Rocky Mountain National Park guide · 2 min read
Moraine Park Camping and the Bear Lake Shuttle
Moraine Park Campground is the largest campground inside Rocky Mountain National Park, with 244 sites spread across several loops.
It welcomes both tent and RV campers: 155 sites are tent only, 88 are RV only, 49 have electric hookups, and 49 are walk-to sites. Food storage lockers, drinking water, trash and recycling collection, a dump station, and an amphitheater round out the setting.
The location is a big part of the appeal. Campsites look out toward Longs Peak and the Continental Divide, and the open meadows of Moraine Park below are a good place to watch for wildlife. Moraine Park Road also leads to the trailheads for the Cub Lake and Fern Lake Trails, so you can start a hike close to your tent.
There is no lodging inside the park, so camping is the only way to stay overnight. The park has five campgrounds in all. Aspenglen is a smaller option with 52 sites, and Glacier Basin sits along Bear Lake Road across from the main shuttle hub. Aspenglen, Moraine Park, and Glacier Basin are the most popular, and they tend to be reserved well ahead through Recreation.gov.
The park's shuttle buses make it easy to leave your car parked. The Park and Ride Transit Hub, about 5.2 miles up Bear Lake Road from Trail Ridge Road, is the largest parking area on the road. From there, the Bear Lake Route runs to Bear Lake, and the Moraine Park Route runs to the Fern Lake Trailhead. Shuttle buses also stop at Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds, and every bus has a wheelchair lift and tie downs.
The lots at Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge often fill early, but the shuttle still reaches both trailheads if you arrive late. Coming from town, the Hiker Shuttle connects the Estes Park Visitor Center with the Park and Ride Transit Hub.
