Pick your side of the park
Most visitors come in from the east through Estes Park, about a 90 minute drive from Denver. That side has the Bear Lake corridor, the busiest trailheads and the most lodging.
The west side near Grand Lake is quieter and greener, with the Kawuneeche Valley and the headwaters of the Colorado River. If you have two days, spend one on each side and connect them over Trail Ridge Road.
Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road crosses the park and climbs above 12,000 feet, well above treeline. Pullouts along the way look out over tundra and the Continental Divide.
The road is seasonal and closes for winter once the snow comes. Check the park's road status page before you plan a crossing in spring or late fall.
Beat the crowds
The park has used timed entry reservations during its busiest months, so check the National Park Service site well before your dates. Arriving early in the morning is still the single best way to get a parking spot at popular trailheads.
Weekdays are calmer than weekends, and September brings golden aspens and the elk rut, when you can hear bull elk bugling in the meadows at dawn and dusk.