While the latest sales tax figures show Estes Park’s economy entered 2026 on solid footing, local business owners heading into the peak summer tourism season may face new challenges as gasoline prices remain significantly higher than they were a year ago.
The Town of Estes Park’s latest economic dashboard shows year-to-date sales tax collections increasing 9.52% through March compared with the same period in 2025. The figures largely reflect winter and early spring economic activity and do not yet capture visitor spending during the community’s busiest tourism months, which began last weekend.
As the summer travel season gets underway, motorists are encountering higher fuel prices than a year ago. Colorado gasoline prices this week remain well above year-ago levels, with regular unleaded gasoline in Estes Park selling for as much as $4.95 per gallon at the Sinclair on Moraine Avenue heading into the weekend, down slightly from $4.99 a week earlier. The lowest price was $4.58 at the Conoco at Country Market on Moraine.
Despite fuel price concerns, the dashboard points to continued economic momentum, with rising sales tax collections, increased Rocky Mountain National Park visitation, higher traffic counts entering the Estes Valley, and a sharp increase in new business licenses.
Town sales tax collections totaled $1.39 million in March, up 13.78% from March 2025. The town’s General Fund received approximately $1.12 million from those collections, representing its 80% share of the town’s 5% sales tax. Through March, overall sales tax collections reached nearly $3.47 million, compared with $3.16 million during the same period last year.
Although collections remain strong, they are running slightly behind expectations. Year-to-date sales tax revenue was 2.23% below the town’s budget projections, while March collections came in 2.28% below budget.
Even so, the increase over 2025 remains significant.
For a tourism-based economy such as Estes Park’s, nearly double-digit growth in sales tax collections suggests consumer spending is growing faster than visitation alone.
Taxable sales reported in March increased 7% compared with March 2025, providing further evidence of growing economic activity.
The strongest gains came from sectors closely tied to tourism and visitor spending.
Lodging tax collections increased 39.3% compared with March 2025, representing an $85,570 increase. Restaurant collections rose 9.4%, while retail collections increased 12.3%. Together, those sectors accounted for much of the town’s sales tax growth and suggest visitors continued spending at healthy levels during the shoulder season.
The automotive sector posted one of the largest percentage gains, increasing 60.6% over the previous year, while professional services increased 11.1%.
Only a handful of sectors experienced declines. Recreation-related tax collections decreased 11.9%, while grocery collections fell 1.8%. Town finance staff noted that after adjusting for delinquent tax filings, both sectors were essentially flat, indicating relatively stable economic activity.
That trend appears elsewhere in the report
While combined traffic counts on U.S. Highways 34 and 36 increased 6.11% year-to-date, sales tax collections rose 9.52% during the same period. Rocky Mountain National Park visitation increased 11.35% through March.
Taken together, the figures suggest both visitor volume and spending levels remained strong heading into the summer tourism season.
The town’s financial position also appears to be strengthening.
The general fund balance stood at approximately $17.7 million in April, up 36.5% from the same period last year. While town officials note the figures are unaudited and subject to year-end adjustments, the increase provides additional financial flexibility as community leaders discuss future capital projects, including a proposed public safety facility.
Tourism indicators remained largely positive
Rocky Mountain National Park recorded 175,753 visitors in March, an 8.2% increase over March 2025. Year-to-date visitation reached nearly 401,000 visits.
Vehicle traffic entering the Estes Valley also increased. Combined traffic counts on highways 34 and 36 totaled more than 1.13 million vehicles through April, up 6.11% from 2025.
Visits to the Estes Park Visitor Center were mixed. April visitation declined 2.45%, but year-to-date visits remained up 7.37%.
One factor worth watching as summer begins is inflation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood region increased 4.2% over the past year through March. Energy prices rose 13.2%, while food prices increased 1.6%.
Higher energy costs, particularly gasoline prices, could influence travel decisions and discretionary spending as the peak tourism season unfolds.
One of the more significant trends in the report was continued growth in demand for public safety services.
Emergency medical service calls increased 13.8% year-to-date compared with the same period last year. Fire calls rose 18%, while law enforcement calls increased 7.1%.
The increases come as local officials continue discussions about future public safety infrastructure and long-term service demands. While Estes Park’s permanent population has remained relatively stable, increasing visitor activity can place additional demands on emergency response agencies.
The dashboard paints a picture of an economy that continues to expand heading into the peak summer season. Rising tax revenues, growing visitation, increasing business activity, and higher demand for public services all point toward a community experiencing continued growth.
Whether those trends continue through the summer will likely depend in part on visitor activity during Rocky Mountain National Park’s timed-entry reservation season and on travelers’ willingness to absorb higher fuel costs as they plan vacations and weekend getaways.
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