Colorado Travel Guide: Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Map
Most of you out there know that I spent five months of 2021 driving across the United States. It was the road trip to top all other road trips, with 29 states, 10 national parks, and countless Motel 6s. Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite part of the road trip was, I always answer, “Colorado.”
So let’s talk about this epic Colorado road trip. Colorado is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The jagged spine of the Rocky Mountains crosses the entirety of the state, leaving dramatic landscapes in every direction. Not many places on the planet have some of the highest mountains in the world, glacial lakes, deep forests, sprawling desert, historic mining towns, and thriving cities loaded with every creature comfort.
What’s wonderful about Colorado is that it really is “choose your own adventure.” You can spend a night in one of the best hotels in the world, and the next be deep in the backcountry with nothing except for what you can carry on your back.
We spent a little more than a month driving all over the state discovering its best destinations and smaller insider secrets for ourselves. If you’re itching for a road trip this spring or summer, you will not be disappointed with a visit to Colorado. So buckle up and get ready to discover our epic Colorado road trip and how you can DIY.
You can treat each section as a mini guide. We were on a very strict budget, so we stayed at cheap motels or outside of town. The accommodations I list are ones that I would recommend if you’re going on a more forgiving budget.
Speaking of budget, Colorado is also one of the most expensive places in the country so I’ve dedicated a section at the end to how to do Colorado and save some money in the process.
Note: I know how passionate Colorado locals are about their state, so let me be upfront and say I am not a local. I am not an expert in the state of Colorado. I can only share with you the experiences I had and the places I went, which were far from exhaustive when it comes to how much Colorado has to offer. I know Colorado lifers out there have a long, long list of their personal favorites. This is basically my way of stopping the trolls in their tracks. To them, I say: I agree, you know Colorado better than I do — let’s not fight about it.
Colorado Map: Where We Traveled on This Epic Colorado Road Trip
Click to jump to any of these sections
This map shows you the route we took around Colorado and the order that we followed. Colorado really only has one main artery — I-70, which cuts across the state. To get to the smaller towns you’ll take state, county, or local roads and because the entire state is cut by the Rocky Mountains, it can take a lot of time to go really short physical distances.
If you’re pressed for time, there are definitely sections of this road trip that you can cut. Driving to Crested Butte is definitely a detour, but one that I would highly recommend. You can take any section of this overall road trip and create smaller ones, all of which would be beautiful. I happened to be on an assignment during my time in Colorado, which is why we hit as many destinations as we did.
Health note: Most of the towns we visited in Colorado have elevations above 6,000 feet. Even Denver is still a mile up in elevation. Altitude sickness is very real and it’s important to pay attention to your body. Stay hydrated all the time. Do not drink too much (because you will get really drunk, really quickly - and pay for it the next day.) If you have headaches or feel dizzy, then you must come down to lower elevations as soon as possible.
Colorado Travel Guide: Steamboat Springs
Since we were driving from western Wyoming, our first stop in Colorado was in the northwestern ski town, Steamboat Springs. For me it was an idyllic first foray into the state of Colorado based on visuals alone. Located on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies, the former mining town dates back more than 100 years when it was founded as a center for the railroad. Today Steamboat Springs has come a long way from its scruffy roots. In fact, it has become one of the most expensive and bougiest towns in Colorado. (Everywhere in Colorado is expensive, but Steamboat Springs is particularly pricey.)
Best Things to do in Steamboat Springs
Ski
It goes without saying that practically every stop on this list is a ski destination. I do not ski at all, so I’m not going to talk about skiing. This is a blanket statement that you can ski anywhere on this list (and ski very, very well).
Hike Fish Creek Falls
Be sure to visit Fish Creek Falls when you first arrive. It’s Steamboat Springs’ dramatic first act. A 280-foot waterfall plunges down into Fish Creek Canyon within the surrounding Routt National Forest, just outside of the historic downtown. You can hike to the falls if you want, or, if you’re lazy, you can take the paved path that leads to a lookout clearing with views directly over the falls.
Hot Springs
Other highlights in Steamboat Springs are, well, the hot springs for which the town was named. The natural hot springs bubble to the surface creating toasty natural soaking pools. The most popular one is Strawberry Park Hot Springs, where the water percolates at a delicious 104 degrees (Fahrenheit) year-round. Reservations are required.
Explore Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
Steamboat Springs’ backyard is the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. The forest area covers nearly 3 million acres of northern Colorado into Wyoming. Steamboat Springs is one of the many gateways to the hundreds of miles of hiking trails, biking trails, campgrounds, reservoirs, rivers, and lakes.
Get Some Culture
The Steamboat Art Museum and the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra are two of the city’s most popular cultural attractions.
Best Places to Eat in Steamboat Springs
Low Country Kitchen: Great fried chicken and great deals during Happy Hour
Back Door: Delicious burgers and casual beers
T Bar at Steamboat: Apres-ski
Creekside Cafe & Grill: Breakfast, but usually with a wait time
Best Hotels in Steamboat Springs, CO
The Inn at Steamboat: Chalet vibes with outdoor pool and quick drive to the slopes.
Nordic Lodge: Cabin-style, half a mile from hot springs.
The Ptarmigan Inn: Ski-in, ski-out. Social and cozy with that trendy industrial-chic style.
Epic Colorado Road Trip: Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a seriously cool town. The small, historic mining town is (you guessed it) an expensive ski town in the Colorado Rockies, but it had an energy and a style that felt super approachable and comfortable to me. Walking down Breck’s main street your head will spin with the colorful historic storefronts that today house fabulous restaurants, boutiques, and bars. Plus, it’s surrounded by five massive peaks meaning you’re never more than a few feet away from an amazing outdoor adventure.
Best Things to Do in Breckenridge
Be outside
During the day you’ll want to be out in the mountains, as there is so much hiking to be done in Breckenridge. Surrounded by five peaks, Breckenridge has dozens of brag-worthy climbs, many with mind-bending views. Surrounded by the White River National Forest, Breckenridge is also the gateway to 2.3 million acres of outdoor wilderness.
For me, the best hikes in Breckenridge, CO were the Hoosier Pass Loop, the Blue Lakes Trail, and the Bakers Tank Trail. These are relatively easy hikes — I was out there with a sprained ankle — so you don't have to be an expert to tackle them. What you do have to be aware of is the elevation. Breckenridge's downtown sits at 9,600 feet above sea level, and hikes that rise in elevation are getting you some pretty serious altitude.
Explore Main Street
Not much has changed on Breck's Main Street since 1859 — except for the fact that it is really, really expensive. The Victorian storefronts give Breckenridge a charming, historic feel, but stepping inside you'll be slammed back to the 21st century. Downtown is bubbling with cafes, restaurants, high-end shopping, art galleries, real estate offices, and bars.
Boreas Pass
Scenic drives are my thing, and I was very happy to have discovered Boreas Pass. The 22-mile drive starts in Breckenridge and crests over an 11,481-foot summit. The hour-long drive shows off some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, following along what used to be the country's highest narrow-gauge railroad track.
Best Places to Eat in Breckenridge
Coffee Depot: Breck has a ton of coffee shops, but we went here every morning and loved it.
Blue Moose: Casual breakfast
Giampietro Pasta & Pizzeria: You know our Pizza Sunday tradition. This is where we went in Breck and it did not disappoint. Classic, elevated pizzeria-style pies, pastas, salads.
Sancho Tacos: Delicious tacos and strong margaritas. Sit outside for people watching.
Gold Pan Saloon: Kitschy, but pretty cool. This is one of the oldest bars in Colorado. Sit at the historic bar and see who saunters in.
Aurum Food & Wine Breckenridge: Seasonal menus, craft cocktails, wine list. Good for date night.
Best Places to Stay in Breckenridge
Gravity Haus: Social, coworking vibe with bar and restaurant. Plus outdoor hot tubs.
The Lodge at Breckenridge: Rustic vibes, outdoor hot tubs, best views.
One Ski Hill Place: Ski-in, ski-out. Great apres-ski
Welk Resorts: Budget-friendly, surrounded by nature, some rooms have kitchens
Colorado Travel Destinations: Vail
I found Vail to be interesting because of its history. The entire village looks like it left from the slopes of the Tyrolean Alps. That's because it sort of did. The mountain village was founded by World War II mountain troopers who spent their training in the Alps of Europe. When they returned stateside, they turned Vail into their own Alpine paradise. Since then it has become one of the best ski destinations in the world, as well as a summer hot spot.
Best Things to Do in Vail
Hike
Personally I could have skipped Vail. That's not to say it isn't gorgeous — it is. But I don't ski and I found the whole Tyrolean village atmosphere to be a little manufactured and Disney-esque. We did do some incredible hiking in Vail, though. One of Vail's most beautiful hikes is along the Booth Falls trail. The entire trail is 10 miles out and back, but you don't have to do the entire trek. About two miles in is a 60-foot waterfall, which is a great spot to break for lunch. Turn around or keep going to discover Booth Lake.
Vail Village
The pedestrian-only Vail Village is very charming, and nice to walk around to snap some photos of the Alpine-inspired architecture. Shopping here is really expensive, too. The Ford Park complex is very pretty, home to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.
Ride the Gondola
Vail's Eagle Bahn gondola takes you from the base of Vail Mountain up to 10,000 feet. The top of the mountain is a whole other world of things to do, with hiking trails and even a few restaurants.
See Gilman Ghost Town
Colorado is a treasure trove of ghost towns — the state has more than 1,000 of them. You can sneak a peek of Gilman, Colorado not far from Vail. The abandoned mining town sits on a 600-foot cliff on Battle Mountain. The town is on private property, but you'll have a straight-shot view from Highway 24 driving from Vail to Leadville.
Where to Eat in Vail
Bully Ranch: Vail was stupid expensive, so we only ate one meal here. It’s worth a mention though. Get the Elk & Black Bean Chili Nachos.
Best Hotels in Vail
Sitzmark Lodge: We got a really good rate here mid-week. Located in the village, it is walking distance to many shops, has a small outdoor pool, and a hot tub.
Vail is home to all the heavy hitters — Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, Sonnenalp, Tivoli. It’s probably one of the most expensive lodging destinations in the world.
Colorado Travel Guide: Aspen
To get to Aspen from Vail we took the drive over Independence Pass, which is an experience all on its own. The pass crosses over the Continental Divide. To take Independence Pass, you'll take CO-24 out of Vail, through Leadville and then onto CO-82 W. On the map above, the black lines indicate the route we took. The pass is closed between October and May, so you’ll have to take the blue route above during those times.
Driving the pass from Vail will take you through Leadville, which has bragging rights as the town with the highest elevation in the United States (10,200 feet above sea level). After crossing through Leadville and the Continental Divide, you descend down to Aspen. That is, if you can even call it a descent, since Aspen sits at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level itself. It’s one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado, without question.
Aspen itself is beyond fun, no matter the season. Obviously if you ski then Aspen is a bucket list destination because Aspen Snowmass area has four ski areas, with more than 5,300 acres of snowy terrain. But no matter what time of year, Aspen’s downtown is electric with shopping, fine dining, trendy bars, and beautiful luxury hotels.
Best Things to Do in Aspen
Silver Queen
The gondola at the base of Ajax Mountain takes you up to some of the best views in town. Taking a ride up the mountain is one of the best things to do in Aspen in summer.
Downtown Aspen
Aspen's downtown is really, really beautiful. No matter what time of year you're visiting, the historic streets are always buzzing with activity. You'll find everything here from designer labels to homegrown boutiques, posh restaurants, galleries, chic hotels, and more.
Hike
It goes without saying that a Colorado ski town has epic hiking, but Aspen certainly takes the lead. If you do one hike in Aspen, make it the hike to the Maroon Bells. These iconic peaks are a symbol of Colorado. When we visited, you had to have advanced reservations to get to the trailhead (because of COVID), and we didn’t know that so we missed it. Be sure to make your reservations far in advance if you want to go see the Bells.
Ashcroft Ghost Town
What's cool about Ashcroft is that you can visit it and explore the buildings left behind. By 1885, this mining town was pretty much abandoned. Today you can still see the old saloon, post office, and the Bird House Hotel.
Castle Creek Road
The road to Ashcroft actually follows another Scenic Byway along County Road 15. This scenic drive has some of the most beautiful views of the Elk Mountains. The road is seasonal and only open from Mid-May until the end of October.
Best Restaurants in Aspen
Ajax Tavern: A must for apres-ski, located at the base of the Silver Queen
Woody Creek Tavern: If you're Hunter S. Thompson fan, that name should ring quite a few bells. The Woody Creek Tavern was his favorite watering hole, and the entire restaurant is now a testament to the life of Thompson. Walls are quite literally papered with his photos. I would have liked to have seen the restaurant in Thompson's day. Today it felt more like a cheesy tribute, and one that Thompson himself would probably have hated. The food is decent, albeit expensive for what is supposed to be a dive. I doubt Thompson would have liked to see chilled rosé on the menu, and yet, there it is. I should know — I ordered it. As much as this place may try to be a local dive, it's still a local dive of Aspen. Do with that what you will.
Mawa’s Kitchen: Fun, funky atmosphere for banging breakfast and brunch.
Prospect: Chic, fine dining at Hotel Jerome.
Jing Aspen: Elegant Chinese cuisine.
Meat & Cheese: Locally sourced charcuterie plates and beautiful cocktails.
Best Hotels in Aspen
Staying in Aspen, no matter the time of year, is expensive. It’s best to just prepare yourself for that and go with the flow, or stay way out of town and be okay with the long drive in.
The Viceroy Snowmass: Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Aspen, this cozy luxe resort was perfect for what we needed, which was a spacious bathroom, comfortable bed, and fireplace in the room. Since we stayed during the summer we were able to take advantage of the outdoor pool and hot tub. For dinner we were treated to a tasting menu at Toro Kitchen & Lounge, the restaurant at Viceroy, helmed by Chef Richard Sandoval. The resort and restaurant are definitely a splurge if you’re staying on a budget, but worth it just to sit by the restaurant’s roaring fire with a glass of Champagne and rest your weary, road-weathered bones.
Hotel Jerome: Opened in 1889 and continues to be the center of the social hive in Aspen.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort: World-renowned luxury brand thrives in a town like Aspen.
Epic Colorado Road Trip: Crested Butte
Crested Butte, Colorado was a surprise. Honestly I knew very little about it before we arrived, and after discovering it I wish that we had budgeted more time to stay. This mountain mining town is one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets. Because of its remote location and driving distance from Denver (about four hours), it has managed to stay that way.
Best Things to Do in Crested Butte
Hike
This is an outdoor paradise. The town sits high in the Elk Mountain Range of the Rockies, and is affectionately known as The Gateway to the Elk Mountains. The town was settled by miners in the 1860s and its pioneer spirit permeates the town to this day. It has some of the best hiking in Colorado, as it's surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest. You'll also find great cross-country skiing and activities along the Taylor River.
Elk Avenue
Elk Avenue, the main drag in town, is beyond charming. Today it is lined with wonderful restaurants, boutiques, and shops, all with historic Victorian facades. The downtown is so small that you can walk the entire area. It also manages to retain a humble vibe, compared with destinations like Vail or Aspen, which largely cater to multi-millionaires. Crested Butte was much more my speed. You're never very far from a boutique hotel or a haute meal, but everything feels a little more relaxed, laid-back, and budget friendly.
Scenic Drives
If you like scenic drives (and it's the summer) then you'll want to drive Kebler Pass. We also drove Schofield Pass, which runs 15 miles between Crested Butte and Marble. This pass is not for the faint of heart, as the road gets incredibly narrow and bumpy. But it's absolutely worth it for the views of the turquoise-colored lakes, the towering mountains, and glimpses of Maroon Peak in the distance.
Best Restaurants in Crested Butte
The Secret Stash: The Secret Stash is probably the most famous pizza place in the area. The Crack Fries are worth the hype, and the pizzas are legendary. So legendary that the waitress told us a film crew from HBO had recently been there to film a segment about local restaurants.
The Last Steep Bar & Grill: Rustic, casual bar/restaurant with big portions and reasonable prices.
Teocalli Tamale: Laid-back burritos.
Best Hotels in Crested Butte
Nordic Inn: Great location, budget-friendly, pet-friendly, free shuttle to downtown.
Elk Mountain Lodge: Historic, renovated hotel with 19 rooms. Cozy and comfortable.
The Elevation Hotel & Spa: Luxury, ski-in, ski-out
Old Town Inn: Budget-friendly B&B right in historic Old Town
Gunnison KOA Journey: As we were on a budget, we didn’t stay in town. Instead we stayed at a KOA campground in Gunnison, which is about a 40-minute drive from Crested Butte. The drive itself is really lovely, so it was not a chore for us to go back and forth. If you like camping, the best campgrounds in Crested Butte can be found along the Taylor River.
Colorado Travel Destinations: Colorado Springs
Our visit to Colorado Springs was because of a TrustedHousesitter gig. We stayed just outside Colorado Springs in Green Mountain Falls. The drive from Green Mountain Falls to Colorado Springs goes past many of the small mountain towns in the area, like Manitou Springs, which is definitely a cute town worth stopping at.
Best Things to Do in Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs itself was perfectly fine, but it’s a military town and mostly caters to that. You should certainly stop at the Garden of the Gods. This free nature park is spectacular, known for its red sandstone rock formations that are hundreds of millions of years old. Paths weave through the park that are perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs is also the doorstep of Pikes Peak, one of the highest peaks in the Rockies at 14,110 feet. You can drive the Pikes Peak Highway up around the mountain road and take in the views as you go.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings, just 20 minutes outside of Colorado Springs, are also worth a stop to see how the Anasazi tribe lived in this part of Colorado for centuries. The dwellings overlook the town of Manitou Springs at the base of Pikes Peak.
Colorado Travel Guide: Denver
Woof, Denver. Okay, here we go. Right up front I’m going to tell you that this is not a Denver, Colorado travel guide. At least, not a good one. We spent about a week in Denver and I can already tell you that we needed probably another month in order to see and experience everything Denver has to offer. That is a fun, exciting, foodie-forward, outdoorsy, welcoming city. I absolutely fell in love with it. I’ll detail the things we did, but just know that you need a lot of time in order to do Denver justice.
Fun Things to Do in Denver
Larimer Square
Our first night in Denver, our friend took us to experience Larimer Square. This beautiful street is beyond photogenic, with broad sidewalks, red brick buildings, and ribbons of draped twinkle lights that cast a warm glow over all of the outdoor eateries. This is the first historic district in Denver, believe it or not. The street still manages to retain its old time charm, all the while housing expensive shops and trendy restaurants that spill out into the street.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Probably one of the most beautiful concert venues in the world. Pick a show — any show — and get to this outdoor venue that has both epic views of Denver, as well as the gorgeous landscape that surrounds it.
RiNo
RiNo, or River North Arts District, is an art-forward, historical neighborhood known for its lofty warehouses and historic buildings that have been transformed to music venues, restaurants, breweries, and art galleries.
Estes Park
Take a day trip from Denver and head north to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. This historic town has great shopping and restaurants, and is also home to The Stanley Hotel, the hotel that gave Stephen King the inspiration to write “The Shining.” Stop by The Stanley for a meal at The Post Chicken & Beer. Drive back to Denver along the scenic route along Highway 7, which will take you through other cute mountain towns like Nederland.
Museums
Oh my god, so many museums in Denver. From the Denver Art Museum to the Clyfford Still Museum, and the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art — these are just a few of the many museums and galleries you can explore in Denver.
Breweries
I’m not a big beer drinker, but if I were, Denver would be paradise. Denver has roughly 150 breweries in the metro area. You can create your own brewery trail walk with this interactive beer map. Some to hit may be Wynkoop Brewing Company, Jagged Mountain Craft Beer, Woods Boss... these are just names to me. Beer aficionados will know where they want to go when they see the map.
Best Restaurants in Denver
Again, I won’t insult my Denver friends by attempting to be an expert in this. Denver is a foodie town, and we ate exceptionally well while we were there. I would recommend checking out some local Denver blogs to get the most up-to-date info on where to eat in Denver. But I will say that I had a memorable meal with my dear friend, and Denver expert, @planetblond at Of A Kind, which is downstairs at the Clayton Street Members Club (pictured above).
Best Hotels in Denver
We stayed for free at a friend’s place in Denver. But based on my research on local blogs, these seem to be the best boutique hotels in Denver. These are ones I’d book myself if we weren’t housesitting.
The Ramble Hotel: 50 rooms and the first outside New York outpost of Death & Co.
Kimpton Hotel Born: Located in the Union Square neighborhood. 200 rooms. Good value. Comfy rooms.
The Source Hotel: Located in RiNo. Minimalist aesthetic. Come for the rooms, stay for the Market Hall with all of its eateries, bars, and art.
Epic Colorado Road Trip: Grand Junction
After a week in Denver catching up with friends and exploring the city, we made a straight shot west on I-70 towards Grand Junction. The landscape of Grand Junction is so very different from what we were used to in the rest of Colorado. Here you’ll start to see the dramatic, forested mountains give way to rocky mesas, red sandstone formations, and brushy desert.
Grand Junction was a stop we made on our way to Telluride. You don’t need to spend much time here, but it does make for an interesting overnight on your way into Telluride from Denver.
Activities in Grand Junction
Colorado National Monument
I cannot get over how visually stunning the Colorado National Monument is. Just outside the city limits, this epic natural land formation rises out of the red desert like a sandstone mirage castle. Drive the winding Rim Rock Drive that goes from the base of the canyon to the top, where you'll have a perfect view over the 31-square-mile landscape of the national park. Tip: You can camp at the top of the mountain. Sunrise over these rocks must be something magical.
Historic Downtown
Grand Junction is really sleepy. You won’t find buzzing nightlife or trendy restaurants here. The city is a capital of Colorado’s western slope, but it’s really more of a big deal as a commercial center for gas, oil, and agriculture. Still, the historic downtown will give you a glimpse at what Grand Junction looked like more than 100 years ago.
Grand Mesa
Grand Mesa is Grand Junction’s *other* mind-blowing natural landmark. The Grand Mesa is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, covering 500 square miles and rising between the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. You can explore it via the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, which starts at Exit 49 on I-70 and follows CO-65.
Best Restaurants in Grand Junction, CO
Il Bistro Italiano: Classic and comforting Italian food.
WW Peppers: Dimly lit, sets the mood, southwestern and grilled food with a Mexican twist
Aztecas: Family-run Mexican fare
Best Hotels in Grand Junction
Spoke and Vine: We stayed at this charming renovated motel in Palisade, CO, just outside of Grand Junction. They serve locally made wine, which is actually pretty good. The rooms were cutely renovated, and they bring fresh yogurt and homemade granola in the morning.
Colorado Travel Destinations: Telluride/Ouray/Silverton
Before we said goodbye to Colorado, we made a straight shot south from Grand Junction and into the San Juan Mountains to visit Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton. This was probably my favorite part of the entire experience. If you have to pick one section in Colorado to visit (which is not Denver), then I would suggest making it the trio of Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton.
The mountains here were among the most beautiful I have ever seen. The area is loaded with gorgeous drives. Plus you’ve got family-run restaurants, hot springs, campgrounds, cute hotels, fine dining, and some of the friendliest people around.
Telluride is certainly the most expensive destination of the three, as it is home to a world-famous ski resort. But the three towns are all about an hour’s drive from each other, with Ouray in the middle, so you can make Ouray your base to explore the other two.
Best Things to Do in Telluride/Ouray/Silverton
Hike
All three towns are completely surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. So if you like hiking, you could not pick a better spot than this corner of Colorado. Telluride Valley is the gateway to the Uncompahgre National Forest, which has everything from beginner trails to those that even set backcountry experts' teeth on edge. The hike to Bear Creek Falls is particularly beautiful.
Downtown
Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton all have beautiful historic downtowns. All three towns were big mining destinations in the 19th century, and you can see evidence of that when you walk down their historic main streets. Victorian storefronts now give way to boutique hotels, shopping, and delicious restaurants or breweries.
Bridal Veil Falls
One of the most beautiful falls in Colorado, Bridal Veil Falls is one of the main reasons to visit Telluride. The falls are an easy 1.8-mile one-way hike, where you'll be able to see the beautiful cascade of water that falls from the cliffs. It's actually the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado.
Million Dollar Highway
This was my favorite drive in the entire state of Colorado. The Million Dollar Highway is a jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping drive between the towns of Ouray and Silverton. Ouray is called the Switzerland of America, and it will become quite apparent after a few moments on the highway, when you’ve got nothing to see except staggering mountains.
Hot Springs
Ouray has some delightful natural mineral pools that bubble up from the surrounding box canyon along the Uncompahgre River.
Historic Mines
Ouray and Silverton have so much history. These were thriving mining towns back in the 1800s. You’ll see many old mining relics along the Million Dollar Highway. When you’re in Silverton, there are several mines you can visit by tour.
Where to Eat in Telluride/Ouray/Silverton
Brown Dog Pizza: Award-winning pizza right in downtown Telluride.
Scratch Telluride Kitchen & Cocktails: Sophisticated American cuisine in a chic “wild west” setting, with fancy cocktails.
Siam Telluride: Seriously good Thai food.
BrickHouse 737: An Ouray institution. Great wine, upscale food.
Bon Ton Restaurant: Cozy Italian-American cuisine.
Ouray Brewery: Local craft brewery with an upstairs patio and great views. Food is pricey but delicious
GNAR: Creative tacos. Casual, laid-back. Seriously good. Halfway between Telluride and Ouray in Ridgway.
Best Hotels in Telluride/Ouray/Silverton
Telluride is absurdly expensive, so my suggestion would be to stay in Ouray, or somewhere between Ouray and Telluride.
Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs: If you can get a reservation here, then hold on tight. People love this hotel because it has on-site hot springs available only to guests.
Hot Springs Inn: Right on Main Street, rooms with balconies, free continental breakfast.
Black Bear Manor: Cozy B&B with a fireplace and outdoor hot tubs
Ouray KOA Holiday: This is where we stayed. One of the most “happening” KOA campgrounds, with live music and a bar. Here we met some friends, one of whom was a musician (Dave Mensch) and we saw him perform a few days later in Ouray.
Colorado Travel Guide: Colorado on a Budget
Nothing about Colorado is cheap. Not the food, not the lodgings, not the entertainment. The only thing that is free about Colorado are the actual outdoors themselves, and that’s if you don’t have to pay for parking. We were on a budget of $60/night for accommodation, which is basically impossible in Colorado. Still, we were able to make our budget work. Here are my top tips for how to do Colorado on a budget.
Don’t stay *in* town: The closer you stay to the town you’re visiting, the more expensive accommodations are. Nothing in Colorado is ever very far away, so a roadside motel 20-30 minutes from town will save you probably hundreds of dollars.
Use apps like Booking.com or Hotels.com for deals: If you become a frequent user of these apps, you’ll unlock more and more deals. We sometimes saved as much as $50 a night when we used these apps.
Use KOAs or campgrounds: You don’t have to sleep in a tent. Rent a basic cabin, where you bring your own bedding. We did this many, many times and were always happy with the cleanliness and comfort.
Become a Trusted HouseSitter: This is the greatest discovery of all time. This community exchanges free accommodations in someone’s home for taking care of their pet. We got two free weeks of accommodation in Colorado because we house-sat for people in both Colorado Springs and Denver.
Prepare your own meals: Fill a cooler with sandwich stuff, protein bars, trail mix, water, etc. The more you make your own meals, the more money you save.
Embrace the free activities: Hiking, live music, swimming, public gardens, and often galleries and museums — these are all free.
Happy Hour: Take advantage of Happy Hour deals. You can score some great ones, particularly in Denver, with two-for-one drinks and discounted appetizers.