Suggestions for a 10 day roadtrip to Colorado
#1
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Suggestions for a 10 day roadtrip to Colorado
Friends,
We are based out of Arkansas and have a 10 day window during Christmas to go on our first vacation in US. The plan we are broadly thinking of is to drive down from Arkansas to Denver and spend 3-4 days at Estes Park. We are looking for another destination nearby which will give some variety and spend another 2-3 days. Then spend a couple of days at Denver before we drive back home.
I am looking for driving route suggestions (scenic), attractions on the way, stay recommendations and ofcourse on destinations and things to do. We are a small family with a grown up teen. Generally, we like to take things at a slow place and explore the area, food, culture in our destinations.
Thanks,
R
We are based out of Arkansas and have a 10 day window during Christmas to go on our first vacation in US. The plan we are broadly thinking of is to drive down from Arkansas to Denver and spend 3-4 days at Estes Park. We are looking for another destination nearby which will give some variety and spend another 2-3 days. Then spend a couple of days at Denver before we drive back home.
I am looking for driving route suggestions (scenic), attractions on the way, stay recommendations and ofcourse on destinations and things to do. We are a small family with a grown up teen. Generally, we like to take things at a slow place and explore the area, food, culture in our destinations.
Thanks,
R
#3
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There's a fairly good chance there will be snow on the ground in Estes Park then (certainly in the national park).I would opt for Colorado Springs which has many things to do/see and not as likely to have snow then. Due to the possibility of snow in Kansas, it would be best to go on I-40 through Oklahoma to US 84 in New Mexico and then take I-25 north.
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If you decide to go to Col. Spgs., here are some things to do/see: Wander through the colorful rock formations at Garden of the Gods; go through Cave of the Winds; wander around Manitou Springs eating saltwater taffy exploring art galleries and the historic Cliff House hotel; eat and shop in Old Colorado City; and check out the Broadmoor Hotel. Check out the Rocky Mt. Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park; eat Colorado rainbow trout down in the Rabbit Hole which has whimsical Alice in Wonderland decor; eat steak or bison at a Western chuck wagon dinner.
Last edited by PrairieHikerI; Sep 1st, 2023 at 01:52 PM.
#5
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There's a fairly good chance there will be snow on the ground in Estes Park then (certainly in the national park).I would opt for Colorado Springs which has many things to do/see and not as likely to have snow then. Due to the possibility of snow in Kansas, it would be best to go on I-40 through Oklahoma to US 84 in New Mexico and then take I-25 north.
If you decide to go to Col. Spgs., here are some things to do/see: Wander through the colorful rock formations at Garden of the Gods; go through Cave of the Winds; wander around Manitou Springs eating saltwater taffy exploring art galleries and the historic Cliff House hotel; eat and shop in Old Colorado City; and check out the Broadmoor Hotel. Check out the Rocky Mt. Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park; eat Colorado rainbow trout down in the Rabbit Hole which has whimsical Alice in Wonderland decor; eat steak or bison at a Western chuck wagon dinner.
I will put up a tentative itinerary soon to get more specific feedback.
#6
There's an ice park in Ouray, and an annual ice climbing event, but it's in January. Ouray is just over an hour's drive from Telluride.
https://ourayicepark.com/
Estes Park to Telluride is well over seven hours via I-70, over eight if you go via Colorado Springs. This already long drive could easily be complicated by weather, so you'll want to stay flexible. If the roads are bad enough to require snow chains on a passenger vehicle, you won't want to be on them.
The I-70 route will take you through Grand Junction and Palisade, which can be quite pleasant in the winter - take a look at things to do here:
https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/
https://www.visitpalisade.com/
Colorado National Monument is particularly pretty in the snow:
https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm
Keep in mind Telluride and all Colorado ski areas are going to be very crowded and very expensive over Christmas.
https://ourayicepark.com/
Estes Park to Telluride is well over seven hours via I-70, over eight if you go via Colorado Springs. This already long drive could easily be complicated by weather, so you'll want to stay flexible. If the roads are bad enough to require snow chains on a passenger vehicle, you won't want to be on them.
The I-70 route will take you through Grand Junction and Palisade, which can be quite pleasant in the winter - take a look at things to do here:
https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/
https://www.visitpalisade.com/
Colorado National Monument is particularly pretty in the snow:
https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm
Keep in mind Telluride and all Colorado ski areas are going to be very crowded and very expensive over Christmas.
Last edited by Melnq8; Sep 2nd, 2023 at 12:26 PM.
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There's an ice park in Ouray, and an annual ice climbing event, but it's in January. Ouray is just over an hour's drive from Telluride.
https://ourayicepark.com/
....
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https://ourayicepark.com/
....
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Thank you for the rest of the links. We will keep our schedule flexible as much as possible, knowing the uncertainties of winter roads. Snow chain is only for emergencies. Thanks again Melnq8
#8
Recommend spending a little time learning to navigate the Colorado Department of Transportation website and/or app. Here's the website:
https://www.cotrip.org/home
The app is called "COtrip Planner". Both are decent but do take a little time getting used to, at least for me.
The cameras are good because you can see what the road conditions are right now. And they show you closures, construction, warnings, etc. You can enter a route and it gives info for that. The other states probably have something similar.
Have a safe trip.
https://www.cotrip.org/home
The app is called "COtrip Planner". Both are decent but do take a little time getting used to, at least for me.
The cameras are good because you can see what the road conditions are right now. And they show you closures, construction, warnings, etc. You can enter a route and it gives info for that. The other states probably have something similar.
Have a safe trip.
#9
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Our plans are firming up :
Day 1 : Bentonville, AR to Denver (Will this be feasible in Winter or we should plan a stop in between?)
Day 2 : Stay at Denver
Day 3 : Denver to Estes Park [Stay booked]
Day 4,5,6 : Stay at Estes Park [Stay booked]
Day 7 : Estes Park to Montrose (stay cost works out cheaper than Telluride or Ouray) - Does this make sense or its better to pay more and stay at Ouray?
Day 8,9 : Stay at Montrose
Day 10,11 : Montrose to Bentonville with a night halt some where in between (any recommendations?)
Looking for more insights before we book the stays at Denver/Montrose etc.
Thanks,
Rajat
Day 1 : Bentonville, AR to Denver (Will this be feasible in Winter or we should plan a stop in between?)
Day 2 : Stay at Denver
Day 3 : Denver to Estes Park [Stay booked]
Day 4,5,6 : Stay at Estes Park [Stay booked]
Day 7 : Estes Park to Montrose (stay cost works out cheaper than Telluride or Ouray) - Does this make sense or its better to pay more and stay at Ouray?
Day 8,9 : Stay at Montrose
Day 10,11 : Montrose to Bentonville with a night halt some where in between (any recommendations?)
Looking for more insights before we book the stays at Denver/Montrose etc.
Thanks,
Rajat
#10
Day 7 : Estes Park to Montrose (stay cost works out cheaper than Telluride or Ouray) - Does this make sense or its better to pay more and stay at Ouray?
Depends on what you want to do I guess. Montrose isn't a place I'd choose (nor would I choose Telluride for a non-ski holiday) but that's just me. It's a 45 minute drive from there to Ouray and a 90 minute drive from there to Telluride. Montrose is a full on town with plenty of amenties. There's not a whole lot to do in Ouray in the dead of winter other than the hot springs and the ice park, so Montrose might make a good compromise.
The drive from Montrose to Ouray will take you right through Ridgway via one of my favorite drives in the state. Ridgway has a few things of interest, including hot springs.
https://ridgwaycolorado.com/
https://www.visitouray.com/
Estes Park to Montrose will take 6-7 hours depending on route and weather conditions.
Depends on what you want to do I guess. Montrose isn't a place I'd choose (nor would I choose Telluride for a non-ski holiday) but that's just me. It's a 45 minute drive from there to Ouray and a 90 minute drive from there to Telluride. Montrose is a full on town with plenty of amenties. There's not a whole lot to do in Ouray in the dead of winter other than the hot springs and the ice park, so Montrose might make a good compromise.
The drive from Montrose to Ouray will take you right through Ridgway via one of my favorite drives in the state. Ridgway has a few things of interest, including hot springs.
https://ridgwaycolorado.com/
https://www.visitouray.com/
Estes Park to Montrose will take 6-7 hours depending on route and weather conditions.
#11
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Day 7 : Estes Park to Montrose (stay cost works out cheaper than Telluride or Ouray) - Does this make sense or its better to pay more and stay at Ouray?
Depends on what you want to do I guess. Montrose isn't a place I'd choose (nor would I choose Telluride for a non-ski holiday) but that's just me. ....
Depends on what you want to do I guess. Montrose isn't a place I'd choose (nor would I choose Telluride for a non-ski holiday) but that's just me. ....
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