With a New Year just about here, now is the perfect time to begin turning those 2025 travel plans to Estes Park, Colorado into a reality. Everyone deserves to start the year off right, and a vacation this way is the perfect route to doing exactly that! A 2025 Colorado vacation to Estes Park can be a great way to revitalize your senses, find a new perspective, spend quality time with loved ones, and maybe even get some of those resolutions underway as well. Fortunately, a trip this way doesn’t have to be an experience in breaking the bank when you know what to add to your itinerary that’s wallet-friendly from start to finish. The following is a great place to start when you’re ready to start budgeting for your 2025 Estes Park vacation.
Add a First Friday Art Groove to Your Itinerary
When you want to get to know Estes Park better during your 2025 vacation, be sure to add a First Friday Art Groove experience to your must-try list. Much as the name indicates, this welcoming event is hosted on the first Friday of every month and is a gathering that’s attended by locals and visitors alike in droves. There’s absolutely no cost to attend a First Friday Art Groove which is hosted at participating art galleries around town—many of which serve up food and drinks to enjoy as you admire the works of art on-site and even have a chance to meet with the arts themselves. There are often live art demonstrations worked into the agenda, and it’s a chance to simply enjoy good company in a fun and vibrant atmosphere.
The event typically runs from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and some of the participating locations on Thompson Avenue often include Bear & Bee Makers’ Studio & Boutique and the Art Center of Estes Park. On Vrain Avenue, you can stop by The Studio Fine Art & Framing as well as Driftwood Tattoo Studio. Over on E. Elkhorn Avenue, participating venues like Earthwood Artisans, Aspen and Evergreen Gallery, Images of RMNP, and Inspired Artisan Market & Studio are some top destinations to check out as well.
Explore the Beauty and Wonder of Rocky Mountain National Park
In any season, a trip to Estes Park puts the beauty and wonder of places like Rocky Mountain National Park right at your fingertips. When you can’t wait to hike, bike, wildlife-watch, or photograph your way through a visit this year, you’ll have options to plan for a more budget-friendly approach when you organize your trip to align with some of the National Park Service’s free days and weekends. This makes visiting this gorgeous location even more affordable, freeing up funds in your travel budget to expand your Estes Park fun. In 2025, January 20 which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be a free entrance day at the National Parks as well as the first day of National Park Week which falls on Saturday, April 19. June 19, 2025, which is Juneteenth National Independence Day is also slated to be a free entrance day as well as Monday, August 4 which marks the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. September 27, 2025, is National Public Lands Day and another free entrance day to the National Parks as well as November 11 which marks Veterans Day in 2025.
Bring Your Bike and Hit the Trails
Estes Park is a place well worth exploring on two wheels and while there are plenty of bike rental options in town, you can save time and money by bringing your own gear and hitting the trails at your own preferred pace in 2025. Stanley Park is free to the public and a great place to explore when you’re looking for some thrills. The bike park here has routes that are suitable for cyclists of all skill levels and there is an inviting mix of paved and dirt paths to choose from. Mountain bikers will likely be drawn to the single-track dirt trail that spans 1.25 miles and connects the many different courses. If you’re looking for a more leisurely afternoon of biking and sightseeing, consider exploring the nearly 4-mile loop that runs around Lake Estes. From this vantage point, you’ll enjoy gorgeous water and mountain vistas and opportunities to pair your biking with a picnic, kayaking, or even an afternoon on a pontoon boat which can be booked at an affordable rate right from the Lake Estes Marina.
Book a Local Vacation Rental with Amazing On-Site Amenities
Make budgeting for your 2025 Estes Park vacation easier than ever when you partner with Mountain Village at Lake Estes when it’s time to book your accommodations. Our rentals are ideal for travel budgets of all kinds and come with amazing on-site amenities that make your time indoors as thrilling as your time out exploring. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our exciting property options available for your trip this way in 2025. We look forward to seeing you in Colorado soon!
