11 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.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Thu): get to know the fascinating history of 16th Street Mall. On the next day, steep yourself in history at Denver Union Station and then let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour.

For ratings, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, read Denver online visit planner.

Chicago to Denver is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Traveling from Chicago to Denver, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Plan for slightly colder nights when traveling from Chicago in August since evenings lows in Denver dip to 58°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Fri) early enough 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.

Get outdoors at Trail Ridge Road and The Beach at Grand Lake. There's much more to do: get interesting insight from Tours, capture your vacation like a pro with an inspiring photography tour, cruise along Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas.

For photos, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Estes Park trip maker app.

Getting from Denver to Estes Park by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi. In August, daily temperatures in Estes Park can reach 89°F, while at night they dip to 56°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Mon) early enough to travel to Mesa Verde National Park.

Whereas most national parks are primarily devoted to showcasing unique and special landscapes, Mesa Verde National Park focuses on ancient human habitation.

On the 11th (Tue), delve into the distant past at Spruce Tree House, delve into the distant past at Balcony House, then delve into the distant past at Cliff Palace, and finally explore the ancient world of Far View Sites. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: make a trip to Step House, then explore the ancient world of Long House, and then trek along Prater Ridge Trail.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Mesa Verde National Park using our trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Estes Park to Mesa Verde National Park takes 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of car, bus, and taxi. In August, daily temperatures in Mesa Verde National Park can reach 86°F, while at night they dip to 53°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 12th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Start off your visit on the 13th (Thu): kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks and then see a world frozen in time at South Park City Museum. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: see Off-Road Tours and then take a memorable tour with Tours.

To find ratings, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, read Buena Vista tour itinerary planner.

Getting from Mesa Verde National Park to Buena Vista by car takes about 6 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi, bus, and car; or do a combination of flight and bus. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Mesa Verde National Park in August: high temperatures in Buena Vista hover around 77°F and lows are around 47°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Fri) to allow time 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.

Start off your visit on the 15th (Sat): take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Rocky Mountains, tour the pleasant surroundings at Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail, and then trek along Hanging Lake Trail. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 16th (Sun): test the waters at a local thermal spa and then take a memorable tour with Tours.

Before you visit Glenwood Springs, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Traveling by car from Buena Vista to Glenwood Springs takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and bus. Traveling from Buena Vista in August, expect nights in Glenwood Springs to be about the same, around 47°F, while days are a bit cooler, around 64°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel back home.