8 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.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Sun): learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and then find something for the whole family at North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 8th (Mon): walk around Garden of the Gods and then admire the masterpieces at Michael Garman Museum & Gallery.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, read Colorado Springs online attractions planner.

Houston to Colorado Springs is an approximately 6.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Houston to Colorado Springs is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Houston in October, expect nights in Colorado Springs to be much colder, around 39°F, while days are a bit cooler, around 67°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 8th (Mon) to allow time for the car ride to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park presents an ideal setting for recreation in the mountain range for which the park is named.

On the 9th (Tue), explore the activities along Bear Lake, cruise along Trail Ridge Road, and then get great views at Farview Curve Overlook. Keep things going the next day: hike along Emerald Lake Trail and then cruise along Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.

For ratings, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Rocky Mountain National Park holiday planning website.

Traveling by car from Colorado Springs to Rocky Mountain National Park takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. In October, daytime highs in Rocky Mountain National Park are 69°F, while nighttime lows are 39°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Wed) so you can drive 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.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Thu): admire the natural beauty at Denver Botanic Gardens, ponder the world of politics at Colorado Governor's Mansion, then explore the world behind art at Denver Art Museum, and finally steep yourself in history at Denver Union Station. Keep things going the next day: look and learn at Denver Museum of Nature & Science, then get to know the resident critters at Denver Zoo, and then see where the action happens at Coors Field.

Plan my day in Denver using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.

Getting from Rocky Mountain National Park to Denver by car takes about 2 hours. In October in Denver, expect temperatures between 67°F during the day and 40°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Fri) to allow time to 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.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Sat): take in the awesome beauty at Maroon Bells. Keep things going the next day: appreciate the history behind The John Denver Sanctuary and then cruise along Independence Pass.

To find where to stay, more things to do, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Aspen trip itinerary planning app.

Do a combination of train and flight from Denver to Aspen in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and car. Traveling from Denver in October, things will get slightly colder in Aspen: highs are around 60°F and lows about 30°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) so you can travel back home.