12 days in Colorado Itinerary

Known as a ski resort town, Aspen's history goes back to its roots as a silver-mining village tucked away in an isolated valley of the Rocky Mountains.

Start off your visit on the 26th (Wed): pause for some photo ops at The John Denver Sanctuary. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take in the awesome beauty at Maroon Bells.

To see other places to visit, reviews, photos, and tourist information, read Aspen travel planner .

San Diego to Aspen is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and car; or drive. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from San Diego to Aspen due to the time zone difference. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from San Diego in June: highs in Aspen hover around 79°F, while lows dip to 43°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. On the 29th (Sat), relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour and then take in the awesome beauty at Mount Harvard.

To see more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Buena Vista online tour itinerary planner .

You can drive from Aspen to Buena Vista in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In June, daily temperatures in Buena Vista can reach 79°F, while at night they dip to 44°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sat) so you can go by car 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.

Take a break from Colorado Springs with a short trip to River Rafting & Tubing in Canon City, about 1h 25 min away. There's much more to do: stroll around Garden of the Gods, get your game on at Battlefield Colorado, stop by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and go for a walk through Pikes Peak.

To find photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Colorado Springs trip planner .

Traveling by car from Buena Vista to Colorado Springs takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect a bit warmer evenings in Colorado Springs when traveling from Buena Vista in June, with lows around 54°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park presents an ideal setting for recreation in the mountain range for which the park is named.

On the 3rd (Wed), explore the activities along Bear Lake, admire the verdant scenery at Many Parks Curve Overlook, then admire all the interesting features of Trail Ridge Road, and finally explore the wealth of natural beauty at Sheep Lakes. Here are some ideas for day two: stroll through Emerald Lake Trail, admire the sheer force of Chasm Falls, then explore the striking landscape at Alluvial Fan, and finally get great views at Milner Pass.

For more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Rocky Mountain National Park day trip planning website .

Getting from Colorado Springs to Rocky Mountain National Park by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi. In July, plan for daily highs up to 91°F, and evening lows to 59°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Thu) so you can go by car to Denver.

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.

On the 5th (Fri), explore and take pictures at Coors Field, then ponder the world of politics at Colorado State Capitol, and then let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour. On the next day, take in the exciting artwork at Denver Botanic Gardens, get to know the resident critters at Denver Zoo, then see the sky in a new way at Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Denver using our trip planner.

Traveling by car from Rocky Mountain National Park to Denver takes 2 hours. In July in Denver, expect temperatures between 87°F during the day and 60°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Sat) 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 (Sun): let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour, don't miss a visit to Historic Downtown Durango, and then shop like a local with Scenic Aperture Gallery.

For photos, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Durango online trip planner .

Getting from Denver to Durango by flight takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and shuttle; or drive. Expect little chillier evenings in Durango when traveling from Denver in July, with lows around 54°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Sun) so you can travel back home.