Photo credit: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater

Part natural beauty, part world-class entertainment. The Red Rocks Amphitheater, about 15 miles from downtown Denver, should be on the bucket list for anyone who loves live music. Although the amphitheater is located in the town of Morrison, your best bet for staying near Red Rocks is by booking a hotel in Golden, less than 10 miles from the amphitheater itself. Below, we recommend the best hotels near Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater.

First, what’s so special about Red Rocks? The giant sandstone outcroppings at this 6,400-foot elevation park create unique acoustics that have been heralded ever since 1911 when opera singer Mary Garden sang on a makeshift stage here. The official stage was built in the 1930s, as part of a Depression-era public works project, and has since welcomed acts such as the Beatles, U2, the Grateful Dead, and more. Even if there’s not a show on, you can hike the surrounding trails during the day—it’s part of the Denver park system.

Origin Red Rocks (18485 W Colfax Ave.; 303-215-0100) Golden

Located 2.5 miles from Red Rocks, this 124-room Wyndham-family hotel is the official hotel of the amphitheater. Condé Nast Traveler likes the “music-inspired décor” that includes “midcentury-inspired rocking chairs” and “bright murals. Look closely between refurbished guitars and you’ll find autographs of musicians scrawled on the exposed concrete.” Amenities include an onsite beer garden, mountain bike loaners, and a shuttle service for concerts. A Google reviewer calls it “clean, modern, spacious … and it’s not as expensive as you could imagine. There is a 24-hour convenience store across the street and a handful of restaurants in the immediate vicinity.”  >> Book this hotel for less

Courtyard by Marriott Denver Golden/Red Rocks (14700 W 6th Ave.; 303-271-0776) Golden

A Google reviewer writes that this 113-room Courtyard, 4.5 miles from the amphitheater, “was an ideal location. Only 10 minutes for the concert venue and lots of great hiking nearby. The room was clean and super quiet.” Other online reviewers bemoan a general lack of amenities, such as no free breakfast. “Pool is not on site—must walk across street to Residence Inn and Bistro was not open during evening,” writes a Tripadvisor user. “But if you just want a bed with a good location, you got it.”  >> Book this hotel for less

The Eddy Taproom & Hotel (1640 8th St.; 720-442-8150) Golden

US News & World Report writes that this “unpretentious” 49-room hotel is “the perfect home base for adventures in Golden and the Rocky Mountains,” and it’s just six miles from the amphitheater. The hotel has its own on-site taproom, a rooftop lounge with firepits, and an outdoor space with lawn games. One Tripadvisor user appreciates that “it’s a gem of a place, and rooms are super comfortable,” while another user writes that it’s “easy to walk downtown or walk/bike/drive to the trails on Lookout Mountain. The shuttle service they provide to Red Rocks is absolutely worth the price.”  >> Book this hotel for less

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Golden – Denver Area, an IHG Hotel (17140 W Colfax Ave.; 303-278-2388) Golden

This Holiday Inn Express is four miles from Red Rocks, right off I-70, and offers free breakfast as well as easy access to downtown Golden, the Coors Brewery, Lookout Mountain, and a light rail station less than a mile away. A Google reviewer likes that “the views of the mountains are very nice, the lobby is very spacious, the breakfast area has good food, and there is a pool, gym and laundry.” One Tripadvisor likes “the convenient location, friendly staff, free parking, and healthy breakfast options.”   >> Book this hotel for less

Denver Marriott West (1717 Denver West Marriott Blvd.; 303-279-9100) Golden

A Tripadvisor calls this 305-room Marriott “basic,” but just “a 14-minute drive to Red Rocks with normal traffic,” and there are “shopping malls very nearby and dining options as well.” Ask for a room facing west and the mountains, suggests one Google reviewer: “Rooms are large and many have balconies—some face the freeway, so was grateful for having one facing west.” Another Google reviewer likes “the beautiful lobby with fire pit and restaurant. Two large pools, one indoor and one outdoor, with pretty landscaping.” >> Book this hotel for less

Related: