Our friends at KDVR put together the Top 5 must see Colorado Staycations....ENJOY!
Gas prices are slowly starting to drop after reaching record highs to start the summer. But if you are still wanting to save a few bucks and avoid traveling outside of Colorado, there are plenty of great places to visit.
Here is a look at five different destinations that provide beautiful, scenic routes.
10 great hikes less than 2 hours from Denver
1. Silverton
There are a few scenic routes that will take you to this beautiful destination. The route via I-70 and US-50 is about 6 hours and 15 minutes. It goes through places like Frisco, Beaver Creek, Glenwood Springs, Palisade, Ridgway, and Ouray. It will also cross over the Million Dollar Highway. Another route via Hwy 285 and US-50 will take you through places like Fairplay, Antero Junction, Poncha Springs, Gunnison, and then over the Million Dollar Highway.
Things to do while you are there:
Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a train ride
Jeeping
Horseback riding
Hiking
Fishing
Camping
2. Great Sand Dunes
This scenic drive via I-25 and US-160 will take you through places like Larkspur, Colorado City, Walsenburg, and Fort Garland. It will take you about 3 hours and 35 minutes to arrive at the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Things to do while you are there:
Sandboarding and sand sledding
Swimming in the creek
Hiking
Horseback riding
Fishing
3. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
This road trip offers a few different beautiful routes. From Denver, it’s between 4 hours and 45 minutes to right at 5 hours. One route via I-70 takes you through places like Silverthorne, Vail, and Glenwood Springs. Another route via Hwy 285 takes you through places like Conifer, Fairplay, and Gunnison.
Things to do while you are there:
Hiking
Biking
Scenic drives
Fishing
4. Palisade
This scenic road trip will take you across I-70 through places like Vail, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Parachute.
Things to do while you are there:
Guided Segway tours
Wine tours
Rafting
Road biking
The Palisade Plunge
5. Dinosaur National Monument
This road trip offers a few different beautiful routes. From Denver, it’s between 4 hours and 17 minutes to around 5 hours. One route via US-40 takes you through places like Kremmling, Steamboat Springs, and Craig. The other route starts on CO-125 and ends up on US-40. It goes through places like Winter Park, Granby, and Steamboat Springs.
Things to do while you are there:
Camping
Hiking
View exposed fossils
River rafting
Petroglyphs