29 days in Colorado & Arches National Park 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.

Kids will enjoy River Rafting & Tubing and Hidee Gold Mine. Take a break from Denver with a short trip to Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, about 56 minutes away. There's lots more to do: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mount Evans, shop like a local with Denver Botanic Gardens, don't miss a visit to 16th Street Mall, and get the adrenaline pumping with an extreme tour.

To see other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Denver online journey planner.

Paderborn, Germany to Denver is an approximately 17-hour flight. You'll gain 8 hours traveling from Paderborn to Denver due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Paderborn in July, expect nights in Denver to be about the same, around 18°C, while days are somewhat warmer, around 36°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Sat) so you can drive 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.

Attractions like Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak - America's Mountain make great kid-friendly stops. Change things up with these side-trips from Colorado Springs: Cañon City (Royal Gorge Bridge and Park & River Rafting & Tubing). Next up on the itinerary: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, expand your understanding of the military at United States Air Force Academy, view the masterpieces at Commonwheel Artists Co-op, and get outside with Outdoor Activities.

For traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Colorado Springs day trip planning tool.

Traveling by car from Denver to Colorado Springs takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and flight. In July, daily temperatures in Colorado Springs can reach 35°C, while at night they dip to 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Bring the kids along to River Rafting & Tubing and South Park City Museum. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Buena Vista: Independence Pass (in Aspen) and Mount Elbert (in Leadville). There's much more to do: see Off-Road Tours, see a world frozen in time at Winfield, walk around McPhelemy Park, and stop by Sundance and Friends.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our Buena Vista vacation planner.

Getting from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Expect slightly colder temperatures when traveling from Colorado Springs in July; daily highs in Buena Vista reach 31°C and lows reach 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Breckenridge.

Founded in 1859 as part of the Gold Rush in the Rockies, Breckenridge boasts a main street lined with colorful wooden storefronts housing cafes and shops, giving the effect of a thriving western town from the 19th century.

Start off your visit on the 16th (Sun): go for a walk through Fairy Forest, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, then relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, and finally go for a walk through Vail Pass Path.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Breckenridge trip app.

You can drive from Buena Vista to Breckenridge in 1.5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of bus and taxi. When traveling from Buena Vista in July, plan for slightly colder days and about the same nights in Breckenridge: temperatures range from 21°C by day to 11°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Sun) 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.

Kids will appreciate attractions like River Rafting & Tubing and Hanging Lake Trail. Explore Glenwood Springs' surroundings by going to Aspen (Off-Road Tours & Maroon Bells). There's lots more to do: boost your wellbeing at a local thermal spa, contemplate the waterfront views at Hanging Lake, and examine the collection at Frontier Historical Museum.

To see ratings, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Glenwood Springs trip itinerary builder app.

Drive from Breckenridge to Glenwood Springs in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In July, daily temperatures in Glenwood Springs can reach 23°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to drive to Arches National Park.

Mother Nature kept reaching for red when she painted Arches National Park's 2,000 sandstone arches, resulting in one of the country's more distinctly shaped and colored landscapes.

Arches National Park is known for nature, trails, and sightseeing. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the striking landscape at Delicate Arch, stroll through Devils Garden Trailhead, explore and take pictures at Arches National Park Scenic Drive, and hike along Windows.

For ratings, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Arches National Park trip itinerary builder site.

Traveling by car from Glenwood Springs to Arches National Park takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and car; or do a combination of train and car. When traveling from Glenwood Springs in July, plan for much warmer days in Arches National Park, with highs around 42°C, while nights are a bit warmer with lows around 22°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Tue) 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.

Family-friendly places like Off-Road Tours and Historic Downtown Durango will thrill your kids. Explore Durango's surroundings by going to Mesa Verde National Park (Balcony House, Cliff Palace, &more). There's much more to do: relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, take in the exciting artwork at Earthen Vessel Gallery, and trot along with a tour on horseback.

For other places to visit, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Durango trip planner.

Traveling by car from Arches National Park to Durango takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of car and bus. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Arches National Park in July; daily highs in Durango reach 35°C and lows reach 14°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight 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.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Trail Ridge Road and Spas. There's lots more to do: surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour, examine the collection at Baldpate Inn Key Room Collection, take in the exciting artwork at Patterson Glassworks Studio & Gallery, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Emerald Lake Trail.

For reviews, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Estes Park trip planner.

You can fly from Durango to Estes Park in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In July, plan for daily highs up to 38°C, and evening lows to 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Mon) so you can travel back home.