6 days in Denver & Vail 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.

Bring the kids along to Garden of the Gods and Denver Botanic Gardens. When in Denver, make a side trip to see North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop in Cascade, approximately Cascade away. There's lots more to do: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Denver Zoo, see the interesting displays at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, push the limits with Oxotic Supercar Driving Experience, and admire the masterpieces at Denver Art Museum.

To see traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Denver road trip planning website.

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 October, Denver is slightly colder at night with lows of 40°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Mon) so you can go by car to Vail.

Originally built as a base for Vail Ski Resort, the town of Vail has blossomed into its own destination, but still has less than 6,000 permanent residents.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Tue): get a new perspective on things with Gore Creek Fly Fishing and then fly down the slopes at Vail Mountain Resort.

To see maps and tourist information, you can read our Vail trip planner.

You can drive from Denver to Vail in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. When traveling from Denver in October, plan for cooler days in Vail, with highs around 47°F, while nights are slightly colder with lows around 32°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel back home.