Glenwood Springs sits where the Roaring Fork River meets the Colorado River, at the west end of Glenwood Canyon on I-70. Visit Glenwood gives the town's elevation as 5,761 feet, which is more than 3,000 feet lower than Frisco or Breckenridge. It is about 160 miles west of downtown Denver, roughly three hours of driving in good conditions.
People come for the hot springs, Hanging Lake and the canyon itself. For RV travelers, the lower elevation and the state park and Forest Service campgrounds within an hour make it a good turnaround point for a longer I-70 trip.
Why Glenwood Springs is worth the longer drive
Hot springs are the main draw here. The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool has drawn visitors since 1888. Iron Mountain Hot Springs sits along the Colorado River a short distance west and requires reservations for soaking sessions. Above town, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is reached by gondola and pairs cave tours with rides.
If someone in your group feels the altitude in Summit County, Glenwood's lower elevation may be easier. You still get canyon walls and river views without sleeping above 9,000 feet.
RV campgrounds within an hour of Glenwood
Two public options stand out within about an hour: a state park to the west and a Forest Service campground to the south. Both take RVs and have electric sites.
| Campground | How to get there | What the official listing says | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle Falls State Park | I-70 west to Rifle (exit 90), Highway 13 north about 4 miles, then Highway 325 about 9.8 miles | 20 sites (13 drive-in, 7 walk-in), electricity at many sites, reservations required, electric sites open year round | Waterfalls and caves, and off-season trips |
| Redstone Campground | Exit 116, Highway 82 east about 12 miles, then Highway 133 south about 15 miles to Redstone | 35 sites for tents, trailers and RVs, 40-foot max including tow vehicle, electric at 17 sites, no dump station, 7,800 feet | Longer rigs and a quieter river valley in summer |
Rifle Falls has three 60-foot waterfalls and limestone caves below them, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Stays are limited to 14 days in any 28-day period. At Redstone, water and electric hookups are only in the Allgeier and Osgood loops, not the Mechau loop, so pick your loop when you reserve. Arrive with empty tanks, since there is no dump station.
Hanging Lake, the canyon path and the hot springs
Hanging Lake
Hanging Lake requires a timed-entry permit year round for every visitor, booked online in advance. Parking at the rest area is included with the permit, but only permit holders may park there, and vehicles over 25 feet are not allowed. There is no shuttle to the parking area, and ride shares are not permitted. Plan to drive a smaller vehicle or have someone drop you off.
Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path
A paved path runs through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero, with access at the No Name, Grizzly Creek and Bair Ranch rest areas. CDOT closes the path from late fall to spring, and it can close for weather or high water at other times.
Hot springs and caverns
Between the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Iron Mountain Hot Springs and Glenwood Caverns, you can fill a few days without driving the RV far. Check each operator's site for hours and reservations.
Driving an RV to Glenwood Springs on I-70
This is the longest drive on the corridor. From Denver, I-70 goes through the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, which CDOT says sits at an average elevation of 11,112 feet. Trucks carrying hazardous materials are not allowed through the tunnel and are routed over Loveland Pass on US 6. If you have a question about how those rules apply to an RV's onboard propane, check with CDOT before you go. After Summit County, the interstate climbs over Vail Pass, where a CDOT study charts several 7 percent stretches on the west side. Then it drops through Eagle County and into Glenwood Canyon.
Colorado's Traction Law is in effect from September 1 through May 31 on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, which covers almost the entire drive. Passenger vehicles need tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread rated all weather, mud and snow, or winter, or chains or an approved alternative traction device.
Glenwood Canyon closures
CDOT has closed I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero when the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning for the Grizzly Creek burn scar, to protect drivers from flash floods, mudslides and rockfall. When a closure is expected to last, CDOT has pointed drivers to a northern route using Highway 9 or 131, US 40 and Highway 13 back to I-70 at Rifle, which adds about two and a half hours. During the 2021 closures, CDOT said Cottonwood Pass was restricted to local traffic and warned against using phone apps to find detours. Drivers who wait out a closure must wait off I-70, not on the roadway. Check COtrip.org before you enter the canyon.
Worth knowing: Summer storms can close Glenwood Canyon with little notice. Before you leave Vail or Eagle heading west, check COtrip.org and the forecast. In an RV, a long detour through northwest Colorado is a much bigger deal than in a car, and back roads like Cottonwood Pass have been restricted to local traffic during past closures.
Seasons and cold-weather RV use
Rifle Falls is open year round, while the Summit County Forest Service campgrounds close in early October. Check Redstone's Recreation.gov listing for its current dates. The catch in winter is the drive: getting here still means the tunnel, Vail Pass and Glenwood Canyon.
Rifle Falls keeps its electric sites and walk-in tent sites open year round, with reduced capacity in winter, which makes it the most realistic public option for a cold-season RV visit. Freezing nights are still likely in winter. Ask the RV owner whether the rig is winterized and how they want the water system handled when temperatures drop.
How RVRents fits a Glenwood Springs 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. Delivery to a campsite near Glenwood Springs is offered only on RVs marked Delivery available and is quoted case by case, because coverage centers on the Front Range and depends on the campground's rules and on whether a local provider serves the area. Setup, groceries, cleaning and activities are added the same way, only if you want them.
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.
If, then
- If you want to hike Hanging Lake, book the permit first and plan to get to the trailhead in a vehicle under 25 feet.
- If you are traveling in late fall or winter, look at Rifle Falls State Park's year-round electric sites.
- If your RV is close to 40 feet, check the limit at Redstone, which includes the tow vehicle.
- If storms are in the forecast, check COtrip.org before you enter Glenwood Canyon and be ready to wait off the interstate.
