Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
★4.7(346 reviews)
High DemandRocky Mountain National Park · Estes Park , Colorado🚛Big Rig FriendlyLake Access
Best For
Tent campers and groups who want the best access to Bear Lake Road trails and don't need hookups — Glacier Basin suits hikers who want to walk out of camp and onto iconic trails immediately.
148
Sites
No
Hookups
Glacier Basin sits at 8,500 feet on the east side of the park and is the closest campground to the Bear Lake Road corridor — the park's most popular trail hub. With 74 tent-only sites, 63 standard sites, and 11 group sites, it serves the widest range of camping parties of any RMNP campground. The 90-foot vehicle maximum is the most generous in the park, yet there are no electric hookups, so self-contained RVs only. July is statistically the hardest month to book here, with 23.7% of reservations locked in 6+ months out — the highest long-lead rate of any campground in the dataset. August paradoxically offers the most last-minute opportunity at 34.3%. The campground opens May 22 for summer 2025.
Content from Rocky Mountain National Park park guide
July is the peak demand month — 20.0% of its 6,079 reservations are secured 6+ months in advance, making it the hardest month to book park-wide. August offers a slight edge for last-minute campers at 33.2% of bookings made within a week, while September brings fall foliage, elk rut, and 31.1% last-minute availability with meaningfully lighter crowds. May is the most accessible entry point of the season, with 31.5% last-minute bookings and the lowest share of far-out planners (8.9%).
A timed entry permit is required to drive into Rocky Mountain National Park during peak season (typically late May through mid-October), and permits must be secured before arriving at the entrance gate — not at the gate itself. The Bear Lake Road corridor, which serves Glacier Basin Campground, is the most congested road in the park; the park's free shuttle system connects campgrounds to trailheads along this corridor and is the preferred way to access Bear Lake area trails once you're camped. Timber Creek Campground on the west side is not connected to the east-side shuttle system and requires driving Trail Ridge Road to access the park's east side.
Total reservations in May 2024: 1,038
Address
Estes Park , Colorado
Coordinates
40.3292, -105.5933
Very high demand - sites typically fill up immediately when the booking window opens. Plan to book the moment reservations open.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
Rocky Mountain National Park
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
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The standard vehicle entrance fee for Rocky Mountain National Park is $35, and during peak timed-entry permit periods an additional permit reservation is required. Nightly camping fees vary by site type and campground — electric sites at Moraine Park carry a higher rate than standard nonelectric sites at Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, and Timber Creek. The America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass ($80) covers the entrance fee for the pass holder and passengers in a single private vehicle, making it a strong value for anyone camping multiple nights or visiting multiple parks in a season.
All four campgrounds enforce a 7-night maximum stay during the summer season. Pets are permitted in campgrounds but must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet and are not allowed on most trails. Cell service is limited to unreliable throughout the park, particularly at Timber Creek on the west side — download offline maps and campground confirmation details before arrival. Estes Park (east entrance) is the nearest full-service town for groceries, fuel, and gear, while Grand Lake serves the west-side Timber Creek area with more limited but functional services.