Let me tell you, finding a good, clean, and reasonably priced dump station along the Colorado Front Range can sometimes feel like an absolute wild goose chase. You’ve got the mountains calling your name to the west, the sprawling city of Denver to the north, and what feels like a million other RVers all vying for the same handful of spots. Especially when you’re trying to get things done on a Sunday afternoon, the lines at state parks and campgrounds can be soul-crushing. That’s where a little gem like Denver RV Self Storage comes into the picture. Tucked away in Littleton, just a stone's throw from CO-85 on North Moore Road, this place has become one of my reliable go-to spots when I’m passing through the area.
What I appreciate most about it is the sheer simplicity and the calm atmosphere. Unlike a chaotic truck stop where you’re dodging eighteen-wheelers and trying to navigate a fuel island circus, this is an RV storage facility. The pace is just slower. The lanes are generally wider because they’re designed for people maneuvering their big rigs into storage spots, not for a quick gas-and-go. For anyone who gets a little bit of anxiety wrestling their Class A or long fifth wheel into a tight spot, a place like this is a breath of fresh air. You pull in, and you can almost hear the quiet. It’s a low-stress environment, which is exactly what you need when you’re dealing with the less-than-glamorous, but absolutely necessary, task of emptying the black tank. Its location is strategic, too. You’re about a half-hour drive from the heart of Denver, making it a perfect final stop before you head into the city to visit family or catch a game. Or, if you’re like me and the mountains are your destination, it’s an ideal place to get your tanks empty and your rig ready for some serious boondocking up in the hills.
The Littleton area itself is a fantastic staging ground for any kind of Colorado adventure. It’s got that perfect blend of suburban convenience and quick access to the great outdoors. Just a few miles down the road, you have Chatfield State Park, which is a massive reservoir and a hotspot for boating, fishing, and hiking. The campground there is great, with full hookups, but getting a spot can be tough, and using their dump station as a non-guest can be pricey and crowded. That makes this storage facility an even smarter play. You can enjoy a day at the park and then swing by here on your way out. A little further afield is Roxborough State Park, and if you haven’t been, you need to go. The red rock formations are absolutely spectacular, looking like something straight out of a postcard from Mars. It’s a hiker’s dream.
We’ve often used Littleton as our base camp. We’ll spend a few days exploring the local scene, maybe grabbing a bite to eat at one of the cool spots on Main Street, before making the beautiful 90-minute drive up into the mountains towards Summit County. Or, we’ll head south to Colorado Springs to see the Garden of the Gods. Having a reliable dump station right in the middle of all these options is a logistical lifesaver. It means we don’t have to haul full tanks up and down steep mountain grades, which is better for our truck, better for our fuel economy, and better for my peace of mind. It transforms the dump station from a simple chore into a key part of our travel strategy for the entire region.
Now, using a dump station at a storage facility is a bit different from your typical campground or truck stop experience, and you need to know what to expect. First off, it’s almost always going to be gated. This is a good thing, it means the place is secure. You’ll either need to check in at the office during business hours or call a number posted on the gate to get a code and arrange payment. This brings up an important point: hours are usually limited. Don’t expect to roll in at 10 PM on a Tuesday and find it open. You need to plan your stop during regular business hours, which is a key difference from a 24/7 travel center.
The dump pad itself is usually very clean and well-maintained, often an open-air setup near the front of the property where the staff can keep an eye on it. The biggest advantage, as I mentioned, is the lack of a crowd. I’ve been here mid-week and been the only person in sight. It gives you time to do the job right. You can take your time, get a good flush, and not feel the pressure of a line of other rigs waiting behind you. It’s a more private, relaxed process. I've paid my ten bucks, gotten the gate code, and been able to methodically go through my whole tank-dumping routine without any rush. For full-timers or seasoned RVers who have their system down, this is a huge plus.
Let’s talk about amenities, or in this case, the lack thereof, because this is where you need to be prepared. The most critical thing to know about this spot is that there is no water. No rinse hose, no potable water spigot, nothing. This is a deal-breaker for some, but if you know ahead of time, it’s just a small planning detail. Before I head here, I make sure I have my own dedicated rinse hose and a couple of gallons of water in a jug specifically for flushing the black tank and cleaning my connections. It’s a habit every RVer should get into anyway, as you can’t always trust the water source at every dump station.
Since it's a storage facility, don't expect any of the other creature comforts. There are no public restrooms, so make sure your rig’s bathroom is accessible. There’s no gas station or propane filling on site, so you’ll need to handle your refueling elsewhere. Thankfully, there are plenty of options just a few minutes away on the main drags. You also won't find showers, laundry, or a place to toss your trash. This last one is important. You have to pack everything out with you, including your used gloves and any paper towels. It’s a small price to pay for the convenience, but you need to come prepared with a small trash bag ready to go. This is a dump-and-go place, pure and simple.
The cost is where this place really shines. At ten dollars, it’s one of the most reasonable fees you’ll find in the entire Denver metro area. State parks have gotten incredibly expensive for non-campers, sometimes charging close to thirty dollars just to use the dump station. Private campgrounds are often in the fifteen to twenty-five dollar range, if they even let non-guests use their facilities at all. So, to pay a simple ten-dollar bill for a clean, secure, and uncrowded spot is an incredible value in my book. Just make sure you ask about payment methods when you call ahead; some smaller places like this might prefer exact cash, while others are set up for cards.
So, how do you make your visit as smooth as possible? First, and I can’t stress this enough, call ahead. Always. Confirm their hours of operation, the current fee, and the procedure for getting through the gate. Second, arrive fully prepared. Have your gloves, your sewer hose with a clear elbow so you can see when the tank is clean, your tank chemicals, and, of course, your personal rinse water supply. Third, try to time your visit for a weekday morning or early afternoon. You’ll avoid any local traffic and have the place mostly to yourself. Finally, be a good citizen. Even though it’s a simple setup, leave the area cleaner than you found it. Sanitize the handle on the sewer cap, make sure everything is closed up tight, and don’t linger. This ensures these kinds of places continue to offer this valuable service to the RV community.
My final verdict? Denver RV Self Storage is an absolute winner for the prepared RVer. If you’re the type of person who needs full service with water, trash cans, and a convenience store, this isn’t the spot for you. But if you value a quiet, secure, and budget-friendly place to do the dirty work without any hassle, it’s perfect. It’s a waypoint, a strategic tool in your travel arsenal that lets you enjoy the best of what Colorado has to offer, from the urban energy of Denver to the majestic beauty of the Rockies, without worrying about where you’re going to empty the tanks. Just remember to call ahead and bring your own water, and you’ll be golden.