Craving mountain majesty and looking for the best hikes to experience it all? We’re here to help! To help you explore every corner of the Centennial State, we’ve crafted a dynamite 1 week Colorado itinerary.
Get ready for 7 days of jaw-dropping vistas, charming mountain towns, and adventures that will make your heart sing (and your legs wobble). So, lace up your hiking boots, grab your pack, and let’s hit the hiking trails as we dive into Colorado’s wild side!
7-Day Colorado Road Trip
What will I see with this 1 week Colorado itinerary?
You can always deviate from the path if there’s a place you’ve already been or a location you’re just dying to see that isn’t listed! Luckily, this 1 week Colorado Itinerary includes a little bit of everything.
- All four of Colorado’s incredible National Parks
- America’s only mountain-top amusement park
- Colorado National Monument
- Ancestral Puebloan dwellings & artifacts
- North America’s tallest sand dune
- A Colorado 14er you can drive up
- The mile high city, Colorado’s capital
1 Week Colorado Itinerary
A 1 week Colorado Rocky Mountain adventure awaits! We’re exploring National Parks, taking scenic drives, and leaving just enough time for you to experience a little bit of everything that makes Colorado such a beautiful place.
You might not feel like one week is much time. I can assure you that it is plenty of time to visit each of Colorado’s National Parks and a few incredible places in-between! A road trip is a great way to explore Colorado so let’s get started.
Day 1: Rocky Mountain National Park
Let’s explore a Colorado staple, Rocky Mountain National Park. What an incredible spot for your first day of a 1 week trip to Colorado. This is a great place to experience the Rocky Mountains with a short hike, scenic drive, and through wildlife viewing.
It’s important to note that traveling to Rocky Mountain National Park between May and October requires a timed entry permit. The Bear Lake Corridor requires its own timed entry permit. You can bypass the need for a timed entry permit by booking camping inside the park and/or arriving before or after the designated time slot.
Let’s explore the East side of Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Hike to Sky Pond and Lake Haiyaha via the Bear Lake Trailhead. Explore the 10-mile loop to hit a number of iconic alpine lakes including a detour down the Emerald Lake Trail for even more beauty.
- Check out the Holzwarth Historic Site to learn what life would have been like as a homesteader and rancher in the 1920s.
- Hike the 6-mile Deer Mountain Trail for incredible views of the Front Range.
Best places to stay to experience the East side of Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Longs Peak Campground
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of four National Parks in Colorado. It’s exceptional in summer and early fall. Trailheads for some of the most popular hikes will fill quickly during those times. Arrive early in an attempt to miss the crowds!
Day 2: Rocky Mountain National Park
Another beautiful day spent in Rocky Mountain National Park! Drive up and over to the West side of the park via Trail Ridge Road or Old Fall River Road if your vehicle size allows.
This area of the park is known for being a wildlife hot spot. The Kawuneeche Valley is truly a wildlife paradise in the park, allowing you to see many different animals. The most common animals are elk and mule deer grazing in the meadows, but you can also see moose, coyotes, and black bears
Best things to do on the West Side of the park:
- Drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in North America, to the highest National Park Visitor Center in the United States.
- Hike part of the Ute Trail from the visitor center parking lot for incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and the chance to see some marmots. .
- Hang out at Poudre Lake at dusk for wildlife sighting opportunities.
Best Places to stay to experience the West side of Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Grand Lake, Colorado
- Timber Creek Campground
Experiencing wildlife in its natural habitat is a treat! Please make sure you do not approach or feed any animal. This includes even the littles critters .
It is best to stay 100 yards (91 m) from black bears and coyotes and 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals. If your presence has caused an animal to change its behavior, you are too close. Wild animals are incredible to view from a distance.
Day 3: Glenwood Springs & Colorado National Monument
Drive the iconic I-70 from Rocky Mountain National Park to Glenwood Springs. The near three hour long drive from Rocky Mountain National Park through Glenwood Canyon is awe-inspiring and full of traffic jams – check traffic flow to ensure a good trip! If the conditions aren’t great, look for alternative routes.
Spend the morning in Glenwood Springs. Known for its hot springs, Glenwood Springs is a popular resort city. Choose what seems like the most fun to you!
Best things to do in Glenwood Springs:
- Visit Iron Mountain Hot Springs for mineral hot spring pools overlooking the Colorado River.
- Check our Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park for mountain-top roller coasters and thrill rides and cave tours.
- Hike 3.1 miles and 1,187 Feet to picturesque Hanging Lake.
Follow I-70 toward Grand Junction on to Colorado National Monument in the afternoon.
Best things to do in Colorado National Monument:
- Mountain biking at the Lunch Loops Trails in Grand Junction.
- Drive scenic Rim Rock Drive, stopping at all the overlooks for unique views of the red rock canyons below.
- Hike the 4.5 mile Monument Canyon Loop Trail at sunset for incredible views and the opportunity to see bighorn sheep.
Best Places to Stay near Colorado National Monument:
- Grand Junction, Colorado
- Saddlehorn Campground
Enjoy this busy day full of driving and adventures! It might feel overwhelming to do so much in a travel day, but it helps you to really experience every corner of Colorado.
If you’re just not feeling the jam-packed schedule, plan to stop and stay at only one of these locations on day 3. If you have an extra day, split this into two days so you can really enjoy both locations in full.
Day 4: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
A quick one hour and forty five minutes drive South on US-50 towards Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
We’re going to hang out on the southern rim of the Canyon. Black Canyon of the Gunnison has such incredible rock formations and the best overlooks to view them. Deep, steep, and narrow, Black Canyon’s sheer rock walls are as close as 1,100 feet apart at the rim.
Best Things to do on the South Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison:
- Fish the Gunnison River from the historic East Portal near the dam.
- Get a permit for the Gunnison Route and climb/hike your way down to the Gunnison River from the Visitor Center.
- Drive scenic South Rim Road and stop at incredible overlooks including Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall and Sunset View.
Best Places to Stay Near Black Canyon:
- Montrose, Colorado
- South Rim Campground
Known for its incredible overlooks, exploring South Rim Road around sunset is a must. This National Park is one of the least busy parks in Colorado helping make the experience one of my favorite places from our Colorado road trip itinerary.
If you have an extra day, check out the North Rim for a different perspective. Hike Exclamation Point and Green Mountain for incredible views!
Day 5: Mesa Verde National Park
Enjoy your three hour long drive down to Mesa Verde National Park through some of the most beautiful mountain towns Colorado has to offer. Drive through
Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan National forest past countless 14,000-foot peaks
Mesa Verde National Park was a location I wasn’t that excited about… I learned quickly that it is definitely a place worth visiting. Don’t count this UNESCO World Heritage Site out – it’s full of beautiful views, education, and adventure.
Best Things to do in Mesa Verde:
- Book a Cliff Dwelling Tour! There are a handful to choose form; we chose the Long House Tour which was ranger-guided and full of amazing information.
- Hike the Petroglyph Point Trail for beautiful views of Spruce and Navajo Canyon and a large petroglyph panel.
- Check out the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum for exhibits and galleries of Ancestral Pueblo cultural objects
Best places to stay near Mesa Verde:
- Cortez, Colorado
- Morefield Campground
Learning about the Ancestral Pueblo here in Mesa Verde is incredible. To experience the elaborate stone communities they built in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls and lived in for more than 700 years brings new meaning to resiliency.
If you’re going to Wetherill Mesa and you’re traveling with bikes, get excited! You can ride the paths around this area on your bike. This makes it easy to experience this whole area in a short amount of time.
Day 6: Great Sand Dunes National Park
Unfortunately, the three hour and 45 minute drive from Mesa Verde to Great Sand Dunes National Park is a long and boring one. The views you’ll be met with once you’ve reached your destination, however are not boring in the slightest.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America.
Best things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park:
- Stick around for the night sky, Great Sand Dunes is the perfect place to stargaze! Great Sand Dunes is a Dark Sky Park.
- Sandboarding and sand sledding on the dunes. Learn more about how this works and where to rent form.
- Hike the tallest dune in North America, the 750 foot Star Dune.
Best Places to Stay Near Great Sand Dunes:
- Mosca, Colorado
- Piñon Flats Campground
Visiting Sand Dunes is a mind altering experience. I wasn’t sure I’d be impressed and I was very wrong – the layers of dunes and mountains are a unique kind of natural beauty.
I’d like to share that about a 15 minute drive from the entrance of the park is Zapata Falls Campground. This area has an absolutely incredible birds eye view of the park. It’s also the parking area for the Zapata Falls trail which I highly recommend.
Day 7: Denver
The final stop on our 1 week Colorado Itinerary requires a three and a half hour drive back to our starting point, but not without a pitstop! Before we return to the Mile High City, let’s stop in Colorado Springs.
- Take a stroll through Garden of the Gods to experience incredible geological and ecological rarities in a variety of red rocks formations.
- Drive the 19-mile scenic highway up the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak to the summit’s various viewing areas.
- Explore what Manitou Springs has to offer. Cave of the Winds Mountain Park and Manitou Incline are popular attractions in the area.
Whether you arrived via Denver International Airport and snagged a rental car or drove into Denver to start your trip, spending time in the largest city in Colorado is a must. While you’re in town, you might as well do something fun.
- Check out the Denver Art Museum! If you’re looking for something more interactive, check out Meow Wolf Denver.
- Denver Botanic Gardens are a green sanctuary in the middle of the city. Check to see if there’s an event while you’re in town!
- Visit the 1.25 mile long 16th Street Mall to do some shopping, grab a bite to eat, and sip a cocktail.
Places to stay in Denver:
1 Week Colorado Itinerary: Road Trippin Style!
This 1 week Colorado road trip allows explorers to dip their toes into each of the state’s unique landscapes.
Explore each of Colorado’s four National Parks, check out America’s only mountain-top amusement park, and spend time in the mile-high city on this epic road trip.
Over 90 million tourists visit Colorado annually. Known to boast beauty and adventure all four seasons of the year, is makes sense that adventure enthusiasts flock to this state.
Don’t let those numbers intimidate you. Plan a successful Colorado road trip by booking your accommodations and tours early! Do your research for the time of year you are visiting to know what routes you’ll need to travel and what gear you’ll need to bring. You will have an incredible time in this state if you plan your 1 week Colorado itinerary properly!
Have more time to spend in Colorado?? Want to also check out Utah’s National Parks? Check out our 10-day Colorado and Utah National Parks Road Trip!
WanderwithKT’s
Colorado Natl’ Parks Road Trip Gear Recs.
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RMNP Map
Bear Spray
Sun Shirt
Annual Park Pass
Hitting the Road in Colorado: Your Mile-High FAQs Answered
Colorado, with its majestic mountains, vibrant cities, and diverse landscapes, is a prime destination for a road trip adventure. Buckle up and get ready to shift gears with these answers to your most burning road trip questions:
1. Best time to road trip Colorado?
Spring (May-June) and fall (September-October) offer pleasant temperatures and stunning scenery. Summer (July-August) boasts sunshine and wildflowers, but expect crowds and potentially higher prices. Winter (December-February) transforms the landscape into a snowy wonderland, but some mountain roads close.
2. How many national parks can I hit in one trip?
Colorado boasts Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, and Mesa Verde National Park, all within a few hours driving distance. We know we have an ambitious route here, but this one week Colorado Itinerary allows you to experience them all! Look into the annual America the Beautiful parks pass for $80.
3. Do I need special gear for a Colorado road trip?
Not necessarily, but packing for diverse weather is key. Even in summer, evenings can get chilly in the mountains. Consider sunglasses, sunscreen, multiple layers of clothing, and comfortable hiking shoes with grippy soles.
If you plan on camping, be sure to bring your camping gear or rent a campervan when you arrive for a home on wheels for your road trip.
4. Can I navigate the mountain roads easily?
Most major highways in Colorado are well-maintained, but mountain roads can be windy and have steeper inclines. Download offline maps in case cell service gets spotty, and don’t be afraid to take your time and enjoy the scenic drives.
If you’re completing your road trip in the winter months it’s important to look into your driving route ahead of time. Many mountain passes are closed through late May. Plan accordingly!
5. Are there tolls on Colorado roads?
Colorado has a limited number of toll roads, primarily around Denver and some mountain passes. Research your route beforehand to factor in potential toll costs. Most toll roads accept cash or electronic payment.
6. What are some hidden gems to explore on my road trip?
Colorado offers more than just national parks. If you’re looking to stray from the itinerary, explore charming historic towns like Breckenridge or Salida. Take a detour to check out America’s highest elevation city, Leadville.
7. Where can I find the best views in Colorado?
For panoramic vistas, consider scenic drives like Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park or Independence Pass near Aspen. Hike to the top of a peak like Mount Evans or Pikes Peak (both require permits during peak season) for truly breathtaking views.
8. Is wildlife a common sight on Colorado roads?
Yes, keep your eyes peeled for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and even the occasional moose! Remember, these are wild animals – give them plenty of space and avoid approaching them.
9. What’s the craft beer scene like in Colorado?
Colorado boasts a thriving craft beer scene, with breweries scattered throughout the state. Sample local brews in Denver, Fort Collins, or explore breweries nestled in mountain towns. Remember to drink responsibly and designate a driver.
10. Where Should I fly into for my Colorado Road Trip?
Where you want to fly into depends on where you want to start your road trip from. Our 1 week Colorado itinerary can be started anywhere as it is a loop! Although we recommend starting in Denver, there are other options
- Denver International (DEN): Start on Day 1 of our Colorado Itinerary
- Durango / La Playa County Airport (DRO): Start on Day 5 or 6 of the itinerary
- Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT): Start on Day 3 of of our Colorado Road Trip
- Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ): Start on Day 4 and travel in reverse!
- San Luis Valley Regional Airport (SBP): Start on Day 6 of our Colorado Itinerary
You can explore Colorado in so many different ways! Fly or drive into any of these areas and begin your 1 week Colorado Itinerary in a spaced wherever it works best for you.
Conclusion
Spending 7 days in Colorado, exploring incredible National Parks, monuments, amusement parks, and other natural spaces, isn’t enough! But it is long enough to get a taste of this incredible state.
Out 1 week Colorado Itinerary helps you spend time in each of the states most unique landscapes. Gain a true appreciation for the Rocky Mountains and everything they have to offer outdoor enthusiasts seeking natural beauty!