Colorado is among the few RV locations in our nation that immediately conjures up photographs of breathtaking snow-capped peaks, considerable wildlife, and wildflower-carpeted meadows. Summer time RV tenting at Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park is among the greatest methods to expertise all of it in a single journey. For that cause alone, it’s one of many busiest parks within the system, however with cautious planning, you’ll be able to have that bucket checklist journey you’ve been dreaming about. Right here’s find out how to make it occur.
It’s Well worth the Effort to Plan for Your Journey
Few nationwide parks outline the collective imaginative and prescient of a U.S. state the way in which that Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park does. When mixed with nice summer season temperatures and superior RV tenting, “Rocky,” because the locals name it, has all of the options crucial for an unforgettable trip. The sheer quantity of people that need to expertise it (over 4.3 million in 2022) is why the Nationwide Park Service has made some crucial modifications to the park expertise. New guidelines are affecting when, how, and generally if we expertise the park in any respect, so listen.
Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park in Summer time. Getty Pictures.
What to Count on at Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park
The largest modifications at Rocky contain attempting to resolve visitor overcrowding points and beefing up campsite infrastructure. For example, reservations at the moment are required simply to get into the park as a day-use customer. Reservations are additionally wanted to take park shuttles that run inside and outside the park. And at last, a significant campground closure contained in the park will even impression your plans whether or not you keep exterior the park or not. Understanding all of those modifications is crucial if you’re RV tenting close to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. Let’s take a look at them intimately.
1) Plan for the Timed Entry Allow Reservation Requirement
In 2021, Rocky was the primary location in our nationwide park system to position restrictions on when guests can enter the park. Between Memorial Day via early October, a “timed entry allow reservation” reserving is required for all day-use guests who need to get into the park. Plan for this, by reserving your park entry slot at Recreation.gov. Your move means that you can enter the park on a sure day, inside a two-hour window. You’ll additionally want a park entrance move (additionally reservable at Recreation.gov) earlier than arriving on the gate. Care for this element whereas making your park reservation and also you’ll be set for journey if you test in. Don’t wait till you get there. Your required entry day and time will in all probability be booked.
Meadow in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. Getty Pictures
Did you ebook a campsite within the park? Should you’re fortunate sufficient to have already got a spot inside any of the park’s RV-friendly campgrounds (Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Timber Creek, and Moraine are the RV-friendly ones), you don’t want a timed entry reservation throughout your keep. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to’t get into the park till 1 pm on the primary day of your reservation.
2) Put together to Use a Hiker Shuttle
Experiencing Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park’s superb locations like Bear Lake is a must-do in your agenda. In case you are staying close to the park’s hottest entrance close to Estes Park, you’ll need to depart your car on the town and hop on a free park shuttle to get into the park. Designated in-park shuttles can take you all over the place that you must go. Nonetheless, the park’s exterior and inside shuttle system is now requiring visitor reservations. So as a substitute of standing in line for as a lot as two hours to board a shuttle, your reserving permits instantaneous boarding in your most well-liked day and time. Shuttle scheduling can get a little bit tough, however the park’s Shuttle Buses data web page might help you intend after you ebook a campsite. Take into account that if you happen to’re tenting close to the park’s western entrance, there are not any shuttles going into the park. Nonetheless, you continue to want an advance in-park Shuttle Bus reservation if you wish to simply go anyplace with out your car.
A Main Campground Closure Is Impacting Close by RV Parks and Campgrounds
The largest RV-friendly campground at Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park is closed from Might 2023 via June 2024. Growing older and weather-beaten water, wastewater, and electrical distribution techniques contained in the campground are getting revamped, and ADA entry will even be improved. The most effective half is that a further 60 campsites are getting electrical hookups. Sadly, because of this Moraine’s 244 RV-friendly campsites are closed for the subsequent yr. The shortage of campsites is making a domino impact at close by personal RV parks, so depend on additional problem getting the precise dates you need to go to.
Spruce Lake RV Resort
3) Make Your Tenting Reservations, the Earlier the Higher
In case you are fascinated with RV tenting close to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park this yr, begin searching for a campsite as quickly as you already know your potential dates. By this time of yr, you in all probability gained’t be fortunate sufficient to attain an open slot at a campground within the park itself. However fortunately, you will have a number of personal RV campgrounds close by to select from. Simply be versatile along with your desired dates and contemplate a weekday go to for the perfect possibilities of touchdown a spot.
The place to RV Camp Exterior of Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park
The park has two foremost entrances: the jap entrance close to Estes Park, and the western entrance close to Grand Lake. Since Estes is a straightforward drive from Denver, it’s by far the preferred vacation spot for guests to Rocky. Tenting reservations are extra aggressive on this facet, which implies you may need a greater probability of scoring a reservation by focusing your getaway close to the western entrance.
Estes Park: Spruce Lake RV Resort
This top-rated Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park vacation spot for RVers is handy to Rocky and Estes Park. Positioned lower than 10 minutes from the park’s jap entrance, you’ll be able to even bike into the park out of your campsite. Nonetheless, you continue to want a reservation to get inside. Spruce Lake RV Resort just isn’t cheap, however friends get pleasure from loads of conveniences in trade. It’s the perfect location to arrange camp and stroll to the guts of Estes’ eating and purchasing district. A small grocery retailer with all the things you want for consolation is correct across the nook. The one draw back is that the resort is restricted to RVs as much as 40 ft lengthy. For the remainder of us, Spruce Lake provides quick entry to a park expertise.
Meadow Lodge and RV Resort
Estes Park: Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Resort
Should you’re staying on the jap facet of Rocky, you’ll be able to’t get any nearer to tenting contained in the park than Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Resort. Positioned one mile from Estes Park and subsequent door to the park’s jap entrance, the gorgeous surroundings surrounding this 30-acre historic property with full hookups offers you the sense that you simply’re contained in the park itself. One of many greatest attracts of Elk Meadow is that it’s the closest big-rig-friendly tenting close to Rocky, excellent for RVs as much as 70 ft lengthy. And because the identify implies, even the native wildlife love this spot. You’ll be visited day by day by elk, deer, and different park animals who inhabit the terrain.
Grand Lake: Winding River Resort
Like the opposite Estes Park RV campgrounds close to Rocky, Winding River Resort is actually inside strolling distance of the park’s western entrance. Positioned simply north of scenic Grand Lake, this fashionable vacation spot can accommodate RVs as much as 60 ft lengthy. The historic ambiance and proximity to mountain climbing trails make it a well-liked selection. Campsites solely have water and electrical hookups, however two dump stations contained in the resort make up for this tiny inconvenience.
Winding River Resort
Though Rocky noticed a slight decline in visitation final yr, it’s nonetheless a well-liked place. Wherever you arrange your RV close to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, count on firm and prime-time pricing for actions, meals, gas, and naturally, campsites. However if you happen to ebook an RV web site now and reap the benefits of the brand new reservations system on the park, you’ll be as adventure-ready because it will get for one of many world’s most epic out of doors experiences.
