Day Trips

By definition, a day trip means that you can travel to a distant place, have the opportunity to experience it to some degree and drive back in a single day. There are many such trips possible in Colorado. Most of them involve getting up into the majestic Rocky Mountains. Following are some suggestions proceeding counterclockwise.

1. TAKE A TRIP TO FORT COLLINS  (65 miles from Denver.) Find out why Money Magazine ranked it the best place in which to live in the United States. It can be reached about 60 miles north of Denver on Interstate I-25. Visit the Budweiser plant to see how this popular beer is produced and take home some free samples.

2. THERE IS MUCH TO SEE IN BEAUTIFUL BOULDER   (30 miles from Denver.) It is located some 30 miles northwest of Denver up Highway 36. The University of Colorado and the Buffalos make their home here.

3. VISIT GOLDEN   (17 miles from Denver.) It is due east of Denver on Route 6. It is home to the Colorado School of Mines, the grave of Buffalo Bill Cody and the Coors brewery, the second largest in the United States. 

4. ENJOY EVERGREEN   (30 miles from Denver.) To reach Evergreen, take Interstate I-70 west and turn south on Route 74 ( Evergreen Parkway). This is the road to Mt. Evans, one of the tallest mountains around standing at 14,264 feet high. The trip is exceedingly picturesque but not for the faint of heart.

5. TAKE IN CENTRAL CITY  (39 miles from Denver) Take Interstate I-70 west and turn north on Route 119. What used to be a gold mining town is now home to several casinos. An effort has been made to preserve the exterior of the buildings which look very much the way they did when they were built more than 100 years ago. 

6. FOLLOW INTERSTATE I-70 TO VAIL   (100 miles from Denver.) The scenery is unbelievable. This popular ski resort is just as gorgeous in the summertime. There is much to do and see here.

7. HEAD FOR LEADVILLE – THE ROOF OF THE WORLD   (100 Miles from Denver.) Leadville is an abandoned silver mining town. It sits among several of the tallest peaks in America. It can be reached by continuing on Interstate I-70 west past Vail and turning south on Route 24. For those who want to spend the better part of a day in the car, stay on Route 24 until it eventually takes them east to Woodland Park and then Colorado Springs. Take Interstate I-25 north back to Denver.

8. VISIT GLENWOOD SPRINGS  (157 miles from Denver.) This city is world famous for its natural hot springs. Take the time to enjoy the healing waters, to visit the spa and get a massage. To reach Glenwood Springs, take Interstate I-70 west until it intersects with Route 82, which will take you to the city. Continuing on Route 82 south will take the driver south towards Carbondale, which is too picturesque for words, and on to Aspen. 

9. GO TO ASPEN. (160 miles from Denver.) No visit to Colorado would be complete without seeing Aspen. It is a world famous ski resort town, now heralded for its summer concerts, restaurants and other activities. To reach Aspen, stay on Interstate I-70 west until you reach Route 82. Route 82 eventually links up with Route 24, crossing Trout Creek Pass enroute to Woodland Park and Colorado Springs. From there it is 90 miles on Interstate I-25 back to Denver. It is a long trip, most people would say too much to do in a day. However, if you start early in the morning you should be able to complete the loop, back to Denver, providing you do not spend a lot of time shopping or posing for pictures. The intelligent thing, of course, would be to stay overnight in Aspen and to complete the circle back to Colorado Springs and Denver the next day.

10. HEAD FOR COLORADO SPRINGS   (67 miles from Denver.) This beautiful city nestled in the foothills of the Rockies is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel and Spa. All of these attractions should be on everyone's must see list. Colorado Springs can be reached by going south on Interstate I-25. It takes a little less than two hours to make the trip, depending on the traffic.

Those who would like to see the sights but do not want to drive themselves can make arrangements with the ever present Gray Line Company that can arrange transit by car or bus, as you desire. You can make up your own tour or join in part of an established one. For more information, contact Gray Line at (800) 348-6877.

Apart from seeing the sights including the mountains and the beautiful turning leaves, it is obvious that any number of activities can be scheduled at various stops along the way. Please remember that the air is thin, meaning that there is less oxygen in it than you will find at sea level. This can leave some people feeling dizzy or give them a sense of tiring easily. This is usually a matter of being acclimated. Most people who spend any time at higher altitudes eventually adjust to it. Therefore, visitors should remember to drink plenty of water not only to stay hydrated but because oxygen is one of the two essential elements of water – drinking water will help increase the oxygen content in the bloodstream.