Camping in Estes Park, Colorado
A complete guide to camping in Estes Park
Photo Credit: A Dey
Overview
Estes Park sits at 8,193 feet at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, four miles from the park boundary. The town functions as the primary base camp for the park's eastern trails, alpine lakes, and Trail Ridge Road, which crosses the Continental Divide at over 12,000 feet. The valley holds a mix of private campgrounds and national park facilities that serve different camping styles.
For RV travelers, Spruce Lake RV Park and Manor RV Park provide full-hookup sites in the valley with mountain views. Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Resort sits along the Fall River corridor with pull-through sites for larger rigs. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park runs a family-oriented campground with cabins, tent sites, and activities for kids. Inside Rocky Mountain National Park, Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds offer developed sites among the ponderosa pine, Aspenglen Campground near the Fall River entrance is the smallest and quietest of the three park campgrounds, tucked in an aspen grove. Longs Peak Campground at 9,405 feet puts tent campers at the base of the park's signature 14,259-foot summit.
The valley floor stays cooler than most Colorado destinations, with July highs averaging only 60 degrees at this elevation. Nights drop into the 30s and 40s year-round. Estes Park itself provides walkable restaurants, gear shops, and grocery access within minutes of most campgrounds. Hermits Hollow and Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake round out the options for those wanting a quieter setting away from the main strip.
Weather & Best Seasons
Best months: June through September
Summer is the primary season, though even July averages only 60 degrees at 8,193 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms develop most summer days by early afternoon, often with lightning above treeline. Trail Ridge Road typically opens by late May and closes in October. Snow is possible in any month above 10,000 feet. September brings golden aspens, thinner crowds, and cooler nights dropping into the 20s.
