How Long Does it Take to Drive Through Rocky Mountain National Park?

A drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is the easiest way for people of all ages and abilities to see the best of what this spectacular Park has to offer. So how long should you plan to spend driving through the park?

It takes about two hours to drive the most direct route through Rocky Mountain National Park, when Trail Ridge Road is open (late May-mid October), but the sights and sounds of the high country are bound to extend that time by quite a bit.

I’ve driven from one end (the east side, by Estes Park) of Rocky Mountain to the other (the west side near Grand Lake) countless times over the past few decades.  I can honestly say I’ve never driven straight through without stopping at least once, even if I’m on my way somewhere else. 

But if you really want to do the drive as quickly as you can, read on for the facts of the matter.  

Read: Driving in Rocky Mountain National Park: 10 Things to Know

Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road is the most direct (and only) route through Rocky Mountain National Park, at 48 miles in length.  With a speed limit average of about 30 mph within the Park’s boundaries, that means you should be able to drive the length of that road in one hour, and thirty-six minutes.   

That’s only if you are the only ones on the road, visibility is 100%, and you don’t run into any road work or unexpected closures. 

The biggest thing that can slow you down is traffic.  When Trail Ridge Road is open, it is also the busiest time of the year; more than 4 million people visit Rocky Mountain every year, and most come while Trail Ridge Road is open. People who have never driven on Trail Ridge Road – a highlight experience for any first-time visitor – are often awed and a little scared of driving above treeline.  Sudden stops and/or turns into pullouts and very slow driving are the norms for this trip. 

Old Fall River Road

On paper, it looks like Old Fall River Road (11 miles up to the Alpine visitor center) might shave off about 10 miles and thus, might be faster but NO.  You will not be able to drive more than 15 mph on Old Fall River Road and the traffic is usually even slower than on Trail Ridge Road.  Old Fall River Road is a dirt road with many twists and turns with up to 20% grade.  Plus, it’s only one-way traffic, going up.  Trust me, this will add another hour at least to go this way. 

Don’t miss: The Best Times to Visit Rocky Mountain + 3 Times to Avoid

Bear Lake Corridor

When Trail Ridge Road is not open, it is not possible to drive within the Park from one end to the other. Will you see enough of Rocky Mountain by only driving up to Bear Lake and back again? It’s a great drive through various ecosystems, so I would say, “Yes.” It should take you a little more than 30 minutes to get there in the winter and shoulder seasons when a timed-entry permit is not required.

In summer, the drive up to Bear Lake takes quite a bit longer because of traffic. It’s 14 miles from Estes Park so in theory, it should take less than an hour to reach the lake. In the busy seasons, you’ll need to give yourself at least three hours for the round-trip from Estes Park to Bear Lake and back.

Discover: Four Spectacular Rocky Mountain Road Trips

How Much Time Should I Plan to Spend?

My advice is this: give yourself at minimum a half-day to explore Rocky Mountain National Park.  You will not see all of it in that time (in fact, it’s impossible to see most of it by car, 95% of it is designated wilderness), but you will get a good idea of what it has to offer.  Make sure you watch for signs of altitude sickness, bring lots of water, snacks, a packed lunch, and a come-what-may attitude.  Things like traffic, construction, confusion about how the timed-entry reservation system works, and crowds can conspire to give you a very big headache when you’re visiting Rocky Mountain National Park under a time constraint.

When I’m taking shorter trips, like to Bear Lake for instance, I give myself at least half a day to fully explore and experience the unique aspects of the time of day and time of year I’m visiting. I challenge anyone not to stop at Sheep Lakes when the resident moose is playing in the water, or to rush by golden aspen, swaying in the wind in the Kawuneeche Valley.  Coming upon a surprise waterfall on your driving trip will make you slow down at least, I predict.

If you truly only have a couple of hours to visit Rocky Mountain, drive the loop between the Beaver Meadows Entrance to the Fall River Entrance within the Park’s east side.  You’re bound to see meadows full of wildlife, mountain peaks soaring in the distance, and a roaring waterfall at the Alluvial Fan, and will be able to stop and watch for moose and big horn sheep at Sheep Lakes. 

Slow down and enjoy the trip!   

Read: Is Rocky Mountain National Park Too Crowded? What Every Traveler Needs to Know.

Rocky Mountain is crowded!

Need a game plan to avoid the crowds? Check out our itinerary. 

Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid the crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.

But that’s not all! Our itinerary includes a free audio guide to listen to while driving with over 3-hours of stories about the park!