
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Best for families, large groups, and convention attendees who want resort amenities (water park, multiple restaurants, lots of meeting space).
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is a large, family-friendly Aurora resort and convention property with an on-site water park and extensive meeting space; this guide is for travelers who want a full-service resort experience near DEN. The Oxford Hotel is a long-established historic boutique luxury hotel in downtown Denver (LoDo) steps from Union Station; read on if you prefer classic downtown character and a compact, central base.
Updated · about 30 km apart (roughly a 30-minute drive)

Best for families, large groups, and convention attendees who want resort amenities (water park, multiple restaurants, lots of meeting space).

Best for travelers looking for a small, historic luxury stay in downtown Denver within walking distance of Union Station and city attractions.
When Gaylord Rockies wins: choose Gaylord Rockies if you need space and activities — families, conferences, wedding groups, or anyone wanting an on-property water park, many dining choices, and extensive event facilities.
When The Oxford wins: choose The Oxford Hotel if you want a compact, characterful downtown stay steps from Union Station, Larimer Square, and Denver nightlife — great for sightseeing, museums, and walking to sporting or performance venues.
Bottom line: Gaylord Rockies is a destination resort built around scale and on-site entertainment; The Oxford is a historic luxury city hotel best suited to travelers focused on downtown access and a boutique experience.
| Category | Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center | The Oxford Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large resort-convention property, activity-driven | Historic boutique luxury, intimate downtown hotel |
| Location | Aurora, off E-470 near Denver International Airport (resort setting) | Denver (LoDo), steps from Union Station and 16th Street Mall |
| Size | About 1,387 guest rooms + 114 suites (large inventory); extensive event space | 80 guestrooms (small, boutique scale) |
| Rooms — notable types | Many room types including Room, Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, Executive Suite, Deluxe Suite | Superior Room (Classic), Deluxe Room (Classic), Junior Suite, Presidential Suite |
| Pools / water feature | Arapahoe Springs Water Park: indoor pool, heated outdoor pool, slides, whirlpools, seasonal lazy river (guest-exclusive) | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site venues (Old Hickory Steakhouse, Garden + Grain, Copper Table, pubs, sports bar, poolside bar, marketplace, coffee shop) | One on-site restaurant and a bar/lounge; daily complimentary reception and free continental breakfast |
| Spa & wellness | Relâche Spa with 17 treatment rooms, fitness center, separate lounges, yoga room | Full-service spa and hair salon listed among amenities |
| Known for | On-site water park and very large convention/wedding event capacity | Historic architecture, proximity to Union Station and LoDo nightlife |
| Meeting & event space | 500,000+ sq ft of flexible meeting/convention space, 70+ meeting rooms, very large ballrooms | Conference space ~805 m² (8661 sq ft) and 6 meeting rooms |
| Family-friendly | Yes — designed for all ages, water park and family activities | Yes — families allowed; up to 2 children 17 and younger stay free in existing bedding |
Gaylord Rockies sits in Aurora off E-470 with easy connections to Denver International Airport but limited walkable dining/retail nearby.
Best if you want airport proximity, parking, and a self-contained resort rather than walkable city access.
The Oxford Hotel sits in LoDo, steps from Union Station and Denver's main downtown attractions.
Choose The Oxford if you want to be in the middle of downtown Denver and walk to transit, dining, and entertainment.
Gaylord Rockies offers many room types and suites designed for families, group travel, and business stays.
More variety and capacity — good for families and groups who need extra beds or suites.
The Oxford has a compact set of classic room categories that reflect its historic boutique character.
Smaller inventory and a more classic, intimate room experience suited to couples and solo travelers.
Gaylord Rockies has a broad set of restaurants and bars covering steakhouse dinners, casual family options, and poolside dining.
A wide range of dining choices keeps most meals on-property for families and groups.
The Oxford offers one primary on-site restaurant plus a bar/lounge and daily complimentary reception.
Smaller on-site dining footprint but immediate access to Denver's broad downtown restaurant scene.
Gaylord Rockies’ headliner amenity is Arapahoe Springs Water Park, for registered overnight guests only.
Water park and pool complex are central reasons to pick Gaylord Rockies, especially for families.
The Oxford Hotel’s supplier listing does not publish an on-site pool or water-park feature.
No published pool feature — choose The Oxford for downtown access rather than resort pools.
Gaylord Rockies combines Relâche Spa and a 24-hour fitness center with late-night bars on site.
Good for travelers who want on-site wellness options plus late-night resort bars.
The Oxford lists a full-service spa, hair salon, and a bar/lounge, with downtown nightlife a short walk away.
Smaller spa offering but unbeatable access to downtown nightlife and events.

Gaylord Rockies — exclusive on-site Arapahoe Springs Water Park, family activities, and family-sized rooms.

The Oxford Hotel — steps from Union Station, Larimer Square, museums, and easy walking access to downtown attractions.

Gaylord Rockies — 500,000+ sq ft of meeting space and dozens of ballrooms and meeting rooms for large groups.

The Oxford Hotel — a long-established historic boutique luxury hotel with classic downtown character and a small number of rooms.
Gaylord Rockies is much closer to DEN (roughly a 10–16 minute drive from the airport); The Oxford is in downtown Denver and requires a longer drive or train+transfer.
Not if you want walkable downtown access — Gaylord Rockies is a resort outside the city core. For sightseeing and walking to restaurants and transit, The Oxford is the better choice.
Gaylord Rockies includes access to its Arapahoe Springs Water Park for registered overnight guests. The Oxford’s listing does not publish any on-site pool or water-park feature.
Gaylord Rockies — it offers hundreds of thousands of square feet of flexible meeting and ballroom space and many breakout rooms. The Oxford has meeting space but at a much smaller scale (6 meeting rooms, ~805 m² conference space).
Explore how Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·