3
- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
colorado road trip report aug 2026
Posted on 9/3/26 at 4:44 pm
Posted on 9/3/26 at 4:44 pm
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.
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.
Posted on 9/3/26 at 10:07 pm to cgrand
Glad you guys liked it, you guys hit some great spots!
Posted on 9/3/26 at 10:19 pm to TigerSaintInDallas
Great report and looks like a great trip.
Posted on 9/4/26 at 4:56 am to cgrand
Hoss, I’m heading out to Denver this evening for 4 days. Never been. Staying by Union Station but will have car. What’s a good driving route for a day outside the city. Probably Sunday or Monday.
Posted on 9/4/26 at 7:03 am to OldHickory
I would drive to Estes Park —> Grand Lake —> Winter Park —> Denver. That’ll take you through Rocky Mountain National Park, so beautiful up there. This requires a permit, unless you enter the national park via Estes before 9AM. I recommend waking up early this weekend anyway to try to avoid the Labor Day weekend traffic.
Denver —> Buena Vista —> Leadville —> Silverthorne —> Loveland Pass (if you’re confident about driving in the mountains) —> Denver would be my other pick if you don’t want to worry about entering the national park prior to 9AM.
The first route goes through two mountain passes. The second route can be done without Loveland Pass if you’re hesitant about driving on a mountain pass. Drive slow and be careful.
Denver —> Buena Vista —> Leadville —> Silverthorne —> Loveland Pass (if you’re confident about driving in the mountains) —> Denver would be my other pick if you don’t want to worry about entering the national park prior to 9AM.
The first route goes through two mountain passes. The second route can be done without Loveland Pass if you’re hesitant about driving on a mountain pass. Drive slow and be careful.
Posted on 9/4/26 at 8:02 am to TigerSaintInDallas
Awesome. Thank you. I’m not unfamiliar with mountain driving and switchbacks. Sounds perfect.
Posted on 9/4/26 at 8:15 am to OldHickory
agree with above
285 to Fairplay then up 24/9 thru Leadville to breck and frisco then 70 east back to denver would be an awesome day drive
285 to Fairplay then up 24/9 thru Leadville to breck and frisco then 70 east back to denver would be an awesome day drive
This post was edited on 9/4/26 at 8:18 am
Posted on 9/8/26 at 12:32 pm to cgrand
285 during the summer is rage inducing with all travel trailers. If you are looking to get to BV, going to the Springs then 24 is about the same time with much less traffic. Not as scenic but it’s nice in the beginning.
Hwy 50 from Canon City to Salida is very unique from a terrain and colors standpoint. Underrated IMO.
I always recommend going left after Lyons to go through Allenspark to get to Estes. Same views, same time, much less traffic hassle.
Going north after Leadville… there isn’t much to see going up 9 to 70. If time allows, go 24 through Red Cliff. The bridge is amazing. Plus you can hit Vail on the way back to Denver.
Hwy 50 from Canon City to Salida is very unique from a terrain and colors standpoint. Underrated IMO.
I always recommend going left after Lyons to go through Allenspark to get to Estes. Same views, same time, much less traffic hassle.
Going north after Leadville… there isn’t much to see going up 9 to 70. If time allows, go 24 through Red Cliff. The bridge is amazing. Plus you can hit Vail on the way back to Denver.
Posted on 9/8/26 at 7:45 pm to cgrand
quote:
colorado, which is in my opinion the best road trip state in the country.
I'd go with Utah, and California. But you could easily be right about Colorado. It's the state I really want to do a road trip in next as I've seen very little of the mountains or western part, even as a CU Boulder grad. Thank you for the posts.
Posted on 9/9/26 at 10:20 am to Tigris
southern Utah would be a contender for sure, Zion to Moab. We’ve done that area in two separate trips and yes it’s pretty astounding. Hwy 12 is the best single drive in the country
I’d like to do it in the winter next time
I’d like to do it in the winter next time
Posted on 9/9/26 at 5:06 pm to TigerSaintInDallas
quote:
I would drive to Estes Park —> Grand Lake —> Winter Park —> Denver
If its summer/Fall I'd set up this trip to spend the night in Estes. I like Estes better than Grand Lake, but Winter Park is a great overnight plan as well.
Posted on 9/10/26 at 11:13 am to cgrand
Did this in 1993. Started in Monument Valley. Drove through Mexican Hat up the Moki Dugway (Overlooking Valley of the Gods). From there we went to Arches, Canyonlands NP. The Bicentennial Highway (Rt 95) is a spectacular drive. Runs from Blanding to Hanksville. This route takes you to Natural Bridges and not far from Capital Reef NP. Hwy 12 is not far from the park. You travel down the Escalante Staircase to Bryce. Zion was the final stop in Utah. We spent 10 days driving and camping from Moab to Zion. Utah was not a popular destination in the 90’s. Not so much today.
Posted on 9/14/26 at 5:54 pm to pjab
quote:
Going north after Leadville… there isn’t much to see going up 9 to 70. If time allows, go 24 through Red Cliff. The bridge is amazing.
What, the mine up at Climax aint worth the drive to see? Though this past summer, road work really slowed down traffic going that way.
If sightseeing, always take US24 north outta Leadville. Ski Cooper/Tennessee Pass. Camp Hale. Redcliff (if you got a decent offroad vehicle, shrine pass goes Redcliff to Top of Vail Pass. Great in the fall). Gilman (ghost town you can see from road) and then Minturn is a cool little town at the end of the road.
quote:
Hwy 50 from Canon City to Salida is very unique from a terrain and colors standpoint
Ball knower.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News