12 days in Colorado Itinerary

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.

Colorado Springs is known for parks, zoos & aquariums, and nature. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: walk around Garden of the Gods, pause for some photo ops at Will Rogers Memorial Shrine of the Sun, catch a live event at Olympic Training Center, and deepen your knowledge of military history at United States Air Force Academy.

To find traveler tips, where to stay, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Colorado Springs sightseeing site.

New York City to Colorado Springs is an approximately 9.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and bus. You'll gain 2 hours traveling from New York City to Colorado Springs due to the time zone difference. Traveling from New York City in October, Colorado Springs is a bit cooler at night with lows of 39°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 4th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Boulder.

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a busy college town known for its progressive values and natural resource conservation.

On the 5th (Mon), grab your bike and head to Valmont Bike Park, walk around Colorado Chautauqua: Park, and then get a taste of the local shopping with Pearl Street Mall. On the next day, explore the galleries of Colorado Railroad Museum and then cool off at Water World.

To find more things to do, maps, reviews, and tourist information, read Boulder tour builder site.

Getting from Colorado Springs to Boulder by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a bus; or fly. In October, daily temperatures in Boulder can reach 66°F, while at night they dip to 41°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) early enough to travel 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 7th (Wed): look for gifts at Honeyville, take a peaceful walk through San Juan National Forest, and then get interesting insight from Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum. On your second day here, make a trip to Historic Downtown Durango and then steep yourself in history at Balcony House.

To see where to stay and more tourist information, refer to the Durango day trip planning website.

You can fly from Boulder to Durango in 6 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Boulder in October since evenings lows in Durango dip to 32°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Cortez.

As the closest town to a national park known for its archeological dwellings, Cortez sits along ancient trails that native Puebloan tribes have used for millennia.

On the 9th (Fri), delve into the distant past at Cliff Palace.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Cortez trip itinerary planning site.

Traveling by car from Durango to Cortez takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 69°F in October, and nighttime lows around 34°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 10th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel 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.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Sun): take a tour by water with Canyon Bikes and then test the waters at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. Keep things going the next day: trek along Hanging Lake Trail and then get in on the family fun at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

To find ratings, maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Glenwood Springs online vacation maker.

Traveling by car from Cortez to Glenwood Springs takes 5 hours. Traveling from Cortez in October, you will find days in Glenwood Springs are much colder (47°F), and nights are about the same (32°F). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Mon) to allow time to travel back home.