11 Best Campgrounds In and Around Rocky Mountain National Park (2024)

• Barb Boyer Buck
• April 23, 2024
• Rocky Mountain

Camping in the Rocky Mountains is a glorious experience. The symphony of birds greeting the rising sun, the fresh pine-scented mountain air, and chilly night-time temperatures combine to make camping in the mountains an unforgettable time.

There are many options for camping in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, but being informed, prepared, and flexible is key to having the best experience.

I love camping in Rocky Mountain: waking up on the sand at Sandbeach Lake for early fishing or being the first one up (I usually am) to start a fire and make coffee at Aspen Glen Campground are some of my favorite memories. There are group campsites within the Park that make for an unforgettable retreat, too. Read on to learn more about camping in and around Rocky Mountain National Park including information on RV, trailer, and tent sites.

Best Time to Camp

In Rocky Mountain National Park, as with all mountainous areas in Colorado, it gets quite cold at night even in the summer. This makes for a nice reprieve after a hot day of hiking and setting up camp, but some people are not prepared for this. For the mildest temperatures, the best time to camp in the Colorado mountains would be mid-July to mid-September.

Know Before You Go

There are quite a few things to consider before you head out on your next camping adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park. The procedures have become more complicated since I first started camping within the Park, but if you do your research carefully, your experience will be a memorable one.

• Making Reservations Become familiar with the site, Recreation.gov. On this site, you can make reservations for the four developed campsites within the Park. Once you have your camping permit (up to seven days is allowed), a timed-entry permit will not be needed to enter the Park at a certain time, but you will need to get a Park pass: daily, weekly, yearly, or an all-parks pass. Make your reservations as soon as possible, preferably weeks or months before your planned trip for the best availability.
• Unplug Forget about having a work-cation in Rocky Mountain, there is very little, if any, cell reception and no wifi service. I love this feature as it forces me to truly relax and slow down. But, if I have a deadline or working on a project I try to use one of the campgrounds adjacent to Rocky Mountain, which isn’t too different from being in the Park itself.
• Facilities There are flush toilets at or near all of the developed campsites within the Park; however, these are operational only in the summer season. Otherwise, vault toilets are available year-round. There are no RV hookups for electric, sewer, or water within the Park; however, most have potable water during the season.
• Pets Are Allowed in campgrounds, roads, and pullouts in Rocky Mountain. However, they are not allowed on any trail or on the visitor shuttles. If you bring your pet to a campground, you’ll need to stay with it within the campground’s footprint. Remember to clean up after your dog and properly dispose of their waste.
• Roughing It My favorite campsite is a “wilderness” one. You’ll need to hike into these sites and bring everything you need, including firewood. You will also need to pack out everything! These include sites that can be accessed by the most seasoned backpacker as well as ones for those with more limited mobility, including children. Practice the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace at all times when you are within the Park.

Developed Campgrounds in Rocky Mountain

1. Moraine Park Campground

• Dates: Year-Round
• Reservations: Yes, recreation.gov
• Price: ~$35 per night
• Sites: 244 No group sites.
• Max RV length: 40 ft total length
• Generators allowed: Yes, not allowed in D loop
• Amenities: picnic table, fire ring with grate, sharable food storage lockers, ADA sites, dump station, and tent pads of various sizes. Flush toilets (Loops B and E have vault toilets only), dishwashing stations, and drinking water are provided at designated comfort stations.

The most popular campground within Rocky Mountain National Park is Moraine Park Campground in the Bear Lake Corridor.

This site has RV (maximum length: 40 feet), tent sites, group sites, and shuttle service to some of the most popular hiking destinations including Bear Lake and Glacier Basin. Due to the crush of vehicle traffic during summer, it is recommended you take the shuttle to your hiking destination. You can easily walk from your Moraine Park campsite to the Cub Lake and Fern Lake trailheads. This campground has an amphitheater where nightly ranger talks take place in the summer.

This campsite is generally open year-round; winter camping in the Park is an amazing experience!

2. Glacier Basin Campground

• Dates: Late May-Early September
• Reservations: Yes, recreation.gov
• Price: ~$35 per night
• Sites: 150 including 13 group sites
• Max RV length: 35 ft total length
• Generators allowed: Yes, not allowed in part of C loop and group loop
• Amenities: Picnic table, fire pit, food storage lockers, ADA sites, dump station, and tent pads. Flush toilets and vault toilets, dishwashing stations, and drinking water are provided at designated comfort stations.Shuttle bus service is also available.

The Glacier Basin Campground is also located along Bear Lake Road, but a little higher in elevation. There are 150 sites at this campground, 75 of which are tent-only, and all require a reservation when it’s open, during the summer and early fall. These reservations fill up very quickly, so plan ahead! March 1st is the date when these reservations open up each year.

This is a fabulous campground to book for easy walking access to Sprague Lake or more strenuous hikes up to Bear Lake and beyond. The vehicle length limit is 35 feet (which includes the trailer hitch) for the RV sites and only two vehicles are allowed at each campsite. No more than eight people are allowed in any individual campsite. You can also take the shuttle up and down Bear Lake Corridor to access hikes in Moraine Park during the summer season.

3. Aspenglen Campground

• Dates: Late May-Late September (Reservations)
  January-May (FC/FS)
• Reservations: Yes, recreation.gov
• Price: ~$35 per night
• Sites: 51
• Max RV length: 30 ft total length
• Generators allowed: Yes, only allowed in Loop C
• Amenities: Picnic table, fire pit, food storage lockers, ADA sites, dump station, and tent pads. Flush toilets, dishwashing stations, and drinking water are provided at designated comfort stations.

For a first-come, first-served campground within the Park’s boundaries, check out the Aspenglen Campground during the off-season. Located just within the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain, this is a wonderful campground with RV and tent sites as well as some secluded sites that can be walked into, away from the camping loop road. The 51 campsites in this campground must be reserved during summer and early fall on Recreation.gov.

4. Timber Creek Campground

• Dates: Late May-Early October
• Reservations: Yes, recreation.gov
• Price: ~$35 per night
• Sites: 100
• Max RV length: 30 ft total length
• Generators allowed: Yes
• Amenities: Picnic table, fire pit, ADA sites, dump station, flush toilets, and potable water.

On the west side of the Park, there’s the Timber Creek Campground, also open only in the summer. When I first moved to Estes Park 25 years ago, this campground was full of trees; however, the pine beetle epidemic resulted in most of the trees being taken out for safety reasons. Located in the heart of the Kawuneeche Valley, this campground offers amazing wildlife viewing!

For all of these campsites, review the vehicle-length requirements before booking your RV campsite. Generally, length limits are between 30-40 feet, including the trailer, but each developed campsite has its stated requirements.

5. Longs Peak Campground

• Dates: July-October
• Reservations: No, FC/FS only
• Price: ~$30 per night
• Sites: 26
• Max RV length: Tent only
• Generators allowed: No
• Amenities: Picnic table, fire pit, food storage lockers, vault toilets. There is no water at this campground.

The Longs Peak Campground is a tent-only campground and is the only first come, first served campground in Rocky Mountain that is open in the summer. It typically opens in July and is located at a fairly high elevation. This campground has vault toilets and does not have any water so campers must bring their own water.

Developed Campgrounds Near Rocky Mountain National Park

If roughing it is not your cup of tea, there are quite a few campgrounds that offer full hook-ups, dump stations, and even onsite activities.

There are many campgrounds to choose from, each with its own amenities, throughout the region. Some of the important things to keep in mind when booking a stay anywhere are to ask questions about activities for kids (if applicable), transportation options, and proximity to the locations you’d like to visit.

If it’s a Rocky Mountain camping adventure you’re looking for, both Estes Park and Grand Lake have many options outside of the boundaries of the national park.Here are a few that stood out.

6. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park of Estes Campground

Some are perfect when vacationing with kids like Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ of Estes Campground which has a game room, mini-golf, a heated outdoor pool, and even a small store onsite! You can get a campsite or rent a cabin or an RV. It’s only five miles east of Estes Park on Highway 36.

7. KOA of Estes Park

Another great one for families of all ages is KOA of Estes Park. This campground is located in Estes Park and is within walking distance of Lake Estes and the Lake Estes Marina.It is open during the peak season of summer and has RV and tent sites as well as cabins.

8. Winding River Resort

On the west side of the Park, there’s the Winding River Resort, where they have tent and RV sites as well as cabins and lodge rooms and you can even stay in a covered wagon! The resort offers family activities such as onsite horseback riding trips, an onsite “Animal Farm,” fishing, and sleigh rides.

9. Wilderness Camping in Rocky Mountain

The 260 wilderness campsites are scattered throughout the Park and include some of the most pristine landscapes and stunning views. There are several things to keep in mind when camping in a designated wilderness campsite (dispersed camping is not allowed in Rocky Mountain, you must be permitted for a designated site).

Every wilderness campsite in Rocky Mountain is described here, including the distance from the trailhead, site elevations, elevation gains, and number of sites in the area.To get a Wilderness Camping Permit to camp before April 30, you must personally visit one of the two Wilderness Offices in Rocky Mountain. The Headquarters Wilderness Office is located beside the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Highway 36, just outside of Estes Park. On the west side of the Park, you can pick up a permit at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (open summers only), north of Grand Lake on Highway 34.

For wilderness camping dates from May through October, a reservation is needed. To make your reservation, you will need to pick a starting point and indicate how many people are in your party. In the summer, the permits cost $35; in the off-season, it’s $10.

Campfires are not allowed at wilderness campsites in Rocky Mountain; only propane stoves are allowed in these areas.

• Don’t miss A Complete Guide to Driving Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Check out Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park: 10 Things to Know Before You Go (Tips, Viewpoints, Things to Do Along the Way).

10. Dispersed Camping near Rocky Mountain National Park

Dispersed camping is free camping on National Forest Service lands. Adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, this camping is available in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (the east side of the Park); and, in the Arapaho National Recreation area near Grand Lake (the west side of the Rocky Mountain).

This type of camping is perfect for those who want to pick out their own spot to camp and bring their pets! But, this is also the type of camping that has led to the most devastating wildfires in the state’s history.

It is imperative that you observe the rules; you could face a hefty fine if your actions cause an incident:

1. No camping near trailheads, picnic spots, or designated campgrounds
2. Check the weather and road conditions before you go
3. Leave No Trace
4. Make sure you are on National Forest land; many parcels of land are privately owned. You’ll need a map!
5. Camping is limited to 14 days within 20 miles of your campsite.
6. Absolutely no fires are allowed on red-flag days (high wind, dry conditions).

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Rocky Mountain is crowded!

Need a game plan to avoid the crowds? Check out our itinerary.

Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid the crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.