Glacier Basin Campground (8,500 feet) is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, along the Bear Lake Road Corridor. The entrance to Glacier Basin Campground is approximately 5.2 miles up Bear Lake Road and across the street from the Park & Ride Parking Area.
There are 150 campsites available by reservation only. There are no first come - first served campsites available at Glacier Basin.
Any sites that are open are listed as "A" for available.
Any campsite listed as “NR” has Not Yet Released; this means that those campsites are not yet available to be reserved.
A number of campsites are available to be reserved up to 6-months in advance on a rolling window.
Some campsites are available to be reserved 2-weeks prior to your desired camping date.
Some campsites are available to be reserved 1-week prior to your desired camping date.
Group campsites are available to be reserved 1-year in advance on a rolling window.
Glacier Basin Campground contains several group and family tent-only sites, as well as RV sites without hookups. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate and tent pad. Roads and parking spurs are paved. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
There is a shuttle stop inside the campground for the park’s free shuttle bus. The shuttle system provides easy access to many trailheads and scenic destinations located throughout the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Click on the following link to learn more about the Bear Lake Road Corridor .
Due to a pine beetle epidemic, all the trees in the C Loop, D Loop and the Group Loop have been removed, leaving little to no shade in these areas. However, this campground has beautiful views of the mountains and the night sky.
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Roads & Construction: When traveling on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, please pardon our mess. In the town of Estes Park, crews are working to improve access to and from RMNP. Inside Rocky, construction is wrapping up from a major improvement project at the Fall River Entrance. Please give yourself plenty of time to arrive and pack your patience; these projects will greatly improve access to Rocky Mountain National Park for current and future visitors.
Camping space is extremely limited. Ensure your camping unit or equipment will fit in your chosen site. Other options may not be available.
Be aware - Vehicles larger than 35-feet are not permitted in Glacier Basin campground.
Timed Entry Permits: For visitors who are camping at Glacier Basin Campground, your Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation is included with your camping reservation.
- Campers will be able to enter the park beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of their camping reservation, which is also the check-in time for all park campgrounds. Campers who plan to enter the park earlier in the day will have to enter the park outside of the times when Timed Entry Permits are in effect (for example, before 9 a.m. for most areas of the park) or make a Timed Entry reservation.
Entrance Fee. A park entrance fee is required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, or show your annual or lifetime park pass. You may pay the entrance fee upon arrival.
Pass Discounts on Camping. If you use a Senior or Access Pass for a camping fee discount while booking a reservation, you must present the pass and photo ID upon check-in.
Check-in Time. Check-in is after 1 p.m.
Site Limits. Each site is limited to eight (8) persons and one camping unit (i.e., a tent, RV, or trailer/tow vehicle) plus one additional tent per standard nonelectric site.
All tents shall be located on the tent pad. All additional camp structures must be self standing without impacts to vegetation or trees.
Parking is limited to two (2) vehicles per site. A vehicle is defined as one vehicle, one trailer, one RV, or one towed unit.
Each vehicle must be parked on the gravel or paved parking pad causing no resource degradation or encroachment onto the paved access road. Some sites will accommodate only one vehicle on the graveled parking pad. Extra vehicles must park in overflow areas.
Maximum length of stay. The maximum length of stay during peak season is 7 nights. Please check the rules and regulations before making your reservation.
Group loop sites 1 through 13 at Glacier Basin Campground are tent only. Vehicles larger than 21-ft are not permitted in the Group Loop.
Be Advised: Trailer length is the total maxium vehicle length allowable.
(Trailer Length = Trailer + Hitch + Vehicle)
Maximum Vehicle + Trailer Length = Vehicle + Trailer + Hitch = 35 ft at Glacier Basin campground.
No Hookups. There are no RV hookups available.
Dump Station. RV sewage and wastewater tanks must be emptied at the dump station.
No Shower or Laundry. There are no shower or laundry facilities in the campground; portable showers are prohibited.
Food Storage and Wildlife. Bears, deer, elk, raccoons and skunks frequent the area. All food, pet food, cooking utensils and any other scented items must be stored in a food storage locker, located in the campground.
Firewood. Firewood is not available for purchase at Glacier Basin Campground. Firewood is available for purchase at stores in Estes Park.
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Prohibited Wheeled Devices. The use of skateboards, rollerblades, scooters and other similar devices is prohibited.
STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. Remove plants, seeds, animals, and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails and follow local guidelines for firewood. CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that contacts water. Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, fish parts, or other organisms into the trash and not into the environment. For more information visit the National Invasive Species Information Center .
ATTENTION: If you plan on renting an RV or camping equipment and having it delivered to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is your responsibility to make sure that the individual or business that you are renting the equipment from has a valid permit to do business in the park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business or individual without a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the park may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon delivery.
A pleasant mix of Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine and the occasional Engelmann spruce forests the campground, offering equal amounts of sun and shade. Grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open meadows.
Wildlife is plentiful in the park, and while mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are the most commonly seen, black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose inhabit the region as well.
The Town of Estes Park is a short drive from the campground, located outside of RMNP’s Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, and golfing opportunities await. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding, and fishing.
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs. One of the most popular activities in the park is wildlife viewing. There are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities to see elk, Mule deer, Bighorn sheep, hawks, a wide range of songbirds and more throughout the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park offers some unforgettable scenic views along of the land above trees, over 1/3 of the park is alpine tundra. Enjoy incredible scenic drives along Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
1000 Highway 36 Estes Park CO 80517
For campground inquiries, please call: 970-586-1206
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Estes Park, CO:
Drive on U.S. Highway 36 west from Estes Park. The closest entrance to the park is the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The turn for Bear Lake Road is approximately 0.2 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance, located on the left side of the road.
Drive up Bear Lake Road 5.2 miles. The turn to enter Glacier Basin Campground is located on the left side of Bear Lake Road and across from the Park & Ride parking area.
From Grand Lake, CO:
Drive on U.S. Highway 34 east, which becomes Trail Ridge Road inside the park. Enter at the Grand Lake Entrance. Follow Trail Ridge Road east across the continental divide approximately 40 miles. When you come to Deer Ridge Junction, follow the signs for U.S. Hwy 36/Beaver Meadows Entrance. The turn for Bear Lake Road will be on your right, approximately 0.2 miles before the exit to the park.
Drive up Bear Lake Road 5.2 miles. The turn to enter Glacier Basin Campground is located on the left side of Bear Lake Road and across from the Park & Ride parking area.