at higher elevations. By mid-July, many hiking trails are snow-free and park temperatures are highest, as are crowd levels. As you get into fall, temperatures begin to drop, and the leaves begin to change.

All the seasons offer beautiful opportunities for a Rocky Mountain National Park camping trip, but keep in mind that many campgrounds are only open seasonally from late May to September or early October.

Rocky Mountain National Park Campgrounds

There are five campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park. Camping in the park is a great experience and gives you the closest access to exploring all the park’s wonders! Of course, that means that these sites book up quickly. Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds require reservations at recreation.gov. Reservations open up to 6 months in advance.

Dispersed camping is not allowed anywhere in Rocky Mountain National Park. This includes sleeping in a vehicle overnight in parking lots. Rangers will kick you out and might give you hefty fines.

Established Campgrounds in the Park

There are plenty of campgrounds for you to choose from inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Keep reading to find out which one is the best for you!

Aspenglen Campground

Aspenglen Campground is a 52-site campground just beyond the Falls River Visitor Center. It’s the only campground that offers a few winter campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis from late October to late May.

The full campground is open from late May to mid-October and requires reservations. Aspenglen Campground has toilets, picnic tables, fire grates, and seasonal potable water.

Glacier Basin Campground

Glacier Basin Campground is a 150-site campground open from May to early September by reservation only. It’s located near the center-east part of the park with close access to hikes at Sprague Lake, Bear Lake, and the many hiking trails beyond that.

Longs Peak Campground

Longs Peak Campground is the southernmost campground on the park’s eastern side. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Estes Park. There are some hiking trails from Longs Peak Campground, but the campground does not connect with any other park roads. You must drive back out and around to enter through the main park entrances near Estes Park.

Due to colder temperatures, it has a shorter season, only open from early July to September.

Moraine Park Campground

Moraine Park Campground is the largest campground in the park with 244 sites. The campground has been undergoing a restoration project, but is expected to open in the 2025 summer, but the exact dates are to be determined.

Moraine Park Campground is located just beyond the Beaver Meadows Entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Timber Creek Campground

Timber Creek Campground is the only campground located on the west side of the park offering great access to many wonders, often less visited. It is a 15-minute drive north of the Grand Lake Entrance Station and Kawuneeche Visitor Center.

The 98-site campground is open from late May to September. Timberland Campground has fire grates, picnic tables, potable water, and flushing toilets.

Established Campgrounds Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Finding camping near Rocky Mountain National Park isn’t difficult. There are many established national forest and private campgrounds near Rocky Mountain National Park on both the east and west sides.

National Forest campgrounds are generally more basic with common amenities like fire grates, picnic tables, and toilets. Some have running water, others do not.

Private campgrounds often have more amenities and therefore come with a higher price. But showers with hot water, laundry, and communal facilities are nice every once in a while too!

East Side of the Park

Meeker Park Overflow Campground

Meeker Park Overflow Campground is a 29-site national forest campground. It’s a 20-minute drive from the Beaver Meadows Park Entrance and a 6-minute drive from the Longs Peak Trailhead. Sites are available first-come, first-served. There are picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and portable toilets. There is no running water.

Due to its proximity to the park, it fills up quickly on holidays and weekends. This campground is open when clear of snow from approximately late May to late September.

Olive Ridge Campground

Olive Ridge Campground has 56 sites, is about 25 minutes from the Beaver Meadows Entrance, and is also a short drive from hiking trails in the southeastern part of the park.

About half the campsites are open for reservations 6 months in advance. The other sites are available first-come, first-served and fill up early by Friday morning for a weekend stay.

Sites have fire grates, picnic tables, vault toilets, bear lockers, and trash service. There is no water. Olive Ridge Campground is open from mid-May to mid-September.

Peaceful Valley Campground

Peaceful Valley Campground is a 17-site national forest campground, 40 minutes outside the Beaver Meadows Park Entrance.

Half of the sites are available first-come, first-served, and fill up quickly on weekends. The remaining sites are reservable up to 6 months in advance. The campground is open from mid-May to late September. Sites have fire grates, picnic tables, vault toilets, and running water.

Pawnee Campground

Pawnee Campground is a national forest campground in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It’s a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing! It’s about an hour from the park entrances near Estes Park and half an hour from hiking trails near the Wild Basin area.

The 47 sites are available by reservation 6 months in advance. Pawnee Campground is open from late June to mid-September. It sits at 10,350 feet in elevation, so prepare for cold nights even in the middle of summer!

Campsites have picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and toilets.

Rainbow Lakes Campground

Rainbow Lakes Campground is an 18-site first-come, first-served national forest campground. It’s about an hour’s drive from the Estes Park entrances and 45 minutes from the Wild Basin region. The campground is basic. There are toilets, fire grates, and picnic tables. There is no running water; Treat lake and stream water for drinking.

Rainbow Lake Campground is open from mid-June to mid-September. Sitting at 10,000 feet, prepare for cold nights. Sites are limited to 14-day stays.

Camp Dick Campground

Camp Dick Campground is a national forest campground near Lyons, Colorado, about a 40-minute drive from the Estes Park entrances and a 20-minute drive from the Wild Basin Area.

There are 41 campsites, half of which are first-come, first-served, and the other half of which require reservations. The campground is open from late May to early September.

Camp Dick is located in the Middle Saint Vrain Creek which is great for fly fishing. The campground has fire grates, picnic tables, vault toilets, and water.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Estes Park

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort is a private campground in Estes Park, less than 20 minutes from the park entrance. It has a variety of sites and cabins. Campsites have picnic tables, fire pits, water, and toilets with showers.

The campground has a general store, wifi, a playground, a pavilion, sports courts, and laundry. Tent and campervan sites are available from late April to late October.

West Side of the Park

Green Ridge Campground

Green Ridge Campground is a national forest campground with 79 sites, 12 minutes from the western park entrance. It sits on Shadow Mountain Reservoir where visitors can hike, fish, and boat.

The campground has flushing toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and drinking water. It’s open from early May to mid-October. Sites are available by reservation, 6 months in advance.

Stillwater Campground

Stillwater Campground is a 129-site national forest campground located right on Lake Granby on the park’s west side. It’s a 15-minute drive to the park entrance.

The campground is open from mid-May to mid-October and requires reservations in advance. Sites have fire rings, picnic tables, toilets, showers, and drinking water.

Sunset Point Campground

Sunset Point Campground is a 25-site, first-come, first-served national forest campground. It sits alongside Lake Granby. It’s usually open from mid-May to mid-October. Sunset Point Campground is a 20-minute drive from the western park entrance.

The campground has fire grates, picnic tables, drinking water, and restrooms. There is a boat ramp for campers to access as well as hiking and wildlife viewing nearby.

Willow Creek Campground

Willow Creek Campground is a 32-site first-come, first-served national forest campground. It sits along the shores of Willow Creek Reservoir and is a 25-minute drive to the park’s western entrance. The Campground has bathrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, and fire grates.

Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains

Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains is a private campground located in Granby on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Grand Lake Entrance Station.

The campground has power, water, picnic tables, and fire pits. Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains has bathrooms with showers, a pavilion, a general store, a playground, and outdoor activities. It is actually open year-round but camping is limited during the winter months from October to April.

Tips for Rocky Mountain National Park Camping

Whether camping in the established national park campgrounds or finding your way dispersed camping outside the park, these tips will help your Rocky Mountain National Park camping trip run smoothly.

Planning and Reservations

Plan ahead. Summertime is BUSY in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re camping in the park, book your campsites well in advance. Reservations open 6 months out. If you’re camping at an established campground outside of the park, reservations open 2 weeks to a year in advance.

Reserve your Timed Entry Permit. From late May to mid-October, entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park requires a “Timed Entry” reservation between the hours of 9 am to 2 pm. An additional permit is required to drive on Bear Lake Road.

Permits are released on a first-come, first–served basis at recreation.gov on the first of each month for the following month. (July 1 – 31 permits are released on June 1 at 8 am MDT).

If dispersed camping – find a camp spot early. Getting to camp early is very helpful, especially if you’re new to dispersed camping. Popular spots fill up quickly, especially on weekends – as early as Friday morning. Also, it’s much easier to find a flat campsite free of vegetation in the daylight!

Weather Preparation

Pack clothing layers. Rocky Mountain National Park sits at a very high elevation (up to 14,259 ft!). Because of it’s elevation, temperatures vary drastically in the park, especially from day to night.

Clothing layers are the best way to keep you warm. Even in the summer, you should bring a puffy jacket because the high elevations coupled with the wind can make for some cool days.

Prepare for all sorts of weather. With those varying elevations come drastic weather patterns. Afternoon thunderstorms are VERY common in the park. It is not recommended to be on a summit or peak in the afternoon. Rain in lower elevations in the park can mean snow up higher, even in the summer! Be prepared.

Check the weather and road conditions before heading out. Check the Rocky Mountain National Park website for the most up-to-date information about road closures and predicted weather.

On Your Way to the Park

Fuel up. There are no gas stations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The nearest fuel options are in Estes Park on the east side and in Grand Lake on the west side of the park. There are no gas stations in between, so make sure you’re filled up before heading into the park.

Go grocery shopping. Other than a few snacks and camp items, there are no restaurants or food options in the park. The nearest grocery stores and restaurants are in Estes Park and Grand Lake, so plan to stop before entering the park.

Pack your firewood. It is prohibited to collect and burn firewood in the park. If fires are permitted (varies by season and fire risk), you must buy firewood in the park or just outside the park at nearby shops. Don’t burn wood from other regions because it can carry invasive species.

At the Park or Campground

Food storage – bear lockers. If you’re camping in any established campground inside or outside the park, your camp spot will have access to bear lockers for food storage. At night, store all your food and scented items (including toothpaste and soaps) in your bear locker. If you’re dispersed camping, keep all food locked in your vehicle with you. NEVER leave any scented items unattended outside your campervan. If a bear doesn’t steal it, a rodent is sure to!

Don’t expect cell phone service. There is very minimal to no coverage throughout most of Rocky Mountain National Park. Don’t expect cell service at any of the campgrounds. Let loved ones know your travel plans in advance and enjoy disconnecting!

Obey fire regulations. Fire regulations vary by area and season. Make sure you’re permitted to have a fire where you’re visiting. Rules are posted on signs at campground entrances. If you’re unsure, ask a ranger. If you’re dispersed camping, research the current fire regulations for that national forest.

Follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. Whether you’re on a day hike, dispersed camping, or camping at a campground, the goal when recreating outdoors is to reduce our human impact on the environment. We want to leave places cleaner than we found them.

Plan ahead and let someone know your travel plans. Stick to established trails and camp areas. Pack out all trash and human waste. Don’t take anything from the environment. Respect wildlife, other visitors, the campground, and fire rules.

Why Rent an Escape Camper Van for a Rocky Mountain National Park Camping Trip?

An Escape Camper Van has everything you need; it’s your home on wheels! A bed, kitchen set up, transportation, and many extra accessories will make your journey comfortable and easy. Don’t worry about repacking your tent each morning, with an Escape Camper Van you can just hop in the front seat and start your day!

Even more inviting, Rocky Mountain National Park is only an hour and a half drive from the Denver Escape Camper Van pick-up location. It’s one of the closest pickup spots to a national park so this trip is really just calling your name to book today!