Peaks, Plains, and Parks: A Scenic Road Trip Through the American West

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your downtown hotel. Denver is the perfect blend of outdoor beauty and big-city charm. It was also one of the first U.S. cities to embrace the craft brewing movement. Discover the Denver Beer Trail, home to some 20 craft breweries, including the city’s oldest microbrewery, Wynkoop Brewing Company. Denver’s Larimer Square, now a bustling hub of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, was the city’s first block, founded before Colorado became a territory. 

This morning collect your rental car from a downtown location and head south toward Cañon City. Plan for a stop in Colorado Springs at Garden of the Gods Park, which features dramatic sandstone formations set against the breathtaking backdrop of Pikes Peak. Another must-see stop is Seven Falls, a series of waterfalls cascading 181 feet through a box canyon. Go to the fabulous Broadmoor luxury resort for lunch before continuing to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park just outside Cañon City. See one of the world’s highest suspension bridges, take in the stunning scenery and experience some amazing thrill rides. Driving Distance: 121 MI / 195 KM 

Depart Canon City via the Gold Belt Byway, and experience spectacular views of deep canyons and lush parklands. Stop and enjoy lunch in the charming ski destination of Breckenridge, once a mining town and now home to unique boutiques and restaurants in quaint historic buildings. Continue to Vail, where you will overnight in the upscale resort town at the base of Vail Mountain. Get ready to browse hundreds of boutiques and galleries in this pedestrian-friendly city. Driving Distance: 132 MI / 214 KM VAIL

Drive an hour west to scenic Glenwood Springs, known for its hot springs and caves. Springs such as Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Iron Mountain Hot Springs are said to have healing powers. Find even more fun activities at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, where there are cave tours, thrill rides and numerous restaurants. Drive an hour west to Grand Junction, where you will overnight and can enjoy a truly immersive food and beverage experience. Grand Junction has been Colorado’s fruit-growing hub since the late 1800s. Stroll through local vineyards and stay for a wine tasting. Outside the city, take in the stunning, panoramic views of the red rock canyons at Colorado National Monument on the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive. Driving Distance: 149 MI / 240 KM 

Head north and take Dinosaur Prehistoric Highway. Stop at Dinosaur National Monument, where you can visit the quarry and see dinosaur bones and fossils encased in rock. Continue northwest with a stop at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, where many lookout points provide spectacular views of its crystal reservoir and red rocks, before reaching the historic mining town of Rock Springs. Arrive in time to visit the Bureau of Land Management wild horse viewing area. Driving Distance: 249 MI / 401 KM 

Continue north to the Jackson Hole valley and stop for lunch in the small town of Jackson, which embraces a pioneer sensibility, evident in stagecoach tours, rodeos and heritage tours. The Town Square is famous for four large arches made from elk antlers collected at the nearby National Elk Refuge. Continue through Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park along the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Highway. Driving Distance: 257 MI / 415 KM 

Stretching more than 3,500 square miles (9,605 square km) and three states, Yellowstone National Park is the USA’s first national park. It sits atop a volcanic hot spot that creates impressive geothermal activity. Bring a picnic and eat while you wait for the next eruption of Old Faithful, a geyser that spews hot water high into the sky throughout the day. Do not miss a visit to the historic Old Faithful Inn, believed to be the world’s largest log structure. Experience the many other natural wonders Yellowstone has to offer and spot great wildlife in the Park. 

Head north out of Yellowstone, through Gardiner toward the eclectic railroad town of Livingston. Stop at this picturesque destination for lunch, browse art galleries and visit Livingston Depot Center to learn about railroad history. Follow the Yellowstone River Valley east to Billings, the state’s largest city. Surrounded by seven mountain ranges, you can explore the Montana wilderness and discover a wealth of wildlife. Do not miss a chance to visit the Moss Mansion; the architect also designed the Waldorf Astoria and Plaza hotels in New York City. Driving Distance: 200 MI / 323 KM 

On the way east to Medora, take a slight detour to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, site of the famous 1876 battle. Explore the visitor center and Custer National Cemetery before continuing the journey northeast into North Dakota to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Take the Scenic Loop Drive to experience the Northern Great Plains and the Badlands, where bison still roam. Driving Distance: approx. 280 MI / 452 KM

Drive east to the Painted Canyon Visitors Center to take in spectacular views of the Badlands from its scenic overlook before traveling south into South Dakota. Go through Spearfish Canyon, then head to the historic mining town of Deadwood, site of one of the Old West’s most famous gold rushes. Stop at Mount Moriah Cemetery before continuing through the stunning scenery of the Black Hills to Sturgis, home of the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. In Rapid City visit Main Street Square, view life-size bronze statues of past U.S. presidents and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants. Driving Distance: 239 MI / 385 KM 

For a great experience depart early for Keystone to see the sun rising over Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The hand-carved monument depicts the faces of four past U.S. Presidents. Continue to Crazy Horse Memorial, before visiting Custer State Park, famous for its buffalo herds and scenic drives and the state’s largest. Arriving in Hot Springs, a must-stop place is Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, the town’s oldest attraction. Do not miss the Mammoth Site, an ancient sinkhole, featuring the fossilized remains of more than 61 mammoths. Driving Distance: 57 MI / 92 KM 

Travel south to Nebraska, where your first stop is Chadron to tour the Museum of the Fur Trade at the James Bordeaux Trading Post. Continue to Fort Robinson State Park, where Crazy Horse died in 1877 and the Cheyenne Outbreak happened in 1879. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and herds of longhorn and buffalo. At Scotts Bluff National Monument walk on parts of the original Oregon Trail. Drive to the summit of the bluff for breathtaking valley views of the North Platte River. Driving Distance: 145 MI / 234 KM 

Travel southwest to Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital, which is filled with Old West character. Visit the Cheyenne Depot, a 19th century railroad station that now houses a visitor center and interactive museum. Continue with a walking tour of downtown, making sure to stop at one of the many western wear shops to try on cowboy boots and hats. Have lunch before departing for Estes Park, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Driving Distance: 188 MI / 303 KM 

Enter Rocky Mountain National Park and explore this wilderness. Start at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and follow the trail to the Alpine Visitor Center; see spectacular views of Sundance Mountain and Tombstone Ridge along the way. Continue to Grand Lake for lunch on the historic boardwalk with views of the pristine mountain lake. Drive along the shores of Lake Granby. Travel to the beautiful Winter Park Resort, and hike trails through meadows bursting with flowers. Tonight, return to Denver and enjoy your evening at leisure. Driving Distance: 64 MI / 103 KM 

Return your rental car at the airport prior to your departure flight.