Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park RV Road Trip

Route map and itinerary

1. Day 1 Estes Park and Rocky Mountain · about 2 hours
2. Day 2 Estes Park (night 2)
3. Day 3 Estes Park (night 3)
4. Day 4 Denver (near the airport and RV return) · about 2 hours
5. Day 5 Fly home from DEN

Day by day

1. Day 1 Arrive in Denver and pick up your RV

   Experience

   Land at DEN, get to your rental location (some owners offer airport pickup or delivery; otherwise allow for a taxi or rideshare), do the walkthrough and orientation, and stock up on groceries, water and propane before you leave town.

   Getting there

   After pickup: about 2 hours · 77 mi to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain. Keep the first afternoon short; you're learning the vehicle.

   Your stay: 3 nights (check out Day 4)

   Inside the parkRocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin CampgroundEstes Park, CO · inside the park · 5.0★ (909)Why stay here: Inside the park, so no daily drive to the entrance; lists RV sites up to 35 ft; 5.0★ from 909 reviews.

   Change or extend: Add a night here in the planner

   Compare 3 other campgrounds

   • Inside the parkRocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park CampgroundEstes Park, CO · inside the park · 4.0★ (1312)Lists sites up to 45 ft; confirm your site fits
   • Inside the parkRocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen CampgroundEstes Park, CO · inside the park · 5.0★ (378)Lists sites up to 30 ft; confirm your site fits
   • Inside the parkRocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek CampgroundGrand Lake, CO · inside the park · 4.0★ (413)Lists sites up to 30 ft; confirm your site fits

   Getting around Estes Park

   From Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground: you're inside the park.

   Driving the RV

   • Trailhead and town lots are often small; check RV parking before you go.

   Shuttles

   We don't have verified shuttle information for Estes Park; check the park or town's official site.

   Activities with pickup

   Loading activities…

   Other local transport

   • Rideshare, taxis and bike rentals vary by area and season; arranged and paid separately.

2. Day 2 Estes Park and Rocky Mountain: explore

   Experience

   Three nights by Estes Park give time for Bear Lake and Sprague Lake, and a day on Trail Ridge Road when it is open.

   Travel today

   No campground change today; local travel is additional.

   Your stay

   Stay a second night at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground · same site, no packing up

3. Day 3 Estes Park and Rocky Mountain: explore

   Experience

   A free day: revisit a favorite viewpoint or take a longer hike.

   Travel today

   No campground change today; local travel is additional.

   Your stay

   Stay a third night at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground · same site, no packing up

4. Day 4 Drive back toward Denver

   Experience

   Spend the last night close to the rental return so departure morning is easy: dump tanks, refuel and clean up as your rental agreement requires.

   Getting there

   about 2 hours · 78 mi

   Your stay: 1 night

   Near the airportRidgeline at River Run (Age Restricted 55+)Englewood, CO · about 45 min from the RV return area · 4.2★ (181)Why stay here: About 45 minutes from the RV return area; lists RV sites up to 42 ft; full hookups listed; 4.2★ from 181 reviews.

   Change or extend:

   Compare 2 other campgrounds

   • Near the airportCherry Creek State ParkAurora, CO · about 35 min from the RV return areaSite length not listed: ask the campground
   • Near the airportDenver East / Strasburg KOA HolidayStrasburg, CO · about 40 min from the RV return areaSite length not listed: ask the campground

5. Day 5 Return the RV and fly home from DEN

   Experience

   Return the RV at the agreed time (check-in times vary by owner), then get to the airport. Leave a buffer: returns, inspections and the transfer can take a couple of hours.

   Getting there

   Short drive to the rental return, then transfer to the airport.

Campgrounds are suggestions from our park data, ranked by estimated drive time to the destination first, then listed site length, then reviews; "Inside the park" uses the National Park Service's list. Drive times are estimates. Seasonal openings and live availability aren't in our static park data; the planner checks them for your dates. Open dates and prices are checked live in the planner.

RV pickup and return

Pick up and return the RV in the Denver area. Day 1 allows time to get from DEN to the rental (owners' locations vary; a few offer airport pickup or delivery), the walkthrough, and a grocery stop, so the first drive is short: about about 2 hours to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain. The last night is near the return so you can refuel, empty the tanks and return on time before your flight.

Pickup and return times, mileage allowances and fees are set by each owner; check them before you book. This trip is about 155 miles.

RV rentals near Denver airport

Before you go

• The park has used timed-entry reservations in summer and early fall; check nps.gov/romo before you go.
• Trail Ridge Road normally closes from mid-October to late May.
• Estes Park sits at 7,500 ft; nights are cool even in July.

Official National Park Service pages: Plan your visit · Alerts & conditions · Directions & access · Fees & passes · Camping (official) · Hours & seasons

Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park by RV: common questions

Related trips

• Denver to Moab

RV parks near Rocky Mountain National Park · All fly-and-drive trips · Road trip planner