Parking for Estes Park Residents & Visitors
As part of the Town of Estes Park's Mobility Services, the Estes Parking program strives to provide a variety of public parking options to meet the needs of residents and visitors.
Parking downtown during the off-season (mid-October through May) is free, but a permit is required for overnight parking. See below for general parking information, all parking permit options, and resources on the Town's seasonal paid parking program that runs Memorial Day through mid-October each year. The 2023 paid parking season runs from May 26 through October 22.
To learn about transportation options provided by the Town of Estes Park, please visit the Estes Transit page.
General Information About Parking in Estes Park
- How to Pay a Parking Citation
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There are two ways to pay a parking citation:
- Deposit fine amount in the envelope that accompanied the citation. Affix postage and mail to: The Car Park, PO Box 2285, Estes Park, CO 80517. Checks can be made out to The Car Park. Please do NOT mail cash.
- Pay online.
If a citation is paid within seven days of issuance, the citation fine will be reduced from $50 to $25. The reduction does not apply to citations issued for violations pertaining to spaces reserved for persons with disabilities or for Electric Vehicles.
If you wish to dispute a citation, or think you have received a citation in error, please contact The Car Park at 970-591-2577 or online (enter violation information and click "Appeal" on the following screen).
- Where to Park a Car, Truck or SUV
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The Town has 18 unique parking areas that are available for public use throughout the core of downtown, as well as in one parking structure located at 691 North St. Vrain Ave and US Hwy 36.
From mid-October through late May, all public parking areas are free of charge and without time limits. Overnight parking is allowed by permit only and is monitored by the Estes Park Police Department.
- Where to Park an RV, Trailer or Bus
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Parking for larger vehicles is available at the following locations:
- Events Complex Park-n-Ride: 1125 Rooftop Way (20 spaces)
- Town Hall/Library Parking Lot: 335 E. Elkhorn Avenue (4 spaces)
- Estes Park Visitor Center: 500 Big Thompson Avenue (4 spaces)
Tour Bus Drivers: A driver's lounge is available at the Visitor Center for all commercially-operated tour bus drivers. Please call the Estes Park Visitor Center at 970-577-9900 for more information about lounge hours and amenities.
- Where to Charge an Electric Vehicle
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The Parking & Transit Division, in partnership with Estes Park Power & Communications, is proud to provide several Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations around downtown Estes Park. Charging station locations and use instructions can be found here.
Parking Permit Options
The Town offers a variety of annual and seasonal parking permits for locals, business owners and employees, downtown residents, and downtown rental property owners. Overnight parking permits are required throughout the year. The full menu of parking permits for the 2023 paid parking season (May 26-October 22) is also featured below for renewal or purchase.
Town parking permits are governed by Public Works Policy 842. Overnight parking is allowed by permit only (see overnight options below) and is monitored by the Estes Park Police Department.
- Local 60-Minute Permit
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Eligibility: This free permit is available to all locals who reside in the Estes Park School District.
Price: $0
Options for Permit Renewal or Registration
Those who registered for this permit in 2022 have been automatically renewed for the 2023 permit. Permits are issued based on license plate numbers only, so windshield stickers are no longer issued; customers with a change of vehicle information from 2022 should update their permit account accordingly.
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
Email proof of residency (e.g., utility bill, pay stub, lease agreement, vehicle registration, or other document showing name and address) to epinfo@thecarpark.com.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Overnight Permit: Downtown Resident
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Eligibility: Downtown Resident permits are only available to those who can demonstrate proof of downtown residency AND do not have access to private parking.
Price: $35 per permit, per year
Options for Permit Renewal or Purchase
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
Permit is digitally tied to license plate information and no physical permit shall be issued.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Overnight Permit: Temporary Guest Pass
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Eligibility: Downtown residents who do not have adequate off-street parking may apply for a temporary permit for overnight guest use in a designated parking lot. This permit authorizes a vehicle to park between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. for up to seven nights.
Price: $0 per permit
Options for Permit Renewal or Registration
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
Permit is digitally tied to license plate information and no physical permit shall be issued.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Overnight Permit: Downtown Rental Unit / Commercial Lodging
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Eligibility: Downtown Rental Unit / Commercial Lodging permits are only available to those who own, operate or manage a rental unit/hotel room/lodging property downtown AND do not have access to private parking (or reasonably adequate private parking).
Price: $40 per permit, per year
Options for Permit Renewal or Purchase
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
Registration requires proof of business license. License plate information is not required. A printable permit will be emailed for guests to display in their vehicle. Email a copy of the Town of Estes Park Business License to epinfo@thecarpark.com
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Overnight Permit: Parking Structure
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Eligibility: Overnight permits are only available to those who register their vehicle(s) in advance.
Price: $0 per permit, per night (for up to seven nights)
Options for Permit Renewal or Purchase
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Overnight Permit: General Use
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Price: $10 per permit, per night (for up to seven nights)
Location: Estes Park Events Complex (1125 Rooftop Way). Parking is only permitted in specific, signed areas. No overnight camping is permitted on Town-owned property per Public Works Overnight Parking Policy 841.
Options for Purchase
Overnight permits can be purchased using the ParkMobile application (available for Apple or Android). The ParkMobile Zone # is 27001. Users without a smart phone may call 877-727-5951 to pay. Advanced reservations are NOT necessary; simply park and pay.
Questions? Call The Car Park at 970-591-2577 or email epinfo@thecarpark.com
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Business Permit: Commercial Loading
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Eligibility: Anyone who works or conducts business in the downtown core (as defined by the Town of Estes Park’s Commercial Downtown (CD) zoning district) is eligible to purchase this permit. It is valid only for marked commercial or business vehicles; not for use on unmarked personal vehicles. The vehicle displaying this permit must be actively loading or unloading people and/or goods.
Price: $80 per permit
Options for Permit Renewal or Purchase
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
Registration requires proof of business license and license plate information. Email a copy of the Town of Estes Park Business License to epinfo@thecarpark.com. Permit is digitally tied to license plate information and no physical permit shall be issued.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
- Employee Convenience Permit
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Eligibility: Anyone who owns or works in a downtown business or property is eligible to purchase this permit.
Price: $40 per permit
Options for Permit Renewal or Registration
Beginning this 2023 season, discounts are available for those who purchase five or more Employee Convenience permits.
Complete online
Call 970-591-2577
Request to purchase by emailing epinfo@thecarpark.com. Please provide name, phone number, address, and make/model/color/year/license plate for each vehicle.
Required Documentation
License plate information and proof of employment in the downtown core, as defined by the Town of Estes Park's Commercial Downtown (CD) zoning district. Proof of employment is a pay stub or W-2 (please black out personal information). Permit is digitally tied to license plate information and no physical permit shall be issued.
For more information, please see Public Works Policy 842
Seasonal Paid Parking Resources
The following resources have the latest information about seasonal paid parking in Estes Park:
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Estacionamiento Pago de Temporada 2021: Preguntas Frecuentes
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Parking Data Reports. The Car Park, the Town's professional parking operator, prepares a weekly summary of parking data during the summer paid parking season. This data measures both revenue and occupancy. Summer reports can be accessed by selecting the year tab below. Parking data for the winter/off-season is monitored through monthly activity reports. Winter/off-season reports are available upon request by contacting The Car Park at 970-591-2577 or epinfo@thecarpark.com.
- 2022 Seasonal Paid Parking Reports
- 2021 Seasonal Paid Parking Reports
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Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-May 31, 2021)
September 27 - October 3, 2021
Share Your Thoughts
Feedback is important to our team, so comments and suggested improvements are always welcome online, by phone at 970-591-2577, or by email to epinfo@thecarpark.com.