Colorado is known as an outdoor haven for hikers, skiers, off-roaders, whitewater rafters, and so much more. Denver is Colorado’s most populated city, and it is also easy to fly into from most other cities in America. You have so many vacation options when Denver is your starting point. Here are my favorite 1-week road trips from Denver throughout Colorado and even into western Utah.
America the Beautiful National Park Pass
Most national parks require an entry fee, and these fees can vary from $20 to $35 per vehicle for each park. If visiting multiple parks on these road trips from Denver, you may want to consider purchasing an America the Beautiful park pass, which will allow you into all national parks services lands for a year. Also, if you have a 4th grader in your household, you can get a family pass to the national parks that is good for a year. Find out more about that benefit here.
What to Pack on Your Road Trips from Denver
- Water!! Whether you use a hydration backpack or carry bottled water, make sure to pack plenty of water when outdoors!
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- Hiking shoes/boots – Some of the hikes are on steep, slick rock, and people wearing regular tennis shoes struggled to keep their footing. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
- Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
- Water Shoes – Some hikes can be in rivers or you may want to take a dip in a swimming hole.
- Hiking Poles – Hiking poles are nice especially when hiking difficult trails.
- Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks and sandwich stuff cool in this cooler.
- Packing Cubes – Keep your stuff organized in your luggage with these packing cubes.
- Heavy Jacket – In cold months, you will need to keep yourself warm with these men’s and women’s coats.
- Light Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.
- Rain Jacket – Rain can happen on any vacation, so be prepared with these men’s and women’s rain jackets.
- Waterproof Pants – Whether you are skiing or caught in a rainstorm, these men’s and women’s waterproof pants will keep you dry.
- Printed Maps/Directions – Cell service is spotty, so I recommend you print maps/directions or download offline maps to all hiking trails and parks you plan to visit.
1. Moab, UT via I-70
- Best Time of Year to Visit – May to October. Parts of the road may close during winter months.
- Entrance Fee – $30 per vehicle for Arches and $30 per vehicle for Canyonlands. Arches requires a timed entry reservation if visiting between April 1 and October 31.
- Itinerary Summary
- Day 1: Idaho Springs
- Days 2-3: Breckenridge
- Day 4: Moab
- Day 5: Arches National Park
- Day 6: Canyonlands National Park
- Day 7: Back to Denver
- For more information to help you plan your road trips from Denver, visit:
Start your road trips from Denver with a trip across Colorado to Moab, Utah. Stop at Idaho Springs first by touring Argo Mill and pan for gold. Next, spend a couple days in Breckenridge. Walk around this cute mountain town, whitewater raft down one of the many rivers in the area, and hike one of the many trails in the area. Take the long trek to Moab where you can spend the next couple days exploring Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
2. Estes Park to Winter Park via Trail Ridge Road
- Best Time of Year to Visit – Typically Memorial Day to Fall. Trail Ridge Road is only opened seasonally. Opening and closing dates depend on snowfall each year.
- Entrance Fee – $35 per vehicle for Rocky Mountain National Park; Rocky Mountain NP requires a timed entry reservation.
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-3: Estes Park
- Day 4: Winter Park via Trail Ridge Road
- Day 5: Idaho Springs
- Days 6: Golden
- Day 7: Denver
- For more information to help you plan your road trips from Denver, visit:
Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. The town itself is super cute, but the real highlight is one of the most visited national parks in the USA. Spend 3 days hiking and discovering the alpine landscapes and native wildlife that roam the Colorado Rockies. Drive Trail Ridge Road from Estes Park to Winter Park which gets up to 12,183 feet in elevation. Once you get to Winter Park, you can participate in the summer activities such as alpine sledding, ropes courses, mini golf, mountain biking, and more. On the way back to Denver, make stops at Idaho Springs and Golden.
3. Colorado Springs, Canon City, and Great Sand Dunes
- Best Time of Year to Visit – April to early June and September to October
- Entrance Fee – $25 per vehicle for Great Sand Dunes
- Itinerary Summary
- Days 1-3: Colorado Springs
- Day 4: Royal Gorge
- Day 5: Bishop Castle
- Day 6: Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Day 7: Back to Denver
- For more information to help you plan your road trips from Denver, visit:
Most of the other road trips from Denver require summer visits, but this itinerary can be done at other times of the year. The best times are in the spring and fall when weather is cooler and crowds are fewer. Spend the first 3 days in Colorado Springs discovering local sights such as Garden of the Gods, The Broadmoor Seven Falls, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Pikes Peak, and the Air Force Academy. Next, spend a day at Royal Gorge and another day at Bishop Castle. The last day before driving back to Denver can be spent trudging the sand dunes and sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Telluride, Ouray, and Durango
- Best Time of Year to Visit – mid-April to mid-November
- Entrance Fee – $20 (Nov-Apr) and $30 (May-Oct) per vehicle for Mesa Verde and $30 per vehicle for Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Itinerary Summary
- Day 1: Drive to Montrose
- Day 2: Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Day 3: Telluride
- Day 4: Ouray
- Day 5: Silverton Million Dollar Highway to Durango
- Day 6: Durango or Mesa Verde National Park
- Day 7: Pagosa Springs to Denver
- For more information to help you plan your road trips from Denver, visit:
The first day of this road trips from Denver will mostly be the more than 5-hour drive to Montrose, Colorado. Spend a day exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison by driving the rim and making the scenic stops along the way. The next two days will be spent in the quaint and beautiful towns of Telluride and Ouray. If you have a 4×4 and are up for an adventure, you could take Imogene Pass between Telluride and Ouray. Next, take the scenic Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Durango. Day 6 can be spent hanging around Durango, or you can go to Mesa Verde National Park to witness the ancient cliffside dwellings. On the way back to Denver, stop at Pagosa Springs to soak in the natural hot springs located right in town.
5. Ski Resort Road Trip
- Best Time of Year to Visit – Mid-November to April
- Itinerary Summary:
- Day 1: Winterpark
- Day 2: Keystone
- Day 3: Breckenridge
- Day 4: Vail
- Day 5: Aspen
- Day 6: Aspen
- Day 7: Back to Denver
- For more information to help you plan your road trips from Denver, visit:
All the other road trips from Denver mentioned in this blog are geared towards warmer vacations. However, Colorado is known globally for its epic ski resorts. If you want to spend a week skiing or snowboarding the best of Colorado, follow this itinerary to get a taste of many resorts. If you want to slow things down, pick one or two of these locations and spend a week at a more relaxing pace. Even though I refer to this itinerary as the Ski Resort Road Trip, you can experience this trip during warmer months and participate in summer activities instead.
Colorado is such a large state with so many sights to see. I am sure there are many more weeklong road trips from Denver that would be amazing, and I look forward to discovering even more than the ones I listed above.
