Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
Glacier Basin Campground is located on the east side of RMNP at an elevation of 8,500 feet. There are 150 campsites available. To get to Glacier Basin Campground, drive up Bear Lake Road approximately 5 miles. The entrance to Glacier Basin Campground is across from the Park & Ride Parking Area. Any sites that are open are listed as "A" for available; this means those campsites are available to be reserved. Any campsite listed as “NR” has Not Yet Released; this means that those campsites are not yet available to be reserved. A number of campsites are available to be reserved up to 6-months in advance on a rolling window.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 74 |
| Standard, no hookups | 64 |
| Group tent areas | 11 |
| Host/management | 9 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
149 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G001-S | Group Sites | Group tent | 90 | Gravel | 15 / 4 | Yes | |||
| G003-M | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 90 | Gravel | 25 / 4 | Yes | ||
| G004-M | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | 25 / 4 | Yes | ||
| G005-M | Group Sites | Group tent | Back-in | 90 | Gravel | 25 / 6 | Yes | ||
| G006-M | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | 25 / 4 | Yes | ||
| G007-L | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 90 | Gravel | 40 / 6 | Yes | ||
| G008-S | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 15 / 5 | Yes | ||
| G009-L | Group Sites | Group tent | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | 40 / 6 | Yes | ||
| G010-S | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 15 / 4 | Yes | ||
| G011-S | Group Sites | Group tent | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 15 / 4 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Glacier Basin Campground is a seasonal campground open from May 21 through the night of September 7, 2026. Campground Fees (Per Site/Per Night). $35.00 for standard nonelectric sites/tent sites. |
| Accessibility | Sites B033, B035, B060, B061 are listed accessible |
Glacier Basin Campground contains several group and family tent-only sites, as well as RV sites without hookups. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate and tent pad. Roads and parking spurs are paved. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. There is a shuttle stop inside the campground for the park’s free shuttle bus. The shuttle system provides easy access to many trailheads and scenic destinations located throughout the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Click on the following link to learn more about the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Estes Park, CO. Drive on U.S. Highway 36 west from Estes Park. The closest entrance to the park is the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The turn for Bear Lake Road is approximately 0.2 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance, located on the left side of the road. Drive up Bear Lake Road 5.2 miles.
| Nearest town | Estes Park, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 40.3292° N, 105.5933° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- All campsites at Glacier Basin Campground are available by reservation only through Recreation.gov.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMagic Feather Broadcast Rx
29 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Kirks Mountain Adventures ↗ | 5.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Manhattan RV & Trailer ↗ | 27.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Rocky Mountain National Park Camping - Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds
Worth a stop
The Town of Estes Park is a short drive from the campground, located outside of RMNP’s Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, and golfing opportunities await. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding, and fishing.
- 3.1 miInformation Office ↗Visitor center
- 3.1 miWilderness Office ↗Visitor center
- 10.1 miBright Extension Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.2 miBig Thompson River Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 12.3 miDunraven Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 2.8 miLily Mountain2 mi trail · hiking
- 4.3 miTwin Sisters Peaks1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness.
- inRocky Mountain National Park Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 249,126 acres
- 11.3 miIndian Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/NPS · 77,932 acres
- 12.3 miComanche Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 68,025 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
A pleasant mix of Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine and the occasional Engelmann spruce forests the campground, offering equal amounts of sun and shade. Grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open meadows. Wildlife is plentiful in the park, and while mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are the most commonly seen, black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose inhabit the region as well.
Recreation
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs. One of the most popular activities in the park is wildlife viewing. There are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities to see elk, Mule deer, Bighorn sheep, hawks, a wide range of songbirds and more throughout the park. Rocky Mountain National Park offers some unforgettable scenic views along of the land above trees, over 1/3 of the park is alpine tundra. Enjoy incredible scenic drives along Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
Guidebooks for Rocky Mountain National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Guide to the Geology of Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoCarol Wegemann, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
- Fly Fishing Guide to Rocky Mountain National ParkSteven Schweitzer and Rick Takahashi, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Sites at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Glacier Basin Campground is a seasonal campground open from May 21 through the night of September 7, 2026. Campground Fees (Per Site/Per Night). $35.00 for standard nonelectric sites/tent sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground have?
158 sites, including 74 tent-only sites, 64 standard sites without power, and 11 group tent areas.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Sites B033, B035, B060, and B061 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground?
Estes Park, Colorado. The Town of Estes Park is a short drive from the campground, located outside of RMNP’s Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances.
Source: Getting there