How to Get to Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the main attractions in Colorado and more specifically in Denver, which, due to its proximity, is the ideal destination to tour this natural wonder. Located about 100 kilometers from downtown, this park contains glaciers, lakes, peaks that reach 3700 meters high and steep valleys that mark the landscape of the region.

Whether you plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park on an organized tour or on your own by car, bus, train or cab, seeing this site is one of the best things you can do during your trip to Denver to discover the surrounding scenery any time of the year.

If you want to get to know the Rocky Mountains in a comfortable and complete way, one of the best alternatives you will find is to participate in an organized excursion. These experiences will allow you to tour what is considered one of the most popular destinations in the United States and is located only 100 kilometers from downtown Denver.

These experiences, which are among the best excursions from Denver, have an approximate duration of 8 hours and, during the tour, you will be able to contemplate the variety of landscapes of this park, which contains glaciers, lakes, peaks that reach 3700 meters above sea level and valleys that you will be able to cross through the delimited trails. These excursions usually include a snack, round-trip transfers with hotel pick-up and entrance to the park.

During the tour, you can also visit Long's Peak, the highest point in the park, and view a variety of local wildlife, from native birds to elk, deer, antelope, goats and bison. Also, from this site you will be able to reach a wide view of the region, which will change according to the time of the year. For example, if you plan to visit Denver in winter, you will see the snow-capped peaks from here.

At the end of these experiences, you can also visit the Stanley Hotel, a famous lodging located on top of a mountain in Estes Park and known for being Stephen King's inspiration for the novel The Shining, which was later turned into a successful movie.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 159 euros.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Advantages of these options: it is one of the most comfortable options.
• Disadvantages of these options: they do not include stops in nearby towns.

If you prefer an independent option for your trip that allows you to drive at your own pace, visiting the Rocky Mountains by car from Denver is an ideal alternative. In a drive of approximately 1.5 hours, you can reach the park from downtown on I-70 W, which is one of Colorado's trunk interstate highways.

This drive will not only allow you to reach the park in a comfortable and quick way, but also to explore the natural beauty of the city's surroundings, especially if you plan to visit Denver in the summer. The interstate highway will take you through beautiful landscapes that include Golden, a historic town known for its Old West charm, and Evergreen, a site surrounded by forests and lakes that offers a color palette that changes seasonally.

On the other hand, many travelers choose this alternative due to the flexibility it offers, since you will have the freedom to choose the day and time of the tour, as well as the intermediate stops that will allow you to discover small communities such as Idaho Springs, famous for its natural hot springs, or Georgetown, a town with Victorian architecture and cobblestone streets, famous for its mountain railroad.

Just keep in mind that if you plan to visit Colorado's capital in winter, some roads may be frozen or snow-covered, which could complicate your itinerary.

Details of interest

• Price: car rental costs approximately 78 euros per day.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and a half.
• Advantages of these options: you will be able to organize your own itinerary.
• Disadvantages of these options: in winter it can be an uncomfortable alternative.

One of the best options to visit the Rocky Mountains without compromising your budget is to use the shuttle bus service from Denver International Airport. This option, which is around 10 euros per person, is ideal for those who want to explore this site in the most economical way possible, being very popular among visitors who arrive in Denver by plane exclusively for this activity.

The shuttle bus ride, which lasts approximately 2 hours, will take you through a scenic drive to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenic views, but once you arrive at your destination, you will have to continue the drive into the park on your own.

This option, however, is perfect for travelers on a budget, as it offers an economical way to get to the park without sacrificing the experience. In addition, at Estes Park you can explore the local charm, sample regional cuisine and immerse yourself in the culture of nearby communities. Also, if you plan to visit Denver in December, you'll find Christmas decorations on Main Street in this town.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 10 euros.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of these options: it is the cheapest alternative.
• Disadvantages of these options: you will have to continue the tour inside the park on your own.

The train ride starting at Union Station is also an available alternative to get to the Rocky Mountains, although it tends to be an infrequent option due to the fact that this mode of transportation only goes as far as Fraser, so from this site you must continue by cab or car to the park entrance. In total, this itinerary can take more than 3 hours, which makes the train a less chosen alternative.

However, the train ride is a good option if you are looking for an alternative route and want to enjoy the panoramic views. Unlike the rest of the options that will go through the interstate highways, the railroads cross Thorodin Mountain, Dakota Hill and Winter Park, where you can find some of the best scenery in the region, especially if you plan to visit Denver in winter.

On the other hand, the train can also be an economical option, as you will find many Amtrak services that make the journey with prices from 13 euros per person. Just keep in mind that you will have to add the cost of the cab ride to the park entrance.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 13 euros.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of these options: you will be able to see some of the best scenic landscapes around Denver.
• Disadvantages of these options: it does not reach the park, so from Fraser you will have to book a car or a cab.

From Denver you can also get to Rocky Mountain National Park by long-distance bus, although you will have to transfer in Boulder and continue the journey by cab or other means of transport, so it is usually a very little used option and only reserved for last-minute tours.

The positive thing about bus tours is that they start at Union Station, a central location in Denver that is perfectly combinable with the itineraries of the best tours of the city or with other nearby attractions, so you can make several experiences in the same day. This will be ideal if you are planning a 3-day stay in Colorado's capital city or even less.

However, the long-distance bus alternative is often underutilized because Boulder doesn't offer many activities, so it's not usually an interesting place for an intermediate stop. Apart from that, this option is economical, because you will find RTD services that have an initial cost of approximately 5 euros per person. To this fee you will have to add the price of the cab or the connecting car.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 5 euros,
• Duration: the trip to Boulder takes about 30 minutes.
• Advantages of these options: they start in downtown Denver and are ideal alternatives for a last minute hire.
• Disadvantages of these options: you will have to transfer in Boulder.

There is no one best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park; it largely depends on your preferences and the type of experience you are looking for. However, many people find summer, specifically June through August, to be the most popular time to explore the park and other nearby natural attractions, such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

During the warmer months of the year, temperatures in the park are generally pleasant, ranging from 15° to 25°, which is conducive to outdoor activities and hiking trails on the summits. It is also during this time of the year when all the trails in the park are open, which will allow you to get to know this site in depth.

On the other hand, if you plan to visit Denver in October or during the fall months, you will also find good weather in the park. During this season, the foliage of the trees changes to warm and golden tones, creating a landscape not to be missed in the Rocky Mountain s. Also, crowds tend to thin out during this time, making for a quieter and more serene experience.

If you are a winter activity lover, the December through March season will offer you the opportunity to enjoy the snow-covered park. Although some areas may be closed, you will be able to participate in activities such as cross-country skiing or snowshoe trails, as well as enjoy the scenery of the snow-capped peaks, allowing you to take some of the best photographs of your trip.

The answer will depend on many factors, but if budget is not a constraint on your trip I advise you to opt for some of the best tours offered to visit the park. This will allow you to relax on an organized tour and relinquish control of the logistics and transportation, so you only have to focus on the tour. Also, these experiences usually have an expert local guide who will assist you throughout the itinerary.

On the other hand, if what you value is independence and flexibility and you plan to visit several of the towns near Rocky Mountain National Park, then the best alternative is to opt for a rental car tour. This option is very popular among travelers who come to Denver just to see the park, although if you plan to visit the city during the winter, keep in mind that the roads could be complicated by ice and snow.

If, on the other hand, your trip is focused on budget, then you can find economical alternatives in the train and bus routes, although the most cost-effective option will be the shuttle bus, which leaves very frequently from Denver International Airport and goes to Estes Park, a picturesque town that marks one of the entrances to the park.

The characteristics of each of the alternatives