Circular Road Trip from Denver - Ideas?

cubegame

Good afternoon all.

My OH & I have booked our flights to Denver, CO arriving on the 18th September and I'm just starting to gather a vague plan. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas other than what I'm thinking.

My plan is to explore Colorado first, driving South from Denver and taking a few days to get down to the Four Corners, before heading up through Utah and across Idaho to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Then we'll head across to South Dakota to take in Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands before heading back to Denver.

That's going to be over two weeks as we come back on the 3rd October. Any real gems we shouldn't miss? We are going to hire an SUV to make sure we're not hamped by weather and can head off-road.

cubegame

No one been this way?

fredflintstonerules

cubegame wrote: »

Good afternoon all.

My OH & I have booked our flights to Denver, CO arriving on the 18th September and I'm just starting to gather a vague plan. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas other than what I'm thinking.

My plan is to explore Colorado first, driving South from Denver and taking a few days to get down to the Four Corners, before heading up through Utah and across Idaho to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Then we'll head across to South Dakota to take in Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands before heading back to Denver.

That's going to be over two weeks as we come back on the 3rd October. Any real gems we shouldn't miss? We are going to hire an SUV to make sure we're not hamped by weather and can head off-road.

So over 14 days you seem to want to drive well over 2300 miles. Route would be far too long for me, as you'll be driving well over 4 hours every day.

Head west from Denver, for more to see heading up the I70 than going south.

youngatheart_2

We did a similar route a few years ago but we headed north first. Itinerary was Rocky mountain national park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Devils Tower, Yellowstone national park, Grand Teton national park, Grand Junction, Durango and Mesa Verde, Colorado Springs and back to Denver. We did it in 2 weeks but some days there was a lot of driving. Great if 2 people driving but tiring if only 1 person. We saw some amazing scenery and great people! If you have any questions just let me know. Enjoy!!

Greenlight77

We did a circular trip from Denver around 15 years ago. Memory a bit hazy now but we went up to Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, then across to Yellowstone (a must, spend a few days there) and then down via Salt Lake City to the Moab area and Canyonlands & Arches National Park (also both a highlight) and back to Denver. Think it took around 2 and half weeks in total. We didn't go to the Four Corners and I'd probably give that a miss unless you were thinking of adding on the Grand Canyon as well in which case you'd probably have to allow extra time. Canyonlands for my money is as good as the Grand Canyon though and much less touristy. Don't think we had an SUV but it may come in handy in some areas.

samal

Hi, we did this route during Aug 08
Denver, 1 night
Hill City , 2 nights
Cody, 1 night
Yellowstone Ntl Pk, 3 night
Grand Teton Ntl Pk, 2 nights
Estes Park, 2 nights
Denver, 1 night

[Deleted User]

We have just done much the same trip on a coach going the other way round, it would be worth looking at the Archers direct/Cosmos broucher online at there itinery for the national parks and canyons.Cody was on the way and we went to a Rodeo there that was good and different also Bryce canyon was stunning.

cubegame

Thanks for all the tips so far, a good few things to look at.

twig1_2

Are your holidays this year?
We have been caught out a couple of times by not booking accomodation early enough. The national parks are often booked up 9-12months ahead. Distances out of the parks to out of park accomodation are often too far for you to enjoy the park enough particularly if you only have a 2 day visit scheduled. Here is the link to the national park accomodation if you haven't got it
http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/

We have done your planned route but in 2 different trips of 2 weeks and 3 weeks as the distances are considerable even for 2 drivers.
The national parks are beautiful and will be much quieter in September but you will want to stop and search the landscape for the bears and moose so give yourself plenty of time. Mount Rushmore has a illuminated light show in the evening if you don't mind singing the american national anthem. Cody cowboy village has some great log cabins you can stay in. Oh I can go on and on we have some great memories and photos of these 2 trips. Hope you have a great time.
One more tip buy a one year park pass it covers all the parks if you are going to more than 2 parks it is worth it and you can get through the gate faster.

cubegame wrote: »

Good afternoon all.

My OH & I have booked our flights to Denver, CO arriving on the 18th September and I'm just starting to gather a vague plan. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas other than what I'm thinking.

My plan is to explore Colorado first, driving South from Denver and taking a few days to get down to the Four Corners, before heading up through Utah and across Idaho to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Then we'll head across to South Dakota to take in Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands before heading back to Denver.

That's going to be over two weeks as we come back on the 3rd October. Any real gems we shouldn't miss? We are going to hire an SUV to make sure we're not hamped by weather and can head off-road.

cubegame

We are holidaying this year and was aware of how quickly the Yellowstone lodges book up. I had taken a look and there was no availability.

That coupled with the fact that we wouldn't actually know which day we'll get to Yellowstone lead me to conclude we'll just have to stay outside the park boundaries. Annoying but a necessary evil.

I'm not sure a park pass is worth it either. On adding it all up the money we were looking at for admission came to just over the cost of a pass and it's possible we won't make all the parks.

Inspired post about the coach trips earlier though. Just been to town and managed to grab a brochure or two which will help with a route.

pins132

I'd second the poster who mentioned the parks in Utah, one of my most favourite places on earth.
Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and Zion are all fairly near each other (relatively speaking) and if you want more famous, Monument Valley is not that much further away.
In my humble opinion Bryce Canyon is the most stunning thing I've ever seen, much better than the Grand Canyon....