10 of the Best Cities and Towns Near Rocky Mountain National Park
These cities and towns near Rocky Mountain National Park are the best places to stay for your trip to Colorado.
Looking for the closest towns near Rocky Mountain National Park for your next vacation? I’ve rounded up 10 Colorado cities, towns, and mountain villages that are the perfect place to stay on your next trip.
The stunning national park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is one of my absolute favorite places to visit, with breathtaking lakes, adventurous hiking trails, and scenic drives along curving alpine roads.
When you’re looking for where to stay, you’ll find that cities near Rocky Mountain National Park with hotels range from the bustling Denver metro to old mining communities in the foothills that nearly hit ghost town status. Using the list below, you can decide which side of the park you want to be on, what amenities are important to you, and where to find budget-friendly hotels.
We’ve also included ideas for the best places to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park, whether you prefer a cozy cabin in the woods, a luxury lodge, or a simple motel with great access to the outdoors.
Keep reading for where to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park.
Towns Near Rocky Mountain National Park
Click to open this Google Map with pins for cities and towns near Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve also marked where all of the national park entrances are located so that you can see how far away each town is.
Rocky Mountain National Park Campgrounds
Before exploring towns close to Rocky Mountain National Park, you may want to look into campgrounds. Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds include Aspen Glen near Estes Park, Glacier Basin and Moraine Park along Bear Lake Road, Timber Creek on the west side of the park, and Longs Peak south of Lily Lake. All except the last one can be booked ahead of time and sell out quickly.
Estes Park
The closest town near Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park, less than 5 miles from the Beaver Meadows entrance. Many popular trails are easily accessible from here, as well at the national park’s Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Fall River Visitor Center, and Moraine Park Discovery Center.
In town, you can stroll the shopping and dining district along Elkhorn Avenue, tour the Stanley Hotel to see Stephen King’s inspiration for “The Shining,” and take the Estes Park Aerial Tramway up to a scenic valley view at the top of Prospect Mountain. There are also a couple of golf courses in town where elk herds like to congregate around dawn and dusk.
Hotels in Estes Park cover a range of prices, but do tend to fill up during the summer tourist season. You may want to look for other towns near Estes Park CO if you’re on a tight budget or planning at the last minute.
Where to Stay in Estes Park
Some of the top-rated properties in town I haven’t tested yet include the The Inn on Fall River on the scenic outskirts and Silver Moon Inn downtown.
Boulder
Home to the University of Colorado, Boulder sits in the foothills of the Rockies, about 40 miles from the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and 30 miles from Denver. This is a great spot to base yourself for bigger city amenities and access to incredible hiking and biking trails on the outskirts of town.
Aside from day trips to Rocky Mountain, you can shop and dine downtown in the Pearl Street Mall district and visit the Museum of Natural History and Fiske Planetarium on the university campus. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is also held here in the summer.
As one of the closest cities to Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder has everything from chain hotels to smaller bed-and-breakfast to cozy cabins. Prices tend to be higher downtown and near the university, so look to the outskirts for cheaper options.
Where to Stay in Boulder
Nederland
A teeny town buried in the foothills of the Rockies just south of the park, Nederland is a great place to stay to get a feel for the mining history of the area. A small downtown zone has gems like the Nederland Mining Museum, the restored 1910 Carousel of Happiness, and an old covered wooden bridge on a creek.
While you won’t find a wealth of amenities, there are several unique boutiques and cafes. One of Nederland’s best features is its location along the bucket list Peak to Peak Scenic Byway into Rocky Mountain National Park, a road that stretches about 55 miles between Black Hawk and Estes Park.
Nederland is one of the closest towns to Rocky Mountain National Park, located just 30 miles from the Wild Basin section, a less-popular zone with incredible lake and waterfall hikes.
There aren’t a lot of options for places to stay here, but you may get lucky and find space at the lodge in town or a nearby campground.
Where to Stay in Nederland
Black Hawk and Central City
One of the least-populated cities in the state, historic Black Hawk is known for its casinos and is at the southern end of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway. While it takes at least 1.5 hours to reach Estes Park from here, the panoramas along the drive are stunning and some Rocky Mountain sites like the Wild Basin trails and Lily Lake are along the way.
Black Hawk is one of the best cities near Rocky Mountain National Park if you’re into gaming and nightlife with some outdoorsy activities and day trips mixed in. Neighboring Central City also has a historic and picturesque downtown district dating to the late 1800s.
Black Hawk is just 10 miles off Interstate 70 and about 40 miles west of downtown Denver.
Where to Stay in Black Hawk
Golden
While it’s a bit far for driving into Rocky Mountain Park every day, Golden makes a great vacation destination on the west side of Denver at the foothills of the mountains. Once a gold rush town, Golden is home to the Colorado School of Mines and the Coors Brewery.
The historic downtown district along Washington Avenue is full of coffee shops, eateries and boutiques. The Golden History Museum and Golden History Park showcase life in the early 1800s. The Colorado Railroad Museum has over 100 vintage trains. And the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave pays tribute to the Old West era.
Clear Creek running through Golden has spots to raft and canoe. Around the town, outdoor activities abound, from the trails at Lookout Mountain Preserve, North Table Mountain Park, and Dinosaur Ridge to the stone cliffs at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. Golden Gate Canyon State Park is also less than 15 miles away.
The town is about 60 miles from Estes Park, 20 miles south of Boulder and 15 miles west of downtown Denver. I’ve visited Golden a couple of times now and love finding cute bed and breakfasts to stay in.
Where to Stay in Golden
Longmont
While it’s not the most obvious choice of towns near Rocky Mountain National Park, Longmont is just 35 miles from Estes Park and 15 miles north of Boulder. You might consider this option if you’re looking for something a little less busy and more budget-friendly.
Staking a claim as an agritourism destination, Longmont has a popular farmers market, the Agricultural Heritage Center, and a Brewhop Trolley that drops riders off at the local craft cidery, distilleries and breweries. Like most Colorado towns, a host of outdoorsy activities are just beyond the city center.
All the big hotel brands are represented here, and you’ll find a hub to the east of the city on Interstate 25, which is a straight shoot down to Denver. For something a little closer to the park, look on the west side along U.S. Route 36 and in the tiny town of Lyons.
Where to Stay in Longmont
Loveland
North of Longmont, Loveland is another one of the towns near Estes Park to the east, on the outskirts of Denver. From here, it’s about 30 scenic miles through the Big Thompson Canyon to reach Rocky Mountain National Park.
Nature trails, open spaces, golf courses and a handful of lakes make it easy to get outdoors here, while a downtown district with pubs and cafes has an old-timey look. Don’t miss the big love lock sculptures, where you can fasten engraved locks to immortalize your visit.
Like the other Denver suburbs, Loveland has all the major 2- and 3-star hotel and motel chains at a variety of price levels. You can also look for cabins, campgrounds and lodges along U.S. Route 34 heading toward Estes Park.
Where to Stay in Loveland
Denver
While it’s 60-plus miles from the park, Denver is the biggest city near the Rocky Mountains a has a busy international airport. It’s a great launching point for a trip to the national park and you might even consider staying here a night or two to explore Colorado’s capital. I like to stop into Denver for some touristing before and after spending time in the Rockies.
Known as the Mile High City, Denver has professional sports teams, multiple art museums, and a fun shopping and dining scene on the historic Larimer Square. While you’re here, you can visit the 1881 Denver Union Station, check out the United States Mint, look for bison at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, and catch a concert at the famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater.
Plentiful accommodations and vacation rental units include luxury downtown stays, budget-friendly hostels, and familiar hotel chains covering a wide swath of prices. For the quickest access to the mountains, pick something on the west side of town. Or, for the airport, something on the northeast.
Where to Stay in Denver
Grand Lake
Of the towns around Rocky Mountain National Park, the village of Grand Lake is closest to the west side, just outside an entrance gate with the same name. The park’s Kawuneeche Visitor Center and gift shop are also located near here.
A compact town center here with shops, cafes and hotels is on the banks of a pair of lakes, with the mountains looming overhead in the background. A little oasis by a less-busy side of the park, Grand Lake has basic amenities but unbeatable access to beautiful trails.
The stunning Trail Ridge Road into Rocky Mountain National Park also starts from here, climbing to an elevation of 12,183 feet along hairpin curves. While there are tons of hikes and scenic views along the way, it does take a couple of hours to slowly drive the 50 miles to Estes Park, so this isn’t the best base for popular park activities in the Bear Lake Corridor. But if you’re looking for something a little different, this is the perfect Rocky Mountain National Park town for exploring the west side.
Where to Stay in Grand Lake
Granby
About 15 miles south of Grand Lake along U.S. Route 40, Granby has a few more amenities and is a great place to look for hotels near Rocky Mountain National Park on the west side.
Aside from hikes in the Rockies, you can also spend some time on Lake Granby, which is surrounded by recreation areas and campgrounds. Most accommodations in this area are small motels, inns and lodges.
Where to Stay in Granby
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