12 out-of-state destinations worth the drive from Colorado
Between the ski slopes in the winter and the many hiking trails in the summer, Colorado is a top-notch destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. However, for the locals seeking to expand their adventures outside of Colorado, here are 12 destinations that are driveable from Denver, like Utah’s amazing parks, quirky towns of New Mexico, and more.
Author’s Note: All drive times are one-way from downtown Denver to the destination, based on Google Maps. Times are subject to change depending on weather, road conditions, traffic, etc. Before visiting, check with the provided links of each destination regarding reservations, closures, and public safety regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arches National Park, Utah (Photo) Credit Leslie James
1. Arches National Park, UT
5 hours 14 minutes
351 miles
From Denver, Arches National Park in Utah is a near-straight shot via Interstate 70. This park offers a change in scenery from Colorado with vibrant red rock formations of unique shapes, such as Delicate Arch.
Photo Credit: Leslie James, OutThere Colorado.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Wyoming (Photo) Credit Jim Morefield (flickr)
2. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, WY
3 hours 34 minutes
167.4 miles
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest extends from north central Colorado to central Wyoming. The national forests encompass portions of mountain ranges like Gore Range, Flat Tops, Parks Range, and more. The wilderness here also offers grasslands and crystal clear bodies of water. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 12,940 feet.
Photo Credit: Jim Morefield (flickr).
Cheyenne, Wyoming (Photo) Credit Gates Frontiers Fund Wyoming Collection (flickr)
3. Cheyenne, WY
1 hour 45 minutes
101 miles
Cheyenne, Wyoming is home to the Cheyenne Frontier Days ‘Old West Museum’, which features exhibits about early rodeos and artifacts including 19th-century passenger wagons. The landscaped Cheyenne Botanic Gardens includes a labyrinth and collections at the Wyoming State Museum include dinosaur fossils.
Photo Credit: Gates Frontiers Fund Wyoming Collection (flickr).
Dodge City, Kansas (Photo) Credit raksyBH (iStock)
4. Dodge City, KS
5 hours 44 minutes
390 miles
Step into the Old West at the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas. An entire street has been recreated into a western theme where gunfight reenactments, old buildings, and saloons await. The Gunfighters Wax Museum features life-size sculptures of western icons like Wyatt Earp and Sitting Bull.
Photo Credit: raksyBH (iStock).
Canyonlands National Park, Utah (Photo) Credit benedek (iStock)
5. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
5 hours 28 minutes
363 miles
Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah is another easy drive from Denver via Interstate 70. The park is renowned for its dramatic desert landscape that was carved by the Colorado River.
Photo Credit: benedek (iStock).
Santa Fe, New Mexico (Photo) Credit Sean Pavone (iStock)
6. Santa Fe, NM
5 hours 51 minutes
392.4 miles
Santa Fe, New Mexico is nestled within the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, Santa Fe is known for characteristics like the Pueblo-style architecture commonly seen in the area. Santa Fe is also known to be a creative arts hotbed.
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone (iStock).
Ute Mountain, New Mexico (Photo) Credit Jeffrey Beall (flickr)
7. Ute Mountain, NM
4 hours 22 minutes
256.1 miles
Ute Mountain is a volcanic cone mountain in northern New Mexico. At 10,093', the mountain is the highest point of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (flickr).
Angel Fire, New Mexico (Photo) Credit amygdala_imagery (iStock)
8. Angel Fire, NM
4 hours 46 minutes
296.7 miles
New Mexico’s Angel Fire Resort offers skiing in the southern Rockies. Summer activities are also offered here, such as downhill mountain biking, hiking, zipline tours, fishing, and more.
Photo Credit: amygdala_imagery (iStock).
Wheeler Peak, New Mexico (Photo) Credit Raisa Nastukova (iStock)
9. Wheeler Peak, NM
5 hours 3 minutes
295 miles
Climb this 13er near New Mexico’s Taos Ski Valley. Wheeler Peak offers amazing views at the summit after an approximately 4.5-mile hike up 3,000 feet vertical gain from the trailhead.
Photo Credit: Raisa Nastukova (iStock).
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Photo) Credit JacobH (iStock)
10. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
8 hours 31 minutes
540 miles
Mesmerizing rock spires, called hoodoos, and other crimson-colored formations await at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
Photo Credit: JacobH (iStock).
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah (Photo) Credit Leslie James
11. Dead Horse Point State Park, UT
5 hours 40 minutes
365 miles
Take in the views of one of the most dramatic scenes in Utah at Dead Horse Point. The overlook features views of the Colorado River and its horseshoe-shaped bend through the canyon.
Photo Credit: Leslie James, OutThere Colorado.
Four Corners Monument (Photo) Credit YinYang (iStock)
12. Four Corners Monument
7 hours 33 minutes
420.2 miles
Said to be the spot where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet, at the Four Corners Monument is a popular attraction for those passing through this area.
Photo Credit: YinYang (iStock).
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