RV Rentals Near Centennial, CO

Centennial is one of Colorado's younger cities. It incorporated on February 7, 2001, from unincorporated parts of Arapahoe County, and its name refers to Colorado joining the Union in 1876, the centennial year of the Declaration of Independence. I-25 runs through the middle of the city, and downtown Denver is about 25 to 30 minutes north depending on traffic.

An RV trip from Centennial usually means picking up close to home in the south metro and camping a short drive away. The nearest state park campground is Cherry Creek State Park, just north in Aurora. Chatfield State Park on the southwest side of the metro is the other option. Both have hookup sites, and both are reachable without mountain driving.

Camping close to Centennial

Cherry Creek State Park

Cherry Creek State Park is at 4201 South Parker Road in Aurora, about a mile south of I-225 at Lehigh. CPW lists more than 130 campsites with a mix of basic tent and full hookup sites, coin-operated showers and laundry in the camper services building, and a dump station that closes for winter and reopens April 1. Check-in is 1 p.m. and check-out is noon. Stays are limited to 14 days in any 45-day period, and each site allows one RV or camper.

The park centers on Cherry Creek Reservoir, about 880 surface acres of water, with two boat ramps and mandatory boat inspections. On land there are 35 miles of multiuse trails, including 15 paved miles, plus a model airplane runway and a dog off-leash area that needs its own pass.

Chatfield State Park

Chatfield State Park near Littleton is the west-side alternative. It has 197 campsites in four campgrounds, all with electric hookups and many with full hookups. From Centennial it is a C-470 drive across the south metro, which works well if your trip will lean toward the foothills.

Worth knowing: Cherry Creek State Park campsites cannot be reserved at the park. Book online through CPW or by phone at 1-800-244-5613. From November 1 through March 31, winter camping is limited to the Abilene Loop and requires a reservation. Every vehicle entering the park also needs the Cherry Creek Water Basin fee on top of the park pass.

Things to do in Centennial between camp days

Centennial Center Park at 13050 E. Peakview Ave. is the city's 15-acre central park next to the Civic Center. It has a large lawn, an amphitheater used for concerts and events, a playground, picnic shelters and a seasonal splash pad that runs Memorial Day through Labor Day. Park rules prohibit overnight camping and driving vehicles into the park, so treat it as a day stop and use the parking lot.

Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space at 16450 E. Broncos Pkwy. is 107 city-owned acres along Cherry Creek. The city says it completes one of the last major links in the 40-mile Cherry Creek Regional Trail, which runs from downtown Denver to Castlewood Canyon State Park. The Broncos Parkway Trailhead has a parking lot. If you are camped at Cherry Creek State Park with bikes, this stretch of trail is the natural way to explore south.

Aviation fans can visit Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight, a sister campus of the Denver air and space museum, on the south side of Centennial Airport at 13005 Wings Way. The organization warns that GPS sometimes suggests the Lowry museum in Denver instead, so enter the full address.

Driving an RV around Centennial

Centennial is suburban driving with wide arterials and no grades worth worrying about. I-25 is the north and south spine. State Highway 83 (Parker Road) on the east side leads north to Cherry Creek State Park, and C-470 and E-470 connect across the south edge of the metro. Weekday rush hour on I-25 is the main thing to plan around, so aim to pick up or return an RV outside commute peaks. Check COtrip.org for construction and closures.

The city is building a Lone Tree Creek Trail underpass at Arapahoe Road, and some turns at the Revere Parkway intersection near Centennial Center Park are restricted during the work. The city suggests Peoria, Vaughn or Potomac streets as alternate routes.

Parking a rental RV at a home in Centennial depends on city code and any HOA rules where you live. Check the city's municipal code and your HOA before planning to load up in the driveway or on the street.

When to plan a trip from Centennial

Summer is the busy season at both state parks, so reserve as early as you can. Late spring and early fall bring cooler nights and a better shot at open sites. Afternoon thunderstorms are common on summer days along the Front Range, so plan reservoir time early in the day. Cherry Creek Reservoir closes to all boating, including paddlecraft, for the off season, so check CPW's park page for dates if a fall trip includes a kayak.

If, then

• If you want the shortest drive from home to camp, book Cherry Creek State Park.
• If you have young kids and a warm afternoon, spend it at the Centennial Center Park splash pad before heading back to camp.
• If you want to bike without loading the bikes again, camp at Cherry Creek and ride the Cherry Creek Regional Trail south.

How RVRents fits a Centennial 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 Centennial 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.