If you're planning a trip to Estes Park with kids, most of your time will probably go to Rocky Mountain National Park. But where you stay, how you get there from Denver, and where you eat shape the whole trip. We spent three nights in Estes Park in mid-July with our 10-year-old. This guide covers everything outside the park: the drive from Denver International Airport, our halfway dinner stop in Longmont, our hotel, the Riverwalk, and the restaurants we tried.

For the park itself, see our Rocky Mountain National Park with kids guide. It covers Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake, and the Dream Lake hike.

Quick Summary

• Getting there: About a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Denver International Airport. You'll need a rental car.
• Halfway stop: Pumphouse Brewery in Longmont. Good food, a big beer list, and they handled our son's food allergies well.
• Where we stayed: Expedition Lodge Estes Park. Dated but comfortable, with a great second-floor patio and an arcade room. The included breakfast is basic.
• Where we ate: Indian Bites for dinner (they were fine with us bringing outside food for our son) and Rocky Mountain Crepe Company for breakfast.
• Evening plan: A stroll along the Estes Park Riverwalk through downtown.

Getting from Denver International Airport to Estes Park

Denver International Airport is big, so give yourself time between landing and driving away. Here's how it went for us on a Tuesday evening in July:

• Take the train to the main terminal. We landed at the C gates, and the A, B, and C concourses all connect to the main terminal by train. It runs frequently and is easy to follow.
• Check which side the rental car shuttles are leaving from. When we arrived, the rental car shuttles were only running from the West side of the terminal. Follow the signs and confirm before you wait in the wrong spot.
• Allow about 30 minutes for the rental car. That's roughly what it took us to get from the shuttle to driving out of the lot.
• Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours of driving. The drive to Estes Park is around 70 miles. Longmont is roughly the halfway point, which makes it a natural place to stop for dinner.

You really do need a car for Estes Park. The park entrances, trailheads, and Park & Ride are spread out. We'd compare prices on Rentalcars.com before you book, since airport rates can vary a lot by week.

Pumphouse Brewery in Longmont: Our Halfway Dinner Stop

We wanted something quick, on the way, and not in Denver traffic. Pumphouse Brewery on Main Street in Longmont turned out to be a great call. Longmont has plenty of food options, but this one was right on our route. It's been brewing since 1996.

Address: 540 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501

The Food

The atmosphere was lively, with a busy patio and sports on the TVs inside, and service was good. The menu is big: starters, burgers, salads, sandwiches and wraps, and pub favorites. Here's what we ordered:

• Whiskey burger: A big burger with fries and a pickle. Really good.
• Salmon with risotto: Grilled salmon over a creamy vegetable risotto. A nice option if you want something lighter than pub food.
• Club sandwich: Our son's pick. Simple and kid-friendly.

The Beer

The beer selection is a highlight. Pumphouse brews its own core lineup, including the Firelight kölsch, Wildfire wheat, Flashpoint IPA, Overflow hazy double IPA, and Red Alert amber, plus rotating seasonal taps. There's also a long list of guest cans and bottles. The guest list included gluten-free beers when we visited, which is a nice touch if anyone in your group avoids gluten.

How They Handled Food Allergies

Our son has multiple food allergies, and the staff managed them pretty well. With a menu this large, there are plenty of simple dishes that are easier to adjust. Always confirm ingredients with your server, but we'd feel comfortable coming back.

Our verdict: Good food, good service, great beer, and an easy stop on the way to Estes Park. We'd go back.

Where to Stay in Estes Park: Expedition Lodge

We stayed three nights at Expedition Lodge Estes Park, on the north side of town at 1701 N Lake Ave. It's a short drive to downtown and about 15 minutes to the Beaver Meadows Entrance of the park.

The Rooms

The hotel and rooms are dated, but they were okay and not bad at all. It was about what we expected. This is a place to sleep between park days, not a resort.

What We Liked

• The second-floor patio. This is the best part of the hotel. It's a big covered deck with fire tables, Adirondack chairs, lounge seating, and mountain views. It's a great place to relax after a day in the park.
• The arcade and game room. Pool tables, foosball, air hockey, racing games, and pinball. It's perfect for burning off any energy kids have left after hiking.
• The location. It's an easy drive to the park, downtown, and the Riverwalk.

Breakfast and Food Allergies

Breakfast is included, but it's basic. If you have time, we'd suggest eating breakfast in town instead. For families managing food allergies, a simple hotel breakfast usually means few options you can trust, so plan on bringing your own safe staples or heading downtown.

Who it's best for: Budget-minded families who want a simple, convenient base and don't mind an older property. If you want something more updated, look at the newer hotels closer to downtown and expect to pay more.

Where We Ate in Estes Park

Indian Bites

On our first full night, we had dinner at Indian Bites, at 181 W Riverside Dr near the Riverwalk. It was a welcome change from burgers and pub food. We ordered the biryani, lamb rogan josh, and naan.

Indian Bites was great. The food was flavorful, and it was a nice break from the burgers and pub food that fill most mountain-town menus.

How they handled food allergies: Indian food can be tricky with our son's allergies, so we brought him a meal from McDonald's instead. The staff had no problem at all with him eating outside food at the table. That flexibility matters a lot for allergy families. It means everyone can still sit down together at a restaurant the adults want to try.

Rocky Mountain Crepe Company

On our last morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at Rocky Mountain Crepe Company downtown. The menu has sweet and savory crepes named after places in the park, plus a build-your-own breakfast crepe.

• Build-your-own breakfast crepe with meat: The kitchen forgot the egg the first time, so we had them remake it.
• Old Man Mountain: A Monte Cristo-style crepe with turkey, ham, and Swiss, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with jam. This one was good.

It was decent and pretty good. It wasn't the best crepe we've had, but it was a solid, quick breakfast before the drive back. Allergy note: Crepe batter is typically made with wheat, eggs, and milk, so this is a hard stop for those allergies. Ask about ingredients before you order.

The Estes Park Riverwalk

On our Thursday evening, we took a stroll along the Riverwalk. It follows the Big Thompson and Fall Rivers right through downtown, with plenty of benches and spots to sit and watch the river. It's an easy, relaxing way to end a park day with kids.

Here's what you'll find along the way:

• George Hix Riverside Plaza, where the two rivers meet, with bridges, sculptures, and seating
• Coffee shops, including Inkwell & Brew and Kind Coffee, both local favorites
• Restaurants with outdoor seating, such as Claire's Restaurant & Bar, The Wheel Bar, and Antonio's Real New York Pizza
• Souvenir shops, galleries, and boutiques, which spill over onto Elkhorn Avenue

We didn't eat on the Riverwalk, so we can't speak to the food. We did notice that several of the riverside restaurants had fairly low Google ratings. Even so, they were busy around 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. The location alone draws people in, so read recent reviews if you're planning a sit-down meal there.

Our 3-Night Estes Park Itinerary at a Glance

Day	What we did
Day 1 (arrival)	Land at Denver International Airport, pick up the rental car, dinner at Pumphouse Brewery in Longmont, check in at Expedition Lodge
Day 2	Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine Visitor Center, dinner at Indian Bites
Day 3	Bear Lake Road, the Dream Lake hike, Sprague Lake, and Moraine Park, then an evening on the Riverwalk
Day 4 (departure)	Breakfast at Rocky Mountain Crepe Company, drive back to Denver for an afternoon flight

Tips for Visiting Estes Park with Kids

• Book your park timed entry first. Hotels are easier to find than reservations on busy summer dates. Our Rocky Mountain National Park guide explains how the reservations work.
• Plan breakfast outside the hotel if your stay includes only a basic breakfast, especially if you're managing food allergies.
• Pack lunches for park days. There's very little food inside the park, so a grocery stop in town makes park days easier.
• Save evenings for downtown. The Riverwalk and Elkhorn Avenue are best after a long day outdoors, when kids are ready for something low-key.
• Give yourself extra time on departure day. The drive to the airport plus rental car return and the train out to the gates add up.

FAQ

How far is Estes Park from Denver International Airport?

Estes Park is about 70 miles from Denver International Airport, roughly a 1.5 to 2 hour drive depending on traffic and route.

Is there a good place to stop between Denver airport and Estes Park?

Longmont is about halfway. We had dinner at Pumphouse Brewery on Main Street, which had good food, a big beer list, and handled food allergies well.

Is Expedition Lodge in Estes Park good for families?

It's a solid budget-friendly base. The rooms are dated, but the second-floor patio and arcade room are great for families. The included breakfast is basic.

Is the Estes Park Riverwalk worth visiting with kids?

Yes. It's an easy, flat walk through downtown with river views, benches, coffee shops, and souvenir stores. It's a relaxing way to spend an evening.

Do you need a car in Estes Park?

Yes. Downtown is walkable, but you'll need a car to reach the park entrances, trailheads, and the Bear Lake Road Park & Ride.

Final Thoughts

Estes Park made an easy, practical base for our Rocky Mountain National Park trip. The drive from Denver is straightforward with a dinner stop in Longmont. Expedition Lodge gave us a comfortable place to rest, and downtown had enough good food and evening strolls to round out each day. Book your timed entry early, plan your breakfasts, and then head to our Rocky Mountain National Park with kids guide to plan your days in the park.