The Ultimate Rocky Mountain Road Trip Itinerary
Fort Collins, Estes Park, RMNP and Boulder
There are so many destinations in Colorado worth visiting, it’s hard to pick just one. That’s exactly why doing a Colorado road trip is the perfect plan when vacationing in Colorado. This road trip barely scratches the surface of all there is to see and do in Colorado, but for those looking to base a trip around Rocky Mountain National Park this is the perfect road trip itinerary for the surrounding areas. This allows you to take your time and spend a couple days in each destination, so you don’t have to rush to see all the sights. This guide covers 5-7 days (depending on how much time you have) in Colorado beginning with a quick stop in Denver since many people will need to fly into the Denver airport to start their journey. Then, the true road trip begins with two days in Fort Collins, two-three days in Rocky Mountain National Park, and ending in Boulder.
Living in Kansas City, Colorado is one of our favorite places to road trip as we can drive to Colorado directly. However, you may need to fly into Denver and rent a car depending on where you are travelling from! Fort Collins, Boulder and Estes Park/RMNP all are worth visiting in their own rights and we have dedicated posts to each as this itinerary will just go over the highlights for each destination, so be sure to check out those posts if you are looking for more details.
Heads up: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book at no cost to you. We only link to stays and experiences we'd actually choose for ourselves.
Planning Your Trip
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time of year to plan this trip really is in the summer or fall. Those season will ensure you ge the best weather for your outdoor adventures. Spring in Colorado can be pretty dicey with winter weather and there is often still snow up in the mountains, so you may encounter that especially in RMNP. We visited in late June and there was still some snow covered sections of some trails in RMNP. Fall is absolutely gorgeous in the mountains with trees turning to those bright, beautiful fall colors and you are much more likely to encounter less crowds. That being said, spring can still be a great time to visit to ensure you don’t have to share trails with as many tourists. We’d just recommend picking sometime in later spring like late May or be prepared with more winter gear for your hikes.
Flying and Driving
We always plan on driving to Colorado since we are only one state away, but that may not be feasible for you if you are traveling from a further distance. Most likely you will be flying into Denver International Airport. It will be easy to just rent a car from the airport, so you are all set and can return upon your flight out. We’d just recommend renting or if you are driving to make sure you have a reliable car that can handle winding, twisting mountain roads. Four wheel drive is best to help get up those hills. If there is any chance of snow, you definitely need to have four wheel drive as those roads can get dicey real quicky in winter weather. If you are renting, we love to use Discover Cars to compare different rental companies, cars and prices. Sort by the rating to make sure you are using a reputable company and prevent any headaches down the road.
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
The one thing you want to make sure you plan in advance for (besides your flights, rental car and hotels) is getting into Rocky Mountain National Park. RMNP is one of the most visited parks in the US, thus they are one of the parks that have implemented timed entry reservations during peak months and times. Usually that means sometime between May-October timed entry is in place. You can get two types of passes the basic Timed Entry pass and the Timed Entry + Bear Lake. Reservations drop on the first of the month for the following month plus they set aside some reservations that drop the night before the date. It is crucial that you plan your schedule to snag some of these reservations to ensure you are able to visit the sections of the park you want, otherwise you will have to plan your day more carefully and enter the park before or after timed entry ends for the day. For more details, see our RMNP Timed Entry Guide that specifically outlines all you need to know.
Your Trip Outline
Our ideal road trip begins in Denver as the launching point, then traveling to Fort Collins for a couple days, RMNP for a couple days, Boulder for the last day and then ending back in Denver. You can structure this trip however you want, but we really recommend sandwiching RMNP in the middle to reduce driving times. You may want to hit up Boulder first then RMNP and then end in Fort Collins.
Colorado Road Trip Daily Itinerary
Day One: Denver
We won’t be spending much time in Denver as this really is just your arrival point from Denver International Airport or maybe you are driving into Colorado and drive through Denver like we do. Depending on what time you arrive, you may want to stop for a quick bite. You could stay the night here if you arrive late, but unless it’s super late it adds unnecessary hassle as your first destination is only about an hour drive away. However, it’s worth a stop at Odie B’s for breakfast or lunch. They serve some really delicious breakfast sandwiches/burritos and burgers. If you are traveling in on a weekend be prepared for a line, but it usually moves pretty fast.
Day Two and Three: Fort Collins
Quick Stats:
Time to Arrival from Denver: ~1 hour, 10 minutes
Miles from Denver: 68 miles
What to expect: charming college town known for it’s iconic brewery scene
Fort Collins is one of our favorite stops in Colorado. It seems to be less traveled to than the other college town on our road trip, but deserves its own stop. We find it’s the perfect blend of doing some small town city exploring, eating good food, drinking well and being able to get out and doing some outdoor adventures.
Where to Stay
Fort Collins is small, but you want to ensure you are located near Old Town Square. This is the heart of downtown where you will find many restaurants, bars and shops. We recommend staying at The Armstrong Hotel just a 5 minute walk from Old Town Square. It has an old world charm with a lively speakeasy nestled right in the basement.
Things to Do
In Fort Collins itself, you will definitely want to spend some time exploring the different breweries. With over 20 breweries in a small radius, you are sure to find different styles and atmospheres to suit your mood. Fort Collins is home to the popular O’Dell Brewing Company and New Belgium Brewing Company which are worth a stop for a brewery tour and beer flight. However, you will find many other small breweries that are worth a stop in. We recommend Equinox Brewing.
Whenever we visit a new city, especially a small town we enjoy wandering around and ambling into different stores that catch our eye. Fort Collins’ Old Town Square is a pedestrian friendly square that is perfect to soak in the local vibes.
Now we know there are plenty of outdoor hiking to be had coming up at RMNP, but Horsetooth Reservoir outside of Fort Collins is a great place to warm you up for some RMNP hikes. Or if you are a true adrenaline junkie book a white water rafting trip on Cache La Poudre River. This river provides some thrills and plunges in the cold mountain river to get your heart pumping.
Where to Eat
There are some great restaurants in Fort Collins. For a nice evening out we recommend The Regional, a farm to table concept that serves New American fare at a reasonable price. For brunch, we love the local CO staple Snooze for a variety of standard brunch dishes. Craving a burger? Hit up Stuft Burger Bar for a huge selection of burgers.
Where to Drink
Besides the aforementioned breweries if you are in the mood for cocktails there are some great bars to sit back and relax with a stiff drink. We really love Social and Ace Gillet’s Lounge to get those speakeasy vibes and grab a night cap.
Check out our Two Day Itinerary for Fort Collins, CO for additional details and how to structure your days.
Day Four and Five: Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park
Quick Stats:
Time to Arrival from Fort Collins: ~1 hour, 15 minutes
Miles from Fort Collins: 42 miles
What to expect: Tourist heavy town, but with a mountainside charm and bustling downtown nestled alongside the river
Fort Collins may technically be closer to Estes Park than Denver, but it takes around the same amount of time to get to Estes Park from Fort Collins as it does to get to Fort Collins from Denver due to starting to drive through some mountain roads halfway through your journey. It’s a beautiful, scenic drive and the time will fly by.
If you are unfamiliar with this area, Estes Park is the town located right outside RMNP on the east side of the park. You can also venture over to the west side for a quieter vibe in Grand Lake. However, we really recommend setting up your basecamp in Estes Park for first time visitors as there are lots of things to do and many of the best hikes are on this side of the park. We also recommend trying to plan your trip so you are here during the weekdays rather than the weekend if you want to try to avoid crowds as much as possible.
Where to Stay
Now it’s up to you if you want to rough it or not, there are many great campsites in the area. Just be sure to book early as they do fill up quite fast. We highly recommend staying at the Riversong Inn Retreat in Estes Park. This is an adults only bed and breakfast, so you can fuel up for your day in RMNP right at your lodging. We loved our stay here, they have many different room type options based on your budget. There are some rooms that have private hot tubs, patios and fireplaces. But, no matter which room you choose there are hot tubs and saunas on the property available for everyone to use.
Things to Do
Rocky Mountain National Park has so many great hikes it’s impossible to do them all, but no matter what you will have some epic alpine views. The most important thing is to plan ahead if you are visiting in peak visitation months between May-October and get timed entry passes. You cannot enter a lot of the park without them unless you get there early before they start checking passes or after timed entry ends. Check out our RMNP Timed Entry Guide for all the details. You will also need to get a park pass to enter the park in addition to the timed entry pass.
Now for hiking we love a good half day hike that gets the blood pumping, but doesn’t take all day. Some great hikes in this range include Emerald Lake Trail, Lake Haiyaha, The Loch and Gem Lake Trail. These trails are all about 3-5 miles and include alpine lakes, waterfalls, and mountain views to get the most out of your time in the park. Be sure to venture over to our Moderate Hikes in RMNP Guide for a full breakdown of each hike. The altitude in the park can be tough to get used to and it may take some time to acclimate, so be prepared for the hikes to feel a little bit harder than you may expect.
If you don’t want to hike, prefer a more leisurely adventure or just need a break after a long hike then you should check out Trail Ridge Road for an awesome drive through RMNP. It is the highest continuous paved road in the US and takes you up to the Alpine Visitor Center. For a chill walk through the park head over to Bear Lake and do a loop around the lake. It is a flat 0.7 mile loop, so it is a great option if looking to do something easy in the park.
When you aren’t exploring RMNP there is plenty to see and do in Estes Park. Downtown is located right alongside the river, so you can miss heading over there and walking along the Riverwalk while popping into various shops along the way.
Where to Eat
Estes Park isn’t as well known for their food scene, but they still have some decent spots to stop in after a long day in RMNP. If you want to grab something to take with you into the park, we highly recommend Scratch Deli. This little deli is conveniently located on your way into the park and has some delicious sandwiches you can pack to eat for lunch on one of your hikes. For dinner, head downtown and stop in Antlers Rooftop Tavern to enjoy a nice evening outside with some tasty burgers and drinks.
Check out our Two Day Itinerary for RMNP for additional details and how to structure your days.
Day Six: Boulder, CO
Quick Stats:
Time to Arrival from Estes Park: ~1 hour
Miles from Estes Park: 37 miles
What to expect: Quaint college town with a background of the Rockies and beautiful red flat irons
On your way to Boulder, expect another scenic drive through the mountains. This is the perfect destination to end your trip. Here you can do some exploring of downtown and relax with good food and drink after all the hiking and outdoor adventures that the first part of the trip included. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy some more nature while you are here if you are still wanting to fit in another hike before your trip ends.
Where to Stay
We highly recommend staying close enough to Pearl Street (downtown Boulder) that you are able to walk there. It’s just easier not to have to worry about parking downtown. Boulder Guest House is a great option here. It can be kind of difficult to find good accommodations in Boulder that isn’t pricey, but we feel Boulder Guest House is a great mid-level option. It’s not your typical hotel as it is a refurbished Victorian house where each room has a private entry. It feels more like a bed and breakfast, just without the breakfast and daily housekeeping is not provided during the stay. It’s a peaceful place and a great choice for your last day of your trip.
Things to Do
Pearl Street Mall is a bustling, pedestrian friendly downtown with many shops, restaurants and bars to explore. You can spend as much or as little time as you like visiting the different stores for souvenirs, books or apparel. Be sure to grab a sweet treat at Gelato Boy and do some people watching.
Boulder is home to the University of Colorado Boulder so you are sure to encounter many college students out and about. We always enjoy a good college campus and this one is fantastic. The building feature sandstone walls and red tile roofs that have a Tuscan vibe. There are also a couple of museums and a planetarium on campus that are open to the public.
If you are one of those people looking for more hiking then head over to the Flatirons. This area is just a short five minute drive away and you can find some truly unique red sandstone formations. There are several hikes in the area with various difficulty levels, so you can tackle whatever hike you feel up for including the Flatirons Loop trail (easy), Woods Quarry (moderate), or Royal Arch (difficult).
Last activity we recommend is truly dependent on weather. Tubing down Boulder Creek is a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. There is even a tube to work day for Boulder locals. It is usually an intense tube ride with rapids and choppy waters so don’t expect lazy river type conditions. There are several places you can rent tubes and equipment from during the summer. It is highly recommend to check water levels before attempting any tubing to ensure your safety. They recommend the water levels to be between 40-200cfs for tubing. You can check the American Whitewater website for current levels.
Where to Eat
For lunch hit up Half Fast Subs or Dish Gourmet for some tasty sandwiches. Check out Santo for some upscale Mexican fare and some good happy hour deals or a nice date night at Basta with some freshly made wood-fired pizzas.
Where to Drink
Boulder has some great cocktail bars. We enjoy The Jungle for some tiki inspired drinks in a tropical atmosphere and The Bitter Bar for a more classical cocktail vibe. It has more of a speakeasy feel and a great patio to enjoy a sip on a nice evening.
Check out our Day Trip to Boulder Guide for additional details and how to structure your day.
Day Seven: Denver, CO
Quick Stats:
Time to Arrival from Boulder: ~45 minutes
Miles from Boulder: 40 miles
Since Boulder is so close to Denver, you can stay the night there and head back to Denver in the morning for your flight or journey back home.
Trip Details
Quick Stats:
Total Driving Time: ~4 hours and 10 minutes
Total Miles: 187 miles
This really is a very easy road trip where you won’t be spending hours in the car between stops. This makes it easy to get the most out of your days and time!
What to Pack
Even if you are visiting in the summer it is important to pack layers. It can get cold in the mountains and it definitely can get cold at night. Truly important if you plan on doing any camping while you are in the area to ensure you have enough to keep warm at night. You’ll also want layers for your hikes in RMNP as it can be cool in the early morning and then warm as the day progresses. If you are just doing some of our suggested half day hikes you shouldn’t need a huge pack, but we’d suggest having a good camelbak and/or day pack to carry water, sunscreen, snacks, etc. Make sure you have some good hiking shoes as well, boots would be a good idea to give you some ankle support on the rocky trails. You’ll be doing lots of walking exploring the downtowns, so make sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes.
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy exploring nature, good food and drink then this guide is for you. You should have everything you need to have an epic road trip through the Rockies. Just make sure you set a reminder to book your timed entry reservations for RMNP. Happy hiking!
Recommendations
