Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
A Guide to Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
A Guide to Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
When you rent an RV in Colorado, make it a priority to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. The park offers 415 square miles of space to explore, which is full of some of the most beautiful mountains in the entire country. Peaks rise up 12,000 feet, and there are miles of alpine and subalpine landscape for you to take in, too.
Rocky Mountain National Park is perfect for folks who choose to rent an RV, too. It offers good park roads and plenty of campgrounds in the area. You can hike and nature watch to your heart’s content as well as do various other outdoor activities. Here’s your guide to this wonderful national park.
One of the reasons that Rocky Mountain National Park is a must-see if you’re renting an RV in Colorado is because of all of the scenic drives you can do through the park. There are numerous park roads that go through the park and they offer pull-offs and photo opportunities.
Two of the scenic drives that are the most popular include Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road. Both offer some of the most breathtaking views of the mountains you’ll see in the park.
A word of caution for Old Fall River Road: it’s tight. This means if you have a large RV (over 25 feet in length), you should not go on it. Smaller RVs and camper vans should fine. There are various other routes through the park if you can’t make Old Fall, so you can still enjoy a good drive through the park.
Located on the east side of the park, the Bear Lake Area is one of the areas within the park that’s a definite must-see. The area features scenic overlooks, picnic sites, and trailheads to many of the popular hiking trails in the park. The area around Bear Lake and Sprague Lake is also perfect for taking tons of photos, and there’s plenty of wildlife to see in this area of the park, too.
Also on the east side of the park, Lily Lake is another great place to visit. It’s at a lower elevation and is said to be one of the favorite places for Enos Mills, the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park,” to take walks when he was out and about. The area is full of beautiful wildflowers in the spring and a long list of wildlife. There’s a mile-long trail that winds through this area.
This is where you’ll find the headwaters of the impressive Colorado River. It’s located on the western side of the park, which is known as the quieter, less-traveled side of the park. There are some pristine hiking trails here unlike any others in the state, and the Coyote Valley Trail is a great place to start. It’s a family-friendly trail through this area.
There’s also the Holzwarth Historic Site which discusses the unique history of one of the families that lived here and made their mark. The area is a fantastic place to learn about Rocky Mountain National Park history and Colorado history, in general.
There are numerous visitor centers and ranger-led programs within the park’s boundaries. All of them will be able to help guide you through the park and provide you with much-needed information and activities.
Here are the visitor centers in the park:
● Alpine Visitor Center - Open Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day
● Beaver Meadows Visitor Center - Open year-round
● Fall River Visitor Center - Open late spring through mid-fall
● Kawuneeche Visitor Center - Open year-round
● Moraine Park Discovery Center - Open late spring through mid-fall
● Sheeps Lake Information Center - Open year-round
Ranger-led programs can be found at these visitor centers. These programs usually happen in the summer and can be great ways for you and your family to learn more about the park and have unique experiences while you’re here.
There are five campgrounds within the park’s boundaries. Of those five campgrounds, RVs are welcome at four of them. Long’s Peak Campground is for tent campers only, but otherwise, you can camp with your RV without an issue.
Here are the campgrounds where you can stay in your RV:
● Aspenglen Campground - No hookups or dump station
● Glacier Basin Campground - No hookups, seasonal dump station
● Morain Park Campground - No hookups, seasonal dump station
● Timber Creek Campground - No hookups, seasonal dump station
As you can see, these campgrounds are fairly primitive. There will be toilet facilities at them, but no showers and you’ll be without some of the nicer amenities. These campgrounds will have staff on-site only seasonally, and you’ll need to plan accordingly.
The Paradise on the River RV park and resort offers visitors some beautiful views and tons of amenities. RVers can enjoy campsites with their own small deck and full hookups. There’s also Wi-Fi, Cable TV, restroom and shower facilities, and laundry facilities at the park. Pets are welcome here, so feel free to bring your furry friend.
A part of the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, Mary’s Lake Campground is home to some fantastic campsites. There are numerous RV sites with full hookups and all campsites come with a picnic table and fire ring. There are also flush toilets, coin-operated showers, a dump station, a propane filling station, a heated swimming pool, a fully-stocked camping store, and laundry facilities here.
The East Portal Campground is another campground within the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. This campground is another great place to stay in your RV if it’s a smaller RV or trailer. The sites are smaller and you’ll have to be under the 22-foot restriction. If you meet that, you’ll enjoy picnic tables and fire rings at each campsite full hookups at most campsites, a dump station, a playground for the kids, and firewood and ice sales.
The Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Resort is one of the best places to stay near the national park. The views here are unparalleled, and there are 169 full hookup campsites that can accommodate up to 75-foot RVs. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool, bathhouse facilities, mini-golf, games, a playground, and even live entertainment on the weekends sometimes.
The dining options within the park’s boundaries are limited. There’s only one restaurant that’s open seasonally from late May through early October. The Trail Ridge Store has a nice cafe and coffee bar to get a meal at. Otherwise, the only other option is the Rocky Mountain Conservancy building, which will only have a limited selection of snack foods.
When it comes to eating outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, you have a few places that make the most sense to go.
The first is Estes Park. This community nestled in the Rocky Mountains has everything from breakfast and brunch spots to inventive lunch restaurants and fine dining for dinner. The city is well worth visiting while you’re in the area, and depending on where you stay, you might find yourself right smack in the middle of it anyway.
The second is Grand Lake. This community offers plenty of options, too, and had the added benefit of having the lake right there. You can get all of the classic American dishes served here, but there are also a few other more-exotic gems if you want something other than the standard burger and fries.
No matter where you choose to stay or eat, we know you’ll enjoy the amazing views and wildlife of Rocky Mountain National Park.