Estes Park Hotels: Where to Stay in Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado, sits at the east gate of Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors choose from a historic hotel, a lakeside resort, a YMCA cabin complex, chain hotels, and family-run lodges. This guide covers the hotels in Estes Park we could confirm, and the tips below help you find cheap hotels in Estes Park without guesswork. We list addresses, phone numbers, and amenities from official sites and travel listings. We do not quote rates, because prices change by date and season. Where we found only one source, we say so and tell you to confirm by phone.

Compare Estes Park, Colorado hotels on Expedia

Hotels in Estes Park, Colorado: What We Confirmed

Where to Stay in Estes Park: Resorts and Historic Hotels

Three properties offer the most amenities in town. Each suits a different kind of trip. Read the details below, then call to confirm room types and dates.

The Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel stands at 333 Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. The official site lists the street as East Wonderview Avenue. Call the hotel at 970-577-4000.

F.O. Stanley opened the hotel on 4 July 1909, according to Wikipedia. The National Register of Historic Places lists the hotel and surrounding buildings. Stephen King stayed one night in 1974 and drew inspiration for The Shining from the visit. A travel-trade listing gives check-in at 4:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM. We found those times in one source only, so confirm them when you book.

The official site describes four properties with a combined 220 accommodations. They are The Stanley, the Aspire Hotel and Spa, The Lodge, and The Residence. The Residence offers one to five bedrooms for longer stays. Dining options include MacGregor Chop House, Flora Jane, and Whiskey Vault. Aspire offers organic spa treatments, and the hotel runs guided tours.

Pick the Stanley if you want history, a spa, and several restaurants on one property. We could not confirm the pet policy, so ask before you bring a dog.

The Estes Park Resort on Lake Estes

The Estes Park Resort stands at 1700 Colorado Peaks Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. A travel-trade listing gives the phone as 970-577-6400 and the toll-free line as 855-377-3778. Travelocity lists check-in from 4:00 PM, check-out before 11:00 AM, and a minimum check-in age of 21.

Travel listings describe a log and stone lodge on the north shore of Lake Estes. The building has three levels and about 55 rooms. Listings give 54 rooms in one source and 55 in another, so treat the count as approximate. The resort was built in 2000.

Listed amenities include a full-service spa, the Ember Restaurant and Bar, a 24-hour fitness center, a marina, a game room, a playground, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. Pets are not allowed. Service animals are welcome.

Choose this resort if you want a lake setting and an on-site restaurant and spa.

YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center

The YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center stands at 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, CO 80511. Call 970-586-3341 for the main line or 888-613-9622 for lodging reservations.

The official FAQ gives check-in after 7:00 AM, with room access once crews clean the room, typically by 6:00 PM. Check-out is at 10:00 AM. Lodging types include cabins with up to five bedrooms, lodge rooms, and seasonal yurts from June through September. Cabins include kitchen essentials. The property has heating but no air conditioning. Wi-Fi and parking are free.

Pets are welcome in pet-friendly lodging, with a limit of two pets. Ask which cabins and lodges qualify. Activities such as archery, axe throwing, canoeing, climbing, dog sledding, guided hikes, horseback riding, paddleboarding, and ski lessons require advance registration.

Frommer’s describes the center as a large family complex next to Rocky Mountain National Park. Wikivoyage lists the YMCA cabin complexes among Estes Park lodging. Pick this option for a large group or a family who wants activities on site.

Hotels in Estes Park Along Big Thompson Avenue

Several hotels sit on Big Thompson Avenue, also US 34, on the east side of town. This stretch has chain hotels, family-run inns, and motels. Visitors who want a simple base should compare the options below.

Best Western Plus Silver Saddle Inn

The Silver Saddle Inn stands at 1260 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. Best Western lists the reservation line as 800-780-7234. Frommer’s lists the local number as 970-586-4476.

Best Western gives check-in at 4:00 PM and check-out at 10:00 AM. The hotel serves a free daily breakfast and offers an on-site pool, a fitness center, accessible rooms, and jetted tubs. Select rooms have a kitchen or kitchenette. Best Western states the hotel is four miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The hotel does not accept pets. Choose the Silver Saddle for a chain hotel with breakfast and a pool.

Appenzell Inn

Appenzell Inn is an alpine-style inn along the Big Thompson River. A Sundance lodging listing gives the address as 1100 Big Thompson Avenue. Call 970-586-2023. The inn site says check-in and the lobby now sit at 1120 Big Thompson Avenue, at the sister property Estes Mountain Inn next door.

The inn offers 14 room types, from petite queen rooms to two-bedroom condos. Many rooms have a kitchenette or full kitchen. Amenities include a year-round indoor pool, a seasonal heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, fire pits, a daily continental breakfast, and nightly s’mores. The site says the inn sits less than a mile from downtown.

Guest reviews on the Sundance listing mention friendly staff and the pool. One review raised a linen cleanliness concern. Read recent reviews before you book. We did not find the pet policy, so call to ask.

Estes Mountain Inn

Estes Mountain Inn stands at 1120 Big Thompson Avenue. A Kayak listing gives the phone as 970-586-3313. We found the number in one source, so confirm the number when you reserve.

The inn site gives check-in from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM. Guests who arrive after 9:00 PM must give advance notice. The inn offers a daily continental breakfast, nightly s’mores and popcorn, a year-round indoor pool, a seasonal heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and fire pits. The inn has no elevator. Each room may park one vehicle, and parking runs short in peak summer and fall.

Pet-friendly rooms exist, with fees. Ask about the fee schedule when you reserve.

Our old guide listed Estes Mountain Lodge. A Kayak page with the same property number carries both names. Appenzell Inn calls Estes Mountain Inn its sister property. We believe the lodge and the inn are one property, but we could not confirm a formal rename.

Murphy’s Resort

Murphy’s Resort stands at 1650 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. Call 970-480-2955. The resort site says the property offers hotel rooms and vacation rentals.

Listed amenities include a seasonal heated outdoor pool, a year-round indoor hot tub, shuffleboard, horseshoes, bocce, outdoor grills, fire pits, a continental breakfast, and free bikes. The site says Lake Estes and the marina sit within walking distance and two restaurants operate on site. A meetings-trade listing counts 58 rooms in a single-story building from 1960, renovated in 2011. The same listing says pets are welcome for a fee.

Distances to the national park differ between sources. The resort site says six miles. The trade listing says four miles. Check a map for your own route.

Our old guide described log cabins, a fishing pond, and a playground. We could not confirm those features, so we removed them.

Cabins and Chalets Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Visitors who want a kitchen and a fireplace often choose a chalet. These stays suit families and groups on a longer trip.

Timber Creek Chalets

Timber Creek Chalets stands at 2115 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517. Call 800-672-9289. An Estes Park listing says the property sits two miles from the Fall River Entrance to the national park and stays open year-round.

The listing describes chalets for two to ten guests. Some have private hot tubs. Amenities include a seasonal heated pool, a game room with a pool table, kitchens, fireplaces, gas grills, free Wi-Fi, a playground, and free snowshoe rentals in winter. Select units accept pets.

We found the detailed listing from one source. Expedia and Kayak also list the property, which confirms the name exists. Call to confirm which chalets have hot tubs and which accept pets.

Motels in Estes Park and Budget Options

Travelers who want cheap hotels in Estes Park should look at motels and the hostel first. We do not quote rates, so call each property and compare the total with taxes and fees. Frommer’s lists these options.

Super 8 stands at 1040 Big Thompson Avenue. Call 970-586-5338. Travelodge stands at 1220 Big Thompson Avenue. Call 970-586-4421. Saddle and Surrey Motel stands at 1341 South St. Vrain Avenue. Call 970-586-3326. Frommer’s says the motel has queen rooms and rooms with kitchenettes. Estes Park Hostel stands at 211 Cleave Street. Call 970-586-3149. Frommer’s lists dormitory bunks, private rooms, and a five-person apartment with a kitchen.

We took these four listings from a single Frommer’s page and did not confirm current status. Call before you plan around any of them.

Where to Stay Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park sits at 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517. The National Park Service says the park operates year-round, 24 hours a day. You need an entrance fee or a valid pass. Timed entry reservations apply during certain hours from late May to mid-October. Check the National Park Service site for current rules before you go.

Call the park at 970-586-1206 with questions. Call 970-586-1222 for the Trail Ridge Road status line. The Estes Park Visitor Center stands at 500 Big Thompson Avenue. Call 970-577-9900.

Timber Creek Chalets sits near the Fall River Entrance on Fall River Road. The YMCA, Big Thompson Avenue hotels, and the Stanley sit closer to town. Pick a base by the entrance you plan to use, then check driving times on a map.

Getting to Estes Park and Getting Around

Wikivoyage places Estes Park about 90 miles northwest of Denver at 7,522 feet above sea level. The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport, roughly 90 miles away. Shuttle services run from the airport.

Four driving routes serve the town. US 34 runs from Loveland, about 30 miles. US 36 runs from Lyons, about 25 miles. Colorado Highway 7 runs through Allenspark from the Boulder and Golden area. US 34 over Trail Ridge Road runs from Grand Lake, but only in season.

Downtown is compact and walkable. Free city parking lots exist. A free shuttle begins at the Visitor Center and serves stops in town and in the national park, according to Wikivoyage. Visitors who go to the park without a shuttle need a private vehicle.

How to Choose a Hotel in Estes Park

Families do well at the YMCA, Appenzell Inn, Estes Mountain Inn, and Murphy’s Resort. Each lists pools or yard games, and several serve breakfast.

Couples and history fans should look at the Stanley Hotel. The Estes Park Resort offers a quieter lake setting with a spa.

Pet owners should start with the YMCA, Estes Mountain Inn, Murphy’s Resort, or Timber Creek Chalets. The Silver Saddle and the Estes Park Resort do not accept pets.

Groups and long stays point to chalets, YMCA cabins, and Appenzell condos. Kitchens save money and give you space.

Budget travelers should call the motels and the hostel. Compare the total on two booking sites and by phone.

Wikivoyage warns summer lodging fills quickly. Book early and ask for written confirmation. Confirm the property name, cancellation terms, parking, breakfast hours, and late arrival rules before you pay.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We checked the Stanley against its official site, a travel-trade listing, and Wikipedia. We checked the YMCA against its official FAQ. We checked the Silver Saddle against Best Western and Frommer’s. We checked Appenzell Inn against its site and a Sundance listing. We checked Estes Mountain Inn and Murphy’s Resort against their sites and trade listings. We checked the Estes Park Resort against Travelocity and a trade listing. We checked park details against the National Park Service and travel details against Wikivoyage.

We could not confirm current rates, the Stanley pet policy, the Estes Mountain Lodge rename, or the status of the four Frommer’s motel and hostel listings. We removed old claims about private balconies, boating, fishing, miniature golf, and go-karts because we found no source. Phone numbers and policies change, so confirm each detail with the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Estes Park offers a wide lodging list for a mountain town. The Stanley Hotel and the Estes Park Resort give you the most services. The YMCA, Appenzell Inn, Estes Mountain Inn, Murphy’s Resort, and Timber Creek Chalets suit families and groups. Motels and the hostel serve budget travelers once you confirm details. Call ahead, confirm policies, and book early for a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Still comparing? More hotel guides for Colorado.