KidPaths

Denver to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park With Kids

Start early, stop at a visitor center for a Junior Ranger booklet, and pick one short walk the kids can finish.

The drive

Distance
66 miles via Boulder and US 36
Typical drive time
1.5 to 2 hours

Measured from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park, as stated by the official source listed at the bottom of this page. Traffic, weather and stops with kids add time, so plan for a longer day than the map shows.

Kid-friendly stops on the way

Each stop was checked on its own official site. Open it before you go for current hours, prices and any closures.

  1. Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

    Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

    A park visitor center with rangers on hand, and one of the places kids can pick up Junior Ranger booklets and badges.

    Official site

  2. Lily Lake Loop

    Near Estes Park, CO

    A packed-gravel, wheelchair-friendly loop around Lily Lake, six miles south of Estes Park on Highway 7, with picnic tables and a fishing pier.

    Official site

Need more ideas before you leave? Browse things to do with kids in Denver or plan a different route.

Free road-trip stop checklist

Stop before everyone runs out of patience: how to plan a real break to burn energy, pick an indoor backup in case it rains, and add up the family total before you pay. One page, emailed now. Then The Weekend Scout once a week: one family outing idea for the weekend. Free. Unsubscribe from any email.

Three things to plan before you leave

  • For part of the year the park requires a timed entry reservation during certain hours, so check the park's timed entry page before you go.
  • Use restrooms and fill water bottles in Estes Park or at a visitor center before heading into the park.
  • Pick a short walk the youngest walker can finish, then add more if everyone is happy.

Checked against: NPS: Rocky Mountain directions, NPS: timed entry (checked )

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Plan the Denver to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park family drive with Junior Ranger tips, an easy lake loop and timed entry advice.

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