Park & wildlife tours
Pawnee is at Brainard Lake off the Peak to Peak Highway, at 10,400 ft, run by the USDA Forest Service. It has tent and RV sites. Staying here doesn't include Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry; driving into the park needs a Recreation.gov reservation in season (May 22–Oct 18, 2026).
RVs to 100 ft vs 45 ft · listed from $29 vs $19/night
Read comparison →RVs to 100 ft vs 45 ft · listed from $29 vs $17/night
Read comparison →RVs to 100 ft vs 40 ft · listed from $29 vs $19/night
Read comparison →Your dates (Fri, Nov 6 – Sun, Nov 8): Closed for season. Closed for the season — the 2026 operating season was June 26–Sept 13 (Forest Service campground status table); the Forest Service hasn't posted 2027 dates yet. Source: USDA Forest Service — Arapaho & Roosevelt NF: Current Conditions (campground status and road status tables, page updated Oct 16, 2026)
Checking 2 nights. Tell us what you're staying in to see matching sites and prices.
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: availability may have changed, so check availability with the provider. Rates are listed rates, not an offer.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Tent Only Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
Enter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: this grid may be out of date, so check availability with the provider. Showing 40 of 45 sites.
| Site | Fr 6 | Sa 7 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 018 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 034 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 015 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 014 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 004 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W6 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 013 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 030 standard nonelectric |
No timed entry reservation is listed for this date in the rest of the park.
Rules checked October 17, 2026 · Source: NPS Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry page (updated May 14, 2026). Campground entry rules apply to reservations at Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, Timber Creek.
Managed by USDA Forest Service (Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Brainard Lake Recreation Area). Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
Official: RVs, trailers and other vehicles must fit the site's parking spur; the Forest Service status table lists a 100’ max spur for Pawnee, which we don't treat as a site length. Official road and access notes apply. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Estes Park Rig Fit tool
9054 U.S Hwy 285
17.1 mi from downtown Estes Park (straight-line)
6.2 mi to Wild Basin (straight-line)
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Pawnee Campground sits at about 10,350 feet on the shore of 25-acre Brainard Lake, at the foot of the Continental Divide and bordering the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The site is reached from the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, roughly 14 miles north of Nederland and about 35 miles south of Estes Park and the main entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The campground comprises 45 single-family sites 37 that accommodate both RVs and tents and 8 reserved for tent camping only each furnished with a picnic table and a campfire ring. Vault toilets and potable drinkin…
Holly & Scott M ★ 5 · Sep 2025We always use the Walk In sites. They are more secluded, quiet, no RVs & generators. The camp hosts this summer were from Colorado and so nice & friendly. It is an easy walk to Brainard Lake. Beautiful area. It's a wonderful mountain getaway for us.
Sheila G ★ 5 · Sep 2025The campsite was beautiful. All facilities were very clean Loved the easy access to trails
Casey L ★ 5 · Sep 2025My wife and I love the Pawnee Campground tent sites and Brainard Lake! The campground and restrooms are kept meticulously clean. The only down side, it's always hard to get a few days booked because of its popularity. :) Out favorite place in Northern Colorado and a short drive from home!
Picks are 100 ft or shorter — the longest RV site listed here. Fly into Denver (~75 mi, ~1 hr 30 min to Estes Park, approx.) or rent locally.
Pick up near DEN
Pick up near DEN
Delivers to Estes Park| – |
| – |
| $29 |
| 020 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 001 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 016 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 003 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 023 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 033 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 031 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 021 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 038 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 002 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 008 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W7 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 005 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W4 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 025 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W5 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 037 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 035 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 029 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 017 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 022 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W3 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 026 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 036 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 010 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 039 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W1 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 028 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 006 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 024 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Rules checked October 17, 2026 · Source: NPS Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry page (updated May 14, 2026) · Full guide and campground matrix
Nearby parks (straight-line): Rocky Mountain National Park 16.2 mi
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Pawnee, not driving.
