RV Rentals Near Golden, CO

Golden is the Jefferson County seat, set along Clear Creek at the base of the foothills about 25 minutes west of downtown Denver. It was founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak gold rush and served as the territorial capital from 1862 to 1867. Today it is home to the Colorado School of Mines and the Coors brewery, and it sits between Lookout Mountain and the two Table Mountains.

For an RV trip, Golden is the point where the metro ends and the mountains begin. You can camp within walking distance of a historic downtown, or drive about 15 miles into the hills to a state park campground with forest and wide views of the Continental Divide.

Two very different places to camp

Clear Creek RV Park, in town

Clear Creek RV Park is listed by the City of Golden at 1401 10th St., on the banks of Clear Creek in central Golden. It is open year round, with creek-side sites, free showers, Wi-Fi and coin laundry. The Clear Creek Path runs alongside the park and connects to downtown Golden, which the city puts at about a half-mile walk. The Golden Community Center and an accessible playground are across the street.

Daily reservations are made online. Tent sites are seasonal and must be booked in person or by phone. From November 1 through March 31 the park runs an extended-stay season by application only, with the application usually posted in early September, so winter availability for short stays can be different from summer.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park, in the hills

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is reached by taking Highway 93 north from Golden for 1.5 miles, turning left on Golden Gate Canyon Road (Highway 46) and continuing about 13 miles. The park has more than 35 miles of trails, fishing at Golden Gate Canyon Lake, and Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, which CPW says looks out over more than 100 miles of the Continental Divide.

Reverend's Ridge Campground is the park's family campground with tent and RV sites. CPW lists 59 of its 97 sites with electrical hookups, each with 20, 30 and 50 amp service. Water and sewer hookups are not offered at the sites. Showers run in summer only, and in winter the campground stays open at limited capacity with the dump station closed and water shut off. Aspen Meadow Campground closes for winter, typically from late September to mid-May, and CPW notes it as one of the more horse-trailer-friendly areas. Reservations are required and can be made up to six months ahead through CPW.

Things to do from a Golden campsite

Downtown Golden and Clear Creek are the easy wins. The city manages the Clear Creek Whitewater Park, and the path from the RV park makes it a short walk. Colorado School of Mines is about a mile from the RV park and the Coors brewery is about 1.3 miles, according to the city.

Lookout Mountain rises right behind town. The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, run by Denver Mountain Parks, sits at the top. The museum says its free parking accommodates cars, campers, trailers and buses.

Golden is also the north end of the Lariat Loop, a roughly 40-mile scenic byway that links Golden, Morrison and Evergreen. CDOT lists Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and Dinosaur Ridge along the loop. The city places Red Rocks about 9 miles from the RV park.

Worth knowing: There are two ways up to the Buffalo Bill Museum. From Golden, 19th Street turns into Lookout Mountain Road, the five-mile Lariat Trail that CDOT calls a challenge for drivers and bikers, and parts of it close at night. From I-70 exit 256, the museum's own directions take you about four miles along South Lookout Mountain Road. In a large motorhome, many drivers will find the I-70 approach the calmer of the two.

Driving an RV in and out of Golden

Golden is where several major routes meet the foothills: I-70 runs through the south part of the city, and US 6, Highway 93 and Highway 58 all pass through or near town. That makes it a practical staging point before heading up I-70 into the mountains.

Plan carefully if you are thinking about US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon. State highway records list a series of tunnels beginning about 4 miles west of Golden, and the canyon has had regular overnight closures for tunnel inspections and repairs. Know your rig's height, read the posted clearance signs, and check COtrip.org before you go. The same applies to I-70 west of Golden, where Colorado's traction and chain laws can be in effect in winter.

For Golden Gate Canyon State Park, CPW has posted roadwork on Highway 46 and Crawford Gulch Road, and Mountain Base Road inside the park closes for winter. In the winter season, CPW routes upper park visitors through Gap Road by way of Highway 46 and Highway 119. Check the park page before you leave, since conditions change through the season.

Best times to visit

Summer is the busy season for both campgrounds and for the creek. Creek conditions change with the season, so check with the city before kayaking or tubing. Fall is a strong choice for Golden Gate Canyon, with cooler days on the trails and a quieter campground before the winter limits kick in. Winter camping is possible in town at Clear Creek RV Park, and Reverend's Ridge stays open at limited capacity, but expect cold nights and plan your water and heat use with your rental owner.

If, then

• If you want to walk to dinner and skip driving the RV at all, book Clear Creek RV Park.
• If you want forest, trails and a mountain view, book Reverend's Ridge at Golden Gate Canyon and bring groceries with you.
• If you are heading up I-70 the next day, a night in Golden puts you at the base of the climb with time to check COtrip first.

How RVRents fits a Golden 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 Golden 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.