NorahColorado is, simply put, one of the most beautiful areas in the whole world. It is also incredibly diverse, and nothing quite captures the diversity like the four national parks in Colorado. These parks span many of the different regions in the state, and include spectacular scenery and a wide array of experience. I have spent extensive time in Colorado, and in this guide I will be including my full itinerary for an epic Colorado national parks road trip.
When is the best time to do this road trip?
Colorado is definitely a year round destination, but what you can do depends on the seasons. This itinerary is definitely geared towards more summer hiking, as hiking is one of the main activities in the national parks. In fact, many of these areas actually shut down partly or fully in the summer.
If summer does not appeal to you, this road trip can also be completed in the fall or spring, but expect slightly colder temperatures and a bit more snow.
How long does a Colorado road trip take?
You can blitz through all the parks in around 4-5 days, but this would be incredibly exhausting and difficult. Plus, you might miss some of the best activities! You could spend upwards of two weeks exploring the national parks and all they offer, but I recommend about 10-12 days to explore the parks and leisurely drive between destinations.
Note: This itinerary only includes national parks, but there are so many spectacular places to see in Colorado that are not the parks. I would recommend Colorado Springs or the Durango area.
Stop 1: Start in Denver and drive to Rocky Mountain National Park.
You will begin your trip in one of the most stunning parks-Rocky Mountain. I have been to almost 40 national parks, and Rocky Mountain is my second favorite of all time! With stunning mountain vistas, insane hikes, and really accessible views, this park is sure to be a highlight of your Colorado road trip.
Rocky Mountain is a good park to spend some extra time in because it is the only park on this list that has a true mountain vibe to it. You are at very high elevation and really feel immersed in the alpine tundra.
Things to Do
My number one recommendation in Rocky Mountain National Park is to drive Trail Ridge Road. It is my favorite road in the national park system, and jaw dropping beautiful. The road meanders up and up through the tundra, until you reach the visitor center (the highest elevation visitor center in the whole national parks system!).
The views on Trail Ridge Road are just out of this world. It is truly one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen in my life, and leaves me completely speechless every time I visit.
There are several small trails that branch off from the Trail Ridge Road if you want to further immerse yourself in the scenery. I would recommend the Ute Trail or the Tundra Communities Trail.
I recommend spending at least two days in Rocky Mountain National Park. The first day, you can drive the Trail Ridge Road and potentially do some side hikes. The second day, I recommend doing a more immersive hike that allows you to fully experience the beauty of the Rockies! Sky Pond is a favorite, but if you want a quieter experience I highly recommend Timber Lake. If 11 mile hikes are not your thing, Emerald Lake is another awesome choice.
Where to Stay
There are several different campgrounds in Rocky Mountain, and I have stayed at almost all of them! The Moraine Park campground is fantastic, and the Timber Creek campground is fantastic if you want a quiet option.
There are also several different towns to stay in, with the most popular being Estes Park. This is a full fledged town, and offers plenty of resources. I highly recommend Notch Top-this was one of the best meals of my life and the vegetarian options are spectacular.
Stop 2: Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Great Sand Dunes, home to the largest dunes in North America, is genuinely one of the weirdest places I have ever been. The dunes are set against the backdrop of the stunning Sangre de Christo mountain range, the dunes cover approximately 30 miles and are just spectacular.
Things to Do
This is a very kid friendly park, and one of the best things to do is rent a sled and slide down the dunes. You can also climb them, which is a deceptively hard workout.
Great Sand Dunes is a pretty extreme place; the wind can be brutal, and when we were there in late June the mosquitoes were the worst I have experienced in my entire life.
There is a cool off road trail at Great Sand Dunes, but if that does not sound appealing I would honestly only recommend one day in the park. One day should be plenty of time to see the dunes, explore them a bit, and stop by the visitor center.
Where to Stay
There is only one campground at Great Sand Dunes-the Pinon Flats campground. There are very few towns around, but there is the Great Sand Dunes Lodge located close to the park entrance.
Stop 3: Mesa Verde National Park.
Your road trip continues westward, taking you almost to the Utah border. Mesa Verde is a very special place, and I recommend spending two days in the park to fully take in the experience.
Things to Do
Mesa Verde is an interesting place-you enter the park at one end, and drive around an hour to the famous cliff dwellings. There are SO many-far more than can even be processed. I definitely recommend seeing Cliff Palace, as well as Balcony House.
Note: For any cliff dwelling tours, make sure you book your tour reservation far in advance. Tickets usually sell out instantly.
Places to Stay
The Morefield campground is located close to the entrance of the park, and offers wonderful ranger programs and complete facilities (including showers!). However, this campground is around 45 minutes from many of the main attractions in the park. The Far View Lodge is another excellent choice for lodging in the park, and is slightly closer to the cliff dwellings.
Stop 4: Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Your last stop on this Colorado national road trip is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This park is stunning, and offers some serious hiking adventures. The canyon does not photograph well, and it is insanely jaw dropping in real life.
Things to Do
My number one recommendation in Black Canyon of the Gunnison is hiking into the canyon. There are multiple ways to get into the canyon and I wrote a whole blog most about my experience with the Gunnison Route.
If insanely difficult hiking is not your thing, there is a beautiful scenic drive along the rim of the canyon. This drive has several different smaller hikes that you can complete to see the canyon from multiple different viewpoints.
Places to Stay
There is only one campground on the southern side of the park, and one campground on the northern side. These campsites are pretty primitive, and do not have running water.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is close to the town of Montrose, which has plenty of lodging options and restaurant choices.
From Black Canyon, you will make your way back to Denver. While not a national park, Colorado National Monument is another excellent stop with otherworldly like scenery.
Once at Denver, your Colorado National Parks road trip is officially over. Happy adventures!
