Arvada is a city of about 122,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. A former farming community in Jefferson and Adams counties, the city is now a residential suburb of Denver. Olde Town Arvada is 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol and 9 miles (14 km) east of the Front Range foothills.

Understand

An aerial view of Arvada

History

The first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region occurred on June 22, 1850, when Lewis Ralston, a Georgia prospector headed for the California gold fields, dipped his sluice pan into a small stream near its mouth at Clear Creek. Ralston found about 1/4 ounce (6 g) of gold, then worth about five dollars. Ralston's companions named the stream Ralston's Creek in his honor, but the party left the next morning, drawn by the lure of California gold.

In 1859, Ralston returned with another group of prospectors to the site of his first discovery. The placer gold in the area soon played out, but hard rock deposits of gold were found in the mountains to the west. Some of the miners abandoned their search for gold and returned to farm the rich bottom land along Ralston Creek and Clear Creek. They found an eager market for their crops among other gold seekers.

In the summer of 1870, the Colorado Central Railroad laid tracks through the area, and on December 1, 1870, the town of Ralston Point was platted, soon renamed Arvada. Arvada thrived as a farming community, and in the mid-twentieth century, evolved into a residential suburb of the state capital of Denver.

Arvada is a part of the Denver Metropolitan Area (2020 population 3,623,560) and the more extensive Front Range Urban Corridor (2020 population 5,055,344). Residents of Arvada have included Clive Cussler, Roy Halladay, Joe King, Karl Rove, Isaac Slade, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

Climate

See also: Climate of Denver

The climate of Arvada is very similar to nearby Denver. The most comfortable months are generally May through October, although outdoor events continue through the cooler months.

Get in

See this Colorado travel map. Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer.

By air

• 1 Denver International Airport (DEN ^IATA), 8500 Peña Boulevard, Denver CO (22 miles (35 km) east of Arvada), ☏ +1 720-730-4359. One of the ten busiest airports in the world. The airport connects to Arvada via the RTD commuter rail A line connecting to the RTD commuter rail G line.  
• 2 Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC ^IATA), 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield CO (8 miles (13 km) north of Arvada), ☏ +1 720-730-4359. General aviation.  

By highway

Arvada can be reached via two Interstate Highways and four state highways:
Arvada is the western terminus of Interstate Highway 76. Rental cars are available at Denver International Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

By rail

The Amtrak California Zephyr and Winter Park Express pass through Arvada but only stop at Denver Union Station. You can use the RTD commuter rail G line for the 20-minute ride from Denver Union Station to Arvada.

By bus

Greyhound Lines serve Denver.

Get around

Addresses in Arvada are numbered on a grid from south to north and from east to west. Numbered avenues in Arvada run east and west and are numbered from West 48th Avenue north to West 96th Avenue. Named streets in Arvada run north and south and are named alphabetically from east to west in five groups from 4100 West to 20000 West.

See this detailed map of the City of Arvada.

By rail

Arvada is served by the RTD commuter rail G line which connects to Wheat Ridge and Denver.

• 3 Arvada Gold Strike Station, 4790 West 60th Avenue. Connects to RTD bus route 51. 
• 4 Olde Town Arvada Station, 7510 Grandview Avenue. Connects to RTD bus routes 28, 32, 52, 72, and 76 
• 5 Arvada Ridge Station, 10155 Ridge Road. Connects to RTD bus route 100. 
• 6 Wheat Ridge Ward Station, 12000 Ridge Road. Connects to RTD bus routes 38 and 44. 

At Denver Union Station, the RTD G line connects to the RTD A line to Denver International Airport and to the Amtrak California Zephyr and Winter Park Express.

By bus

Arvada is served by RTD bus routes 28, 32, 51, 52, 72, 76, and 100.

By car

• 7 Hertz Car Rental, 5595 Sheridan Blvd, ☏ +1 303-432-3186. 
• 8 Enterprise Car Rental, 4298 Kipling Street, ☏ +1 303-421-8401. 

Rental cars are also available at Denver International Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

See

Visit Arvada

• 1 Cussler Museum, 14959 West 69th Avenue (two blocks west of C-72 on West 69th Avenue). A rotating display of rare and historically significant automobiles from the extensive collection of the late author Clive Cussler, a former Arvada resident. Open May through September. Admission $12, seniors $10, children $8. 
• 2 Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison Street (take West 68th Avenue 1.0 mile (1.6 km) west from C-121 to Garrison Street, then right 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to nature center). 10AM-3PM. Exhibits and trails explore this home to Bat, Black Bear (rare), Black bullhead catfish, Bluegill fish, Bobcat, Bullfrog, Bullsnake, Carp fish, Cottontail Rabbit, Coyote, Dagger moth caterpillar, Deer, Elk (rare), Fox Squirrel, Ground squirrel, Mink, Monarch butterfly, Mountain Lion (rare), Muskrat, Ornate Box Turtle (rare), Porcupine (rare), Raccoon, Red fox, Red-Eared Slider turtle, Skunk, Snapping Turtle (rare), Vole, Western & Plains Garter snake, Western Painted Turtle, Woodhouse toad, and over 130 bird species. free. 
• 3 Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, West 95th Lane (take West Candelas Parkway 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west from Indiana Street to Salvia Street, then right 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the south entrance). Open sunrise to sunset. Site of a decommissioned nuclear weapons facility, this high prairie refuge is home to elk, deer, raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, prairie dogs, coyotes, and more. free. 
• 4 Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, 9210 West 80th Avenue (take West 80th Avenue 1.0 mile (1.6 km) west from C-121 to east entrance). Open sunrise to sunset. Created through the efforts of Arvada students and citizens, this suburban refuge is home to more than 120 species of birds, coyotes, red fox, beaver, turtles, deer, and more. free. 

Do

• 1 Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. A celebrated regional arts venue, this performance compound hosts many different plays, musicals, and orchestral and choral recitations. It comprises two indoor theaters, an outdoor amphitheater, a convention complex, art galleries, dance studios, and the Arvada Historical Museum. 

Events

• Winterfest - February
• Mardi Gras - February-March
• St. Patrick's Day - March 17
• Kite Festival - April
• Arvada on Tap - June
• Independence Day - July 4
• Arvada Days - August
• Harvest Festival - September

Buy

Arvada Chamber of Commerce

• 1 Olde Town Arvada, Olde Wadsworth Blvd from Grandview Avenue to Ralston Road. The historic heart of Arvada encompasses a diverse array of shops, boutiques, galleries, events, restaurants, breweries, and a winery. 

Eat

• 1 Freedom Street Social, 15177 Candelas Parkway. Food hall with nine bars and eateries featuring nightly entertainment. 
• 2 Heaven Dragon, 16255 West 64th Avenue, ☏ +1 720-898-9909. Elegant but inexpensive Chinese cuisine. 
• 3 Las Potrancas Mexican Restaurant, 11651 West 64th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-431-9000. Inexpensive local hangout serving hearty Mexican cuisine. 
• 4 Mi Tierra Caliente, 5350 West 64th Avenue, ☏ +1 720-968-4634. Authentic cuisine from the Mexican state of Michoacán. 
• 5 Mika Sushi, 12650 West 64th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-432-1938. Sushi and Japanese and Asian cuisine. 
• 6 Stone Cellar Bistro, 7605 Grandview Avenue, ☏ +1 720-630-7908. Chef Brandon Kerr prepares elegant farm-to-table cuisine. 
• 7 Tea Garden Chinese Restaurant, 10290 Ralston Road, ☏ +1 303-421-3388. Local favorite serving Chinese cuisine. 
• 8 Yak & Yeti, 7803 Ralston Road, ☏ +1 303-431-9000. Brewpub serving Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine. 

Drink

• 1 Luki Brewery, 14725 West 64th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-421-2603. 
• 2 New Image Brewing, 5622 Yukon Street, ☏ +1 720-900-5620. 
• 3 Odyssey Beerwerks, 5535 West 56th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-421-0772. 
• 4 Silver Vines Winery, 7509 Grandview Avenue, ☏ +1 303-456-5212. 
• Yak & Yeti - See above.

Sleep

• 1 Hilton Garden Inn Arvada, 5455 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard (Seven minute walk from Olde Town Arvada Station. Two blocks west of C-121 on Olde Wadsworth Boulevard), ☏ +1 303-420-9799. 
• 2 Residence Inn by Marriott Arvada, 5565 Wadsworth Bypass (Five minute walk from Olde Town Arvada Station. One half block west of C-121 on West 56th Avenue), ☏ +1 303-432-7072. 

Connect

• 1 City of Arvada Municipal Center, 8101 Ralston Road, ☏ +1 303-424-2739. 
• 2 Apex Center, 13150 West 72nd Avenue, ☏ +1 720-898-7000. Public recreation center with indoor water park, two ice arenas, three gymnasiums, climbing wall, indoor playground, skateboard park, etc. 
• 3 Arvada Library, 7525 West 57th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-235-5275. 
• 4 Red Rocks Community College, 10280 West 55th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-914-6011. 
• 5 Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling Street, ☏ +1 303-235-5275. 

Go next

• The Coors Brewery in Golden lies 10 miles (16 km) and 16 minutes by car southwest of Arvada.
• The Colorado State Capitol in Denver lies 10 miles (16 km) and 20 minutes by car southeast of Arvada.
• Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre lies 13 miles (21 km) and 20 minutes by car southwest of Arvada.
• The Pearl Street Mall in Boulder lies 22 miles (35 km) and 35 minutes by car north of Arvada.
• The historic mining towns and casinos of Blackhawk and Central City lie 30 miles (48 km) and 45 minutes by car west of Arvada.
• The Continental Divide of the Americas at 11,992-foot (3,655 m) Loveland Pass lies 58 miles (93 km) and 65 minutes by car west of Arvada.
• The United States Air Force Academy lies 68 miles (109 km) and 70 minutes by car south of Arvada.
• Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park lie 58 miles (93 km) and 80 minutes by car north of Arvada.
• Colorado Springs lies 80 miles (130 km) and 80 minutes by car south of Arvada.
• The 14,271-foot (4,350 m) summit of Mount Blue Sky lies 58 miles (93 km) and 1:40 by car southwest of Arvada.
• The 14,115-foot (4,302.31 m) summit of Pikes Peak lies 108 miles (174 km) and 2:15 by car south of Arvada.

Routes through Arvada

Grand Junction ← Golden ←	W  E	→ Denver → Kansas City
Ends at ←	W  E	→ Commerce City → → Omaha
Ends at ← Nederland ←	W  E	→ Wheat Ridge → Ends at
Ends at ← Boulder ← ←	N  S	→ Golden → Ends at
Ends at ← Westminster ←	N  S	→ Denver → Ends at
Ends at ← Westminster ←	N  S	→ Wheat Ridge → Ends at Waterton