Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
The crown jewel of the Colorado Mountains, Rocky Mountains National Park is a gorgeous place to visit with towering mountains and stunning alpine lakes. With excellent hiking opportunities and places to explore, how do you plan the perfect itinerary to explore Rocky Mountain National Park in one day, two days, or three days?
Most recently, we spent a week in this part of Colorado as part of our month-long road trip and have spent several years living and working in Colorado and exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, and we will share exactly how to make the most of your time in Rocky Mountain National Park with the perfect one, two or three day itineraries.
You can also find general information for planning your visit and our thoughts on whether one day in rocky mountain national park is really enough time. You may also like: Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Highlights of What to See in Rocky Mountain National Park in One Day, Two Days or Three Days
In this section, you can see the highlights of what to do on your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, then scroll down for more details.
Rocky Mountain National Park 1 day Itinerary: Start early and drive up to Bear Lake. From here, hike up to Emerald Lake stopping at Nymph and Dream Lake. Pause for a picnic at Bear Lake or hike the short distance into Alberta Falls. In the afternoon take a scenic drive around the park stopping at all the viewpoints to snap some photos. Stop at the visitor center to find out where the Elk are before heading into town for dinner and ice cream.
Exploring Rocky Mountain National Park in one day is just enough to give you a sense of the area and get in one hike, but isn’t enough time to do several longer hikes and really explore the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park 2 day Itinerary: If you have 2 days to explore this park, you should start with the one-day itinerary for Rocky Mountain National Park listed above and follow this plan for the first day.
Day 1: Rocky Mountain National Park 1 day itinerary
For day 2, select one of the medium or longer hikes: Sky Pond, or Wild Basin Ouzel Falls. This will take you the full day and will get you out into some of the amazing scenery Rocky Mountain National Park offers.
Rocky Mountain National Park 3 day Itinerary: Start your 3 days in the park with the Rocky Mountain National Park 1 day itinerary listed above. On day 2, you will want to choose from several short hikes such as Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge in the morning and spend the afternoon exploring Estes Park. On your final day, you will be more acclimated if you are coming from sea level and can tackle one of the bigger hikes like Long’s Peak or Sky Pond.
See more ideas of Things to do in Estes Park
What to Know About Rocky Mountain National Park
As you start your plan for seeing Rocky Mountain National Park in one day, two days, or three days, there are a few helpful things to know before you visit.
- There is a timed entry system for much of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park. You will need to book your timed entry in advance and then enter during the entry window. You can get a timed entry for either the Bear Lake Cooridor (includes general park access) or the Park Access (does NOT include the Bear Lake Cooridor). You can learn more about the timed entry on the NPS website.
- The park is open year round, but you should always check weather and road conditions.
- While we love Rocky Mountain National Park itself, if you can’t get a timed entry spot or have more days, the mountains around the park are also wonderful to visit.
- The closest town to Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park, located right outside the main entrance. You will find plenty of places to eat, stay, and shop in town.
- You can take your own car and drive up into the park, but parking can be tight. There is a shuttle that runs on two main routes inside the park: the Bear Lake Route and the Moraine Park Route.
Best Time to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
The best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in terms of the weather is the summer. This is also when the park is the most crowded. Due to the higher elevation, you can expect snow in the park year-round and we saw snow when we were there in mid-August. If you can, try to visit the park in early June or Sept/Oct. This gives you the best chance of good weather and less crowds.
Rocky Mountain National Park can be cold all year long, so expect cold temperatures and wind even in the summer and pack layers. The itineraries here are for people visiting in the warm months. If you are planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter, you will want to check the park conditions and plan accordingly.
Since there are often thunderstorms in the afternoons in the summer, it’s best to plan your hikes for early in the morning. Something else to consider is that if you are planning a Rocky Mountain National Park in one day itinerary, and you get a day of poor weather you may miss the park. Giving yourself at least 2 days will help overcome this and ensure you get some time to hike.
How Much Time do You Need in Rocky Mountain National Park?
If you are short on time and wondering how much time you need in the Park, the quick answer is that 1 day in Rocky Mountain National Park is not enough. To do several of the amazing hikes and take the drives to the scenic lookouts, you should plan at least 3 days in the park.
Of course, that doesn’t always mean you will have that much time, so we’ve got suggestions if you just have one or two days in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can easily spend more time in the park, so check out more suggestions of things to do.
Rocky Mountain National Park 1 Day Itinerary
If you’re going to spend just 1 day in rocky mountain national park, you will want to maximize your time by getting an early start. For your single day, make sure you get a timed entry for early in the morning for the Bear Lake corridor. As soon as you arrive in the park, make your way straight to Bear Lake. The parking lot here can get crowded. We arrived around 7:20 am and the lot was almost full. If the lot is full, you will need to drive back down to the park and ride and get a shuttle.
Head off on the well-maintained Emerald Lake Trail past Nymph and Dream Lakes. This is a beautiful hike with views out across the mountains and plenty of lakes to explore. While I think Emerald Lake is the prettiest, both Dream and Nymph offer something different. On the day we did this hike in mid-August it was blowing about 40 miles an hour and was pretty cold. There were white caps and waves on all these little lakes.
The trail to Emerald Lake is just over 3 miles and about 1,000 feet of elevation. Expect to take about 2 hours on this hike.
Once you’re down from the hike, make sure to take the short walk over to see Bear Lake. You can eat a picnic here, or if you want to hike another short 0.8 mile hike out to Alberta Falls for a lunch break. These beautiful falls are along the Glacier Gorge Trail.
Drive back down Bear Lake Rd. If you haven’t eaten yet, head out to town to grab some food, and stop at the visitor center for some general information. In the afternoon drive Trail Ridge Rd in the park. Make sure to make some stops for photos at the scenic overlooks including Many Parks Curve, Forest Canyon Overlook, and Fairview Curve.
Wrap up your Rocky Mountain National Park in one-day itinerary with a walk around Estes Park and some well-earned dinner and an ice cream (we sampled several places while we were in town).
Rocky Mountain National Park 2 day Itinerary
If you have more than 1 day in Rocky Mountain National Park, you can add on one of the park’s longer hikes. For the 2 day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, you will want to spend your first day doing the exact plan from the one day in Rocky Mountain National Park (listed above).
For a quick round-up of Day 1
- Start the day with a hike up to Emerald Lake
- Picnic lunch at Bear Lake or Alberta Falls
- Spend the afternoon driving Trail Ridge Rd and stopping at the overlooks
- End the day in Estes Park
Day 2
Select one of the longer hikes for your 2nd day in the park. Remember that if you are coming from sea level, you might not be acclimated yet. A few trails to consider are Sky Pond, Deer Mountain, Chasm Lake, or Mount Ida.
Rocky Mountain National Park 3 day Itinerary
Planning a 3 day Rocky Mountain itinerary is perfect for seeing the main sites, taking a few short hikes, and choosing one of the longer hikes. This also gives you time to spend in town and check out the elk and other interesting activities.
For the 3 day itinerary, you will spend the first day doing the same itinerary listed above (for the Rocky Mountain National Park in One Day Itinerary).
Day 1
- Get an early start and hike to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes from Bear Lake
- Take a picnic at Bear Lake or Alberta Falls (or get lunch in town)
- Spend the afternoon driving up Trail Ridge Rd and stopping at the scenic overlooks for some photos.
- End the day with dinner in Estes Park
Day 2
On your second day, start your morning with a hike up Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. In the afternoon you can select another shorter hike, or spend the afternoon in Estes Park.
Day 3
This is your day to choose one of the bigger hikes as you will be more acclimated. If you are going to try Long’s Peak, this is the day, otherwise select one of the other amazing moderate to difficult hikes including Sky Pond, Deer Mountain, Chasm Lake, and Mount Ida.
Another benefit of having 3 days in Rocky Mountain National Park is you can adjust your schedule based on the weather. If your 3rd day is going to be overcast and cold, consider switching your days around and doing the longer hike on day 2.
If you have more than 3 days and are looking to extend your itinerary, consider adding on some of the hikes you missed. There are also many good hikes outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Having lived in Boulder, this is a fun place to explore and you can take a walk along the base of the Flat Irons.
How to Get to Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is located right outside Estes Park. Estes Park is a relatively large town with plenty of places to stay and eat. Eastes Park is about 1.5 hours from Denver International Airport. Denver is a great place to fly into and rent a car for your Rocky Mountain adventure. Another option is to stay close to Boulder (about 1 hour from Rocky Mountain National Park).
If you are looking to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in one day as a stop on a long road trip, here are a few common driving times to other major attractions:
- Rocky Mountain National Park to Badlands National Park: 6 hours
- Rocky Mountain National Park to Arches National Park: 6.5 hours
- Rocky Mountain National Park to Fort Collins: 1 hour
Rocky Mountain National Park Places to Stay
Whether you are planning to see Rocky Mountain National Park in one day or five days, you will likely want to find a place to stay around Estes Park. It is possible to stay in Boulder or Fort Collins but you will need to add an hour of driving time to get to the park.
Since we were staying in the area as part of a longer road trip, we camped for the entire time of our visit. After looking at several options, we stayed at Hermit Hollow campground. We enjoyed our campsite and these facilities. There are hiking and biking trails right at the campground and we enjoyed exploring this area. We did get an epic thunder and lightning storm that turned into strong winds one of the nights we camped!
Here are a few nearby hotels that we looked at with good reviews for our stay in the area (these all looked pretty good to us in the middle of the night when there was a storm)!
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Summary
Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to spend a few days. There itineraries will help you plan the perfect visit and get you out on the hiking trail and up into the mountains.
Common Questions about Planning a Rocky Mountain Itinerary
What are the must-see attractions and activities when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, and how can I create an itinerary to make the most of my trip?
When visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, be sure to include iconic spots like Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake, and the Alpine Visitor Center in your itinerary. To plan your trip, consider the park’s elevation and weather conditions, and allow for at least a few days to explore various sections. You can create a comprehensive itinerary by combining scenic drives, short hikes, and wildlife viewing to make the most of your visit.
Are there any specific hiking trails suitable for beginners in Rocky Mountain National Park, and how can I plan a day-by-day itinerary for a hiking-focused visit?
For beginners, Rocky Mountain National Park offers beginner-friendly hiking trails like the Bear Lake Loop and the Sprague Lake Loop. To plan a hiking-focused itinerary, start with these easier trails and gradually progress to more challenging ones as your confidence and fitness level grow. Be sure to check trail conditions and acquire necessary permits before embarking on your hikes.
What are the best camping options within Rocky Mountain National Park, and how can I design a camping itinerary that maximizes my outdoor experience while staying within the park?
Rocky Mountain National Park offers several campgrounds, with Moraine Park Campground being a popular choice. To design a camping itinerary, consider the length of your stay, the availability of campsite reservations, and the desired level of comfort (backcountry or frontcountry camping). Include hikes and ranger-led programs during your stay to fully immerse yourself in the park’s natural beauty and educational opportunities. Book your campground early as reservation fill up quickly.
Looking for other places to explore?
You might like hiking the Flatirons in Boulder.
Exploring the Pool in Rocky Mountain National Park
Drive north to explore Yellowstone or Glacier National Park.
Or visit out National Parks Planning Section to create the perfect Road Trip.
