Denver, the capital of Colorado is a fantastic destination to spend a weekend. It also makes for a fantastic place to base yourself to take some day trips around Colorado. It also has a lot of fun activities for couples. The following are some of the best day trips from Denver to explore during your Colorado vacation!
US Ghost Adventures is an awesome company that offers a variety of guided tours and haunted experiences across different cities in the United States. Visitors can learn the compelling history and stories of the paranormal and the city’s darker side. Make sure to check out the variety of tours offered in Denver here. They are very affordable too!
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How to Get to Denver
Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights. There are flights to Denver from all over the United States.
Where to Stay in Denver
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Denver here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
- Hyatt Regency Denver
- Hyatt House Denver/Downtown
- Grand Hyatt Denver
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
- Aloft Denver Downtown
- AC Hotel Denver Downtown
- Le Meridien Denver Downtown
- Hilton Garden Inn Denver Downtown
- Embassy Suites Denver Downtown
Day Trips from Denver: Under 1 Hour
Boulder
By Sonia of Carey On Travels
Boulder is a vibrant town nestled against the foothills of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, located just 30 miles northwest of Denver. It is one of the best day trips from Denver. It offers a mix of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and a lively food scene. Its laid-back atmosphere contrasts perfectly with Denver’s urban vibe, making it a refreshing escape.
Getting to Boulder from Denver is easy. The drive takes about 35-40 minutes via US-36, as long as you avoid rush hour. Alternatively, you can take the RTD Flatiron Flyer bus, which offers frequent and affordable service between Denver Union Station and downtown Boulder.
There are seemingly endless activities to enjoy for your day trip to Boulder. Be sure to stroll the pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street Mall, with its boutique shops, cafés, and street performers. Head over to Chautauqua Park to hike one of the many trails offering breathtaking views of the iconic Flatirons.
After your hike, enjoy a cup of tea or lunch at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, an ornate teahouse gifted from Boulder’s sister city of Dushanbe in Tajikistan. Rent a bike or take a leisurely stroll on the Boulder Creek Path, a scenic trail that runs through towns and extends into Boulder Canyon. For those looking for a break from the outdoors, explore Boulder’s Museum of Contemporary Art or one of the many other museums in town.
For foodies, don’t miss Boulder’s farm-to-table restaurants like The Kitchen, SALT, or Black Cat. A visit to Boulder’s Farmer’s Market is not only a great place to sample and buy a variety of organic produce, meats, cheeses, and breads, but also a place to listen to live music and enjoy lunch.
Golden
By Denise of Chef Denise
In less than a half hour you can drive the 16 miles from Denver to Golden, an old mining town at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It’s even close enough that if you don’t have a car, you can take a tram or bus and still be there in just over an hour.
Whether you’re interested in history, nature, museums, adventure, or just want to taste some good beer, Golden offers something for everyone. The town is small, so if you want to see it all, you can. It makes for one of the best day trips from Denver.
Step back in time at the Clear Creek History Park with its preserved historic structures and views of Table Mountain. Adventurists and nature lovers should head to Lookout Mountain Park and Nature Center for hiking and stunning views. The town’s museums include the American Mountaineering Museum and the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum loaded with an impressive collection of minerals, gemstones, and fossils.
However, what Golden is most famous for is the Coors Brewery, the largest single-site brewery in the world. You can take a guided tour to learn about the brewing process, the Coors family’s legacy, and maybe even sample some freshly brewed beer. You’ll be surprised how many different labels Coors owns. But some of the best breweries in Golden are the craft breweries producing small-batch beers. They’re also a great place to have lunch!
Day Trips from Denver: Under 1-2 Hours
Grays and Torreys
By Crystal of Blue Canoe Travel
Want to achieve something crazy on one of the best day trips from Denver? Why not challenge yourself to conquering two 14ers! Yes, just a 75-minute drive away from Denver is the Grays and Torreys Summer Trailhead, where you can bag two peaks in about seven hours. Note that this hike is only available in the summer, as it is covered with snow from October to June.
The challenge starts before the sun rises. You want to get there early, sometimes as early as 4am on popular weekends, to secure a parking spot and avoid afternoon thunderstorms. The road up to the trailhead was the worst thing I have ever driven on. All-wheel drive (AWD) is a must, and high clearance is strongly recommended.
Once you are there, your 8.1 mi hike officially starts. Elevation gain is 3602 ft, so pack plenty of water and snacks as this will not be easy. The first 2 miles are relatively flat. As you make your way through the bushes, the scene starts changing, and the peaks reveal themselves. The trail will get steeper, and summiting might feel impossible, but take it one step at a time, and you will eventually find yourself at the fork to the two peaks.
Keep a close eye on the weather and your own body conditions. Start heading back if anything feels off. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, and you do not want to be above the treeline when it happens. I recommend reading the comments on AllTrails, as hikers give pretty detailed and timely suggestions.
Whether you summit or not, hiking Grays and Torreys is definitely worth it: the beauty of nature, the grit of fellow hikers, the adorable goats, marmots, and pikas along the trails. You will be so proud of yourself for your effort!
Rocky Mountain National Park
By Jess of Uprooted Traveler
Located about an hour and twenty minutes northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain is one of the most beloved U.S. National Parks. It also is home to many superlatives—for example, its Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous highway in the country and is one of the only national parks in the Lower 48 to have a fourteener: the sought after mountain peaks that are at least 14,000 feet high. It makes for one of the best day trips from Denver.
Given Rocky Mountain’s popularity and proximity to Denver (just 65 miles!), there’s a multitude of ways to get here. For example, you can simply drive or, alternatively, take a range of public transit options, like the Bustang bus from Union Station in downtown Denver.
In summer, the park is a paradise for outdoor adventure lovers, with seemingly endless hiking and camping opportunities. For example, the popular Emerald Lake Trail is a moderately challenging hike that takes you past three stunning alpine lakes. For more of a hidden gem, check out the more challenging Chasm Lake Trail, which takes you to the shores of a turquoise lake, surrounded by jagged mountain peaks.
Because of the park’s high elevation, many trails and roads can become inaccessible, due to snow, in the colder months. Still, the park is open 365 days a year, with plenty of activities, like cross-country skiing or even joining a ranger-led snowshoe in the wintertime.
Regardless of when you visit the park, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee (either $30 for one day or $35 for one week per private vehicle). Additionally, from late May through mid-October, you’ll need to get one of two timed entry permits to enter the park, depending on which area you plan on visiting. You can pick up a timed entry permit on the park’s website.
Colorado Springs
By Janet of Practical Travel Concepts
Located approximately 70 miles south of Denver, Colorado Springs is a 1-hour to 1.5-hour drive, depending on traffic. The most convenient way to get there is by car via I-25 South, which offers stunning mountain views along the way. You cannot miss Colorado Springs as it is one of the best day trips from Denver.
Colorado Springs is worth a day trip for its natural beauty, famous landmarks, and outdoor activities. The city sits at the base of Pikes Peak, one of Colorado’s most famous 14ers exceeding 14,000 feet. If you are a nature lover or are into aviation, this is the place to visit.
Start your day at the Garden of the Gods, a National Natural Landmark featuring dramatic red rock formations and easy hiking trails. You can take a self-guided audio tour or purchase a ticket for a trolley tour. There are lots of options available and the park is free to the public.
Be sure to visit Pikes Peak, which can be reached by driving the scenic Pikes Peak Highway or riding the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The railway offers a 3.5-hour round-trip journey, and it’s best to purchase tickets in advance.
A visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy is a must for aviation enthusiasts, with the occasional sighting of a Thunderbird soaring overhead. Explore the campus on a self-guided tour, stopping by the visitor center to learn about cadet life. For a more in-depth experience, consider joining a docent-led walking tour.
Day Trips from Denver: Over 2 Hours
Royal Gorge
By Taylor of Brown Eyed Flower Child
Royal Gorge, a spectacular canyon a few minutes outside Cañon City, Colorado, is one of the best day trips from Denver. It’s also a perfect stop on a Colorado road trip!
This breathtaking gorge is 119 miles south of Denver, a two-hour drive. The best way to get from the city to the gorge is to rent a car. You can also take the Bustang bus that runs every four hours from the Broadway & W. It will be 14th Avenue bus stop in Denver to the Tejon P & R in Colorado Springs; you’ll need to take a taxi or rideshare from there.
Overall, Royal Gorge offers many fun activities for people of all ages! You must purchase tickets to enjoy unlimited gondola rides over the gorge, walk over the Royal Gorge Bridge, America’s Highest Suspension Bridge, and visit the Plaza Theater and Tommyknocker Playland. There are jaw-dropping views all around!
At the bottom of the gorge is Colorado’s premier scenic railroad, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. It runs at the bottom of the canyon, along the Arkansas River. During this journey, you can enjoy delicious dining, a bar car, a murder mystery show, beer and wine excursions, and a Santa Express during the holiday season.
Other fun things to do at Royal Gorge are climbing the Royal Gorge Via Ferrata, making memories on the Royal Rush Skycoaster, and enjoying more incredible views along the Cloudscraper Zip Line.
If you plan to eat at Royal Gorge, you can choose from a café, a BBQ restaurant, a Mexican eatery, a beer garden, and a tap room.
Glenwood Springs
By Ashley Jansen of Jetset Jansen
Glenwood Springs is a great option for a weekend getaway from Denver. It’s located directly west from the city and will take about 2.5 hours to get there. The drive is a straight shot along I-70 and will take you up through the mountains and surrounding towns.
One of the main things to do in Glenwood Springs is visit the hot springs nestled in the mountains. You can find the largest hot springs pool in the world here. The pool is part of the Hot Springs Resort but you can buy a day pass to visit and soak in the pool with a mountain view.
It isn’t the only option though. You can also visit the Iron Mountain Hot Springs which are located right on the river and have multiple smaller pools at different temperatures. Or you can go to the vapor caves for a spa-like experience where the steam comes from the hot springs nearby.
While those are great winter activities, Glenwood Springs also has a lot to do in the warmer months as well. The famous Hanging Lake hike is just down the road and will take you up to a beautiful cliffside waterfall or you can go river rafting in the Colorado River.
Another fun activity is going up the gondola to the top of the mountain to the Adventure Park. There are mountain roller coasters, thrill rides, and several caves that you can take tours through. You can easily spend the day there and it’s a fun place to go while exploring Glenwood Springs. It makes for one of the best day trips from Denver.
Victor
By Natalie of Camping with Kiddos
Victor, Colorado, is filled with history and hiking trails for one of the best day trips from Denver.
Victor is about 2 hours and 15 minutes (116 miles) southwest of Denver. The easiest way to get to the town is by taking I-25 South to Colorado Springs, then turning onto Highway 24 to Divide, Colorado. From there, the last 15 miles or so are on Highway 67 through Cripple Creek.
While you’ll curve slowly around Pike’s Peak on Highways 24 and 67, there’s no challenging driving as you might find elsewhere in the Colorado Rockies. This road trip is perfectly manageable in a standard car unless there’s very bad winter weather.
Victor is worth the day trip from Denver thanks to its pristine views of the Rockies, numerous hiking trails and its gold mining history. A family-friendly hike that’s great for the kid (or kid at heart) is a few miles west of Victor: on the Rita the Rock Planter trail, you can see one of artist Thomas Dambo’s newest troll sculptures and then visit the defunct American Eagle mine, which is on the same property.
The Theresa Mine trail or the Stratton’s Independence Mine trail, both to the east of Victor, are two other easily accessible hikes to historic gold mining equipment.
The town of Victor is adorable and worth a few hours. Stop by the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum to learn more about the history of mining and go panning for your old gold stash. Then, get a freshly made sandwich or pie on 3rd Street from the Gold Camp Bakery Cafe. Stop by the small but helpful visitors kiosk at the corner of Victor Avenue and 2nd Street to get a map of the town or recommendations on local hiking.
Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Denver
There are many amazing and best day trips from Denver. If you have the time, check out these Colorado road trips that head to places like Black Canyon of the Gunnison or Grand Junction.
