Colorado in Ten Days
Miles Traveled: 1,411
Transportation: Flight, rental vehicle (SUV)
Hello! We are the Wells family and we charted our own incredible road-trip through the most amazing parts of Colorado. With four kids, two suitcases, and some backpacks, we loaded an airplane in the middle of a world pandemic and managed to find fresh air, sunshine, and some of the most stunning landscapes Colorado has to offer! Check out our post “COLO-READY PACKING AND PLANNING” for more info on planning for this trip.  We were blown away by how much fun we had …. it was just what we needed.
If you’re looking for a trip filled with adventure, nature, and a plethora of different experiences, consider this itinerary. Simply use this itinerary as a jumping off point to make your own roadmap. If you’re curious about the cost of a 10-day ROADTRIP WITH 4 KIDS, check out our COMPLETE COLORADO 10-DAY BUDGET. Without further delay, here is our 10-day itinerary:
Day 1 - Denver
Fly into Denver. To save money, rent your vehicle from a location close but NOT at the airport. We saved $400.
Drive 1 hr 19 minutes to Colorado Springs
Visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Check in at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Day 2 - Colorado Springs
Check out
Hike Garden of the gods – Free
Drive 2 hr 44 minutes to Mosca, CO
Pick up food before reaching glamping site
Check in at Rustic Rook Resort
Enjoy the evening glamping
Day 3 - Great Sand Dunes National Park
Enjoy free breakfast. Check out.
Rent sand board equipment from Rustic Rook Resort ($20 each board. We rented two boards and two sleds.)
Drive 20 minutes to Great Sand Dunes NP. Spend 2-4 hours
Take boards back (on the way to your next destination)
Drive 2 hr 4 minutes to Pagosa Springs (the Pass is gorgeous)
Check in at The Springs ResortÂ
Enjoy the geothermal hot springs at The Springs Resort
sandstorm @ Great Sand Dunes NP
Day 4 - Mesa Verde/ Durango/ Ouray
Enjoy hot springs early while kids sleep. Check out
Drive 1 hr 47 minutes to Mesa Verde
Spend all day there. Stay at Far View Lodge
or
Drive 40 minutes to Durango for lunch
Head to Telluride for the rest of the day
Accommodations in Telluride or Mountain Village (book early)
or
Drive to Durango for lunch
Hop on the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray
Enjoy Ouray Perimeter Trail, Cascade Falls or Baby Bathtubs
Stay in Ouray
or
***OUR PERSONAL CHOICE***
Realize you waited too long to reserve a hotel in Telluride
Panic!! Tell yourself to stay calm
Drive to Durango to eat lunch
Spontaneously buy a tent and 6 sleeping bags
Drive to Telluride & camp for the 1st time in your life w/ 4 kids. haha!! Seriously, this happened!
(Woods Lake Campsite)
Day 5 - Telluride
Pack up tent and head out
Explore Telluride
Buy groceries
Set up camp at Alta Lakes Campsite
Cook dinner at the campsite
Day 6 - Telluride
Enjoy the morning
Head to Mountain Village to ride the free gondola and shop in the village shops
Head back to camp
Hike the Alta Lake trails
Settle in for the night with steaks & smore’s on the campfire
Day 7 - Blue Lakes Trail
Drive 40 minutes to Ridgway
Hike the Blue Lakes Trail
Stay at the Ridgway Lodge and Star Saloon
Do laundry. Relax. You’ll be tired.
Blue Lakes Trail in Ridgway
Day 8 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Head to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Drive the South Rim scenic road
Continue to Breckenridge
Stay the evening at your 4 bedroom vacation home with outdoor hot tub. We sooo needed this!
Day 9 - Breckenridge
Explore Breckenridge
Shop, eat, drive, hike
Enjoy family games at your vacation home, free when you list your home through www.homexchange.com
Day 10 - Rocky Mountain National Park
Drive to Estes Park to see elk rutting season
Enjoy hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park
Soak in the sunset over the mountains
Stay at the YMCA of the Rockies
(add 2 extra days here, if possible. We plan to come back to fully experience the RMNP.)
Day 11 - Fly out of Denver
If you plan to follow this itinerary, just keep in mind that we tend to move at a quick pace. You may want to use our schedule, but split your travel into two trips or take your time and just visit a few of the locations. We ended up running out of time, and recommend spending more time in the two following areas if you can: Pagosa Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park. Each destination that we went to will be discussed in more detail in its own blogpost, so look back soon for those!
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