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.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Union Station and 16th Street Mall. And it doesn't end there: take in nature's colorful creations at Denver Botanic Gardens, tour the pleasant surroundings at Denver Zoo, steep yourself in history at Molly Brown House Museum, and see the sky in a new way at Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

For where to stay, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Denver road trip planning app .

Tampa to Denver is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and bus; or drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from Tampa to Denver. Traveling from Tampa in September, expect nights in Denver to be colder, around 52°F, while days are little chillier, around 79°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (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.

Kick off your visit on the 9th (Mon): see the interesting displays at Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and then delve into the distant past at Spruce Tree House. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 10th (Tue): explore the ancient world of Cliff Palace, then explore the ancient world of Balcony House, and then explore the ancient world of Long House.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Mesa Verde National Park visit app .

Do a combination of flight and taxi from Denver to Mesa Verde National Park in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and car; or drive. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Denver in September since evenings lows in Mesa Verde National Park dip to 45°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 11th (Wed) so you can travel to Fruita.

The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in western Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Kick off your visit on the 11th (Wed): pause for some photo ops at Colorado National Monument.

To see ratings, photos, where to stay, and more tourist information, read our Fruita route planner.

Getting from Mesa Verde National Park to Fruita by car takes about 4.5 hours. Traveling from Mesa Verde National Park in September, plan for a bit warmer nights in Fruita, with lows around 53°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Thu) so you can travel to Aspen.

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.

Step out of the city life by going to Maroon Bells and Hanging Lake Trail. Go for a jaunt from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to see Hanging Lake about 1h 25 min away. There's still lots to do: get great views at Independence Pass, pause for some photo ops at The John Denver Sanctuary, see a world frozen in time at Holden Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum, and stroll through Maroon Lake Scenic Trail.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Aspen sightseeing planning tool .

Traveling by car from Fruita to Aspen takes 2.5 hours. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Fruita in September: high temperatures in Aspen hover around 70°F and lows are around 40°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Mon) so you can go by car to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. On the 16th (Mon), take in the natural beauty of Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa and then relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour.

To find traveler tips, maps, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Buena Vista online trip itinerary builder .

Drive from Aspen to Buena Vista in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 72°F in September, and nighttime lows around 43°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Tue) early enough to travel to Canon City.

Part of Colorado's Royal Gorge Region, Cañon City straddles the Arkansas River.

On the 17th (Tue), take in breathtaking views at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park and then let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour.

To see reviews, more things to do, photos, and tourist information, go to the Canon City tour site .

Getting from Buena Vista to Canon City by combination of bus and car takes about 2 hours. Other options: drive. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Buena Vista in September, with highs in Canon City at 83°F and lows at 49°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Wed) early enough to 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.

Visiting Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will get you outdoors. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Manitou Cliff Dwellings and Glen Eyrie Castle. The adventure continues: stroll through Pikes Peak, get to know the fascinating history of Old Colorado City Historic District, get your game on at Battlefield Colorado, and find something for the whole family at North Pole - Santa's Workshop.

To find maps, reviews, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Colorado Springs day trip site .

Getting from Canon City to Colorado Springs by car takes about 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 79°F in September, and nighttime lows around 51°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.