Easy Weekend Road Trip From Denver
Colorado is vast, with so much to see and do, which can make planning a trip rather difficult. Even as a resident, I too get overwhelmed planning weekend getaways and road trips within the state because it feels like my options are unlimited. If you’re visiting Colorado for a few days and don’t know where to start, I’d recommend taking this road trip if you’re wanting to get a taste of Colorado. If you follow this route, you’ll get a little bit of everything - mountain towns, wilderness, and adventure.
Denver
Larimer Square
Denver has literally everything - great food, entertainment, beautiful parks, and frequent events. Whatever your interest is, Denver is sure to have it. Popular tourist destinations in Denver include the Denver Art Museum, Coors Field, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo, and Larimer Square. My favorite part of Denver is RiNo, Denver’s art district with hipster breweries, trendy restaurants, and vibrant spaces.
Check out denver.org to start planning your visit in the mile high city.
Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods
Next up is Colorado Springs, a smaller city south of Denver, most known for attractions like Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. Similar to Denver, Colorado Springs offers a wide array of dining options and outdoor activities. If you’re driving through Colorado Springs, I’d recommend going to Garden of the Gods - a free park known for it’s red, towering rock formations that contrast the snowcapped mountains in the distance.
Our last visit to Garden of the Gods included a professionally guided rock climbing tour. It was incredible experiencing the beautify park from a birds eye view. If you’re wondering how you can have your own rock climbing adventure, click here.
Pueblo
As you leave Colorado Springs and continue further south, you’ll reach Pueblo. I didn’t get a chance to explore much, since this is just where we decided to spend the night and hit the road early next morning.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park
This stop you can’t miss. Colorado is covered with unique landscapes and terrain but this, by far, surpasses all of them. The Great Sand Dunes National Park feels like the Sahara Desert and is home to the tallest dunes in North America. We had such a blast visiting this park, even though it was super windy. Exploring the dunes felt like playing in a giant sandbox.
I can’t wait to visit this park again and camp overnight to experience the dark sky park and go sandboarding. Learn more on their website to plan your own visit.
There’s a few unique attractions on the way out of the park that are worth checking out. First is Colorado Gators Reptile Park, a reptile rescue and education center. The other just up the road is the UFO Watchtower, a quirky, alien-themed roadside attraction.
Salida
Salida is a tiny mountain town in the heart of Rocky Mountains. You’d probably drive right past it if you weren’t looking for it. Despite it’s seclusion, it has a bustling main street with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from, along with a popular park right in the center of town. I would definitely recommend eating at the Boathouse Cantina, right along the river with spectacular outdoor seating.
Golden
Last, but not least, Golden, Colorado - where the west lives. I absolutely love this little town and there’s so much to do any time of the year, but summer is by far the best. One of Golden’s main attractions that draws thousands of visitors each year is the river float down Clear Creek. Here’s everything you need to know about tubing Clear Creek if you’re interested.
There’s no shortage of things to do or places to eat. Some of my favorite restaurants are Bonfire Burritos, Cafe 13, Thai Gold, Buffalo Rose, and Capital Grill. Looking for an easy hike? Golden has those too! Check out this list of 10 easy hikes in Golden.
Hope you enjoy this Colorado road trip as much as I did!
