Estes park colorado
Which campground with full hookups would you recommend around Estes Park Pulling a 26 footer Travel trailer Been looking on line and not that many good choices Thank you
Forum Discussion
leesan wrote:
Which campground with full hookups would you recommend around Estes Park Pulling a 26 footer Travel trailer Been looking on line and not that many good choices Thank you
To specifically answer your question, there are about a half dozen RV parks in Estes Park. And Estes Park is a very popular destination for RVers during the season, as the parks are usually reserved well in advance, and also late in the October Elk rutting season.
Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake is owned by the town of Estes Park Recreation and Park Department. They have FHU, W/E only and no hookup sites. The FHU are the typical in a line type sites with not a lot of space between site. The W/E sites are all back in and these are the ones I prefer when I stay there. They have a dump station on site as well. They are also the cheapest of the commercial RV parks in Estes Park at $47/night for FHU. Estes Park also administers another campground at East Portal, but it's primarily for smaller rigs -- popups and tents.
Elk Meadow RV Resort is right at the entrance to RMNP. It is on a sloping hill, but has pretty good sites, a mix of back in and pull thru sites. Restrooms have always been very clean and well cared for. If you can get a site on the south side, you'll have an unobstructed view of Longs Peak, the highest point in RMNP. Elk Meadow in not cheap. Last time I stayed there was $61/night with discount, and now I think they are over $70/night. Their electricity was a bit quirky the last time I was there (pedestals were misaligned from the site they actually served), hopefully that's been resolved. Added plus the very real probability of elk walking/grazing thru the park.
Their companion park is Spruce Lake RV Park which is fairly close to Elk Meadow. Also a fairly nice park, all back in sites, getting one by the river gives the added pleasure of the sounds of rushng water, if you're into that sort of relaxation. It's a bit tighter than Elk Meadow, and is just as expensive.
Paradise on the River RV Park is a quaint little park that is right on the river. It's also hard to get into, and is usually reserved a year in advance if not longer. Getting a spot here is probably the most difficult in Estes Park.
Manor RV Park is right next door to Spruce Lake and looks to be very nice. I have not stayed there, it looks to be pretty tight to get in there, but it does get pretty good reviews. Also not cheap, seems their prices vary from $60s-$70s/night.
Unlike all of the above RV Parks, the KOA in Estes Park is on US34 coming in to Estes Park, and is on a hillside on this very busy road. The sites can be tight. Prices seem to vary, presumably based on rig.
About 7 miles outside of town, there is Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Another park on a hillside, the sites seem to be a bit random and pricing seems haphazard, according to reviewers. Another one I have not stayed at, it just doesn't appeal to me at all.
IF you could do a few days without hookups inside RMNP, I would strongly encourage it. That is now where I spend most of my time, camping in either Moraine Park or Glacier Basin. Both have very distinct appeals. In Moraine Park, B loop is preferable, in Glacier Basin, D loop is the preference, at least for me. Best views, and most likely have deer and elk wander through your site.
IF you haven't checked it already, H E R E - campgroundreviews.com is the link for reviews of all parks in the area, including parks in Drake and Loveland, along with USFS/RMNP CG.
On the west side of the Park, by Grand Lake, there are 2 commercial campgrounds -- Winding River Resort and Elk Creek Campground. Both have FHU availability, or just W/E hookups. Of the 2 I prefer Winding River. It has an authentic western feel to it, and the FHU sites are isolated at the far end of the property.
