A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

National Park Service campground

Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground

National Park Service campground in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, Colorado. About 8,500 feet. 4.1 miles from Estes Park.

Managed by
National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park
Elevation
About 8,500 ft As the National Park Service states
Sites
149 74 tent only non-electric, 64 standard non-electric, 11 group tent only area non-electric
Longest rig
35 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

All campsites at Glacier Basin Campground are available by reservation only through Recreation.gov. To make a reservation, visit www.recreation.gov, use the Recreation.gov Mobile App, or call 1-877-444-6777.

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.

Some campsites are available to be reserved 2-weeks prior to your desired camping date.

Some campsites are available to be reserved 1-week prior to your desired camping date.

Group campsites are available to be reserved 1-year in advance on a rolling window.

Is a Timed Entry Reservation Included with my Camping Reservation?

Yes. Campers with reservations for Glacier Basin Campground have a " Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road" reservation included with your camping reservation. Your campground reservation will serve as your vehicle timed entry reservation. Campers can enter RMNP via the Grand Lake, Beaver Meadows or Fall River Entrances beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of your camping reservation. Remember to print and bring a copy of your campground reservation with you and keep this in your vehicle. You will be asked to show your campground reservation confirmation at the park's entrance station upon arrival.

When Can I Check into My Campsite?

Check In begins at 1 p.m. for all campsites in Rocky Mountain National Park.

What Time is Check Out?

All campers must check out of their campsites in Rocky Mountain National Park by noon.

How Many Nights Can I Stay at Glacier Basin Campground?

In Rocky Mountain National Park, there is a 7-night limit for all campgrounds during the summer season. This means that campers can stay a total of 7 nights inside the park. This limit includes overnight stays at all campgrounds. For instance, a camper could spend 7 nights at Glacier Basin Campground or they could stay 3 nights at Glacier Basin Campground and 4 at Timber Creek Campground.

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.

Facilities

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 .

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • amphitheater
  • backpacking
  • biking
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • evening programs
  • fishing
  • guided interpretive walks
  • hiking
  • horseback riding
  • interpretive programs
  • kayaking
  • mountain climbing
  • picnicking
  • ranger station
  • scenic drive
  • skiing
  • snowshoeing
  • visitor center
  • wilderness
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 7, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.