Badlands/Mt. Rushmore - Estes Park

[Tony-HILO]

Planning on a trip up to S.D. Badlands/Mt. Rushmore/Black Hills and swinging
down to Estes Park, CO. in July. Any tips or recommendations? Things to do
or not do?? We'll be out of the Black Hills area before Sturgis happens (or at
least that is the plan!) Leaving from K.C. going northwest, best route ????

Thanks!

 

[JMDoering]

If you're approaching Estes Park from Loveland, on Hwy 34, I recommend setting up camp at Riverview RV Park (Riverview RV Park & Campground Rocky Mountains Big Thompson River). Past that, headed west, the road gets very curvy and congested as it follows the river up. Much easier to negotiate without a trailer. Riverview RV Park is about 10 miles west of I-25. Its a very scenic 40 minutes or so on to Estes Park. At Estes Park you have to visit the old Stanley Hotel, that's the hotel Stephen King wrote about in The Shining. The town also has nice little municipal golf course. Naturally, you'll want to take the loop through Rocky Mountain national Park!

 

[Tony-HILO]

Hey thanks JM! So this would be before some of the others we've looked at,
"Spruce Lake", "Estes Park - KOA", etc.? Those would be further in? "Big River"
looks good, a couple of reviewers commented negatively on their roads, do
you know the latest in that regard??

 

[JMDoering]

The Estes Park KOA is very close to town, and may even be inside Estes Park city limits and Spruce Lake campground is a little further out. I know of Spruce Lake, but haven't been there. Don't know anything about a Big River campground. I've driven past the KOA and it looks to have good access. Clearly, both campgrounds are much closer than Riverview. I will say that Riverview is flat with good tree canopy and its easy to get in and out.
Hwy 34 from Loveland to Estes Park is a good paved highway. Portions are very crooked and narrow down somewhat with difficult passing. Hwy 34 is a popular and direct access road to Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park, so it can be VERY busy at times, particularly during weekends (as you probably guessed). I was happy not to be towing our Hi-Lo the final 30 miles up the river to Estes Park. Jim