The 9 Best Cities and Towns Near Rocky Mountain National Park

These are the best cities and towns near Rocky Mountain National Park to stay on a road trip! Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States for good reasons. The park offers beautiful snow-capped mountains, scenic drives, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife.

You can spend your days hiking to some of the most beautiful views in Colorado or enjoying a scenic drive along one of the tallest roads in the United States. There is truly something to do for everyone, and you will quickly see why it is one of the best national parks!

I recommend spending at least 2-4 days in Rocky Mountain National Park when you visit. It will give you plenty of time to explore everything the park offers. When you spend a night near the park, a few towns near Rocky Mountain National Park make perfect base camps for your adventures. This guide has everything you need to know about the best cities and towns near Rocky Mountain National Park to stay in during your trip!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

The Best Cities and Towns Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Estes Park

Estes Park is the best town near Rocky Mountain National Park because it is right outside the two most popular entrances, Fall River and Beaver Meadows. Estes Park is a quaint town with everything you need for your stay. It has many accommodations for all budgets, cute shops, great restaurants, and beautiful views.

Estes Park also has hikes near downtown, a mountain coaster, and many other fun things to do outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. We stayed in Estes Park during our trip and loved our time in the small town!

Estes Park has a variety of accommodations for many budgets, allowing you to find the perfect place to stay. Because Estes Park is the closest town to Rocky Mountain National Park, the hotels book up quickly. I recommend booking your accommodation well in advance to be safe! Estes Park is the perfect place to stay when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park if you want to be close to the park.

Best Places to Stay in Estes Park:

Grand Lake

Grand Lake is a small town on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park and is the second-closest town to the park. It is incredibly scenic, sitting along the largest natural lake in Colorado, and is right near the Grand Lake Entrance to the national park.

Grand Lake is a great alternative to Estes Park because it has everything you need for your stay, including accommodations, restaurants, and shops. It is much quieter than Estes Park because it is on the western half of the park, but it is a great place to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park!

Best Places to Stay in Grand Lake:

the rocky mountain national park entrances

Granby

Granby is just south of Grand Lake and another great town near Rocky Mountain National Park to stay in. The small town has a few accommodations and restaurants to enjoy on your trip. It is further from the Grand Lake Entrance, but the drive is easy and beautiful. If you plan on visiting Breckenridge after you visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Granby is a great central point between the two for your road trip.

Best Places to Stay in Granby:

Lyons

Lyons is a town south of Rocky Mountain National Park on the eastern section and a great place to stay when you visit! Although it is about a half-hour drive from the east park entrances, it has everything you need, including a few accommodations, restaurants, and shops.

You can also enjoy everything Estes Park offers since you have to drive through it to get to Rocky Mountain National Park. It also has many beautiful trails outside the park and is not too far from Denver and the airport. It is a great central point between Rocky Mountain National Park and the city.

Best Places to Stay in Lyons:

2-day rocky mountain national park itinerary

Longmont

Longmont is an hour from the east park entrances and Estes Park, making it one of the closest cities to Rocky Mountain National Park. It has many accommodations, restaurants, and shops to enjoy during your stay, and it is only a half-hour from Boulder and an hour from Denver.

And if you love a good brewery, Longmont might be the place for you since it is home to some of the best! If you want to stay in a small city close to the park, Longmont will be the best place to find accommodation near Rocky Mountain National Park!

Best Places to Stay in Longmont:

Allenspark

Allenspark is a small town near the Wild Basin section of Rocky Mountain National Park. Wild Basin is an underrated part of the park and is home to some of the most beautiful hikes in the area, including the iconic Longs Peak! It is also a quick half-hour drive to Estes Park. Although it is small, Allenspark has a few accommodations and restaurants to enjoy if you stay there during your trip.

Best Places to Stay in Allenspark:

easy hikes in rocky mountain national park

Loveland

Loveland is another one of the closest cities to Rocky Mountain National Park and makes the perfect base camp if you want to explore areas out of the park during your trip. It is a great central point to many beautiful places, including Estes Park, Denver, and Boulder, since it is about a 45-minute drive to all three areas.

Loveland has plenty of accommodations for all budgets as well as restaurants, trails, and many other outdoor activities. Although staying in Loveland requires a bit of a drive to get to Rocky Mountain National Park, it goes by quickly because it is incredibly scenic.

Best Places to Stay in Loveland:

best places to see wildlife in rocky mountain national park

Boulder

Boulder is easily one of the most beautiful cities in Colorado because it sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It is also one of the largest cities on this list! Boulder has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and fun outdoor activities nearby.

It is the perfect base camp to explore Rocky Mountain National Park and other nearby areas, including Eldorado Canyon State Park. The drive to Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour, but it goes by quickly because it is incredibly scenic!

Best Places to Stay in Boulder:

Denver

Of course, if you would like to stay in the largest city near Rocky Mountain National Park, you can find an accommodation in Denver. Denver is a great city with many fun things to do. If you want one base camp to explore multiple areas, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods, Boulder, and Breckenridge, Denver is a great central point.

It also has endless restaurants, shops, and things to do, so you will never be bored! The drive to Rocky Mountain National Park is about 1.5 hours, which is a bit of a haul to get there, but it is beautiful and goes by quickly.

Best Places to Stay in Denver:

This guide is the perfect starting place if you are looking for the best cities and towns near Rocky Mountain National Park. It has everything you need to know about the best places to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park during your trip!