Glamping close to Estes Park, Colorado offers campers access to Rocky Mountain National Park at 7,522 feet elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-80°F during the day, dropping into the 40s at night. Winter visitors should prepare for significant snowfall and temperatures that can drop well below freezing.
What to do
Hiking to Bear Lake: At Glacier Basin Campground, guests can access trails leading to popular destinations within RMNP. "There are trails the leave right from the campground, the free shuttle bus makes a stop near the check in station, and the Park & Ride is a short walk away. The location is very convenient to the most popular hikes in RMNP," explains Judy B.
Wildlife viewing: Hermits Hollow Campground provides opportunities to see local wildlife. One camper reports, "We had a fox visit our site as well as a marmot & many other creatures." Another camper, Wade R., mentions, "Moose and black bear apparently frequent but haven't caused any problems. This is our 3rd stay here, and one of our favorites."
Horseback riding: Winding River Resort offers equestrian activities for all ages. "Lots of activities to do. Loved the petting zoo and stream to swim in. Also really enjoyed the horseback riding and ATV ride," shares Tina K. The resort has horses that "roam free and will come right up to you," according to Michael T.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Estes Park KOA maintains high standards for their bathrooms and showers. Patty F. notes, "The campground was clean and well maintained. We lucked out and got the best tent site - it was huge. The other sites were a little small but nice." Another camper adds, "The showers are very clean, the bathrooms are great, and the experience here is always dependable."
Proximity to town: Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake offers convenience to local attractions. "Close to town and RMNP. Beautiful views. Elk in the area. Clean showers/bathrooms, though have to pay for showers. Propane fill on site. Small store. Have stayed there twice," says Krissy C. Another reviewer mentions it's "7 minutes to the Rocky Mountains, but basically in the city."
Lake access: Green Ridge Campground provides access to Shadow Mountain Lake. "Great walks/hikes or bike rides into the Rocky Mountains from the campground. Situated at Shadow Mountain Lake," says Ingrid. Another camper enjoyed "regular moose sightings: "Access to the park from the west side was great and there were moose who wandered right into the campground to take a swim in the lake regularly which was awesome."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Arapaho Bay Campground, "The first come first serve sites fill up by early Thursday. Get there earlier in the week and you will have a better chance of getting a spot," advises Kevin P. Another reviewer confirms, "While I did not stay at the campground I wanted to post a quick review to help people out. The campground itself seemed very nice and well maintained but you pretty much need a reservation ahead of time."
Weather considerations: Prepare for variable mountain conditions. At Hermits Hollow, one visitor experienced "two feet of snow" on the summer solstice, while another noted, "It is very windy, not much shade."
Shower facilities: Many campgrounds have limited shower facilities or charge extra. At Mary's Lake, "you must pay to shower" according to Erin S. Another reviewer explains, "The bathrooms are nice and clean, but the showers are coin-operated... throwing eight quarters into a machine for six minutes of hot water seems a bit like robbery."
Tips for camping with families
Activities for children: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers numerous family-friendly activities. "Kid friendly campground with pool, mini golf, jump pad, camp store and golf cart rentals," notes Kaylene H. Another family reports, "We are a family of 4, our boys are 11 and 8. The facility offered tons of activities for the kids and they wore themselves out daily to the point of falling asleep while eating dinner."
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide play areas. At Winding River Resort, one camper notes there's "a cute very well stocked store with anything you might need from tons of camping gear to OTC medicines... Nice safe playground and relaxing pool."
Educational programs: Glacier Basin Campground offers ranger-led activities. One visitor mentions, "Nightly talks/shows at the amphitheater," providing educational entertainment for children after a day of hiking.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites carefully at Riverview RV Park. "Our site was very wide and open, but we might just have been lucky. Most are tree covered sites and not packed in," notes Aaron. Another RVer mentions, "It can be suddenly and very windy here, so most campers did not use awnings."
Leveling requirements: Be prepared to level your rig at most area campgrounds. At Elk Meadows Lodge, Julia M. reports they "needed levels on one side of our RV" and noted the "dirt roads throughout so, unless it rained, it was very dusty and so we didn't open our windows as much as we wanted."
Size restrictions: Many campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. At Estes Park KOA, a camper noted it's "small but very nice" and "would be hard to get a camper over 35ft in." Glacier Basin Campground specifically mentions "a limit of 35 feet for RV/Trailer length."
