There are no gas stations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Driving over Trail Ridge Road, it’s less than 50 miles from the West Entrance (Grand Lake) to the East Entrance (Estes Park). However, there’s quite a bit of elevation gain (it goes over 12,000 feet) and so the trip may require more gas than you expect. We try to fill up at City Market or Kum & Go before a day in the Park.
To get up and over the mountains into Grand County, you will probably travel through (over) Berthoud Pass. There’s a parking lot at the top with a vault toilet and an amazing view. You can also see the remains of Colorado’s first ski lift. Going uphill, it’s a two-lane road. Going downhill, don’t let people rush you. There are pull-outs if you’d like to let people pass you or just want to snap a few photos of the view! They usually do a good job of keeping it plowed, but you can see live views of road conditions on cotrip.org. Note that there are no services between Empire and Winter Park.
On your way to Grand County, after you’ve left Highway 70 and are headed north on Highway 40, you’ll drive through the small town of Empire. Empire has some fun shops and eateries, but most importantly, they have a public restroom! It’s on the left side of the road, across from the gas station. Note that in the high tourist areas, restrooms at gas stations and restaurants are usually for customers only. I always stop here, kids or not, because it’s the last (public) flushable toilet before you drive over Berthoud Pass.
Located in Hideaway Park, this is the easiest place to “Go” after driving over Berthoud Pass. It’s also the nicest public restroom I’ve ever visited. (And with the kids, I’ve visited quite a few!)
The Visitor Center is located at the main stoplight in Winter Park, across from Hideaway Park. It’s a great place to stop when arriving in town – everyone can stretch their legs, use the restroom, and browse the racks of information about all the fantastic restaurants and activities offered Grand County. (I’m trying to include all my favorites on this site, but there’s so much I haven’t tried yet!)
During the ski season, traffic on Highway 70 can be…challenging. If possible, avoid arriving at airport (or east side of Denver, if driving) around 4 or 5pm on a Friday. And if you are flying out on a Sunday, be sure to check traffic and leave plenty of drive time. If you are running late, you may be able to use the Express Lane.
It’s a long road between St. Louis and Denver. And there are long, open stretches without any services. With Google maps, it’s not such a concern anymore, but do plan ahead for your next gas stop. Also, Hayes, Kansas has a fantastic McDonald’s PlayPlace. It’s about halfway, so a great place to let the kids have a break.
Denver International Airport is on a very large piece of property. According to your GPS you might be “at” the airport and still have another 15 minutes to drive before reaching the buildings. Just a head’s up, because there are often officers waiting to ticket speeders. Also, the car rental agencies are in stand-alone buildings, not in the terminal. Shuttles are provided to each different car rental agency, but you need to know where you going.
HomeJames Shuttles from Denver International Airport to Grand County. HomeJames brought my parents for a visit once, and they had a nice experience.
Visit the friendly Park Rangers and helpful volunteers for information and advice about the Sulphur Ranger District. The Arapaho National Forest areas offer wonderful hiking, biking and backpacking opportunities. ALSO, many of the National Forest trails are dog-friendly.
You can take the Amtrak from Denver Union Station through the mountains to Granby. (You can take the RTD A line from DIA to Union Station.) Or from the west, you can ride from San Franscisco. It’s not the fastest way, but it would be a fun experience!