RMNP
 

Going to RMNP in June of 2017. Want to see as much of the park as I can. Five days starting and finishing in Estes Park. Want to make a "circle" trip and try and see all the best spots. Short hikes are ok. The different routes are important so I can start booking places to stay. Is 5 days too much....or would 3-4 be enough? Into photography but liking not so much.

You might cut a day unless the 5 days includes the day you arrive and the day you leave.

June is a good time to go, especially before kids get out of school for family vacation.

Your ability to tour hard may be affected by altitude. Drink as much water as you can stand, and save the harder stuff for later in your trip when your body has acclimated. Unless, of course, you are already coming from someplace high like Denver or Mexico City. Being in good shape doesn't guarantee no altitude issues, but if you have had any cardiac issues, you need to talk to your doctor before you go.

I am a little confused by your comment to a circle trip. Not sure what you mean by that. There is really only one road, Trail Ridge Road, that runs through RMNP. There are side roads and hiking trails off the road but it basically goes from one side of the park to the other. RMNP is a very small area only one road through it so hard to do a cirle trip.

In June you still encounter lots of snow at the higher levels. The later you go in June, the less snow. But the melting snow turns everything that is not paved into mud. So keep those limitations in mind.

Five days would be way too much in the park unless you really mean being in Colorado. Obviously, you could do a big loop starting in Estes, through the park, Granby, maybe as far as Steamboat, back through Vail or Silverthorne, Idaho Springs, perhaps Nederland, Boulder canyon, Boulder, and back to Estes.

Need a better understand of what you really want to do.

I want to start in Estes Park...go down to Grand lake...then to Colorado Springs...Boulder and back to Estes Park. Not a "circle" but just a word on my plans.

For 5 days consider dropping Colorado Springs. fmpden's suggestion is good, or you could go to Breckenridge instead of Steamboat. That gives you a nice loop, less driving and more mountain time than going to the Springs.

Nederland is on the Peak-To-peak highway, which is also a return to Estes option:
http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/peak.html

Why Colorado Springs? Unless you are visiting friends or relatives it really out of your way. Is there something special you want to see or do there?

Colorado Springs is now out. No reason to go there....I thought it was on my way! Thanks everybody.

If you thought that Colorado Spring was on your way, you need to get a map out so that you can understand the earlier suggestions for your loop.

I called RMNP this afternoon. I start at Estes Park....Grand Lake...Breckenridge...Hartsel...Pikes Peak...Boulder and end up back at Denver Airport.

Pikes Peak is Colorado Springs. Why Hartsel? Even more curious. Please get a map. These are nowhere near RMNP.

This is getting a little weird. Hartsel is a wide spot on the road that is the home to Robert Dear who is the right wing nut that shot up and killed people at the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Colorado Spring. There is nothing there except for people trying to live off the grid. Now Colorado Springs is out but Pikes Peak is in. But they are the same. Is this a cover for something else. Even if you were going to do that loop, you would start with Boulder, then Estes, and swing around from there. Now I am being to think there is a hidden agenda to this trip.

"I called RMNP..."
Since when do park employees act as travel agents or guides?

This topic is my fault because I never mentioned I also wanted to visit Garden of the Gods.

I mentioned because the person at the RMNP was naming towns along the way where I could start looking for places to stay along the way.

Something is odd. He now has a similar question running for the Black Hills. While you can drive to the Black Hills from Denver it is not most convenient drive. Coming from Chicago there would be better airports to use than Denver. Two different trips or the same trip?

There would be better airports (Rapid City) but the cost would be almost double. The car rental would also be almost 3 times Denver. The drive would be the same at either airport...but the cost difference would be unreal! If I pick up the car in Denver but return it to Rapid City....the cost is 3 1/2 times as much. Same trip....maybe 10 days.
(the ticket price/car cost is simple supply and demand.)

One more try-- Colorado destinations and Black Hills same trip? The drive to what would be the same at either airport? Ten days total? Actually I give up. Can't figure out OP comments/destinations enough to be of any help. Sorry.

Colorado/South Dakota....same trip. Maybe 10 days total. Fly into Denver and head strait to Rapid City. Visit Sturies/Black Hills/Badlands. Head back down to Colorado early morning five days later and end up at Estes Park by 9:00 am at least.. Then on to the RMNP.
The driving time would be the same weither I fly into Rapid City or Denver for this trip....but RC would be 2 1/2 times more flight/car wise for the cost. Right now I can fly Chicago to Denver for $222 r/t. But to Rapid City r/t it would be $459.

OK, but still consider dropping Colorado Springs since you really are heading north from Denver.

Various loop options for you, here's one:
https://goo.gl/maps/ooFCwCB9ZLz

Both Forts Laramie and Robinson have some interesting stuff to see in the area.