RV Dump Stations Colorado
- Arvada
- Aurora
- Bennett
- Berthoud
- Breckenridge
- Brighton
- Broomfield
- Buena Vista
- Cañon City
- Cascade
- Centennial
- Clifton
- Colorado Springs
- Commerce City
- Cortez
- Delta
- Durango
- Elizabeth
- Englewood
- Erie
- Fairplay
- Falcon
- Fort Collins
- Fort Lupton
- Frederick
- Fruita
- Golden
- Grand Junction
- Greeley
- Green Mountain Falls
- Hooper
- Hudson
- Kremmling
- Lake George
- LaSalle
- Leadville
- Littleton
- Livermore
- Longmont
- Louisville
- Loveland
- Manitou Springs
- Mead
- Montrose
- Monument
- Morrison
- Parker
- Penrose
- Poncha Springs
- Pueblo West
- Sedalia
- Silverthorne
- Trinidad
- Wellington
- Wheat Ridge
- Windsor
- Woodland Park
There’s a moment on every RV trip into Colorado when you round a bend, and the front range of the Rocky Mountains just explodes into view. It’s a sight that never gets old. The sheer scale of it, the raw power of the peaks, it’s what draws us here. This is a state built for adventure, a playground for hikers, skiers, and anyone with a love for the great outdoors. And for the most part, Colorado is incredibly accommodating to the RV lifestyle, with a solid network of dump stations to keep your mountain journey running smoothly. But as with everything in Colorado, you have to be mindful of the elevation and the weather.
Down on the Front Range, in the sprawling metro areas of Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, you’ll find life is pretty easy. Private RV parks, campgrounds, and some of the big travel plazas along I-25 and I-70 have all the amenities you need. It’s a great area to stock up, top off your tanks, and perhaps most importantly, empty them before you start your ascent into the high country. This is the key piece of advice I give anyone heading into the Rockies: treat your holding tanks like your fuel tank. When you have a good opportunity to dump in a city or a lower elevation town, take it. Because once you start climbing those winding mountain passes, services of any kind become much more sparse.
The state parks in Colorado are fantastic, and almost all of the campgrounds have their own dump stations. However, policies can vary. Some are for registered campers only, while others may allow non-guests to dump for a fee, which often requires purchasing a daily park pass. It’s always best to check the specific park’s regulations online or call the ranger station. One fantastic insider tip for those traveling the I-70 mountain corridor is to keep an eye out for the Edwards rest area. It’s one of the few state-run rest stops that offers a free, clean, and easy-to-use dump station with potable water. It’s a lifesaver on that long stretch between Denver and Grand Junction.
The biggest factor you have to contend with is winter. And in the Colorado high country, winter can last from October well into May. During this long, cold season, the vast majority of dump stations in the mountains are completely shut down and winterized. The water is turned off, the pipes are drained, and they are not usable. This is not something to take lightly. Getting caught with a full black tank at 10,000 feet with no operational dump station for a hundred miles is a trip-ruining scenario. If you’re traveling during the shoulder seasons or in winter, you absolutely must call ahead to every potential dump station to confirm it is open and the water is on. Another little quirk of Colorado travel is the Sunday afternoon exodus. On a busy summer or ski weekend, the lines at popular dump stations near the mountains can get surprisingly long as everyone packs up to head back to the city. A little patience, or planning to dump on a Saturday or Monday morning, can save you a lot of time. Ultimately, traveling here is about respecting the environment that you came to see. Those pristine mountain streams are the state’s lifeblood, so using designated facilities is non-negotiable. Plan ahead, respect the seasons, and your Rocky Mountain high will be worry free.