The Ultimate RV Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park

The surreal landscape of the Rocky Mountain National Park covers 415 square miles with stunning jagged mountains, lush forests, and cool rivers and lakes. While the Rocky Mountains stretch through the United States and up into Canada, the park covers what is known as the Front Range, a section in northern Colorado.

Taking a motorhome through the Rocky Mountain National Park will not just let you explore the many sights and attractions on your own time, but you’ll also be able to stay at a campground in the park and can wake up to those picturesque peaks every single morning.

Use this ultimate motorhome guide to the Rocky Mountain National Park to find out what you can see during your visit, where you can camp, and a few other useful pieces of advice and information.

Things to see with your campervan in the Rocky Mountains

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do in the park, so here’s a quick guide to the highlights you can enjoy with your campervan.

• Trail Ridge Road: The highest paved road in the US, and a historic path that early Paleo-Indians used to travel across the Rockies. Reaching 3,713 metres (12,183 feet) at its highest point, this scenic drive offers some of the most arresting views in the park.

Image: Michael Vieira (Own work), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr

• Emerald Lake Trail: A popular, easy-going hiking trail that will take roughly 90 minutes without stops. You’ll pass by Tyndall Creek, Dream Lake, and Nymph Lake, taking in views of multiple peaks as you work your way up to Emerald Lake at roughly 11,000 feet.

• Moraine Park Museum: Learn about the history of the park in an old log cabin built in the 1900s. From geology to wildlife, this museum is a fantastic place to make sense of all the incredible views as you explore.

Image: Daniel Mayer(Own work), CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Bear Lake: A tranquil lake surrounded by mountains with a scenic and easy one-mile trail that takes you around the edge. This place is especially pretty in autumn when the colours begin to change, and you should aim to arrive in the car park early to secure a spot.

Image: Dave Dugdale (Own work), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr

• Alberta Falls: A beautiful 30-foot waterfall that’s most impressive through early summer when the snow melts. The cascade hits a pool at the bottom then flows through a shallow gorge, the incredible sight making it an ideal place to stop for a picnic.

Motorhome camping in Rocky Mountains National Park

There are a total of five campgrounds in the Rocky Mountains National Park, three of which you can (and will need to) reserve ahead of time, and two that are available on a first-come-first-served basis. One campground is for tents only, and none of the campgrounds offer electrical hookups or showers, but some do offer a variety of facilities.

Check-in is at 1 pm for all campgrounds, and check out is at noon. Additionally, quiet time in all campgrounds is from 10 pm to 6 am.

Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds you can reserve

Image: Christian Collins (Own work), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Flickr

• Aspenglen Campground (30 foot RV maximum): A tree-filled 54-site campground with wildflowers and meadows for a natural camping experience. There are very few facilities on site, no dump station, and only seasonal potable water. There are metal fire grates and flushing toilets. Aspenglen is only open during the summer.

• Glacier Basin Campground (35 foot RV maximum): A larger campground with 147 sites and a seasonal dump station and potable water. Other basic facilities include flushing toilets, trash collection and food lockers. Glacier Basin is also only available during summer.

• Moraine Park Campground (40 foot RV maximum): Moraine Park is located near the Beaver Meadows Entrance on Highway 36, and is the only campground open during winter. It is the largest campground by far with 247 sites. This camp offers year-round trash collection and food lockers, but other amenities including a dump station, firewood and ice for purchase are all seasonal. Flushing toilets are seasonal, but there are vault toilets available over winter.

You can book any of these campgrounds six months in advance of your arrival date at the government’s Recreation website, or by calling (877) 444-6777. Note that the Moraine Park Campground is first come, first served over the winter season.

Rocky Mountain National Park non-reservable campgrounds

• Timber Creek Campground (30 foot RV maximum): The only campground on the west side of the national park, Timber Creek has 98 campsites. This location is open through summer and the start of autumn, and offers a dump station, potable water, flushing toilets, fire grates, firewood for sale, and trash collection.

While you don’t need to reserve a space, it is recommended that you arrive early in the day to secure a place.

• The only other campground in the park is the Longs Peak Campground. However, this site is for tents only.

Important Rocky Mountains RV notes

Image: Greg Tally (Own work), CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Due to size restrictions in the campgrounds, and the nature of the winding, mountainous roads, it may be best to book a more compact motorhome.

• During mid-season from June 1 to September 30, you can camp a total of seven nights in the park. For the rest of the year, you can stay a total of 14 nights.

• You are not permitted to bring firewood into the park due to the potential for introducing harmful insects.

• A self-contained motorhome is your best option for the Rocky Mountain National Park as none of the campgrounds offer facilities such as showers.

• You will need to pay an entrance fee to the park that is separate from your campsite fee.

• Pets are permitted on all trails, tundra, and meadow areas provided they are on leashes no longer than six feet. You must also ensure your pet doesn’t create noise that would affect other visitors or wildlife.

• If you’re new to camping or need a refresher, browse through our guide to campground etiquette to ensure you’re a good motorhome neighbour.

• Each campsite has its own rules about when and where generators can be used, so double check these times and areas upon check-in.

 

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