RV Rental for New West Fest in Fort Collins, CO

Every August, about a week before New West Fest kicks off in Old Town Square, my phone starts ringing with the same question: “Is there anything left near Fort Collins for that weekend?” The honest answer is — not much, if you wait that long. Hotels along College Avenue and Mason Street fill up fast, and anything within walking distance of Old Town gets claimed first. What I tell those callers is the same thing I tell people who plan ahead: an RV rental for New West Fest puts you exactly where you want to be, without the scramble. You pick your camp spot, I deliver the rig, and you spend the weekend focused on the music instead of the drive back.

Why Fort Collins August Weekend Lodging Is Genuinely Hard

New West Fest draws a serious crowd to Old Town Fort Collins — multiple stages, local Colorado breweries pouring, food vendors packed into the square. It’s one of the biggest free music festivals on the Front Range, and it lands right in peak summer season. Rocky Mountain National Park is 45 minutes west on US-34, Horsetooth Reservoir is practically in town off Taft Hill Road, and every campsite and hotel room in Larimer County is competing with RMNP visitors, river runners on the Cache la Poudre, and festival-goers all at the same time. I’ve delivered rigs during New West Fest weekend when every site at Boyd Lake State Park was booked solid and Horsetooth’s inlet campgrounds were spoken for weeks out. Booking early is not a suggestion — it’s the reality of August in Northern Colorado.

Where I Actually Send People for New West Fest Weekend

Old Town Square itself is day-use only — there’s no camping on-site or in the immediate downtown corridor, so an RV rental for New West Fest means staging at one of the surrounding parks and driving or ridesharing in. Here’s where I steer renters depending on what they’re after:

• Horsetooth Reservoir (Larimer County campgrounds) — This is my first recommendation for most people. The reservoir is less than 15 minutes from Old Town on Taft Hill Road, Larimer County manages several campgrounds along the east shore, and it’s genuinely beautiful in August. The tradeoff: the access road into some of the south-end loops runs tight, and I size the rig accordingly — I’m not dropping a 40-foot fifth wheel down there without checking site dimensions first.
• Lory State Park — Tucked up against the Horsetooth foothills on the west side, Lory has a quieter feel and works well for groups who want to hike in the morning and hit the festival in the afternoon. Sites here run shorter than you’d expect, so I typically match a smaller trailer to this park rather than a larger rig.
• Boyd Lake State Park — Straight shot east off I-25 near Loveland, about 20 minutes from Old Town. Sites are more spacious and hookups are reliable, which makes setup straightforward for me on delivery day. It’s a solid pick if Horsetooth is already full — which in August it often is.
• Carter Lake (Larimer County) — A bit further south toward Berthoud, but worth knowing about as a backup. Less foot traffic than Horsetooth or Boyd Lake, and Larimer County manages the sites well.
• Ansel Watrous / Poudre Canyon campgrounds — Up CO-14 through the Cache la Poudre canyon, roughly 25–30 minutes from Old Town. Gorgeous in August — cooler temps, river right there — but the canyon road is narrow and winding, and I’m selective about which rigs I send up there. Not every trailer handles that road comfortably.

When you contact me, tell me which campground you’re targeting and I’ll tell you honestly whether the rig you’re looking at is the right fit for that site. That’s part of what I do — I’ve driven these roads and I know which loops have short pull-throughs and which have clearance issues on the entry. You can also check our full Fort Collins RV rental home page to see the current fleet.

How RV Delivery Works for Fort Collins Festival Weekend

I deliver the rig directly to your campsite before you arrive — leveled, set up, and ready to walk into. When the festival wraps and you’re done with the site, I come back and handle the pickup. You never tow anything, you don’t need a truck, and you don’t spend the first hour of your trip figuring out the hookups.

For New West Fest weekend, I ask people to book their campsite first, then call me with the details — campground name, loop, site number if you have it, and the dates you need. That lets me plan the delivery window and confirm the right rig for that specific site. The tighter the turnaround on a busy August weekend, the more important it is to have that information locked in ahead of time. Get full delivery details at our RV delivery page.

August in Fort Collins: What to Expect from the Weather

August on the Front Range runs warm — daytime highs in Fort Collins regularly hit the upper 80s and can push into the low 90s during a heat stretch. Evenings cool down noticeably, especially at Horsetooth or up in the Poudre canyon, which is one of the things that makes camping here more comfortable than people expect. The other thing to know: August is monsoon season in Colorado. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in off the mountains with real frequency — often building by 2 or 3 p.m. and clearing by early evening. I’ve delivered rigs for festival weekends where Saturday was 92 degrees and clear and Sunday brought a genuine afternoon storm through. Keep that in mind when you’re planning your Old Town itinerary, and know that the RV gives you a solid home base to retreat to if the weather moves through.

Extend the Trip: What’s Around Fort Collins That Weekend

One of the things I genuinely like about the New West Fest rental calls is that half the people coming in aren’t just here for the festival — they’re building a longer Northern Colorado trip around it. If that’s you, here’s what I’d point you toward:

• Rocky Mountain National Park — 45 minutes west on US-34 through Estes Park. Trail Ridge Road is one of the most accessible high-alpine drives in the country. August is peak season, so get your timed entry permits sorted before you arrive — RMNP has required them during busy periods and the process changes year to year.
• Cache la Poudre River — Colorado’s only designated Wild and Scenic River runs right through the canyon on CO-14. Kayaking and rafting outfitters operate out of the canyon, and it’s a beautiful morning drive even if you’re just going for the scenery.
• New Belgium and Odell Brewing — Both are Fort Collins institutions and both are within easy reach of Old Town. New Belgium’s campus along the Poudre River trail is worth seeing.
• Horsetooth Reservoir paddling and swimming — If you’re camping at Horsetooth anyway, August is the right month for it. The water is as warm as it gets and the views of the Dakota Hogback from the water are legitimately great.

Frequently Asked Questions: New West Fest RV Rental

Do you deliver to campsites at Horsetooth Reservoir and Boyd Lake for New West Fest weekend?

Yes — these are two of the most common delivery destinations I handle for Fort Collins summer festivals. Book your site first, then reach out with the campground and site details so I can confirm the right rig and plan the delivery window.

How far in advance should I book an RV rental for New West Fest?

As early as you can. August in Northern Colorado is the peak of peak season — RMNP traffic, Horsetooth summer crowds, and a major festival all converging at once. I typically see New West Fest weekend inventory go well before the event. If you’re reading this in June or July, don’t wait.

What’s included with the RV rental?

Inclusions vary by unit and location — contact me directly and I’ll walk you through exactly what comes with the specific rig you’re looking at. Don’t rely on a generic list from a website.

Can I drive the RV myself or is delivery the only option?

Reach out and we’ll talk through what works for your situation. For New West Fest weekend, a lot of renters prefer delivery because it eliminates the tow vehicle requirement and the setup learning curve on a busy Friday afternoon. But let’s have that conversation directly.

Is there camping at Old Town Square during New West Fest?

No — Old Town Square and the surrounding downtown Fort Collins area is day-use only. Your RV base will be at one of the area campgrounds (Horsetooth, Boyd Lake, Lory, Carter Lake, or the Poudre Canyon sites), and you’ll drive or rideshare into the festival from there. It’s an easy trip from any of those spots.

Book Your New West Fest RV Rental

I’m Tomas, your local Fireside RV Rental operator here in Fort Collins. I know the campgrounds, I know the roads, and I know how August festival weekends in NoCo actually go. If you want an RV rental for New West Fest that’s handled by someone who’s been delivering rigs to Horsetooth and Boyd Lake for years — not a call center in another state — reach out directly.

Call or text: 267-225-0951
Email: [email protected]
Browse the fleet: fortcollins.firesidervrental.com

Lock in your dates before August gets here. Once the campsite reservations are gone, the options get thin fast.