This is the most mind-blowing two-week road trip you can do pretty much anywhere in the world. From Denver's urban excitement and Western flair, to Colorado's high-mountain vistas and lesser-known wine country, to Utah's otherworldly geological forms, to the Grand Canyon and on to the glitz of Las Vegas. 

 

Travel Tips

Since this road trip involves seven national parks, including all five of Utah's national parks, there's some added complexity in the planning. The first big decision you have to make is what time of year you want to travel in order to balance snow in the mountains and heat in the desert. Also, it's challenging to find accommodations near the parks during peak season, so you might have to book months or a year in advance at some sought-after places.

Another option to cut down on the driving and see much of the same sights along with gorgeous remote country, while still staying within this 14-day framework, is to book a two-day ride on the Canyon Spirit train from Denver to Moab, Utah. You will miss Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and Vail, but you will pass through Grand Junction and Palisade (and be offered a wine tasting from a local vineyard on the train). Canyon Spirit also has motorcoach packages to Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef national parks in Utah. 

If you decide to take the Canyon Spirit, you can always do a day trip to RMNP from Denver when you first arrive, which also makes the hunt for accommodations easier since Denver has tons of hotel rooms available at every price point instead of staying near the park.

 

Best Time of Year to Travel

Late Spring

The outdoor concert season kicks off in Denver in late May to early June, along with some great cultural festivals. The high season begins in RMNP when it's a beautiful time of contrasts between green meadows at lower elevations, fast-moving streams and snow in the mountains. However, Trail Ridge Road may or may not be open depending upon the snowpack. Vail will be in a similar situation and the wildflowers might be just starting to surface. However, it will be lush in Colorado's wine country on the western side of the state and the deserts will be cooler.

 

Mid-Summer

July is an especially exciting month in Denver as it hosts some of the biggest cultural festivals of the year and the summer season is in full swing. It's also peak season for wildflowers in the mountains. The desert areas will be hot and packed with tourists; however, you can help mitigate the heat with watersports. 

 

Early Fall

If you hit it right, between mid-September and mid-October, you'll miss wildflower season in the mountains, but it will be replaced by a cascade of fall colors. Also, it's a great time to visit Colorado's wine country with cooler temperatures and fall harvest events. The desert areas will also be cooler but still enjoyable for watersports. 

 

Day 1: Arrive in Denver

Arrive at Denver International Airport (DEN), which offers nonstop service to more than 200 worldwide destinations, for a two-night stay in the Mile High City. 

 

Day 2: Downtown Denver

 

Your adventure begins with a full day of exploring Denver. 

Experience the walkable Lower Downtown (LoDo), the Victorian buildings of Larimer Square, the opulent Denver Union Station and the 16th Street pedestrian promenade with its free shuttle buses. Or, visit the unique, urban neighborhoods like Highland and RiNo    (River North Art District).

Sample craft beer and farm-to-table cuisine throughout the city, at chef-owned must-try restaurants, rooftop patios and craft breweries.

Explore Denver's Western history at the History Colorado Center and the Black American West Museum and take a piece of that rich history home from the family-owned Rockmount Ranch Wear store in the heart of the city, where the first snap-button cowboy shirt was invented. Also, see the renowned Indigenous Arts of North America collection at Denver Art Museum.

See live music under the stars at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, where the stage is as captivating as the music itself. During the day, Red Rocks is a free city park with easy hiking trails.

 

Day 3: Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)

 

Distance from Denver to RMNP: 67 miles (108 miles)

RMNP has the highest continuous motorway in the United States, hundreds of lakes and 77 mountains taller than 12,000 feet.

Unless you're planning on camping in RMNP, Estes Park has a variety of accommodations such as cabins, hotels and campgrounds. Please note that during the high season (late May to mid-October), there is a timed-entry reservation system to access popular parts of the park. See our guide on how to enjoy RMNP. 

Highlights: wildlife viewing, scenic drives, hiking

 

Day 4: Vail/Grand Junction

Distance from Estes Park to Vail: 137 miles (220 km)

Distance from Vail to Grand Junction: 148 miles (238 km)

As you're heading down Interstate 70, Vail makes for a nice side trip. Modeled after European ski towns, it's a great place to stroll, enjoy patio dining and shop during the warmer months. You can take a scenic gondola ride, stop by the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and visit the Colorado Snowsports Museum. The museum has a special exhibit dedicated to the Army's 10th Mountain Division, which trained nearby at Camp Hale during World War II and whose members started ski resorts, including Vail Mountain, after the war. 

Another cool side trip, in between Vail and Grand Junction, is stopping at Glenwood Springs for a soak in the Grand Pool at Glenwood Hot Springs or Iron Mountain Hot Springs. 

Highlights: hiking, outdoor dining, gardens, ski resort culture, hot springs

 

Day 5: Colorado Wine Country/Colorado National Monument

Near Grand Junction, you can get a taste of Colorado's wine country by going on a tasting tour. Stay in Palisade at the Wine Country Inn, an 80-room Victorian-style hotel set in working vineyards. Also, Colorado National Monument will provide your first taste of the vast canyon country. Look for bighorn sheep and eagles.

 

Day 6: Moab, Utah/Arches National Park

 

Distance from Grand Junction to Moab: 112 miles (180 km)

Famous for mountain biking, off-road driving and dramatic landscape photography, Moab is a bucket-list town that provides visceral contrasts from red rock canyons to the Colorado and Green rivers. Only minutes from town, Arches National Park, home to thousands of sandstone arches, is the perfect way to get to know this part of the Colorado Plateau, with short walks to some of the biggest attractions in the park. 

Highlights: arches, hiking, sightseeing 

 

Day 7: Moab, Utah/Canyonlands National Park

Yet another national park beckons. Canyonlands National Park is only a short drive from Moab, where erosion worked its magic in other ways to create mesas, canyons and buttes. The park was a favorite place for writer Edward Abbey, whose musings remain as timeless as the surroundings. You more than likely have seen photos of Island in the Sky and the Needles, but it's another thing to see these sights for real. Dead Horse Point State Park provides an overlook of the Colorado River and the national park. 

Highlights: canyons, hiking, wildlife viewing 

 

Day 8: Capitol Reef National Park/Torrey, Utah

Distance from Moab to Capitol Reef: 137 miles (220 km)

Capitol Reef National Park might be less known than Utah's four other national parks, but that's also part of its charm. You'll see canyons, domes, cliffs and bridges on what the park service describes as a geographic wrinkle that goes on for 100 miles. To contrast the rugged landscape, stop by the Fruita orchards to pick some fresh fruit. The park service is maintaining some 1,900 trees that were originally planted by pioneers in the late 1800s.

Highlights: hiking, horseback riding, canyoneering, rock climbing, stargazing

 

Day 9: Bryce Canyon National Park

Distance from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon: 112 miles (180 km)

Bryce Canyon National Park has the largest concentration of hoodoos (irregular and jagged columns of rock) in the world that create a mesmerising array of colors. It's also known for its natural amphitheaters and, you guessed it, stunning hikes. 

Highlights: hiking, horseback riding, stargazing

 

Day 10: Zion National Park/Springdale, Utah

Distance from Bryce Canyon to Zion: 72 miles (116 km)

Zion National Park is known for world-class, bucket-list hikes in slot canyons, red Navajo sandstone cliffs and striking desert views. 

Highlights: hiking, kayaking, canyoneering, rock climbing, horseback riding, bird watching, stargazing

 

Day 11: Lake Powell/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Page, Arizona

Distance from Zion to Glen Canyon: 148 miles (238 km)

This area is so vast, you could spend a lifetime exploring it. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses 1.25 million acres. It's famous for, among other things, Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River arcs around a 270-mile bend, Lake Powell and the 710-foot-tall Glen Canyon Dam. 

Highlights: swimming, fishing, kayaking, scenic drives, off-road tours, hiking 

 

Day 12: Grand Canyon National Park

Distance from Glen Canyon to Grand Canyon (North Rim): 124 miles (200 km)

Distance from Glen Canyon to Grand Canyon Village (South Rim): 140 miles (225 km)

Here's where you have to choose between the higher (and cooler temperature-wise) North Rim and the South Rim in order to stay on track. The North Rim receives a fraction of the visitors compared with its sibling. While it's less crowded, it also has limited services and lodging options. And it's only open from mid-May through mid-October. The South Rim, however, is highly developed and is open year-round. But temperatures can exceed 100°F in the summer months. Another option is the West Rim, which is the closest canyon section to Las Vegas. But it's a much longer drive from Glen Canyon.

Highlights: hiking, rafting, mule trips, guided learning adventures, Indigenous cultural experiences, scenic drives

 

Day 13 & 14: Las Vegas

Distance from Grand Canyon (North Rim) to Las Vegas: 265 miles (426 km)

Distance from Grand Canyon Village (South Rim) to Las Vegas: 280 miles (450 km)

Choose your adventure in Las Vegas. You earned it! It can be relaxing, non-stop thrills or a mixture of both. If you have one last day trip in you, check out Hoover Dam, about 35 miles from the Strip.

Highlights: sightseeing, gambling, live shows, thrill rides, museums