DAY 1

• Arrive at Denver International airport. and transfer to your hotel in Denver or Estes Park.

  • If driving time permits, we suggest a hotel just outside Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, CO.

  • Option for visitors arriving late evening: Westin Denver Int’l Airport Hotel is conveniently located at the air terminal.

• Overnight: Estes Park. We recommend The Stanley Hotel (expensive)

• Driving time:

  • Denver —> Estes Park, 1.5-2 hours.

  • Estes Park —> Rocky Mountain Park, East Entrance, 10 minutes.

• Colorado Travel Guide: Fodor’s and Moon Guide.

• Colorado Tourism website.

DAY 2

• Visit Rocky Mountain National Park - the park spans the Continental Divide and encompasses impressive mountains and alpine tundra.

• The park participates in a Timed Entry Permit System. <Read more>

  • Entry Reservation Tickets are available online at www.recreation.gov

  • Start early. Tour buses, RV’s, and other drivers usually pack the road around 10 or 11 a.m.

• Rocky Mountain Park is known for two (2) scenic drives which originate on the park's east side near Estes Park:

  1. Trail Ridge Road. <park map> The road is the main route through the park, reaching 12,000 feet high and giving access to amazing areas. You can enjoy the views from your car or stop to hike or walk on easy trails.

  2. Old Fall River Road. This is a one-way gravel road open from early July to early October. It is narrow, curved, and has no guard rails, but it is safe. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is not needed.

  —It takes about 2 hours (without stops) to drive through the National Park. (East to West.)

• Check out the suggested hikes.(▼) It's worth doing at least one hike. You can often see bighorn sheep.

  • Download the Alltrails app to your smartphone.

  • The Keyhole Route, is a climb crossing vertical rock faces, leads up Longs Peak(14,259 ft) the park’s tallest mountain. <Conditions> <This NOT a hike> It is an extrardinary experience for those who come well trained and prepared. <Video>

• <Things to do>

• Overnight: Grand Lakes, CO (west side of Park)

  • <Where to stay>

• Driving time to Rocky Mountain Park - East Entrance:

  • From Denver: 66 miles, 1.5–2 hours.
    —Take I-25 north to Exit 217 (US Hwy 36) to Estes Park.

  • From Estes Park —> 10 minutes.

DAY 3

• Embark on a enjoyable drive to Moab, Utah—the gateway to huge red rock formations in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, with flat-topped hills and cliffs shaped by the Green and Colorado rivers.

• When you arrive, unwind and enjoy Moab's friendly small-town vibe. The town has many restaurants, microbreweries, shops, and art galleries. <Read more>

• Moab is a big part of mountain biking history and continues to be one of the most popular destinations.

  • A networks of well-maintained and mapped trails are everywhere. <Guided mountain bike tours>

• Overnight: Moab, Utah (3 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Grand Lake —> Moab, 6 hrs / 320 miles

DAY 4 and 5

• Explore Arches National Park. The park is known for more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches.

• The Park participates in Time Entry reservation.

  • The park highlight is the Delicate Arch hike.

    • The trail is 3 mi. (4.8 km) RT. Duration: one (1) hour each way.

    • ➡️ <Learn more>

    • 📍Get directions.

  • ⚠️ During the summer, expect high temperatures and intense sunlight. It is imperative to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

  • Best time to visit is at sunset.

    • Sunset provides warm, dramatic lighting.

    • Bring flashlight or head lamp.

• Other top attractions at Arches National Park.

  • Go on one or more hiking trails. <Trail info>

  • Download the Alltrails app.

  • ➡️ Visitor Guide and park map - useful practical information.

• Photographers-best time for pictures:

  • Early morning: Delicate Arch Viewpoint, Landscape Arch, Turret Arch, Double Arch.

  • Late afternoon: Delicate Arch, The Windows, Park Avenue, Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.

• Continue to amaze yourself at Dead Horse Point Park.

  • See the famous view at Dead Horse Point Overlook Trail, just 200 feet from the parking lot. A short paved path from the parking area leads to amazing views of the Colorado River and the canyon, about 2,000 feet below.

  • Read more about the Park’s trail system.

• If your ambitious and time permits, make a additional stop at Canyonlands National Park. <map> Extra day recommended.

  • If you only have one-half (1/2) day to spend in Canyonlands National Park we suggest the Island in the Sky District.

    • The Sky District is best seen by car and has great views. The 34-mile round-trip drive offers amazing overlooks, about 1,000 feet above the valleys.

    • To get to Island in the Sky Visitor Center, drive north on US 191 from Moab, then turn onto UT 313 and drive 22 miles. It takes about 45 minutes from Moab.

• Overnight: Moab

• Driving time:

  • Arches Visitor Center —> Dead Horse Point Park, 45 minutes.

  • Dead Horse Point Park —> Island in the Sky Visitor Center, 20 minutes.

  • Dead Horse Point Park —> Moab, 45 minutes.

DAY 6

• Embark to Mesa Verde National Park.

  • The park is famous for its old Pueblo buildings and cliff homes. The Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum shows displays about the ancient Native American culture.

  • The park's highlight is Cliff Palace — impressive dwellings in the Southwest, with a dramatic setting & preserved ruins.

  • Ranger-led tours, which run often during the busy summer season, let you climb ladders straight into the main part of the home.

• Continue later in the day to Durango, CO.

• Overnight: Durango (2 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Moab —> Mesa Verde Park, 3 hrs.

  • Mesa Verde Park —> Durango, 1.5 hrs.

DAY 7

• Discover Durango, CO.

  • Durango is a small town in southwestern Colorado, famous for big mountains, great skiing, and a historic narrow gauge railroad. It also has many hiking and mountain biking trails nearby.

  • Main Avenue is a Nationally Registered Historic District and home to galleries, boutiques, restaurants and bars. Two notable and historic hotels, The General Palmer and The Strater, lie at the south end of the avenue, near the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot.

  • With its variety of historic architecture, entertainment, and shopping, Main Avenue is the center of Durango and is a popular year-round visitor destination.

  • <Downtown map> <video>

• The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gage Railway is one of the town's main tourist attractions.

  • This historic train runs day trips from Durango to the old mining town of Silverton, high in the mountains. Situated at 9,300 feet and surrounded by mountains, Silverton has one main street with shops and restaurants. 

  • Note: It is a full-day excursion from Durango and would require an extra day added to this itinerary.

• In winter, Durango is a ski town thanks to Purgatory Ski Resort, only 15 minutes away. It draws skiers from across the Southwest.

  • Telluride which some say is the best overall ski resort in the US is two (2) hours from Durango. Many skiers base themselves in Durango which has much more reasonably priced hotels than high-end Telluride.

• Overnight: Durango

❗DIVERSION: If you choose to stay an extra day in the Durango area:

• You can extend the above itinerary by navigating the entire San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway.

  • The Skyway is a full-day, 236-mile loop starting in Durango, best in good weather. It passes Silverton, the scenic Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, then Placerville, Telluride, Dolores, Mancos, and returns to Durango.  <Video>

• ⚠️ However if you have limited time and are traveling north in one direction, start in Durango, go to Silverton via the Million Dollar Highway, then to Ouray, and continue north as described below (Day 8 & 9).

DAY 8 and 9

• Depart Durango.

• One of the most stunning mountain drives in Colorado which stretches from Durango to the town of Ouray, is the spectacular Million Dollar Highway. This 46-mile, two-lane road runs along steep mountains and offers great views of cliffs, valleys, and mountain tops.

• Continue to Black Gunnison National Park and to Crested Butte.

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs and craggiest spires in North America.

  • The South Rim Drive has 12 overlooks. <Route> Easily accessible by a short trail. Allow 2-3 hours to view several overlooks. Those with limited time should consider only Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall & Sunset View.

• Next stop is Crested Butte.

  • In the summer and fall, Crested Butte is the place to enjoy all of Colorado’s outdoor activities: epic mountain biking, hiking in alpine and aspen forests, fishing in rivers, lakes, and whitewater rafting and kayaking.

  • Sunny weather and fewer crowds make late August through early October a great time to visit the Gunnison Valley.

  • ➡️Things to do in Crested Butte.

• Overnight: Crested Butte, (2 nights)

• Driving time:

  • Durango —> Black Gunnison N.P. 3 hrs.

  • Black Gunnison —> Crested Butte, 2 hrs.

DAY 10

• Depart Crested Butte for Denver.

• En route stop in the town of Buena Vista, considered by many to be the capital of whitewater rafting for the United States.

  • Enjoy a horseback trail ride.

• Overnight: Denver (2 nights), see below on hotel and transport guidance.

• Driving time:

  • Crested Butte —> Buena Vista, 2 hrs.

  • Buena Vista —> Denver, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 11

• Explore Denver.

  • The Mile High City blends city life with outdoor fun. Denver is famous for its art, culture, food, music, and sports. It’s also the gateway to ski resorts in the nearby Rocky Mountains.

• Visit Denver's 16th street mall, a one-mile pedestrian walkway in downtown. Enjoy outdoor cafes, nightlife, and shops!

• Other great attractions (especially with kids):

  • Get the Denver Citypass and Save up to 38% on combined admission prices.

    • Denver Art Museum

    • Denver Botanic Gardens

    • Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    • Denver Zoo

    • Downtown Aquarium

• Contingent upon the season, catch a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field or a Bronco’s NFL game at Mile High Stadium.

• Check out the great microbreweries in town. <Learn More> <map & routes>

• Transportation and hotel stay tips while in Denver:

  • How to get from/to downtown Denver and the airport if you do not have a rental car:

    • You can take an Uber. The trip takes approx. 55 min. (24 miles)

    • Use the Airport Rail:

      —It's easy to get from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport (DEN) and vica versa.

      —Travelers can take the airport rail from/to Denver Union Station. It takes only 37 minutes. 

      • The A Line (aka the University of Colorado A Line) serves 8 total stations along a 23-mile stretch, including Denver’s Union Station and the 38th & Blake station that accesses vibrant River North Art District (RiNo). The colorful murals are your clue that you are approaching RiNo.

    • Hotels near Union Station <list>

    • Hotels near 38th & Blake station that accesses Denver’s vibrant River North Art District (RiNo). <list>

• DAY 12

  • Depart for your journey home.

• Historical Weather data for Durango, Colorado-click here.

• Historical Weather data for Moab, Utah-click here.

• The coldest and snowiest months are November through April.

• The warmest months are May through September.

• Dry periods occur in January, February, April, June, July and November.

• Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in July and August.

• Best months to visit May, June, September and early October.

• Best time: Fall foliage map.

• Sunrise/Sunset time.