17 days in Denver & Rapid City Itinerary

Venture out of the city with trips to Rocky Mountain National Park (Sheep Lakes, Many Parks Curve Overlook, &more), Pikes Peak - America's Mountain (in Cascade) and Garden of the Gods (in Colorado Springs). There's still lots to do: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mount Evans, take a memorable drive along Mount Evans Scenic Byway, admire the masterpieces at Denver Art Museum, and capture your vacation like a pro with an inspiring photography tour.

To see traveler tips, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Denver trip planner.

Paris, France to Denver is an approximately 13-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Central European Standard Time to Mountain Standard Time is minus 8 hours. When traveling from Paris in September, plan for a bit warmer days in Denver, with highs around 30°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 13°C. You will leave for Rapid City on the 14th (Thu).

Get out of town with these interesting Rapid City side-trips: Cement Ridge Lookout (in Sundance), Devils Tower (Devils Tower National Monument & Wind Circles) and Custer (Wildlife Loop Road, Custer State Park, &more). There's lots more to do: identify plant and animal life at Bear Country USA, wander the streets of Downtown Rapid City, get a taste of the local shopping with Wall Drug, and take an in-depth tour of South Dakota Air and Space Museum.

To see other places to visit, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Rapid City trip tool.

You can fly from Denver to Rapid City in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In September, daily temperatures in Rapid City can reach 28°C, while at night they dip to 13°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Thu) so you can catch the flight back home.