Rocky Mountain National Park

Before you go

• The timed entry system runs from late May to mid-October, with reservations required between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Entering before or after is possible without one.
• Five frontcountry campgrounds exist. Most need advance reservations in summer. Only Longs Peak is first-come, first-served and tents only.
• Old Fall River Road bans vehicles over 25 ft (about 7.6 m) and any vehicle pulling a trailer or tow vehicle.

Planning

The basic timed entry reservation covers most of the park, including Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, the west side and Wild Basin. The Bear Lake Road corridor needs a separate Timed Entry+ option with a two-hour window. Reservations are made through Recreation.gov. The park entrance fee applies separately. Dates and rules change from year to year, so check the National Park Service page for the current season.

Camping

The five frontcountry campgrounds are Moraine Park, Timber Creek, Aspenglen, Glacier Basin and Longs Peak. They operate seasonally. In summer advance reservations are required at most of them. Longs Peak is tent-only and first-come, first-served. Moraine Park is the only campground open in winter, also first-come, first-served. The sources checked say nothing about RV length limits, so ask the park before you go.

Getting around

Trail Ridge Road (US 34) is 48 miles (about 77 km) long and reaches 12,183 feet (about 3,713 m), the highest continuous paved road in the United States according to the park. It is open to through travel only in the warm season. Old Fall River Road is a 9.4-mile (about 15 km) gravel one-way route in summer. When the Colorado Traction Law is active, all vehicles need suitable tires or traction devices.

FAQs