The Ultimate Rocky Mountain National Park 2-Day Itinerary

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States for good reasons! Each year over four million people travel from all over the world to explore this beautiful national park and take in the gorgeous mountain views. The 265,000-acre park offers mountain views, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and wildlife, and you do not have to go far from your car to take in the scenery.

And the best part? Rocky Mountain National Park has something to do for everyone! Whether you want to enjoy a scenic drive, hike to alpine lakes, or stroll along easy trails, there is something for everyone.

Although you could spend a week exploring everything the national park offers, you can see many must-see attractions by spending two days in Rocky Mountain National Park. This guide has everything you need to plan the best Rocky Mountain National Park 2-day itinerary!

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Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Get your timed entry permit in advance. Rocky Mountain National Park has a timed entry permit system for the summer and fall, and the slots fill up quickly. I highly recommend reserving yours as soon as they are released, especially if you want to visit Bear Lake Corridor. The Bear Lake Corridor time slots for peak season fill up the same day they are released because it is one of the most popular areas in the park. The national park service has the release schedule on its website to make it easy. If you do not have a timed entry slot, you can enter Bear Lake Corridor before 5 am or after 6 pm and in the other sections of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 am or after 2 pm.
Trail Ridge Road is open seasonally. The iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park is not open in the winter and early spring. The park does not plow Trail Ridge Road usually until Memorial Day weekend and closes it at the end of October, depending on the weather.
Start your day early. Starting your day earlier will allow you to enjoy the park with fewer crowds and avoid long wait times at the park entrances. Rocky Mountain National Park also experiences thunderstorms in the afternoon in the summer. During the few days we were in the park, we saw a storm every day! I recommend starting your day as early as you can to avoid getting caught in a thunderstorm.
Take it slow. Many of the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park are at high elevations, and if you are not acclimated, there is a chance you could get altitude sickness. I recommend taking it slow to ensure you get used to the altitude.
Pack layers. Rocky Mountain National Park has unpredictable weather, especially on Trail Ridge Road. I recommend packing layers to accommodate any weather you may run into. Snow can also linger on some trails through June, and you should research trail conditions to ensure you have the correct hiking gear. If you need to rent microspikes, plenty of stores in Estes Park have them. We rented ours from Scot’s Sporting Goods.
Wear sunscreen. Because you are at a higher elevation in the park and closer to the sun, it is easy to get a sunburn. We learned this the hard way on our first day! Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before heading out to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Expect crowds. Rocky Mountain National Park is among the most visited national parks, and each attraction is likely to have crowds. There is also a high chance there will be lines at the entrance stations. If you have a midday timed entry, I recommend arriving early to give yourself plenty of time in case you have to sit in traffic entering the park. When we left the park around noon one day, the line at the entrance station was over two miles long!
Be flexible. There will likely be crowds in the park, especially in the summer. Allow your itinerary to be flexible since there may be times you cannot find parking at a viewpoint or trailhead because of the crowds.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

Closest Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park

The biggest and most convenient airport to fly into is Denver International Airport. It has the most direct flights and is less than two hours from Estes Park. The Denver International Airport will also have the most car rental options. You could also rent a campervan for the trip.

Where to Stay During a Rocky Mountain National Park 2-Day Itinerary

Estes Park is the best place to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park because it is outside the east park entrances. The town has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops.

Because Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, the accommodations in Estes Park might be the most expensive on the trip. But it is nice to be within a 15-minute drive of the Beaver Meadow and Fall River park entrances.

Best Hotels in Estes Park:

Best Campgrounds in Estes Park:

best places to stay near rocky mountain national park

What to Pack for 2 Days in Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

The Best Rocky Mountain National Park 2-Day Itinerary

This Rocky Mountain National Park 2-day itinerary explores some of the best things to do in the park, including scenic drives, waterfalls, mountain views, and alpine lakes! It also includes some easy hikes with a few longer trails if you want a more strenuous adventure.

Since you will stay in Estes Park for the trip, you will enter the park from the Beaver Meadows or Fall River entrances. Get ready for an incredible adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park!

Day 1 in Rocky Mountain National Park

During your first day in the park, you have two options. You can begin your day exploring Trail Ridge Road, or you can drive Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitor Center and then take Trail Ridge Road back to Estes Park. It is a fun loop and a great way to explore two of the most scenic drives in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Trail Ridge Road is the iconic 48-mile scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park, linking Estes Park to Grand Lake. If you do not want to drive all the way to Grand Lake, you can turn around near Fairview Curve or Medicine Bow Curve. I recommend taking your time during your first day in the park, stopping at the many overlooks, and enjoying some easy hikes. Each viewpoint offers beautiful views, and you will not be disappointed! Here are some of my favorite viewpoints along the road:

Many Parks Curve
Rainbow Curve
Forest Canyon Overlook
Gore Range Overlook
Alpine Visitor Center
Medicine Bow Curve
Fairview Curve

Alpine Ridge Trail is one of the most iconic hikes along Trail Ridge Road because it starts at the highest national park visitor center in the United States. The 0.6-mile trial is relentless and gains elevation steadily, but it is worth the effort for the beautiful views at the top!
Toll Memorial Trail is another beautiful and easy hike off Trail Ridge Road and one of my favorite hikes in the park. The 1.1-mile trail has my favorite views! The Toll Memorial Trail offers stunning mountain views, and the end has a short and steep climb to the memorial with 360-degree panoramic views. The trail will quickly become one of your favorites!
If you want a longer hike, you are in luck! Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge is a beautiful 3.8-mile hike with breathtaking views of Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains. It is also a great hike to see elk and marmot! It is a lesser-known trail but offers some of the most beautiful views.
If you visit when Old Fall River Road is open, you will be in for a treat! Usually, it opens in mid-July and closes in October. This beautiful 9-mile, one-way scenic drive links Estes Park to the Alpine Visitor Center and offers incredible views of mountains and waterfalls. It is also a great place to see wildlife! You also have the opportunity to enjoy many hiking trails off the road, with a few of my favorites being Marmot Point Trail (easy/moderate), Ypsilon Lake Trail (strenuous), and Alluvial Fan Trail (easy). As I mentioned earlier, you could drive Old Fall River Road when you first enter the park and then explore Trail Ridge Road as you go back to Estes Park.

toll memorial trail hiking guide

ute trail to tombstone ridge hiking guide

best places to see wildlife in rocky mountain national park

Day 2 in Rocky Mountain National Park

The second day on this 2-day itinerary in Rocky Mountain National Park explores one of the most visited areas in the park. Bear Lake Corridor is known for having some of the most beautiful trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is why this is a popular area.

The best part is it has hikes for all levels! You can enjoy an easy stroll around lakes or a strenuous hike to an alpine lake. No matter what trails you choose to hike, you will love visiting this area! And if you do not want to hike in Bear Lake Corridor, you can head back to Trail Ridge Road and explore more areas you may have missed the first day.

Bear Lake is the most popular trail in Bear Lake Corridor because it is easy and offers beautiful views. The 0.7-mile trail loops around Bear Lake, providing views of the surrounding mountains. And if you do not want to hike, the two best viewpoints are only a short walk from the parking lot, but I highly recommend hiking the entire trail! If you are lucky and the water is calm, you can capture a beautiful reflection shot of the mountains.
Nymph Lake is the second easiest lake to hike to after Bear Lake and offers more stunning views of the surrounding mountains. I recommend hiking the 1.7-mile trail to Bear Lake and Nymph Lake because it is relatively easy and brings you to two beautiful lakes. Nymph Lake has multiple viewpoints along the lake, and you will be in awe of the beauty at each!
If you want a longer hike to more alpine lakes, I recommend hiking the 3.8-mile trail to Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, Nymph Lake, and Bear Lake. Emerald Lake and Dream Lake are my favorite lakes along this route, and I know you will fall in love with this hike! The hike is not super strenuous, but it will make you work for the views. We hiked this at the beginning of June, and the trail past Nymph Lake had a lot of snow. We were glad we rented microspikes for the hike!
Lake Haiyaha is arguably the most beautiful lake in Bear Lake Corridor because of its turquoise-colored water. You can either hike 4 miles just to Lake Haiyaha or add it to your hike with the other four lakes above for a 5-mile trail. Lake Haiyaha is the most difficult lake to get to, but if you are up for a strenuous hike, you will fall in love with the lake.
If you want to hike to a waterfall in Bear Lake Corridor, you are in luck. Alberta Falls is a beautiful 30-foot waterfall and a relatively easy 1.6-mile hike. Alberta Falls also connects with other longer trails if you want a longer adventure.
Sprague Lake is one of the best hikes for those looking for an accessible trail with beautiful views in Bear Lake Corridor. The 0.8-mile trail is one of the easiest hikes in the area and has stunning mountain views across the lake. It is the perfect family-friendly hike!
Sky Pond is another of the best lake hikes in Bear Lake Corridor. This beautiful 8.6-mile hike will make you work for the views, but they are worth it! The trail offers mountain views while passing Alberta Falls, The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. This trail is arguably one of the most scenic, and you will quickly see why it is one of the most popular hikes.
Moraine Park is one of the best areas to see wildlife in Rocky Mountain Park. Although you are likely to see elk during any part of the day, we saw the most when we visited in the evening near sunset. You can enjoy watching herds of elk roam around the park or hike along the few trails in the area. Moraine Park also offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, so you will not want to skip visiting this area.

If you want to spend two days in Rocky Mountain National Park, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know to plan the best Rocky Mountain National Park 2-day itinerary.