colorado road trip report aug 2026

just returned home from our most recent road trip across colorado, which is in my opinion the best road trip state in the country. i'll list the places we went, things we did/saw, and food and drink recommendations which hopefully will be of use to others. we had a blast

from 8/20 to 9/2, the route



colorado springs, 1 night
drove denver to co springs, easy drive not much to see
mining exchange hotel, recommend
shuga's for dinner, very highly recommend
concert at lulu's downtown, recommend

Vail, 1 night
very awesome drive
went to garden of the gods first, then drove thru manitou springs & woodland park (two very cool small towns). we stopped and went to the famers market in WP
then thru fairplay (home of our favorite dispensary), breckenridge and frisco
lunch in frisco at ein prosit, very highly recommend
manor vail lodge in vail, very highly recommend
concert at gerald ford amphitheater, this is the nicest place to see a show we've ever been, very highly recommend

Dillon, 1 night
had brunch at alpenrose in vail and wandered around shopping, etc. Vail is obviously very nice
quick drive to dillon
homewood suites at dillon lake, highly recommend
concert at dillon amphitheater, very highly recommend

glenwood springs, 1 night
another beautiful drive, thru glenwood canyon
afternoon/evening music festival at two rivers park, awesome
hampton inn, shithole
dinner at ming's cafe, very highly recommend
ice cream at sundae, likely the best ice cream ive ever had

basalt, 3 nights
went to iron mountain hot springs in the morning, soaked for several hours, very nice place and highly recommend
short drive to basalt, pretty
stayed at an airbnb on the roaring fork river, its was ok but great location walking distance to downtown
dinner at heathers (5/5), gemma (5/5), tempranillo (5/5)
drinking at the tipsy trout (5/5)
we did some hikes, took a beautiful drive up the frying pan river, and otherwise relaxed.
basalt is awesome

buena vista, 5 nights
another incredible drive
stopped for lunch at woody creek tavern, former haunt of hunter thompson. don't miss, highly recommend but get there early
independence pass, twin lakes, etc...awesome
merrifield homestead cabin on cottonwood creek, our favorite place to stay in the country. rustic cabin creekside, private hot spring pool.
dinners at terrace on main rooftop (5/5), wesley & rose at surf hotel x2 (5/5), la sirena (5/5), spark provisions (picnic, 5/5)
rafting on the arkansas river, movie at the comanche drive in, drive up to cottonwood pass, charlotte hot springs, drive up to st elmo, day trip to salida and farmers market there, lots of soaking in the hot spring

we went to go look at a cabin for sale, the "agent" met us on the porch



golden, 1 night
yet one more fantastic drive
picnic lunch on the river
origin red rocks hotel, very highly recommend
we contemplated a show at red rocks but we were happy to just relax
dinner at buffalo rose saloon (4/5)

quick drive to DIA in the morning, and home.
we had so much fun. along with the bear we saw moose, antelope, bighorn sheep, skunks, marmots, eagles, and an incredible amount of jawdropping natural beauty. colorado's roads are nice and well maintained and as i said its pretty easily the best state in the country to see on the road.