Best Family Resorts in Denver, CO
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The Gaylord Rockies Resort is the top pick for families who want an all-in-one resort experience near Denver, with a free indoor-outdoor waterpark and five on-site restaurants. Families who want to actually explore the city should look at The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square, steps from Coors Field and walkable to the Denver Children's Museum.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Resort · $$
Kids' club
No formal kids' club, but the Arapahoe Springs indoor-outdoor waterpark (free for overnight guests) includes two enclosed waterslides, a 720-foot heated lazy river with jets and a grotto, three outdoor hot tubs, and a seasonal outdoor slide. Year-round seasonal programming — cookie decorating, scavenger hunts, escape rooms — keeps elementary-aged kids occupied off the water.
Family room fit
Standard Double Queen rooms work well for families of four. Junior Suites and Grand Suites add significant space for larger or multi-gen groups. All rooms carry a rustic mountain-lodge aesthetic with warm wood tones.
The waterpark alone justifies the stay — overnight guests get in free, and the 720-foot lazy river keeps kids busy for hours. Five on-site restaurants mean families never need to leave the property if they don't want to.
Watch out: The resort sits near Denver International Airport in Aurora, not in Denver proper — downtown attractions are a 25-35 minute drive, and a $29/day parking fee applies. Convention-center scale means it can feel crowded on busy weekends.
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square
On-property · $$
Kids' club
No formal kids' club. Family amenities include a rooftop heated pool and hot tub open year-round, s'mores kits available at the front desk, Nintendo consoles in select rooms, and a complimentary 2-mile radius courtesy shuttle that covers the Children's Museum and nearby attractions.
Family room fit
The Mile High King Corner Suite has a bunk nook off the main king bedroom — parents get separation and a door while kids get their own bunk space with a 32-inch TV, sleeping four comfortably. Interconnecting rooms are available for larger families. Standard queen rooms are on the smaller side.
The location is unbeatable for city-exploring families — 30 steps from Coors Field, a 7-minute walk to Union Station, and within easy reach of the Denver Children's Museum via the complimentary shuttle. The bunk nook suite gives parents genuine separation from kids at night.
Watch out: Valet parking is the only option at roughly $50/day, so driving families should budget accordingly. On Rockies game nights, the McGregor Square plaza gets loud, which can make early bedtimes tricky for younger kids.
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Frequently asked
What is the best time of year to visit Denver with kids?
Late May through early October is the most popular window — warm days, minimal snow, and full access to outdoor attractions like Denver Zoo and Red Rocks. Summer (June-August) is peak season with the busiest parks and highest hotel rates. Fall (September-October) offers cooler temperatures, lower crowds, and stunning foliage on nearby mountain drives. Winter works well if you plan to add a ski day at resorts like Loveland or Arapahoe Basin (both under 90 minutes away), but pack layers — Denver's weather shifts fast.
Does Denver have beaches or a waterpark for kids?
Denver is landlocked with no beaches, but the Gaylord Rockies Resort runs the only on-site indoor-outdoor waterpark in the Denver metro — free for overnight guests. For a day-trip option, Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in central Denver has a full water park section open summers. Families staying at The Rally Hotel will find the rooftop heated pool satisfying for a cool-down but it is a pool, not a waterpark.
Do families need a rental car to get around Denver?
It depends on your base. Families staying at The Rally Hotel in LoDo can reach most downtown attractions — Denver Children's Museum, Union Station, the 16th Street Mall, and the river walk — entirely on foot or via the hotel's free 2-mile shuttle. RTD light rail connects to DIA and several neighborhoods without a car. Families staying at the Gaylord Rockies near the airport will need a car or rideshare for downtown Denver attractions, as the resort sits in Aurora roughly 25-35 minutes from the city center.
What age range is Denver best suited for?
Denver works well across nearly all ages. Toddlers and elementary-age kids (3-10) thrive at the Gaylord Rockies waterpark and the Denver Children's Museum. Tweens and teens tend to love the urban energy of LoDo — sports, food halls, and the 16th Street Mall — making The Rally Hotel the better fit for that age group. Multi-generational trips work at both properties; the Gaylord's suite options and full restaurant lineup make it particularly suited for groups mixing young kids with grandparents.
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