At noon on Monday, Oct 19, 2026, Moraine Park becomes the only campground open in RMNP, and it goes first-come, first-served through winter. No 8 a.m. release. You just show up.
The elk are bugling and your competition is a retiree in a Sprinter van. But winter at 8,160 feet has opinions.
What changes on October 19
- Reservations stop at noon. Bookings through Oct 19 are honored. After that, nobody books ahead.
- It’s the only campground open in the park. Aspenglen closes Sept 28, Glacier Basin and Longs Peak are done, and Timber Creek closes at noon Oct 5.
- Timed entry is over. The Bear Lake corridor’s ends Oct 19 and the rest of the park’s Oct 13, so from Oct 20 you drive in without a permit.
- It shrinks. From 244 summer sites to about 77 in Loops A, B, C and E, with sparse services.
The winter reality check
$18 a night (vs. $26 when the water’s on). You get what you pay for, in the best way.
- Vault toilets. Nobody’s excited about it. Nobody dies from it.
- No water at the sites. Bring your own.
- Sites aren’t plowed. Bring a real shovel, not the folding “emergency” kind that buckles on packed snow.
- Bear lockers stay, and so do the bears. Use the locker like your sandwich depends on it.
- Generators: respect the quiet hours.
The upside: the Big Thompson runs past camp, elk and mule deer wander the meadow, and October may be the park’s best-looking month. You’ll have it mostly to yourself.
How to actually get a site
- Arrive before noon. Campers leave late morning and new ones roll in mid-afternoon. Showing up at 6 p.m. Saturday is a strategy, just a bad one.
- Weekdays are nearly a sure thing. Weekends can still fill by Friday afternoon during leaf-peeping and the elk rut.
- Check before you drive. The park’s winter camping page and NPS alerts list road work and closures. A utility rehab is ongoing, but the campground stays open.
- Pick a Plan B before you leave. If it’s full, your closest options are Estes Park lodging or national forest land. Don’t decide at dusk.
The gear that matters
- A bag rated well below the forecast low. Nights drop into the teens by November.
- The shovel.
- More water than you think.
- A cold-weather stove. Canisters get grumpy below freezing.
- Chains or good tires. Trail Ridge Road closes, and Bear Lake Road ices overnight.
Worth it?
Absolutely. It’s RMNP without the crowds, the permits or the reservation warfare. You trade flush toilets for bugling elk and a meadow to yourself.
Heading out this fall? Check the free conditions board for fire, smoke, forecasts and closures. No account needed. Want a summer site next year? Set up a free watch and we’ll email you when one opens.
Common questions
When do Moraine Park reservations end in 2026?
Summer reservations end at noon on Monday, October 19, 2026. After that, Moraine Park is the only campground open in Rocky Mountain National Park, and it runs first-come, first-served through winter.
How much does Moraine Park cost in winter?
Off-season sites are $18 a night, versus $26 when the water is on. Winter means vault toilets, no running water at the sites, and sites that are not plowed, so bring your own water and a real shovel.
What time should you arrive for a first-come, first-served site at Moraine Park?
Before noon. First-come, first-served campers leave late morning and new arrivals show up mid-afternoon, so aim for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. October weekdays are quiet; weekends can still fill by Friday afternoon.
Do you need a timed-entry permit to reach Moraine Park after October 19?
No. In 2026 the Bear Lake Road corridor timed-entry season runs through October 19 and the rest of the park's ends October 13, so from October 20 you can drive in without a permit.