Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge
760 S St Vrain Ave
Estes Park, CO
A 1948 Estes Park motor lodge, fully renovated, returned to its original name, and taken seriously.
About Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge
The Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge takes its name from the plant, a ground-trailing evergreen found throughout the Rocky Mountain foothills whose dried leaves were used by Indigenous peoples for kindling and ceremony. The lodge on South St. Vrain Avenue was built in 1948 when Estes Park was already an established gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and it has operated under several names in the decades since. In 2023, the current family owners undertook a full renovation and restored the original name. Estes Park sits at 7,522 feet at the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, four miles from the Kinnikinnik. The Stanley Hotel, the Victorian grand hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining, is four minutes away.
What Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge Is Known For
The full renovation of a 1948 motel is a different project from decorating a new building. It requires a set of opinions about what the original property was worth preserving and what needed to be updated, and those opinions show. The Kinnikinnik's common area, converted from the former office, stocks a community supply of things guests frequently need in the mountains, sunscreen, bug spray, items left by previous guests, which is a small-town Colorado gesture that no chain brand would think to make. Amanda, the property manager, is named independently in review after review as the person who responds quickly, solves problems, and clearly cares about how the stays go.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Keycode entry, no front desk
- Hot tub
- Fire pit and patio
- BBQ area and picnic tables
- Common area with shared supplies, ice machine, lounge seating
- Some rooms with fireplace
- Some rooms with mountain view balcony
- Family Suite with separate bedroom
- Free parking
What Guests Love
- The keycode entry and converted common area reflect a coherent philosophy about how guests should experience a small mountain motel: arrive directly, settle in, have what you need without standing in line for it. The communal supplies in the common area, sunscreen, bug spray, towels, items previous guests contributed, are a specific and practical gesture toward actual traveler needs in the Rockies.
- Amanda, named as the property manager in multiple independent reviews, is cited for responsiveness and pride in the property. One Google reviewer called her an 'absolute rock star.' In a self-managed motel with keycode entry and no lobby staff, the quality of remote contact matters significantly, and the pattern here is strong.
- Rocky Mountain National Park is four miles west. The property is on South St. Vrain Avenue (Highway 7), which is the access road to the park's Wild Basin entrance and provides a direct, less-trafficked alternative route for hikers heading to Wild Basin, Longs Peak, and the Ouzel Falls trailheads. For the primary park entrances at Beaver Meadows, it's a short direct drive.
Worth Knowing
- The motel is just outside downtown Estes Park rather than walkable to it, the distance is about a mile to the main commercial area, and most guests drive into town. It is a short drive, but if a walkable downtown location is important, this should factor into the booking decision.
- Housekeeping is weekly for standard stays and mid-stay for longer bookings. Daily towel refresh is available on request. If daily housekeeping is important, confirm when booking.
- Pets are not permitted. The cancellation policy is strict and non-negotiable by the property's own statement: specific windows for first-night and full-stay refundability apply. Review the policy before booking.
The Room
The rooms span several configurations built around the original 1948 footprint, now fully renovated. Standard configurations are queen, two-bed room, and king, each with a TV, free WiFi, mini-fridge, private bathroom, and air conditioning. A family suite adds a second room with twin beds behind the main king bedroom. A king room with fireplace has a separate seating area alongside the king bed. Upper-level rooms include a cozy king with a mountain view balcony, and a larger suite with a living area, kitchenette, fireplace, and a substantial balcony described as suitable for morning coffee with views. Beds and linens are described by the property as luxury quality and corroborated in reviews as comfortable and well-appointed. Keycode entry for each room means no in-person check-in at any point in the stay.
The Grounds
The property sits on South St. Vrain Avenue (Highway 7) at the south end of Estes Park, with parking at each room in the classic motor court arrangement. The hot tub and fire pit patio are on the grounds, available to all guests. A BBQ area and picnic tables are available for outdoor cooking. The former front office has been repurposed as a communal space with lounge seating, an ice machine, and shared supplies. The surrounding neighborhood is quiet and residential; the Rocky Mountain National Park's boundary is visible in the hillsides to the west.
The Experience
The Kinnikinnik runs on the logic of the mountains rather than the logic of the hotel industry. Guests arrive by code, find what they need in the common area, and get to Rocky Mountain National Park in ten minutes. Amanda coordinates from a distance with the responsiveness of someone who lives nearby and takes the property seriously. The hot tub at the end of a Longs Peak day or a Bear Lake trail loop is available without a reservation, sign-in, or towel rental. The fire pit patio works for the evenings when you don't want to drive back into town. The motel started as something in 1948, had some decades of varying quality, and was brought back in 2023 by owners who looked at the 1948 name on old records and decided that was the right version of the property to restore. That is a specific and considered act.
Details
Estes Park, CO 80517
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge have EV charging?
No, Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge does not have EV charging.
Does Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge have WiFi?
Yes, Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge has WiFi.
What is there to do near Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge?
Rocky Mountain National Park: 4 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there. The Stanley Hotel: 2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Estes Park Village and Lake Estes: 1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge from Rocky Mountain National Park?
4 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge from The Stanley Hotel?
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge from Estes Park Village and Lake Estes?
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge from Rocky Mountain National Park?
The park's Beaver Meadows entrance is approximately 4 miles west on US-36, about a 10-minute drive. The Wild Basin entrance on Highway 7, which passes directly by the lodge, is also accessible and leads to less-crowded trailheads.
Does the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge have a hot tub?
Yes. A hot tub is on the grounds near the fire pit patio, available to all guests.
How does check-in work at the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge?
Check-in is fully by keycode. Arrival instructions including the room code are sent by text and email before arrival. There is no front desk. Amanda, the property manager, is reachable by phone or text during operating hours.
Does the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge have fireplaces?
Select rooms have fireplaces. The King with Fireplace room has a fireplace in the seating area. The King Suite with Balcony also has a fireplace. Confirm availability when booking.
Does the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge allow pets?
No. The property does not permit pets and charges a substantial cleaning fee for guests who bring them, in addition to asking those guests to leave without a refund.
Is the Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge walkable to downtown Estes Park?
The lodge is about one mile from downtown Estes Park, a short drive rather than a comfortable walk for most guests. Most visitors drive or bike into town.
Does Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge have a pool?
Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge.
Does Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Kinnikinnik Motor Lodge.
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Things to Do Near the Colorado Rockies
Rocky Mountain National Park
4 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
4 miles west on US-36 to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and main park entrance. Rocky Mountain National Park covers 415 square miles of the Colorado Front Range, with over 355 miles of trails ranging from the flat, accessible Sprague Lake loop to the 14,259-foot summit of Longs Peak. The Wild Basin trailhead, accessed from Highway 7 directly past the lodge, reaches Ouzel Falls, Bluebird Lake, and the Finch Lake backcountry with minimal crowding compared to the Beaver Meadows entrance corridor. Timed entry reservations are required for vehicle access on busy summer mornings; book through Recreation.gov.
The Stanley Hotel
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
2 miles northwest on US-34 and Wonderview Avenue. The 1909 Georgian Colonial hotel sits above Estes Park on a ridge overlooking the valley, famously the inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining after King spent a night there in 1974 and dreamed the plot in room 217. Tours of the property, ghost tours, séances, and historical programs run year-round. The hotel's veranda has one of the finest views in Estes Park. The restaurant and bar are open to non-hotel guests.
Estes Park Village and Lake Estes
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
1 mile north along St. Vrain Avenue into downtown Estes Park. The town center has restaurants, outfitters, a gondola tram up Prospect Mountain with valley and park views, the Estes Park Medical Center, and the Estes Park Aerial Tramway. Lake Estes, a reservoir at the east edge of town, has a walking path and fishing access. The free Rocky Mountain National Park shuttle departs from the Estes Park Visitor Center, eliminating the need to drive into the park during peak season.