Reduced graphene oxide reinforced acrylic rubber (ACM/RGO) was in situ prepared via self‐assembly method in the presence of hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent. X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structure of ACM/RGO, and transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope demonstrated that RGO was uniformly dispersed in ACM matrix. Due to the barrier role of RGO sheets, the resistances to heat and water of ACM/RGO were obviously improved. Furthermore, the mechanical properties were also largely affected by the incorporation of RGO. With 2 parts per hundred rubber of RGO, the tensile strength and Shore A hardness of ACM/RGO reached 18.8 MPa and 73, and the elongation at break maintained at 236%. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47187.