Colorado What To Do›Road Trip Itinerary
The 10-Day Colorado Road Trip
One loop from Denver through three national parks, the San Juan Mountains and one of the highest paved passes in the state, with realistic driving days.
What is the best Colorado road trip?
A classic Colorado road trip is a loop from Denver south to Colorado Springs and the Great Sand Dunes, west through the San Juan Mountains to Mesa Verde, Durango, Silverton and Ouray, north past the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs, and back over Independence Pass and through Leadville to Denver. It takes about ten days without rushing and is best from late June to early October.
This loop is built for the way Colorado actually drives: two-lane mountain highways, high passes and long distances between the places you most want to see.
It covers the southern half of the state because that is where the biggest variety is. You will see red rock, the tallest dunes in North America, Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings, the San Juans, a 2,000-foot canyon and a 12,000-foot pass. Driving days are kept to roughly four hours or less where possible, so there is time to stop.
When to go. Late June through early October, when Independence Pass and the high roads are open. Mid-September adds aspen color and thinner crowds. Outside that window, swap Independence Pass for Interstate 70 on the last day.
Before you leave. Book Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tour tickets as soon as they open 14 days ahead, reserve your lodging in Ouray or Telluride early, and check whether your trip dates need a timed reservation for the Pikes Peak Highway.
Drive times below are approximate, in good conditions, without stops. Mountain weather, construction and road closures change them. Check COtrip.org each morning.
Days 1 to 3
Denver To The Dunes
Day 1: Denver to Colorado Springs (about 1 to 1.5 hours)
Leave Denver mid-morning and head south on I-25. Spend the afternoon at Garden of the Gods, which is free, and walk the paved loop among the red fins. End the day in Manitou Springs, tasting the mineral springs along the main street. Staying here your first night also helps you adjust to altitude at about 6,000 to 6,400 feet.
Day 2: Pikes Peak and Cañon City (about 1.5 hours of driving plus the peak)
Go up Pikes Peak early, by car on the highway or by the cog railway from Manitou. In the afternoon, drive southwest to Cañon City for the Royal Gorge Bridge or a half-day raft trip on the Arkansas River. Overnight in Cañon City, or push on to Westcliffe for a quieter night under dark skies.
Day 3: To the Great Sand Dunes (about 2.5 to 3 hours)
Drive into the San Luis Valley and reach Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve for the late afternoon, when the light is best and the sand is cooling. Climb toward the high ridges at sunset. If you are there in late May or June, look for Medano Creek flowing at the base of the dunes. Stay in Alamosa or near the park entrance, and step outside after dark for the stars.
Days 4 to 6
Over Wolf Creek To Mesa Verde And Durango
Day 4: Dunes to Durango via Wolf Creek Pass (about 4 hours)
Head west across the valley and over Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. 160, stopping at the overlook near the summit and for a soak in Pagosa Springs on the San Juan River. Continue to Durango for the evening on Main Avenue.
Day 5: Mesa Verde (about 1 hour each way)
Spend the day at Mesa Verde National Park. With a tour ticket, see Cliff Palace or Balcony House with a ranger; without one, drive the Mesa Top Loop for views of the cliff dwellings and visit the museum on Chapin Mesa. The road into the park is long and winding, so allow time. Return to Durango, or stay in Cortez.
Day 6: The train to Silverton
Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad up the Animas River gorge to Silverton. If you are driving on tomorrow, an easier plan is to drive to Silverton yourself, explore the old mining town, and stay the night there. Either way, Silverton sits at more than 9,000 feet; dress for a cool evening.
Days 7 and 8
The Million Dollar Highway And The Black Canyon
Day 7: Silverton to Ouray (about 1 hour)
Drive the Million Dollar Highway over Red Mountain Pass to Ouray. Take it slowly and use the pullouts; this is the most dramatic hour of the trip. In Ouray, walk into Box Canyon Falls, soak at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, or book a Jeep tour into the high basins. A side trip to Telluride, about an hour away via Ridgway, is an alternative for a second night.
Day 8: Black Canyon to Grand Junction (about 2.5 hours plus stops)
Head north to Montrose and spend the morning on the South Rim Road at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, stopping at the Painted Wall and Chasm View overlooks. Continue to Grand Junction and, if there is time, drive Rim Rock Drive through Colorado National Monument in the evening light.
Days 9 and 10
Palisade, Glenwood And Independence Pass
Day 9: Palisade and Glenwood Springs (about 1.5 hours)
Start in Palisade among the orchards and vineyards, or hike in Colorado National Monument early before the heat. Then drive east on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon to Glenwood Springs. Soak in the hot springs, walk the riverside path, or ride the gondola to the caverns. If you secured a permit, hike to Hanging Lake in the canyon.
Day 10: Aspen, Independence Pass and home (about 4 to 5 hours)
Drive up the Roaring Fork Valley to Aspen. If you have a reservation, ride the shuttle to the Maroon Bells at sunrise. Then climb Independence Pass to 12,095 feet, drop to Twin Lakes and Leadville, and return to Denver via I-70. Allow extra time for weekend traffic near the tunnel.
Making it yours
Variations
- Seven days: skip the Pikes Peak and Royal Gorge day, and drive from Denver straight to the Great Sand Dunes on day one (about four hours). Combine Ouray and the Black Canyon into one day.
- Two weeks: add two nights in Telluride, a day on the Alpine Loop with a guided Jeep tour, and a night in Buena Vista or Salida for rafting on the way home.
- With kids: cut the long driving days in half and lean on the dunes, the train and the hot springs. Our kids guide has more ideas.
- In winter: the southern loop works in winter with care, because the main highways stay open, but Independence Pass and the high Jeep roads are closed and Wolf Creek and Red Mountain passes need winter tires or chains. Return via I-70 instead.
Common questions
Road Trip Questions
How many days do you need for a Colorado road trip?
Ten days is a comfortable length for a loop through southern Colorado from Denver, covering the Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, the San Juan Mountains, the Black Canyon and Glenwood Springs. A week works if you skip a stop or two; two weeks lets you add Telluride, the Alpine Loop and the Arkansas Valley.
When is the best time for a Colorado road trip?
Late June through early October, when high passes such as Independence Pass and the mountain roads are open. September is especially good for aspen color and smaller crowds after Labor Day.
Is the Million Dollar Highway dangerous?
U.S. 550 between Silverton and Ouray is paved and maintained, but it has steep drop-offs, tight curves and few guardrails. Drive it in daylight and good weather, keep your speed down and use the pullouts. In winter it can close for avalanche control and is subject to chain laws.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Transportation: COtriproad conditions and closures
- National Park Service: Great Sand DunesMedano Creek and visiting
- National Park Service: Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tourstour tickets
- National Park Service: Black Canyon of the GunnisonSouth Rim Road
- National Park Service: Colorado National MonumentRim Rock Drive
- City of Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Highwaytimed reservations
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroadtrain schedules
- Visit Maroon Bellsshuttle reservations