Nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Arvada is a historic city with a lot to offer visitors. Its rich history dates to the early days of the Colorado Gold Rush when Lewis Ralston discovered the immense wealth deposit in one of the small streams. With this knowledge, many people started moving in, and the once small town turned into a booming city with a lot of character. With the increase in population, people resorted to farming as the main source of income, and the city's agriculture took off.
Ralston Point was renamed Arvada after the first postmaster's brother-in-law, Hiram Arvada Haskin. With its incorporation in 1904, agriculture bloomed, and the city was once known as the Celery Capital of the World. The city's infrastructure was developed to accommodate the population growth, and many buildings from the early 1900s still stand today. The Arvada Flour Mill, built in 1906, is one of these buildings and now serves as a popular event venue.
The city has a rich arts and culture scene with several art galleries, museums, and performing arts venues. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is the city's biggest cultural facility and hosts various art, theater, and education programs. The center also houses the Museum of Outdoor Arts, featuring rotating exhibitions of contemporary sculptures.
The Historic Olde Town Arvada is the city's original downtown area and is home to some shops, restaurants, and businesses. The area has been revitalized recently and now features a pedestrian-friendly Main Street with several murals and public art installations. Arvada is also home to many parks and recreation areas. The Majestic View Nature Center and Community Park offer stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and the city. The Fox Hollow Golf Course is a popular spot for golfers of all skill levels.
97th Annual Arvada Harvest Festival – This upcoming event happening in September features a farmers’ market, live music, and food trucks. The 84-hour festival will take place at Olde Town Arvada.
Applewood Festival – You will enjoy some cool artisan work from over 75 artisans at the Arvada Center. Come prepared for this two-day event in November.
Lafayette Peach Festival – This August event has been taking place for more than 20 years in nearby Lafayette, which is a half-hour north of Arvada. This festival celebrates the Palisade peach with pies and plenty of cobbler. Crafters, antique dealers, and food vendors are also present along with children’s activities like face painting and balloon sculpting.
Arvada is only an hour and a half southeast of Rocky Mountain National Park, which is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. Longs Peak, the highest point in the park, is a popular destination for climbers who would love a panoramic view of the mountain ranges. The park also offers scenic drives and trails with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. With over 300 miles of hiking trails, the park has something for everyone. You will need to carry several layers of clothing as the weather can change quickly.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, four hours southwest of Arvada, has the tallest dunes in North America. The dunes were formed over thousands of years by wind and rain. This over 100,000-acre park offers great grassland landscapes with conifer forests and wetlands. You do not have to worry about where to park your RV as the park has many RV-friendly camping sites. You will have a great time sliding down the epic dunes on a warm day.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is four hours and 45 minutes southwest of Arvada, and it is one of the deepest gorges in North America. The canyon was carved over time by the Gunnison River, and it is a popular destination for hikers and climbers. The park offers many ranger-led programs during which you can learn about the history and geology of the canyon.
Chatfield State Park is a half-hour south of Arvada, and it offers a variety of activities such as camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. The park has a marina where you can rent a boat or bring your own. You can also go for a swim in the heated pool. It has over 1,000 acres of land and is a great place to see wildlife such as birds, deer, and coyotes.
Cherry Creek State Park is about a half-hour southeast of Arvada, and it is one of the most popular state parks in Colorado. The park has some trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park also has a reservoir where you can go for a swim, fish, or paddleboard. You can also camp in the park at its many RV-friendly campsites.
You cannot finish your trip around Arvada without visiting the beautiful and rustic Golden Gate Canyon State Park. The park is about 40 minutes northwest of Arvada and offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. With rent-out boats available, you can explore the 12 miles of shoreline at the reservoir. The park also has some hiking and biking trails.
Colorado is rife with incredible landmarks and monuments near Arvada. Twenty-two minutes southwest of Arvada is the famed Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. This celebrated venue is 6,450 feet above sea level and the only naturally occurring, acoustically amphitheater in the world. It consists of two 300-foot monoliths, Creation Rock and Ship Rock. In addition to hosting concerts from some of the top artists in the world, Red Rocks also holds yoga sessions, shows films, and contains several hiking trails.
Stephen King fans must make it a point to visit The Stanley Hotel, which is an hour and 25 minutes northwest of Arvada in Estes Park. It was opened in 1909, and King stayed there once, which inspired one of his most well-known books, "The Shining." The hotel offers several tours. The Historic Tour and Caretaker’s Cottage Tour take place during the day while the decidedly spookier Spirited Stanley Tour and The Spirited Shining Tour happen at night. You can also enjoy one of The Stanley Hotel’s six eateries.
You also will want to view the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, which is an hour and 20 minutes south of Arvada in Colorado Springs. This National Natural Landmark consists of unique red rock formations that were created along a natural fault line millions of years ago. They range in color from deep red and pink to white and have been tilted vertically from the uplift of the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak. It is biologically diverse as it melds the piñon-juniper woodlands and grasslands with a massive mountain forest. Here, you can hike, bike, rock climb, horseback ride, and take vehicle and Segway tours.Â
Clear Creek RV Park in Golden features full hookups, Wi-Fi, and a laundry room. You could also consider Applewood RV Resort, 10 minutes southwest of Arvada, which has both back-in and pull-through sites. Enjoy a rustic experience at Golden’s Dakota Ridge RV Resort with its 141 camping sites.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Arvada, CO, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Arvada?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Arvada from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Arvada?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
