PSA - Bustang Bus To RMNP Starts May 23rd!!!
TLDR; Bustang is a Colorado Bus Service, that allows you to travel to both Estes Park AND Rock Mountain Nation Park (RMNP), without worrying about timed entry passes or parking.
I see many new tourists and travelers asking about timed entry passes and anxiety over getting tickets the night before. A bit of background, the timed entry pass system was created so that traffic into the park could be managed without causing major traffic overflow. In other words, it was made to prevent hundreds of cars trying to enter a small entry at the same time. Thus entry into the park could be broken up into batches of visitors/cars, into time blocks.
When you take the Bustang bus into RMNP, you DO NOT need to have a timed entry pass.
Part of the deal that you get is that, by taking the bus, you are reducing the total number of cars at entry points, you do not need a timed entry pass.
As you can see from the photo, each bus has beautiful large glass windows, that allow you to view the amazing drive-in to the park hands free! The entire family is able to view the beauty of the park, without the driver missing out. Also for any drivers who are not used to driving on mountain roads, you can save yourself the effort.
I have taken the Bustang bus route to Estes Park and RMNP many times, and It is one of the most relaxing experiences I have ever hard, as well as beautiful.