Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of summer in Estes Park, bringing increased visitor traffic, the return of paid parking and transit service, road construction along key travel corridors, and continued uncertainty about the opening of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Paid parking returns today
The Town of Estes Park’s paid parking season begins today, Friday, May 22, and runs through Oct. 18.
Eight public parking areas will require payment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at a rate of $2 per hour:
- Town Hall lot
- Bond Park
- Virginia lot
- Wiest lot
- Tregent lot
- East Riverside
- Riverside
- Baldwin Park (formerly the Post Office lot)
Most other public parking downtown, including the parking structure at the Estes Park Visitor Center, will remain free.
Motorists with Americans with Disabilities Act placards or Disabled Veteran or Purple Heart license plates may park free in all town-owned lots for any length of time.
Residents of the Estes Park School District R-3 are eligible for a free 120-minute local parking permit. Parking permits for residents, downtown employees, property owners and commercial vehicles are available through the Town’s parking program. Click here for details
The Peak Transit Begins seasonal service
The Town’s free transit system, The Peak, will resume partial seasonal service Friday.
The Red Route will provide daily service between the visitor center and downtown, with 13 stops along Elkhorn Avenue and Riverside Drive.
Additional routes — Gold, Blue, Brown and Silver — begin service July 1. Click here for more information
Bustang to Estes returns for summer
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s seasonal Bustang to Estes route will operate weekends and some holidays from May 23 through Sept. 27, connecting Denver Union Station with Rocky Mountain National Park. Click here for details.
Real-time parking availability
Beginning Friday, drivers can check real-time parking availability in downtown Estes Park online. Click here for details
Questions about parking and transit may be directed to the Town of Estes Park Public Works Department at 970-577-3587 or publicworks@estes.org.
CDOT work underway on U.S. 36 and Colorado 66
The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Dillie and Kuhn planned to begin work in downtown Lyons this week, weather permitting.
The work includes potholing and boring at the intersection of U.S. 36 and Fifth Avenue in preparation for fiber-optic cable installation later this summer. Drivers should expect a right-lane closure from Fifth Avenue onto eastbound U.S. 36.
Crews are also installing pull boxes along westbound Colorado 66 between Interstate 25 and the Great Western Railroad crossing, with shoulder closures expected.
Construction crews will clear the road by noon Friday to reduce delays during the holiday weekend. Click here for real-time road conditions
The project will install fiber-optic cable from Interstate 25 to Lyons and add traffic cameras along U.S. 36.
According to CDOT, the upgrades will:
- Expand internet access.
- Support traffic cameras.
- Improve emergency communications.
- Help monitor road and weather conditions.
- Assist authorities in managing traffic in real time.
Trail Ridge Road still closed
Heavy snow from a spring storm this week has delayed the opening of Trail Ridge Road.
More than a foot of fresh snow was reported Tuesday morning at Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park.
Trail Ridge Road remains closed to through traffic at Many Parks Curve on the east side and at Colorado River Trailhead on the west side.
According to Park officials, it is unclear when the road will open, as additional snow and strong winds are forecast for high elevations. Click here for more information
Visitors can also call the Trail Ridge Road recorded status line at 970-586-1222 for current conditions.
Planning ahead
Officials encourage residents and visitors to plan ahead for increased traffic, changing mountain weather, and construction delays.
With free transit options, remote parking, and online tools for monitoring road and parking conditions, travelers have several ways to reduce congestion and make holiday weekend trips more efficient.