Park Access
Entry hours, timed permits, backcountry camping, fees, and gate information for Rocky Mountain National Park.
Park Conditions
Mountain weather changes fast. Before any trip to RMNP, check current road status, trail conditions, snow level, and air-quality / wildfire alerts. The official park source updates daily through the season.
Check current park conditions on nps.gov →
Trail Ridge Road, Old Fall River Road, and high-elevation trails are seasonal — the NPS conditions page lists what's open today.
Park Hours
Rocky Mountain National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, weather permitting. A valid entrance pass or fee is required at all times.
While the park itself never closes, individual roads, trails, and entrance stations have seasonal restrictions.
Entrance Stations
The park has several entrance stations on its east and west sides. Hours vary by season; stations are typically staffed during daytime hours, with automated entry available before and after.
Timed Entry Permits
From late May through mid-October, RMNP requires timed entry permit reservations in addition to a regular entrance pass. Reservations are made through Recreation.gov for a non-refundable $2 processing fee.
When Permits Are Released
Reservations open on Recreation.gov in monthly batches at 8:00 AM MDT on the first of each month:
| Release Date | Permits Cover |
|---|---|
| May 1, 8:00 AM MDT | May 22 – June 30 |
| June 1, 8:00 AM MDT | July 1 – 31 (plus remaining June) |
| July 1, 8:00 AM MDT | August 1 – 31 (plus remaining July) |
| August 1, 8:00 AM MDT | September 1 – 30 (plus remaining August) |
| September 1, 8:00 AM MDT | October 1 – 18 (plus remaining September) |
No-Permit Entry Times
You can enter without a timed permit during these windows:
- Most park areas: before 9:00 AM or after 2:00 PM
- Bear Lake Road Corridor: before 5:00 AM or after 6:00 PM
An entrance pass or fee is still required.
Permit Exemptions
Timed entry permits are not required for overnight campers, wilderness permit holders, horseback riders, commercial permit holders, or cyclists entering by bicycle.
Entrance Fees
RMNP is a cashless park — debit and credit cards only at entrance stations.
| Pass | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | 1 day | $30 |
| Private vehicle | 7 days | $35 |
| Motorcycle | 1 day | $25 |
| Motorcycle | 7 days | $30 |
| Individual (bike or walk-in, 16+) | 1 day | $15 |
| Individual (bike or walk-in, 16+) | 7 days | $20 |
| Rocky Mountain Annual Pass | 1 year | $70 |
| America the Beautiful Annual | 1 year | $80 |
| Senior Annual (62+) | 1 year | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime (62+) | Lifetime | $80 |
| Military Annual | 1 year | Free |
| Access Pass (permanent disability) | Lifetime | Free |
| Children under 16 | — | Free |
Visitor Centers
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center — main park headquarters, east side near Estes Park
- Fall River Visitor Center — east side on US-34 near the Fall River entrance
- Alpine Visitor Center — summit of Trail Ridge Road, open seasonally (typically Memorial Day through mid-October)
- Kawuneeche Visitor Center — west side near the Grand Lake entrance
Typical hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily in summer; reduced hours in winter (closed weekend afternoons).
Shuttles & Transit
RMNP operates a free shuttle system serving the Bear Lake Road Corridor — the busiest part of the park. Taking the shuttle avoids parking lots that fill before 7:00 AM in summer and lets you focus on the trail instead of the drive.
- Bear Lake Route — runs daily May 22 – Oct 18, every 10–15 min (6:30 AM – 7:30 PM). Stops: Park & Ride, Bierstadt Lake TH, Glacier Gorge, Bear Lake.
- Moraine Park Route — runs daily May 22 – Oct 18, hourly (7:00 AM – 7:30 PM). Stops: Park & Ride, Sprague Lake, Glacier Basin, Hollowell Park, Moraine Park Campground, Cub Lake TH, Fern Lake.
- Hiker Shuttle — from Estes Park Visitor Center to Park & Ride. Requires a $2 advance reservation on Recreation.gov. Runs daily May 22 – Sep 7, then weekends through Oct 18.
Backcountry Camping
All overnight wilderness camping in RMNP requires a wilderness permit. The park has designated backcountry campsites only — dispersed camping is not allowed.
Permit Pickup — Required In Person
All permits (summer and winter) must be collected at a Wilderness Office before entering the backcountry. You will also receive a vehicle dashtag to display while parked overnight.
- East Side: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, 1000 US-36, Estes Park — open daily 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM year-round — (970) 586-1242
- West Side: Kawuneeche Visitor Center, 16018 US-34, Grand Lake — open summer only — (970) 586-1521
Backcountry Rules
- 🔥 Campfires are prohibited — portable stoves only
- 💧 All water must be purified before drinking
- 🏕️ Camp only at designated sites — no dispersed camping
- Timed entry permits are not required for wilderness permit holders
- Some campsites may be closed due to 2020 wildfire damage — check conditions before your trip
Seasonal Road Closures
Trail Ridge Road (US-34) — the highest paved road in any U.S. national park — is closed to through travel from mid-October to late May, depending on snow conditions. The road may close temporarily in any season due to weather.
Old Fall River Road — a one-way dirt road from Endovalley to the Alpine Visitor Center — typically opens in early July and closes in early October.
For current road status, call the recorded line at (970) 586-1222.
Quick Tips
- Enter the park before 9:00 AM (or before 5:00 AM for Bear Lake Corridor) to skip the timed entry permit requirement during peak season.
- Book timed entry permits early — reservations open at Recreation.gov in monthly batches.
- The America the Beautiful pass pays for itself in three park visits and works at every national park.
- Sign up for the free shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center to avoid Bear Lake parking lots, which fill before 7:00 AM in summer.
- Bring a card — there is no cash payment option at entry stations.
- Planning an overnight backpacking trip? Backcountry permits open March 1 on Recreation.gov — popular sites fill within minutes of opening.