
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Best for conferences, weddings, and families who want resort amenities (water park, multiple restaurants, spa).
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is a large airport-area resort and convention complex with family-focused amenities and an on-site water park; read this if you need a convention-ready resort that also works for families. The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square is a sports-and-entertainment district lifestyle hotel in downtown Denver; read this if you want a central base for games, concerts, and downtown nightlife.
Updated · about 30 minutes' drive (roughly 30 km apart)

Best for conferences, weddings, and families who want resort amenities (water park, multiple restaurants, spa).

Best for guests who want to be steps from Coors Field, Union Station and Denver's LoDo nightlife and events.
Gaylord Rockies wins when you need event capacity, lots of on-site entertainment for kids, or resort-style pools and a full-service spa for downtime. It’s built around big meetings, weddings, and family stays.
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square wins if your trip is centered on Denver events, attending a game at Coors Field, or walking to downtown restaurants, bars, and transit. It’s compact, centrally located and tuned to nightlife and sports crowds.
Bottom line: choose Gaylord Rockies for scale, resort amenities and convention needs; choose The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square for a downtown, event-driven stay with easy walking access to Denver’s entertainment district.
| Category | Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center | The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large resort + convention center, family-focused | Urban sports-and-entertainment lifestyle hotel in LoDo |
| Location | Aurora, airport-area off E‑470 (resort is not walkable to downtown) | 1600 20th St, downtown Denver — steps from McGregor Square and Coors Field |
| Size (rooms) | 1,387 guest rooms + 114 suites (resort listings) | 182 rooms |
| Audience / ages | All ages; family-friendly with children’s water park | All ages; not adults-only and geared to event-goers and nightlife |
| Pools / signature amenity | Arapahoe Springs Water Park — indoor + heated outdoor pools, slides, lazy river (guest-only) | Outdoor pool (1) and fitness center; no on-site water park |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple outlets (steakhouse, seasonal American, pub, sports bar, pool bar, café) | 1 restaurant, coffee shop/café, and a bar/lounge; daily complimentary reception |
| Spa & wellness | Relâche Spa with 17 treatment rooms, lounges, yoga room, steamroom | Not published |
| Meeting & event space | Huge — 500,000+ sq ft of flexible convention and event space; many ballrooms and exhibit halls | Conference space ~21,000 sq ft (meeting rooms and event space) |
| Known for | Convention capacity and family water-park resort experience | Proximity to Coors Field/McGregor Square and downtown walking access |
Gaylord Rockies sits in Aurora near the airport and E‑470; it’s positioned as a Denver-area resort but is outside downtown.
Choose Gaylord Rockies when proximity to the airport, shuttle access and a self-contained property matter more than downtown walkability.
The Rally Hotel sits in LoDo, a short walk to Coors Field and other downtown venues.
Choose The Rally for a downtown, walkable location when your trip centers on games, concerts or Denver nightlife.
Gaylord Rockies offers a very large inventory with many family-friendly room configurations and suites.
If you need many rooms, connecting/family layouts, or suites for meetings, Gaylord Rockies has far more capacity.
The Rally Hotel has a smaller, boutique inventory focused on comfort and downtown convenience.
If you want a compact downtown hotel with many room types for couples or small groups, The Rally covers those bases.
Gaylord Rockies has many on-site restaurants and bars serving varied dining styles.
Gaylord Rockies suits groups who want varied on-site dining without leaving the property.
The Rally offers a single full restaurant, a café and a bar, plus a daily complimentary reception.
The Rally is fine if you’ll eat most meals in downtown Denver; it keeps dining simple on property.
Gaylord Rockies centers much of its family programming around Arapahoe Springs Water Park.
Pick Gaylord Rockies if an on-site water-park experience is a key reason for travel.
The Rally has an outdoor pool and fitness center but no water-park-style amenities.
The Rally’s pool provides a place to cool off, but it’s not a substitute for a resort water park.
Gaylord Rockies includes Relâche Spa and several late-night bar options on property.
The resort pairs a full-service spa and fitness facilities with late-night bars to serve both families and adults.
The Rally’s focus is downtown nightlife and event access rather than a full-service spa.
Choose The Rally to be in the middle of Denver’s nightlife and event scene; skip it if you need a hotel spa.

Gaylord Rockies — huge event space, dozens of meeting rooms and multiple ballrooms fit large groups.

The Rally Hotel — steps from McGregor Square and Coors Field, walkable to downtown venues.

Gaylord Rockies — guest-only Arapahoe Springs Water Park and family-friendly activities on-site.

The Rally Hotel — central LoDo address with easy access to transit, restaurants and nightlife.
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square is within a few blocks of Coors Field; Gaylord Rockies is in Aurora and requires a drive or shuttle into downtown.
Gaylord Rockies has Relâche Spa with published treatment rooms and services; The Rally Hotel does not publish an on-site full-service spa.
Yes — Gaylord Rockies is an airport-area resort with a hotel shuttle connection to the RTD A‑Line and a short drive to Denver International Airport.
No — The Rally does not offer a water park. Choose Gaylord Rockies if an on-site water park is important.
Explore how Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·