The 30 Best Road Trips From Denver
Denver is probably the best starting point in the country for a serious mountain road trip.
I've personally driven up and down the Rockies, renting a car from Denver International Airport and exploring the stunning National Parks, otherworldly landscapes, hot deserts, and everything in-between.
But navigating the Rockies isn't like cruising down a flat interstate. The difference between an epic adventure to Moab or Yellowstone and a frustrating day in the car comes down to having a good plan. You need to avoid the notorious I-70 weekend bottlenecks, watch out for sudden weather shifts at elevation, and know which scenic detours are actually worth the extra miles.
That is exactly why we built this guide. We didn't just scrape a map. These 30 routes are curated based on our real-world driving experience, so you can spend less time stressing over where to go, and more time enjoying the views.zzzz
Read This Before Driving Out of Denver
⚡ The EV Charging Desert
Electric car chargers in the Rockies and nearby areas are more rare than rocking horse poop.
I once made the epic mistake of renting a Tesla for a trip all the way down and back up the Rockies from Denver. Don't do it.
The moment you head south off the I-70 towards Gunnison National Park, Center, and on to New Mexico, finding a charger is a struggle.
❄️ The Traction Law
Between September and May, Colorado state law requires AWD/4WD or snow tires on mountain passes and high elevation roads.
Check your rental car tires before leaving the parking lot.
🚗 The I-70 Weekend Trap
If you are heading west into the mountains, avoid leaving Denver on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
In the winter, you're hitting weekend ski traffic and the summer can be even worse with weekend getaways. Leave early or waste hours driving like a snail.
Top Road Trip Destinations From Denver
🚗 239 miles ⏱️ 3 hours, 50 minutes
A four-hour drive south from Denver drops you into one of the weirdest and most spectacular landscapes in Colorado. You can literally sled down the tallest sand dunes in North America while staring up at the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains. If you have kids, this is an absolute must!
💡 Sasha's Take: Remember to rent your boards and wax from the Great Dunes Oasis Store just outside the park entrance. Don't plan to spend all day here - the sand gets to 150°F by the afternoon and your legs will be gone after the third trek back up the sand dune.
🚗 70 miles ⏱️ 1 hour, 25 minutes
Discover the charm of Colorado Springs, at the foot of Pikes Peak. The Garden of the Gods is an absolute must and don't forget to check out the town itself!
💡 Sasha's Take: Garden of the Gods gets super busy in the summer - to get the absolute best views, drive up to Woodland Park and take the small Loy Creek Road all the way down to the bottom. Beware - the road gets very rough the lower you go so you'll want a high clearance SUV or 4x4.
Santa Fe
🚗 360 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 30 minutes
The direct way is to sit for 6 hours on I-25, so if you're in a hurry, take the interstate.
The real road trip to New Mexico's high desert means taking I-70 or US-285 west and then driving south through the Rockies and San Luis Valley. This route takes you past massive 14,000-foot peaks, the Great Sand Dunes, and straight into the historic adobe architecture of the New Mexico capital.
💡 Sasha's Take: When you arrive in Santa Fe, don't waste your time circling the narrow 1600s streets around the historic Plaza looking for parallel parking. The two best options where I parked are the Sandoval Garage and the Water Street Municipal Lot. Both are very easy to find, easy with a large vehicle, and get you within a two-minute walk from the center of the action.
🚗 509 miles ⏱️ 8 hours, 30 minutes
If you are doing a round trip, do not take the same highway twice. Drive up via the slower, highly scenic western route through Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. On the way back to Denver, take the eastern route down through the Wind River Canyon and the hot springs of Thermopolis so you get two completely different Wyoming road trips in one.
💡 Sasha's Take: Yellowstone isn't a year-round destination. Nearly all interior roads close to regular cars by early November for snowmobile season and don't reopen until May. The upside of the long drive is that if you set off in the morning, you won't hit the daytime queues at the entrance, sniffing RV fumes waiting to get in.
Sedona
🚗 740 miles ⏱️ 11 hours
The 11-hour drive through the Rockies and down into the Arizona desert is a marathon, but the payoff is insane. Sedona feels like another planet. You go from high altitude mountain passes and snow-capped peaks to towering, neon-red sandstone spires that look like they were carved by aliens.
💡 Sasha's Take: The main reason to head to Sedona is to hike the red rocks, but do not try to drive from your hotel to the trailhead. Popular spots like Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass literally close their parking lots Thursday through Sunday, and the others fill up hours before your alarm even goes off. Save your sanity and use the free Sedona Shuttle park-and-ride lots, which drop you right at the start of the major trails.
Telluride
🚗 370 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 30 minutes
Experience the charm of Telluride, surrounded by stunning San Juan Mountains. With world-class skiing in winter, and scenic hikes in summer, its a must for outdoor fans. Plus it's has a historic town to explore too.
Breckenridge
🚗 80 miles ⏱️ 1 hour, 30 minutes
Breckenridge, famous for its world-class skiing, it's a must if you want to hit the slops. However whether you're hitting the slopes or strolling through town, Breckenridge offers something for everyone year-round.
🚗 66 miles ⏱️ 1 hour, 25 minutes
The 90-minute drive from Denver is just the warmup. The real road trip starts the second you bypass the taffy shops in Estes Park and enter Rocky Mountain National Park to drive Trail Ridge Road. Climbing to over 12,000 feet, it is the highest continuous paved highway in North America, taking you high above the tree line where you are practically eye-level with the alpine peaks.
💡 Sasha's Take: RMNP operates on a strict timed-entry permit system from late May through October. If you show up without a reservation, the rangers will literally force you to turn around at the gate. Book it months in advance, or, if you forgot, you'll have to do what the locals do: get up at the crack of dawn and drive through the gates before 5:00 AM, when the permit system kicks in for the day.
🚗 415 miles ⏱️ 8 hours, 10 minutes
Tucked away in the far southwest corner of Colorado, Mesa Verde is completely different from the state's jagged alpine peaks. The 7-hour drive takes you deep into high-desert mesa country, where you can literally climb down wooden ladders into 800-year-old cliff dwellings carved right into the canyon walls.
💡 Sasha's Take: You cannot just walk up to the best cliff dwellings (like Cliff Palace) on the day. You have to book a ranger-guided tour, and tickets become available exactly 14 days in advance at 8:00 AM. Set an alarm if you're coming at the weekend, because they will sell out in minutes.
🚗 430 miles ⏱️ 7 hours, 15 minutes
Experience the rugged beauty of Badlands National Park, with striking rock formations. You are likely to catch sight of bison and bighorn sheep as you take on the trails. Try and stay for sunset for a truly memorable hike.
🚗 692 miles ⏱️ 12 hours
Tick off a bucket-list visit to the Grand Canyon, one of the world's most iconic natural wonders. When you stand on the edge of the canyon it's easy to see why this site has captivated visitors for centuries.
Las Vegas
🚗 810 miles ⏱️ 12 hours
There is nothing quite like it! Experience the vibrant energy and endless entertainment of Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world. With dazzling shows and world-class dining from morning to night, it's an unforgettable escape.
🚗 740 miles ⏱️ 11 hours
The two-hour drive between Bryce and Zion is a masterclass in desert scenery, but the real show starts when you turn onto the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (SR-9) for the final approach. You plunge through a mile-long tunnel carved straight into the rock, trading Colorado's green pines for massive, sheer sandstone cliffs that make you feel incredibly small.
💡 Sasha's Take: Zion Canyon is closed to private cars for most of the year. If you are the keen type that can get there by 6:30 AM, you can park at the visitor center and take the free shuttle into the canyon. For the rest of us who like sleeping, you'll have to park in the nearby town of Springdale and pay by the hour.
🚗 824 miles ⏱️ 13 hours
The remote wilderness of Big Bend National Park makes this a very special Park to visit, where the Rio Grande carves through desert landscapes. A hidden gem to experience calmness and real escape.
Golden
🚗 15 miles ⏱️ 24 minutes
Discover the charming town of Golden. With the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, here you can explore explore historic landmarks, visit local breweries, and enjoy hiking and biking along Clear Creek.
Aspen
🚗 185 miles ⏱️ 4 hours
Depending on the season, getting to Aspen is either a beautiful cruise or a white-knuckle survival test. In the summer, you can take the faster route via Independence Pass - a stunning narrow road that climbs to 12,000 feet before dropping you right into the billionaire playground. It is worth every ounce of passenger anxiety and altitude sickness.
💡 Sasha's Take: Independence Pass (Highway 82 southeast of Aspen) is completely closed in the winter between November and May. So if you're going to Aspen to ski, you'll have to take the long way around along I-70 through Glenwood Springs before coming back down along the open section of Highway 82.
Durango
🚗 375 miles ⏱️ 6 hours, 50 minutes
Driving south to Durango via US-285 takes you right through the San Luis Valley and over the infamous Wolf Creek Pass. It's a heavy-duty mountain route that drops you straight into a historic mining town that still feels authentically Old West.
💡 Sasha's Take: Wolf Creek Pass (US-160) is notoriously steep and prone to sudden whiteouts. If you are driving between November and April, strictly adhere to Colorado's Traction Law - AWD or snow tires are mandatory, and state troopers actively check.
Phoenix
🚗 820 miles ⏱️ 13 hours
Escape to the sunny oasis of Phoenix, with desert botanical gardens, scenic trails and a lively atmosphere and nightlife in the heart of the city.
Moab
🚗 480 miles ⏱️ 9 hours, 20 minutes
With stunning red rock formations and iconic national parks like Arches and Canyonlands, Moab is has plenty going on. And if you are a mountain bike fan, then this is the place to head for some world-class trails.
Salt Lake City
🚗 525 miles ⏱️ 8 hours
Discover the vibrant capital of Utah, Salt Lake City. Found between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountain, the historic Temple Square, world-class museums, and outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, make this a popular place to head.
Albuquerque
🚗 520 miles ⏱️ 9 hours, 10 minutes
The rich heritage of Albuquerque, where Spanish colonial history meets modern Southwestern charm, makes this an extra special find. Explore Old Town, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway, and enjoy delicious New Mexican treats.
🚗 564 miles ⏱️ 8 hours, 40 minutes
Beautiful White Sands National Park is hard to beat, where the gypsum dunes make for a stunning place to hike or sled down. Make sure to stay longer and enjoy the memorable sunset views.
🚗 438 miles ⏱️ 7 hours, 30 minutes
Explore the stunning landscapes of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks,near the charming town of Moab. The ancient rock art and hiking trails draws in those looking for a sense of history and adventure.
🚗 580 miles ⏱️ 10 hours
Iconic Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota is a must visit. The faces of four American presidents are carved into the granite cliffs, with the surrounding Black Hills region equally impressive to see.
Georgetown
🚗 45 miles ⏱️ 50 minutes
Charming Georgetown, Colorado, is a historic mining town located in the Rocky Mountains. Explore its quaint streets lined with Victorian architecture, visit local stores and galleries, and ride the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad.
Taos
🚗 330 miles ⏱️ 6 hours
Enjoy the arts scene and rich cultural heritage of Taos, dotted with historic buildings and interesting museums, all surrounded by the impressive Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
🚗 630 miles ⏱️ 13 hours
Experience the stunning landscapes of Monument Valley, straddling the Arizona-Utah border. It gives a chance to explore the Navajo Tribal Park, where you can take a guided tour and see close-up this incredible landscape.
🚗 156 miles ⏱️ 3 hours
Experience the charm of Steamboat Springs, a stunning mountain town renowned for its world-class skiing and hot springs. Make sure to visit the scenic Yampa River Botanic Park during your stay.
Vail
🚗 98 miles ⏱️ 1 hour, 35 minutes
The small village of Vail is amidst the White River National Forest, and well known as a popular skiing destination and vibrant après-ski scene. Experience outdoor adventures, gourmet restaurants, and mountain views during a visit.
Jackson Hole
🚗 700 miles ⏱️ 12 hours, 20 minutes
Embark on an adventure to Jackson Hole, a pretty valley surrounded by the stunning Teton Range. From here you can enjoy Grand Teton National Park, the iconic Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, and soak up Old West charm in the town square.
Longer road trips from Denver
🚗 1,140 miles ⏱️ 17 hours, 50 minutes
LA, the entertainment capital of the world. Make sure to visit Hollywood Boulevard, Universal Studios, and Santa Monica Pier in the California sunshine.
🚗 1,250 miles ⏱️ 21 hours
Relax in sunny San Diego, and visit Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo. There is no end to the adventure you can have in America's Finest City.
🚗 1,394 miles ⏱️ 21 hours, 30 minutes
Enjoy vibrant city of San Francisco, strolling across Golden Gate Bridge, and visiting lively neighborhoods like Chinatown and Mission District.
🚗 1,310 miles ⏱️ 20 hours, 40 minutes
Chicago, known for its iconic architecture and world-class museums, has sites including Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Navy Pier to pay a visit.
🚗 1,300 miles ⏱️ 19 hours, 30 minutes
Discover the eclectic city of Seattle, with beautiful surroundings and landmarks including Space Needle and Pike Place Market to enjoy.
🚗 1,055 miles ⏱️ 17 hours, 45 minutes
Within Montana's Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is known for its alpine scenery and crystal-clear lakes. Travel Going-to-the-Sun Road to take it all in.
Sasha Yanshin – Co-Founder & Lead Driver
Sasha Yanshin has spent the last 15+ years mapping and driving thousands of miles across Europe and the US. As the Co-Founder and Lead Driver of Lazytrips, he brings an analytical approach to road-tripping, sharing meticulously tested routes, realistic drive times, and the hard-earned logistical reality of the open road.
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