5 days in Colorado Itinerary

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.

Family-friendly places like River Rafting & Tubing and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will thrill your kids. There's much more to do: stroll around Garden of the Gods, look for gifts at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, get in on the family fun at North Pole - Santa's Workshop, and deepen your knowledge of military history at United States Air Force Academy.

To see more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Colorado Springs trip itinerary planner .

Chicago to Colorado Springs is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and shuttle; or drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Chicago to Colorado Springs. Traveling from Chicago in September, plan for little chillier nights in Colorado Springs, with lows around 51°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Buena Vista.

The Town of Buena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Start off your visit on the 28th (Sat): take in the natural beauty of Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa, then see a world frozen in time at Winfield, and then let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour.

For traveler tips, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Buena Vista online sightseeing planner .

Traveling by car from Colorado Springs to Buena Vista takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Traveling from Colorado Springs in September, expect Buena Vista to be slightly colder, temps between 73°F and 42°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) early enough to 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 29th (Sun), look and learn at Denver Museum of Nature & Science and then meet the residents at Denver Zoo.

To find maps, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Denver vacation builder tool .

You can drive from Buena Vista to Denver in 2.5 hours. Another option is to take a bus. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Buena Vista in September: high temperatures in Denver hover around 79°F and lows are around 52°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.