When visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the first choices you make is where to stay. Normally, this is a straightforward decision, but when there are two beautiful mountain towns, Estes Park and Grand Lake, on two different sides of Rocky Mountain National Park, it can require extra consideration.
Estes Park is the most popular place to stay when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park because it is the most accessible for travelers coming from Denver or anywhere in the East. Estes Park is also closest to the most popular sites within Rocky Mountain National Park, including the Bear Lake Corridor and Moraine Park. Grand Lake is a beautiful lake town with fewer crowds and is popular with people who want a more relaxing experience, don’t mind driving extra, or who are arriving from the West. There is no right or wrong choice, neither will disappoint. However, the two towns are as different as they are similar. Knowing the similarities and differences between the two will help determine the best option for you.
I’m Cheryl, and I spend 30 days a year exploring the West. I’ve stayed in both of these towns a few times and am excited to help you pick the best spot for your trip to Rocky Mountain National Park! Read on for the pros and cons of both, plus some personal hotel recommendations (including where NOT TO STAY!)
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| Stay in Estes Park if… | Stay in Grand Lake if… |
|---|---|
| You are staying less than 4 days and want quick access to Rocky Mountain National Park. | You are staying more than 4 days, it’s worth it to spend a night or two in Grand Lake for a quieter, more relaxing experience |
| You don’t want to drive much and prefer having restaurants, shops, and activities nearby. | You plan to drive to hiking trails and park attractions. |
| You want lots of dining options with a variety of restaurants, breweries, and cafes. | You want lakefront scenery and the option for boating, fishing, or kayaking. |
| You enjoy a lively, tourist-friendly atmosphere with entertainment, shopping, and events. | You enjoy a laid-back, small-town feel with fewer crowds. |
| You’re a night owl and like having evening entertainment options. | You plan to be in bed before 10:00 PM and don’t need a nightlife scene. |
| You have a moderate to high budget and are okay with paying for convenience. | You are budget-conscious and want more affordable accommodations. |
| Shopping is a priority, and you want access to souvenir shops, galleries, and outdoor gear stores. | You prefer wilderness and nature over tourist attractions. |
| You like a bustling mountain town with plenty of visitor services. | You like a small-town atmosphere with historic boardwalks and local charm. |
| You love being around people and don’t mind crowds, especially in peak season | You want to avoid crowds, especially in summer. |
Estes Park has a high-end energy vibe. It boasts all the services and amenities expected of a popular travel destination. There are a variety of accommodation options, a wide array of restaurants, activity and tour operators, museums, and lots of shopping on the famous Elk Horn Avenue.
There is no shortage of things to see and do within Estes Park. Visitors can tour the historic (and haunted!) Stanley Hotel, ride bikes or paddle around the Estes Park Marina, go on a historic walking tour, go horseback riding, take the tram up the mountain, go on the Mustang Mountain Coaster, or do a variety of activities at Fun City. Estes Park also has indoor activities such as the Historic Park Theater and a few museums.
CHECK OUT: How To Spend One Day In Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is very walkable. Once you are in Estes Park, you don’t have to get in a car. This is especially true with the free shuttle system that transports guests from several hotels to the visitor center and Elk Horn Avenue. There is even a hiker shuttle that you can use that will take you right into the most popular areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.
There is a nice riverwalk that is paved and goes 5 of 6 blocks. It starts at the visitor center and ends at Elk Horn Avenue. It runs along the Big Thompson River and passes several stores and restaurants.
GOOD TO KNOW: Even though you can walk around the touristy part of Estes Park, we still think you will want a car because you’ll need it to drive the Trail Ridge Road.
Estes Park is a dog-friendly town, but they must be on leash and under control at all times. If you’re traveling with a furry friend, you are in good company. It’s really common to see people enjoying their morning coffee with their dog at the outdoor seating of many restaurants. Unlike the hiking trails at Rocky Mountain National Park, dogs are allowed on the trails in Estes Park.
Expect to pay more for everything in Estes Park, especially accommodations and food. Estes Park is the closest town to Rocky Mountain National Park, so prices are at a premium! Over four million people visit every year, and most of them stay in Estes Park, which drives the price of everything up!
Estes Park is busy. The permanent population of Estes Park is just around 6,000 people, however, over 400,000 people visit each year! The high number of visitors makes Estes Park a vibrant, bustling tourist town, but the high volume can also cause frustration associated with long wait lines and pre-planning activities. You can learn more in our blog post, Is Rocky Mountain Too Crowded?
FUN FACT: You can cross the streets diagonally at designated intersections in Estes Park. During peak travel times, there are often also crossing guards to ensure safety and efficiency.
Compared to Estes Park, Grand Lake is smaller, quieter, and more quaint, and is located on the banks of Grand Lake. It’s what Estes Park was like 30 years ago before tourism picked up. Although there aren’t as many activities and restaurants to choose from, Grand Lake has a vibe all of its own and we think you’ll enjoy it.
Grand Lake has a history of being a laketown destination for the wealthy. You can see fancy cabins and resorts overlooking the lake. Besides Grand Lake, there are also Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake nearby. This is also a popular area to ski in the winter, with some nice ski resorts in the nearby town of Granby.
Grand Lake has a fun lake town feel. There is a fun boardwalk called Grand Avenue on Main Street with cute shops and restaurants. There are small beaches and picnic areas. It’s just a fun little town to mull around in. If you need medical attention or auto service, the nearby town of Granby is your best bet.
FUN FACT: Grand Lake is about the same size as Lake Estes, but what a lot of people don’t know is that most of the water that fills Lake Estes comes from Grand Lake! Grand Lake holds the title of the largest natural water lake in Colorado.
Grand Lake is geared toward recreation, so there’s no shortage of activities. It’s very popular to rent a paddleboat or pontoon to explore Grand Lake, but you can also do this at Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby. On our last trip there, I rented a kayak and loved exploring Shadow Mountain Lake. They had a wakeless watercraft area that was perfect, and I paddled around an island and saw osprey in the trees.
You can also go an an ATV ride, go horseback riding, or even rent eBikes (but there are no designated paved bike paths).
Grand Lake is a walkable town, but there is no public transportation. It’s easy to walk from the marina to Grand Avenue. The town is really small. If you are staying at the Grand Lake Lodge, you’ll want to drive your own car because it’s a little over 2 miles away.
Printable step‑by‑step guide so you know exactly when you need reservations, how to handle the high‑elevation driving, and where to stop for the best views
Inside the guide:
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*Driving and safety tips for high altitude.
*Best pullouts, overlooks, and short walks
Grand Lake doesn’t have a lot of places to stay. Unlike Estes Park, which has tons of hotels and vacation rentals, Grand Lake doesn’t have too many places to stay. The Grand Lake Lodge is the most popular (and very nice). We enjoyed our stay here. Many visitors will stay in Granby because there is more lodging, and it’s about 25 minutes southeast of Grand Lake.
Dogs are welcome at Grand Lake. Just like Estes Park, dogs are allowed on the trails, lakeshores, and even in the outdoor seating at some restaurants.
Grand Lake can be busy, but not as much as Estes Park. The permanent population of Grand Lake is only around 400 people, but hundreds of thousands visit over the summer! When we visited last September, the town was winding down for the winter, but we’ve been in the summer when it’s difficult to find a place to park.
DID YOU KNOW: Grand Lake is famous for its spectacular fireworks on the 4th of July and New Year’s Eve. They shoot them off over the lake, and thousands of people attend
This is tricky because Grand Lake is the most beautiful if all you are considering is the town. However, we think the area of Rocky Mountain National Park closest to Estes Park is prettiest.
Grand Lake has wonderful views of the mountains and lakes. The actual town is quaint and charming. However, the East Troublesome Fire of 2020 caused massive destruction in Rocky Mountain National Park and near Grand Lake. You can see plenty of charcoaled trees burnt to the ground in the Kawuneeche Valley. It’s really sad.
We love the drive into Rocky Mountain from Estes Park. There are great views of the meadows (or parks as they are called here) and the towering mountain range.
Estes Park is much easier to get to. It is located just above the Front Range of Colorado, which is the most populated area of the state, with the largest cities. The Denver International Airport is on the Estes Park side as well as Interstate 25, which travels in a pretty straight line from the larger cities of Pueblo in the South, to Colorado Springs, to Denver, and finally, Fort Collins, the largest city nearest the Wyoming state line. The majority of visitors who come to Rocky Mountain are from the middle part of the country: Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, etc. Visitors from those states can take Interstate 70 or 80 west to reach I-25 and then either Highway 34 or 36.
Grand Lake is located above the Western Slope of Colorado, accessible from I-70 east from Utah and points west. Very few visitors approach Rocky Mountain National Park from this direction, including us, and we live in Utah!
Estes Park is the easiest place to see Rocky Mountain from. Not only is there a hiker shuttle that departs from the visitor center and takes people into the park, but there are also the two main entrances here: Beaver Meadows and the Fall River Entrance.
Once you enter Rocky Mountain from Estes Park, you almost immediately get to some of the most popular sites, including Moraine Park, Bear Lake Corridor, and the Trail Ridge Road. When you enter from the West side near Grand Lake, you will be on the Trail Ridge Road but visiting less popular sites.
DON’T MISS: Which is the Best Entrance to RMNP?
The Trail Ridge Road connects Estes Park to Grand Lake and takes 2 hours to drive without stops. This 48-mile road will climb over 4,000 feet through three ecosystems, with the highest point at 12,183 feet above sea level at the Alpine Visitor Center. It’s paved and accessible to most vehicles (except ones over 25 feet or pulling a trailer).
When we travel, we like to stay two or three nights in Estes Park and then drive Trail Ridge Road across Rocky Mountain and then stay one night in Grand Lake.
The Trail Ridge Road is usually open late May through mid-October. Because removing snow from it is a herculean feat, this fluctuates from year to year depending on snowfall. If the Trail Ridge Road is closed, you can take the longer route through the Peak to Peak Highway (US 34) and then follow US 70, US 72, US 119, and then I-70 west to US 40, and finally, US 34 east to Grand Lake. This will take 3-4 hours.
Estes Park has the advantage over Grand Lake in the number and variety of culinary options. However, both towns provide fast-food options, cafes, coffee houses, and budget and fine-dining options to accommodate every budget. Below is a sampling of some of the popular places in both towns.
| In Estes Park | In Grand Lake |
|---|---|
Kind Coffee $ A local company since 2002. Outdoor seating has views of the river. | Historic Rapids Lodge and Restaurant $$-$$$ This is the fanciest place in town to eat, with great views of the river. |
Post Chicken $-$$ Has award-winning fried chicken and is located next to the Stanley Hotel. | The Hub $ Serves coffee, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and ice cream. |
Penelope’s World Famous Burgers $ This is the hole-in-the-wall everyone goes to for unique burgers (they are huge!) and homemade fries. | Cy’s Deli $ Highly rated and affordable. People love the variety of sandwiches offered. |
Antonio’s Real New York Pizza $-$$$ Ever had a 28-inch pizza? Now’s your chance! | Historic Rapids Lodge and Restaurant $$-$$$ This is the fanciest place in town to eat with great views of the river. |
Claire’s Restaurant and Bar $$ Nice views from the outdoor deck. Our favorites include the meatloaf and brisket grilled cheese. | Huntington House Tavern $$-$$$ Located at Grand Lake Lodge, it’s a local favorite for a nice meal. |
The Wild Rose Restaurant $$ With an extensive menu serving American dishes and some wild game, this is one of our favorites in downtown Estes Park. | Jump Start $ Local legacy that serves coffee and bubble tea. |
Sagebrush BBQ and Grill $$ They have brisket, steak, sausage, chicken, and salads, and is the most popular restaurant in town. | Blue Water Bakery $ Always a crowd. Serves pastries, coffee, smoothies, salads, wraps, and burritos. |
Grand Lake has the most recreational activities. While both towns offer horseback rides and plenty of hiking trails, Grand Lake has lots of National Forest land nearby, which is perfect for snowmobiling and ATVs since motorized, off-road vehicles are not allowed in Rocky Mountain.
Both towns have a marina but Grand Lake has more water sport rentals and places to play. Read Can You Swim at Rocky Mountain for info on great places to enjoy the water.
Estes Park does have the Mustang Mountain Coaster and Tram if that is of interest to you.
GOOD TO KNOW: We do not think that either town is a good place to bike due to the limited paved trails.
Grand Lake has the Rocky Mountain Repertoire Theater, which is our favorite indoor activity. In 2019, they built a new theater after fundraising millions of dollars. They’ve been in business for over 60 years and their shows are Broadway quality. People often make a trip to Grand Lake just to enjoy the theater. We personally attended a concert here and it was wonderful. We highly recommend it!
If you need an indoor activity in Estes Park, a tour of the Stanley Hotel is a must! The Stanley Hotel is famous because it is where Stephen King got his inspiration for The Shining. It’s also rumored to be haunted. You can do a ghost, Shining, or history tour. They even recently offered a Frozen Dead Guy Tour (super weird) because they have the world’s only cryonics museum. We’ve done two tours, and you can read all about them at Should You Do a Stanley Hotel Tour? Our Honest Review.
Lastly, the Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park is over 100 years old and pretty cool. They show a movie about Rocky Mountain but also show recently released films as well.
Estes Park is the place to be if you’re a night owl. Estes Park has a lot to offer at night, including games and live music. For a more comprehensive list, see estes-park.com/things-to-do/. Wine Tasting and breweries are also popular. There are four breweries in town: Estes Park Brewery, Rock Cut Brewing Co. (they always have a great food truck); Avant Garde Aleworks (they also have hard seltzer); and Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co. The only winery in Estes Park making wine on-site with Colorado-grown grapes is Snowy Peaks Winery; they also have Colorado-sourced charcuterie.
For Grand Lake, there are a few local bars along Grand Avenue, and you can catch a show at the Rocky Mountain Repertoire Theater.
Elk Horn Avenue of Estes Park is the clear winner. It has more stores, restaurants, and places to grab a treat. You’ll see a few Christmas, outdoor equipment, art, clothing, and souvenir shops. Our favorite thing to do is to pick up some salt water taffy and caramel corn that Estes Park is famous for.
Grand Avenue of Grand Lake is much shorter, but the boardwalk you walk on between the shops has a charming feel, and we really enjoy these fun tourist shops.
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Estes Park has the most lodging options. There’s everything from several large hotels with conference rooms to rental cabins that can be booked as a group. Lodging here is expensive. Our family of 6 usually plans on spending over $300 per night, and…we haven’t stayed anywhere within Estes Park that we liked enough to stay again (Coyote Mountain Lodge- eek!). We have also stayed at the Misty Mountain Lodge (book here) which was less than $200 a night and very close to the entrance of Rocky Mountain. It was clean and very basic. Based on our research, some good budget options include Murphy’s River Lodge $ (book here), Blue Door Inn ($) (book here), Solitude Cabins $, or the YMCA of the Rockies $ (book here) is great for families. For a fancier experience, try the Estes Park Resort $$$ (book here). If you are looking for history (and maybe a little scare), you can book a room at the Stanley Hotel $$-$$$. Customer Favorite: Best Western Silver Saddle Inn $$ (book here).
Grand Lake. Lodging here is also expensive. We stayed at the Grand Lake Lodge $-$$$ (book here) and thought it was a wonderful facility with great views, pool, fancy fire pit, and lobby. Our cabin was TINY but clean. Nicer rooms and cabins are available. Budget options include Daven Haven Cabins $$$ and VRBOs. A fellow traveler stayed at The Gateway Inn $$ (book here) and recommended it.
Deciding whether to stay in Estes Park or Grand Lake comes down to personal preference, but we prefer to stay in Estes Park if our goal is to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re still undecided, perhaps this chart will help.
| Stay in Estes Park if… | Stay in Grand Lake if… |
|---|---|
| You are staying less than 4 days and want quick access to Rocky Mountain National Park. | You are staying more than 4 days, it’s worth it to spend a night or two in Grand lake and have a quieter, more relaxing base. |
| You don’t want to drive much and prefer having restaurants, shops, and activities nearby. | You plan to drive to hiking trails and park attractions. |
| You want lots of dining options with a variety of restaurants, breweries, and cafes. | You want lakefront scenery and the option for boating, fishing, or kayaking. |
| You enjoy a lively, tourist-friendly atmosphere with entertainment, shopping, and events. | You enjoy a laid-back, small-town feel with fewer crowds. |
| You’re a night owl and like having evening entertainment options. | You plan to be in bed before 10:00 PM and don’t need a nightlife scene. |
| You have a moderate to high budget and are okay with paying for convenience. | You are budget-conscious and want more affordable accommodations. |
| Shopping is a priority, and you want access to souvenir shops, galleries, and outdoor gear stores. | You prefer wilderness and nature over tourist attractions. |
| You like a bustling mountain town with plenty of visitor services. | You like a small-town atmosphere with historic boardwalks and local charm. |
| You love being around people and don’t mind crowds, especially in peak season | You want to avoid crowds, especially in summer. |
Rocky Mountain National Park is amazing, and crowded!
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.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Rocky Mountain National Park, check out our Rocky Mountain Homepage
THINGS TO DO: There is so much to do including hiking, swimming, and driving Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road
GREAT CITIES TO STAY OR CHECK OUT: Discover where to stay when visiting or explore some amazing cities nearby including Estes Park where you can take a tour of the Stanley Hotel
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out about getting into Rocky Mountain without a reservation, if the park is too crowded, and all about altitude sickness
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Rocky Mountain National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Rocky Mountain YouTube Playlist
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