16 days in Colorado Itinerary

Aptly nicknamed the "Mile-High City," Denver sits at an altitude of 1,600 m (5,280 ft) above sea level, located right where the Great Plains give way to the Rocky Mountains.

Attractions like River Rafting & Tubing and Denver Museum of Nature & Science make great kid-friendly stops. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Denver: Hidee Gold Mine (in Central City) and Summit Lake Park (in Idaho Springs). And it doesn't end there: take in nature's colorful creations at Denver Botanic Gardens, take in the awesome beauty at Mount Evans, learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Denver Zoo, and browse the different shops at 16th Street Mall.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, use the Denver trip app.

Washington DC to Denver is an approximately 6.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Traveling from Washington DC to Denver, you'll gain 2 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Washington DC in June, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Denver, with lows of 55°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Estes Park.

More than just a convenient resting place for travelers on their way to the national park encompassing the Front Range of the Rockies, Estes Park is a popular place to visit in its own right.

Start off your visit on the 28th (Mon): trot along with a tour on horseback, then indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas, and then see Off-Road Tours. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take a memorable tour with Tours, then cruise along Trail Ridge Road, and then explore the striking landscape of Many Parks Curve Overlook.

Plan my day in Estes Park using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.

Getting from Denver to Estes Park by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi. Expect a daytime high around 87°F in June, and nighttime lows around 54°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Tue) so you can drive to Colorado Springs.

Stunning Garden of the Gods Park scenery, blue skies and the glory of Pikes Peak-America’s Mountain have attracted visitors to Colorado Springs for more than a century.

Bring the kids along to River Rafting & Tubing and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Venture out of the city with trips to Skyline Drive (in Cañon City) and Victor's Gold Camp Ag & Mining Museum (in Victor). There's much more to do: walk around Garden of the Gods, stop by Commonwheel Artists Co-op, cruise along Pikes Peak - America's Mountain, and get in on the family fun at North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop.

For reviews, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, read our Colorado Springs itinerary planning site.

Traveling by car from Estes Park to Colorado Springs takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or fly. Expect a daytime high around 84°F in June, and nighttime lows around 54°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sat) to allow time to drive to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Kick off your visit on the 4th (Sun): take a memorable tour with Tours, then stroll around Buena Vista River Park, and then get interesting insight from Tours. Keep things going the next day: mingle with the ghosts of the past at South Park City Museum, then view the masterpieces at Sundance and Friends, and then take a memorable tour with Tours.

To find out how to plan a trip to Buena Vista, use our trip itinerary maker.

Getting from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Colorado Springs in July: high temperatures in Buena Vista hover around 80°F and lows are around 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Mon) early enough to drive to Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Springs occupies a scenic location at the junction of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River, halfway between Vail and Aspen along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Attractions like Maroon Bells and The John Denver Sanctuary make great kid-friendly stops. Explore Glenwood Springs' surroundings by going to Aspen (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies & Maroon Lake Scenic Trail). Next up on the itinerary: let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour, test the waters at a local thermal spa, and hike along Hanging Lake Trail.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the Glenwood Springs trip itinerary maker site.

Traveling by car from Buena Vista to Glenwood Springs takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and bus. When traveling from Buena Vista in July, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Glenwood Springs: temperatures range from 68°F by day to 50°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Durango.

Originally a frontier mining town, Durango is known today for its scenic setting, outdoor activities, and the 1880s steam-powered railway that takes visitors through sections of the mountains where roads don't reach.

Kick off your visit on the 9th (Fri): get interesting insight from Tours and then see Off-Road Tours.

To find more things to do, maps, photos, and more tourist information, use the Durango day trip planner.

Getting from Glenwood Springs to Durango by car takes about 5 hours. Other options: fly; or take a bus. When traveling from Glenwood Springs in July, plan for somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Durango: temperatures range from 86°F by day to 54°F at night. You will have some time to spend on the 10th (Sat) before leaving for home.