The Ultimate Day Trip Guide to Boulder, Colorado
Planning a trip to Denver or Rocky Mountain National Park and looking for the perfect day trip or one-day add on to your vacation? Look no further than Boulder, Colorado. This mountain-side college town is the perfect stop over if you are in the area.
In this guide you will find a complete itinerary for things to do, where to stay (if staying the night), and what to eat and drink on your short stay in Boulder.
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.
Where to Stay
One thing about staying in Boulder is, there aren’t too many inexpensive options for lodging. This town is know for being more on the expensive side and the lodging is no different. Below are some mid-level options that are close to downtown for ease of travel while not breaking the bank.
Basecamp Boulder’s vibe is what if we brought camping indoors? We’re pretty sure they renovated an old motel into Basecamp Boulder, but it works. We loved the communal spaces they offered where you could cozy up next to the fire pit, have some fun on the climbing wall, play games, and enjoy some freshly baked cookies in the lobby. The rooms are pretty minimalistic, but expected for a more affordable stay in Boulder. The location is also great, as it was important that we could easily walk straight to the Pearl Street Mall.
Looking for a Zen space to relax after an active day in and around Boulder? Look no further than Boulder Guest House. The rooms here are located in a refurbished Victorian house all with their own private entrances. You will find quaint, airy rooms decorated in a contemporary style throughout the property. Boulder Zen House is also located on the property where you can join mediation practices for a truly immersive experience at no cost. Boulder Guest House is located just a short walk away from Pearl Street Mall.
Another accommodation that embraces the outdoors is A-Lodge Boulder. Here you can choose your own adventure from traditional hotel rooms, suites, cabins to hostel rooms to camping from a tent or van. This is your spot if you truly want to get outside and explore. Located right off of Fourmile Creek you will have access to trails right out your door. A-Lodge Boulder also includes access to the pool, hot tub, sauna, community room, or even try your hand (or feet) at slacklining! This hotel is located just a short 5 minute drive from the Pearl Street Mall area of Boulder.
How to Get to Boulder
From Denver
The drive to Boulder from Denver is just a short 40 minutes. It’s an easy drive once you get out of Denver proper and will take US-36 for the majority of the way. Don’t have a car? No problem. You can catch a bus from Bustang with a direct route from Denver Union Station to Boulder. This route goes all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park, but you can hop off when it gets to the Boulder stop.
From Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park
Boulder is just a short hour drive away from Estes Park. Like from Denver, you will take US-36 the entire way. You will be driving through Big Thompson Canyon, so you will have a scenic drive the whole way there. Again, if you don’t have a car take Bustang directly from RMNP Park & Ride or Estes Park Visitor Center directly to Boulder.
Your Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Boulder Colorado
Depending on if you are coming to Boulder for outdoor adventure or escaping Rocky Mountain National Park for some light city exploring there are activities to meet any need. You will find our itinerary below offers options for either type of traveller.
Day One Morning
Option 1:
Start your morning with a visit to the University of Colorado Boulder. Not only is the campus beautiful nestled among the mountains, they have some great museums and attractions for those that enjoy the finer things in life. Check out the CU Art Museum, CU Museum of Natural History, or Fiske Planetarium.
Option 2:
If you are visiting from Rocky Mountain National Park, you may not be looking for more hiking. However, Boulder has some great areas to soak in some more nature if desired. It is Colorado after all. The Flatirons are just a short 5 minute drive away. Here you will find unique, slanted red sandstone formations. Some popular hikes include the Flatirons Loop trail (easy), Woods Quarry (moderate), or Royal Arch (difficult).
Day One Mid-Day
Option 1:
If you visited the University of Colorado for your morning activity, make sure you stop for lunch at Half Fast Subs on the Hill. This quaint eatery is frequented by college students and offers some of the best subs in the area. The menu is expansive and features any kind of sub you could imagine. They also offer salads if you are looking for a lighter option as well.
Option 2:
Planning on being around Pearl Street Mall for the afternoon? We recommend grabbing lunch at Dish Gourmet. Located towards the east end of Pearl Street Mall, you will find this unassuming spot. It has limited seating, but we were able to snag a spot outside. They feature gourmet style sandwiches, salads and soups. We got the BLAT and Italian sandwiches which we both enjoyed!
Day One Afternoon
Option 1:
Pearl Street Mall is a four-block pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder. You could spend all day walking around the different shops, restaurants and bars. There are many great places that extend past the pedestrian area as well. There are tons of boutique stores, gift shops to poke around in or wander through the bookshelves at Boulder Bookstore and Lighthouse Bookstore. When you need a break from walking around grab some gelato at Gelato Boy and take a moment to people watch.
Option 2:
Craving some adventure? Tubing down Boulder Creek is a popular activity to soak in the sun on a warm summer day. You can tube from Eben G. Fine Park all the way to 55th street. This ride isn’t for the faint of heart. It can be very choppy with slopes and rapids along the way. Tubing is generally available from May to September, but is highly dependent on the water levels. They recommend the water levels to be between 40-200cfs for tubing. Be sure to check water levels before going on the American Whitewater website. You will need a helmet, life jacket and of course a tube. You can rent from Crystal Ski Shop or Alpine Base & Edge for around $20.
Day One Evening
Option 1:
This option is for the foodie and drink enthusiasts. We recommend eating dinner at Santo. Dinner at Santo, a Southwestern restaurant located not too far from Pearl Street Mall. We made sure to arrive for happy hour as they have some great food and drink specials including favorites like margaritas, salsa, queso and tacos.
After you’d had your fill of tacos head over to the Pearl Street Mall area for some expertly crafted drinks. Visit Jungle for a tropical vibe. The bar is decked out in plants and eclectic lighting. Sit back and sip on some excellent rum based cocktails on a hot summer evening. And/or head over to Bitter Bar for a completely different atmosphere. This dark and moody bar focuses on the classics and some specialty cocktails.
Option 2:
This option is going to take you outside of Boulder, but it is well worth it in our opinion. One of the best concert experiences in the country is located just a 40 minute drive outside of Boulder (or just 20 minutes outside of Denver) at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Somehow mother nature created the perfect acoustics for an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by sandstone monoliths with the city skyline of Denver as it’s backdrop, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Let’s not forget dinner before you head over to Red Rocks. Stop at Basta on your drive out for a nice pre-concert meal. They offer some really outstanding wood-fired pizzas. Be sure to snag a reservation so you don’t have to wait for a table in this intimate space.
Final Thoughts
We love Boulder. The vibes of this mountainside college town are hard to beat. From the views to the hikes from the downtown strolls to the food and drink, you have something for any type of mood you are in. You can easily take the activities from this itinerary and stretch it out into a longer stay if you want. We hope you enjoy Boulder!
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