Shooting for Denver or close enough that we can be in/out in ~20 min give or take. Is there any rural areas relatively close? I'd rather give an arfcommer the $ over some rando purple haired moron.

There's nothing rural within 20 - 30 minutes of downtown Denver period. You probably can feel a little rural about 45 minutes out. I've got a rural vacation rental up in the mountains but it's about 1.5 hours out near Fairplay so likely too far for your trip. Maybe look around Evergreen or Conifer if you don't want to be too far away from the city but want to feel like you're in the mountains.

What constitutes "in and out".  You can come south into Douglas county and feel a little bit of small town charm in Parker or Castle Rock, but I don't have a rental for you.  If you airbnb it down here, it is very unlikely to be a purple haired anything.  This county is pretty right leaning.

Avoid I70 W bound on Friday and Saturday.