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Rocky Mountain National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
Timed entry in 2026: May 22 to October 12, 9 am–2 pm for most of the park; the Bear Lake Road corridor (Timed Entry+) May 22 to October 18, 5 am–6 pm. $2 Recreation.gov fee. Reservations release on the 1st of each month at 8 am MDT (May 1 for May 22–June 30), with leftovers at 7 pm the night before.
Fees and passes
$30 per private vehicle for 1 day, $35 for 7 days.
Non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they have an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Campgrounds are reserved on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (5)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground | 258 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground | 158 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Rocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek Campground | 99 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground | 55 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Rocky Mountain National Park Longs Peak Campground | 27 | Campground | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 0 | 37°F | 16°F | 0.8 in | 9.8 in | 9 h 33 m |
| February | Poor · 0 | 38°F | 16°F | 0.7 in | 13.3 in | 10 h 34 m |
| March | Poor · 24 | 45°F | 21°F | 1.6 in | 18.8 in | 11 h 47 m |
| April | Fair · 54 | 52°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 19.3 in | 13 h 11 m |
| May | Great · 97 | 61°F | 35°F | 2.3 in | 9.5 in | 14 h 21 m |
| June | Great · 100 | 74°F | 43°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 59 m |
| July | Great · 100 | 80°F | 48°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 44 m |
| August | Great · 100 | 78°F | 46°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 43 m |
| September | Great · 100 | 70°F | 39°F | 1.6 in | 0.5 in | 12 h 22 m |
| October | Good · 78 | 57°F | 30°F | 1.1 in | 9.1 in | 11 h 01 m |
| November | Poor · 25 | 44°F | 24°F | 0.7 in | 11.0 in | 9 h 50 m |
| December | Poor · 0 | 36°F | 16°F | 0.7 in | 12.7 in | 9 h 15 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Estes Park 3 SSE, CO weather station (7,812 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Rocky Mountain National Park?
Timed entry in 2026: May 22 to October 12, 9 am–2 pm for most of the park; the Bear Lake Road corridor (Timed Entry+) May 22 to October 18, 5 am–6 pm. $2 Recreation.gov fee. Reservations release on the 1st of each month at 8 am MDT (May 1 for May 22–June 30), with leftovers at 7 pm the night before.
How much does it cost to enter Rocky Mountain?
$30 per private vehicle for 1 day, $35 for 7 days. Non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they have an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
When is the weather mildest at Rocky Mountain?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in May to September. July is warmest (about 80°F) and February has the coldest nights (about 16°F).
Sources: Rocky Mountain fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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