Denver is only about an hour and a half southeast of Estes Park, so you can always head to the big city if you get tired of small-town charm. However, you might want to stick around town so you can breathe in the mountain air and get to know the friendly locals. There's shopping, dining, music, entertainment, and plenty of other attractions to explore.
When you want to thoroughly unwind during your vacation, Estes Park offers the perfect solution. Start packing your bags and writing down your wish list of activities today.
Best Time to Visit Estes Park, CO
Estes Park offers year-round attractions for singles, couples, and families. The summer months offer the best weather and the most opportunities to explore the great outdoors. You won't have to bundle up before you head out from your hotel to explore the town and the surrounding environs. Plus, low humidity levels make even the warmest months quite tolerable.
Spring and fall bring chilly evenings — and sometimes cold days — but autumn presents luxurious fall colors, while spring remains perfect for birdwatchers and other wildlife enthusiasts who want to witness nature at its finest. You'll see the lowest hotel rates and the fewest crowds during late December, after the holiday rush, and early spring. Hotel prices climb through the summer months, then start to taper off again when kids go back to school, and the mercury starts to drop.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Estes Park, CO:
Estes Park, CO: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. nightly cost trends by star rating class in Estes Park, CO. Browse these illustrations to calculate the most cost effective months to book a room in Estes Park for upcoming travels.
Best Luxury Hotel Options in Estes Park, Colorado
4 Star Average Prices: $212.06
Although Estes Park doesn't offer as much luxury as some of the more popular skiing towns in Colorado, you can still find some upscale options within the city limits. Try the Comfort Inn, for instance. It's designed specifically for leisure, so feel free to leave your laptops and Bluetooth devices at home and fully acclimate to the slow, peaceful pace in the mountains. The Comfort Inn is close to several local favorite attractions, including the Sombrero Ranch and the Rooftop Rodeo. You'll get free Wi-Fi throughout the establishment as well as an exercise room, business center, seasonal outdoor pool, and free coffee in the lobby.
Every morning, head down to the dining room to enjoy a free hot breakfast. Fill up on pancakes, waffles, muffins, pastries, cereal, yogurt, and other delicacies. You'll access your room through interior corridors, which makes your travel safer, and this hotel has won several awards, including the Choice Gold Hospitality Award. There's an indoor whirlpool if you feel like taking a soak during any season, and rooms feature plush pillow top mattresses.
You'll also find luxury at The Stanley Hotel, which is slightly more expensive. You might recognize it as the venue that inspired the Overlook Hotel in the film version of Stephen King's "The Shining." In fact, the gift shop sells memorabilia like coffee mugs with the word Redrum scrawled across the side and copies of the film and book. However, this hotel isn't just for book lovers and film buffs. It's a beautiful example of architecture that seems to arise naturally from the mountains around it. Plus, it has a long-standing reputation for being haunted.
Rooms and suites come with comfortable beds and seating areas as well as 42-inch flat-screen televisions, pillow top mattresses, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel isn't air-conditioned, but you can always open up your window to let in the fresh mountain breeze. There are four restaurants in the hotel, including the famed Whiskey Bar, and you won't want to miss the fantastic sculpture garden.
Best Affordable Hotel Options in Estes Park, Colorado
3 Star Average Prices: $167.78
When you want to visit Estes Park without blowing your vacation budget on a place to sleep, the Estes Rodeway Inn will fit the bill. It's a clean, comfortable hotel that doesn't offer much in the way of aesthetic appeal, but will nevertheless introduce you to an authentic Colorado mountain-town adventure. Plus, you're likely to see local wildlife wandering the grounds, from deer to elk.
There's an indoor heated pool if you want to take a dip between excursions in the mountains or if you want to lounge poolside with the latest beach read. You'll find lobbies on both floors of the hotel, which provide convenient gathering spaces when you're traveling with a large group and need to plan the day's itinerary. Guest rooms are slightly dated with floral-patterned bedding, floral artwork on the walls, and CRT televisions, but the windows offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
The 4 Seasons Inn offers another budget-friendly hotel option. It's an adults-only hotel, which means you can relax in peace and quiet if you're looking for a romantic getaway or a fun destination with friends. You might also prefer this hotel if you're traveling alone for reflection or work. Its position on the Fall River means you're never far from the water, though there's also an outdoor spa tub for those who prefer to soak in hot water. You can use the outdoor grill to prepare your own meals or organize a picnic for your party.
Each of the guest rooms at the 4 Seasons Inn comes with a microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker. You'll get a flat-screen television, free wireless internet access, and cable channels including HBO. Three rooms have private outdoor Jacuzzis if you want to ease tired and sore muscles without an audience. The log cabin-style aesthetic will take you back in time, and the indoor decor is simple but pleasant.
