Skip to main content

Colorado’s A-Lodge Is a Unique, Choose Your Own Adventure Hotel

Eager travelers are being forced to get creative right now. With countries around the world shutting their doors to U.S. visitors, many Americans are looking to road-tripping, camping, and even long-term options like vanlifing to get their travel fix. One Colorado hotel is thinking well outside the box, offering visitors the opportunity to choose their own social-distancing-friendly outdoor adventure.

AdventureLodge VanLife

Situated in Fourmile Canyon just two miles from downtown Boulder, A-Lodge Hotel is an adventure hotel done in the most Colorado way possible. It’s a deft blend of adventure, relaxed mountain vibes, and modern cabin decor. At its core are 27 private cabins and suites, a 12-room hostel, and a handful of campsites (the only ones in the area within five minutes of downtown), so guests can dial in their preferred type of stay. Every guestroom is warm, cozy, and intimate with an aesthetic reminiscent of sleeping in a friend’s Rocky Mountain cabin. Deluxe rooms and suites upgrade to in-room hot tubs, kitchenettes, and large, house-like floor plans. 

A-Lodge
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Inside, the rustic-chic main lodge combines industrial materials like steel cable railings, exposed rivets, and thick timber with natural elements like rich leather sofas, live-edge wood tables, and raw plank ceilings. Outside, A-Lodge Boulder guests have immediate access to a pool, a hot tub, and outdoor yoga space, a BBQ pavilion, creekside slacklining, and miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. If that’s not enough, the property is less than 15 minutes from downtown Boulder and its world-class beer scene. The town is, of course, renowned as a year-round gateway to every type of outdoor adventure, from skiing and climbing to cycling and hiking to fishing and rafting.

Recommended Videos

For more adventurous travelers seeking a deep dive into the Colorado Rockies, two fully loaded Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans are available for rent. This social-distancing-friendly option allows renters to customize their van from four modular packages. The Explorer Package, for example, includes a robust kitchen setup, an outdoor shower, a heater, and extra storage — ideal for anyone looking to test-drive the vanlife. Winter renters can opt for The Shredder Package with a ski rack, an oversized winter gear drawer, and a built-in furnace that runs off the van’s diesel tank. BYO (build-your-own) packages are also available, allowing renters to mix and match convenience options like sleeping bags, hammocks, solar showers, and cassette toilets. Plus, van rentals can also be paired with a lodge stay at A-Lodge.

This month, A-Lodge also expanded to the tiny nearby town of Lyons, Colorado. The new boutique hotel boasts just six rooms, but it’s well-situated at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Nightly rates at A-Lodge Boulder start around $49 for a campsite or single hostel bed. Proper hotel rooms start closer to $170, while custom adventure van rentals start just under $200 per night.

If you’re ready to leave the hotel stays behind and embark on your own vanlife journey, check out the full-featured electric campervans from Ready Set Van.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
This Spanish region was just named Europe’s top wine tasting destination
Rioja, Spain comes out on top
Rioja, Spain

Wine lovers, take note. Rioja, Spain has just been crowned the top wine tasting destination in Europe for 2025, and it’s not hard to see why. The team at Quotezone put together their Vineyard Mini-Break Index by diving into the details that matter most for wine tourists, including winery tour costs, hotel prices, local weather, and international wine awards. The result? Rioja poured its way right to the top of the list.

Known as the largest wine region in Spain, Rioja boasts over 600 wineries and more than 65,000 hectares of vineyards. But beyond its sheer size, the region stands out for being surprisingly affordable. The average winery tour will only set you back about $24 USD, and you can snag a good bottle of wine for just $28 USD, making it a wine lover’s paradise that doesn’t break the bank.

Read more
I stopped overpacking and used the 333 method — the results surprised me
Here’s what happened when I embraced minimalist packing
open suitcase with clothes packed inside

Did you know that 40% of people say they have come home from vacation with clothes they didn’t wear? 

I’ll admit it, I’ve been known to stuff my suitcase with options “just in case,” only to come home with half of it untouched. 

Read more
This tiny U.S. state is the most chaotic place to drive, study says
Rhode Island came out on top
cars in traffic

Think your daily commute is bad? According to a new study, Rhode Island has officially been crowned the most chaotic place to drive in the U.S.

The team at eSpatial crunched the numbers using government data and real-time traffic insights, measuring every state across five key categories: traffic congestion, road satisfaction, pothole complaints, total road fatalities, and speeding-related deaths. After tallying it all up, tiny Rhode Island came out on top, or rather, the bottom, earning the title of America’s most stressful place to hit the road.

Read more