RV Rentals Near Arvada, CO

Arvada sits northwest of Denver, between the city and the foothills, and it suits an RV trip that mixes a walkable historic downtown with real mountain camping. Olde Town Arvada is about 20 minutes from downtown Denver by car in normal traffic, and Golden Gate Canyon State Park, a foothills state park with RV camping, is reached by way of Golden and Highway 93.

The appeal is range. You can spend a morning at a national wildlife refuge inside the city, eat dinner in a district on the National Register of Historic Places, and spend the night at a campground in the trees.

Foothills camping at Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is the main RV camping option for an Arvada-based trip. CPW's directions start in Golden: take Highway 93 north 1.5 miles to Golden Gate Canyon Road, turn left and continue 13 miles. The park address is 92 Crawford Gulch Road, and the visitor center is where Golden Gate Canyon Road (Highway 46) meets Crawford Gulch Road.

The park lists 117 campsites. RVs use Reverend's Ridge Campground, which CPW describes as family-friendly with tent and RV sites, and where the electric sites are located. What to plan around:

• A reservation is required. Book through cpwshop.com or by phone, up to six months before arrival.
• CPW states there is no cell or internet service in the park area. Emergency call boxes are at the visitor center and the Reverend's Ridge campground office.
• Reverend's Ridge stays open in winter at limited capacity, but the camp office, showers, laundry and dump station close for the season.
• Aspen Meadows, the other drive-in campground, typically closes from late September to mid-May.
• Mountain Base Road closes for winter starting November 1, and CPW routes winter visitors to the upper park through Gap Road via Highways 46 and 119.

The park has more than 35 miles of trails, a fishing pier and lake, and Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, which looks west to the Continental Divide.

Wildlife and trails inside Arvada

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Two Ponds is a 72-acre national wildlife refuge at 9210 West 80th Avenue, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Visiting is free. About 3 miles of gravel and dirt trails run through mixed prairie grasses and around the ponds. The west side is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The east side keeps shorter weekday hours and closes from October through April, and the whole refuge closes on federal holidays.

Majestic View Nature Center

The City of Arvada's Majestic View Nature Center is at 7030 Garrison Street inside an 80-acre park with nearly 2 miles of trails through wetland and prairie. The paved interpretive trail is ADA accessible and the gravel paths work for strollers. Nature center hours shift with the season, so check the city page before you go.

Olde Town Arvada and the Arvada Center

The Arvada Downtown Historic District, better known as Olde Town, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, and the city describes it as known for locally owned shops, restaurants and bars. The RTD G Line stops at Olde Town Arvada station at 5575 Vance Street, which has a four-level parking garage shared with local businesses. Commuter rail is a simple way to reach Union Station in downtown Denver without moving the RV.

The Arvada Center at 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard runs a theatre season, three free galleries and an outdoor summer concert series. Parking is free.

Worth knowing: A parking garage is no place for an RV. If you want to ride the G Line or spend an evening in Olde Town, leave the rig at camp or with the owner and come in with a smaller vehicle. And because Golden Gate Canyon has no cell service, download maps and save your reservation details before you leave Arvada.

Picking a base for an Arvada trip

If, then

• If you have young kids, pair a morning on the paved trail at Majestic View with an afternoon in Olde Town.
• If you need to stay connected for work, Golden Gate Canyon is the wrong pick because the park has no cell service.
• If you are towing in winter, plan on Reverend's Ridge only and bring your own water and tank plan, since the dump station closes.
• If you want a show, check the Arvada Center calendar and book the campsite around the date.

Driving and weather between Arvada and the foothills

On the road

Inside Arvada the main routes are wide: Wadsworth Boulevard, Ralston Road and I-70 along the south edge. The drive to Golden Gate Canyon is the part that needs care. Golden Gate Canyon Road is a two-lane mountain road that climbs well above Arvada's elevation, and CPW has warned of paving work and delays on Highway 46 and Crawford Gulch Road. Take it slowly, use lower gears on the descent, and save the drive for daylight.

For road work, closures and weather on mountain routes, check COtrip.org before you go.

Seasons

Late spring through early fall is the easiest window, when both Golden Gate Canyon campgrounds are typically open and Two Ponds has its full trail hours. The foothills run noticeably cooler than Arvada, so pack warm layers even in July. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms over the foothills. By November, winter camping is limited to part of Reverend's Ridge with reduced services.

How RVRents fits an Arvada trip

There are two ways to rent an RV for this trip, and they work differently. RVs from owners on Outdoorsy are booked and paid for on Outdoorsy and picked up from the owner. They do not include RVRents delivery, setup or other services. RVs booked directly with RVRents can add services à la carte through vetted local providers: groceries, cleaning or activities, plus delivery and setup at your campsite near Arvada on RVs marked Delivery available. Some RVs require delivery and setup, and the listing says so.

To book direct, send a trip request. Each service is a request until a provider confirms and you approve the price, and we check the campground's rules before any delivery is scheduled.