15 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.

Venture out of the city with trips to Hidee Gold Mine (in Central City) and River Rafting & Tubing (in Idaho Springs). Next up on the itinerary: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mount Evans, take in nature's colorful creations at Denver Botanic Gardens, see the interesting displays at Molly Brown House Museum, and see the sky in a new way at Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

For maps, other places to visit, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Denver trip itinerary app.

New York City to Denver is an approximately 7-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from New York City to Denver. Traveling from New York City in July, Denver is a bit cooler at night with lows of 60°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 12th (Mon) early enough to go by car 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.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Tue): see Off-Road Tours, then view the masterpieces at The Studio Fine Art and Framing, then cruise along Trail Ridge Road, and finally appreciate the views at Many Parks Curve Overlook. Keep things going the next day: view the masterpieces at Images of Rocky Mountain National Park, then trot along with a tour on horseback, and then hit the best photo ops around with an inspiring photography tour.

To find photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the Estes Park route planner.

Drive from Denver to Estes Park in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. July in Estes Park sees daily highs of 91°F and lows of 59°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Wed) 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.

Get out of town with these interesting Colorado Springs side-trips: River Rafting & Tubing (in Cañon City) and Victor's Gold Camp Ag & Mining Museum (in Victor). And it doesn't end there: walk around Garden of the Gods, get to know the resident critters at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, view the masterpieces at Commonwheel Artists Co-op, and find something for the whole family at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park.

For where to stay, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Colorado Springs trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Estes Park to Colorado Springs by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi and bus; or fly. While traveling from Estes Park, expect slightly colder days and about the same nights in Colorado Springs, ranging from highs of 86°F to lows of 58°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sat) early enough to drive to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. On the 18th (Sun), get interesting insight from Tours, stroll around Buena Vista River Park, and then relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour. On the next day, see a world frozen in time at South Park City Museum, then see a world frozen in time at Vicksburg, and then see Off-Road Tours.

Find out how to plan Buena Vista trip without stress by asking Inspirock to help create an itinerary.

You can drive from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista in 2.5 hours. Another option is to take a bus. Traveling from Colorado Springs in July, expect Buena Vista to be a bit cooler, temps between 80°F and 49°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Mon) so you can 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.

On the 20th (Tue), make a trip to Historic Downtown Durango, then view the masterpieces at Earthen Vessel Gallery, and then see Off-Road Tours. Here are some ideas for day two: trot along with a tour on horseback, kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and then let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour.

To see ratings, maps, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Durango online vacation maker.

Drive from Buena Vista to Durango in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of bus, shuttle, and taxi. Traveling from Buena Vista in July, you will find days in Durango are a bit warmer (86°F), and nights are about the same (54°F). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Wed) 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.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Glenwood Springs: Aspen (Maroon Bells & Maroon Lake Scenic Trail). There's lots more to do: relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, hike along Hanging Lake Trail, and test the waters at a local thermal spa.

To find other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Glenwood Springs road trip planning site.

Getting from Durango to Glenwood Springs by car takes about 5 hours. Other options: fly; or take a bus. Expect slightly colder weather when traveling from Durango in July: highs in Glenwood Springs hover around 68°F, while lows dip to 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 24th (Sat) to allow time for travel back home.