National Western Stock Show 2028
Denver's January institution since 1906 — 16 days of rodeo, stock show, and the Kick-Off Parade through downtown.
Expected dates
Jan 8–23
Denver (National Western Complex) · Colorado
These dates are awaiting official confirmation, so check the event's site before booking.
Search RVs for these datesWhere to sleep in Colorado
We have no campground verified inside Denver itself, so these are the Colorado campgrounds we do have on file — rig limits, fees and booking windows straight from the operator.
- Moraine Park Campground (Rocky Mountain NP)Nearest town: Estes Park · National Park Service$35/nightRigs to 40 ftBooks 6 months ahead exact-date via recreation.gov
- Glacier Basin Campground (Rocky Mountain NP)Nearest town: Estes Park · National Park Service$35/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks 6 months ahead via recreation.gov
- Piñon Flats Campground (Great Sand Dunes NP)Nearest town: Alamosa · National Park Service$25/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks 6 months ahead via recreation.gov
- Morefield Campground (Mesa Verde NP)Nearest town: Cortez · National Park Service$39–$60/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks via aramark concession portal · book 4 months out
Going to National Western 2028? Tell us the nights.
Local owners list their own rigs here. You get a single email when one is listed for your window.
What you need to know
The National Western Stock Show has opened Denver's year since 1906: sixteen January days of professional rodeo, horse shows, one of the country's premier livestock exhibitions, and the tradition that starts it all — longhorns driven through downtown Denver in the Kick-Off Parade. The show has consistently run early-to-mid January; exact 2028 dates come from the annual announcement. January is the deepest off-season of the Colorado RV calendar, which cuts both ways: rental rates and availability are the best of the year, but you're committing to genuine winter camping on the Front Range. Cherry Creek State Park keeps a year-round campground about 25 minutes southeast of the complex — confirm current winter loop availability when booking. A rig with a strong furnace, heated or managed tanks, and winter tires handles Denver January fine; afternoon chinooks can push 55F between cold snaps. For families, the stock show's barn tours and petting zones fill daytime hours before evening rodeo sessions.
Official source: nationalwestern.com
Safety + legal
Front Range January swings from 55F chinook afternoons to sub-zero nights within a week — winter-rate the whole plan: furnace, tank management, and I-70/I-25 storm awareness.
Insider tip
The Kick-Off Parade — longhorns through downtown — is free, happens before the show opens, and is the single most photographed moment of the sixteen days. Arrive an hour early on Union Station's side.
Plan your trip · Jan 8–23, 2028 · Denver (National Western Complex)
Rent an RV near National Western 2028
Search runs on your Jan 8–23, 2028 window with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late. Whether an RV is listed for those dates depends on what Colorado hosts have posted, so the campsite plan below is worth locking either way.
- Expected dates
- Jan 8–23, 2028
- Days away
- 490
- Location
- Denver (National Western Complex)
- Book ahead
- 5+ weeks
- Planning window
- Plan ahead
Hosting near Denver (National Western Complex)? List your rig and put your calendar in front of event travellers.
List your rig →Start early, arrive easy — the whole runway
The honest runway from start-looking to head-home, with a one-day buffer on each end.
Start
~5 weeks out
Give yourself ~5 weeks to line up a rig and a campsite.
Arrive
Jan 7
Roll in a day early and set up camp.
Event
Expected window
National Western Stock Show 2028
Head home
Jan 24
Leave a day late and skip the exodus.
Best rigs for National Western 2028
First pick first — each row opens a search for these dates, already filtered to the class.
Plan it by rig
Each class above has its own planning page for National Western 2028 — class fit and booking guidance in one place.
Frequently asked about National Western 2028
When is National Western Stock Show 2028?
National Western Stock Show 2028 is expected to run Jan 8–23, 2028 in Denver (National Western Complex), Colorado. Official dates are not confirmed yet — verify on the event's official site before booking.
Where is National Western 2028 held?
Denver (National Western Complex), Colorado.
What are the exact 2028 dates?
Jan 8–23, 2028. These dates are provisional until officially announced.
What RV should I rent for National Western 2028?
Best categories: rv, trucks-vans. The National Western Stock Show has opened Denver's year since 1906: sixteen January days of professional rodeo, horse shows, one of the country's premier livestock exhibitions, and the tradition that starts it all — longhorns driven through downtown Denver in the Kick-Off Parade. The show has consistently run early-to-mid January; exact 2028 dates come from the annual announcement. January is the deepest off-season of the Colorado RV calendar, which cuts both ways: rental rates and availability are the best of the year, but you're committing to genuine winter camping on the Front Range. Cherry Creek State Park keeps a year-round campground about 25 minutes southeast of the complex — confirm current winter loop availability when booking. A rig with a strong furnace, heated or managed tanks, and winter tires handles Denver January fine; afternoon chinooks can push 55F between cold snaps. For families, the stock show's barn tours and petting zones fill daytime hours before evening rodeo sessions.
How early should I book an RV?
Recommended lead time: 5 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
When is the National Western Stock Show 2028?
The show traditionally runs sixteen days in early-to-mid January in Denver; exact 2028 dates are announced annually at nationalwestern.com.
Can you camp near Denver in January?
Cherry Creek State Park operates a year-round campground about 25 minutes from the complex — confirm which loops are open in winter when you book. A furnace-equipped rig is essential.
Why do an RV trip in Colorado's off-season?
January brings the year's best rental rates and availability, and the stock show is Denver's biggest winter event. Pair it with a ski-town day trip — the same rig covers both if you check chain laws first.
What safety and legal guidance applies?
Front Range January swings from 55F chinook afternoons to sub-zero nights within a week — winter-rate the whole plan: furnace, tank management, and I-70/I-25 storm awareness.
What's an insider tip?
The Kick-Off Parade — longhorns through downtown — is free, happens before the show opens, and is the single most photographed moment of the sixteen days. Arrive an hour early on Union Station's side.
Ready to roll?
Colorado is waiting.
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PickRV is an independent RV-rental marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFL, FIFA, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or any event organizer. All event names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only for factual, descriptive reference.
Plan around the event · 4
Hub state · nearest city · nearest park · recommended rig category — one click each.
State rules, safety and legalLicence + towing rules, insurance basics and the non-affiliation notice.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Before you rent in Colorado — key local rules
Standard Class R license covers motorhomes under 26,001 lbs — Colorado DMV — 1 CCR 204-30 Rule 8 (Class R definition)
Operators 18+; ages 14-17 need a safety certificate; ANS stamp to launch — Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Boating Safety
Colorado OHV permit $26.25/yr — same price for residents and visitors — Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Register an Off-Highway Vehicle
0.08% BAC per se; 5 ng THC creates only a permissible inference — Colorado General Assembly — Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (CRS §42-4-1301)
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with Colorado DMV before relying. Reviewed in the last 4 months (as of 2026-05-24).
Colorado rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7.6% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Varies by rig — verify with your host
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00