Road Trip from Lusby, MD to Colorado & Back (8 Days)

Day 1: Lusby → Nashville, TN (Travel)

Morning (08:00‑12:00): Depart Lusby and head west on I‑64 before joining I‑81 north. Stop for a quick coffee in Winchester.

Afternoon (12:30‑17:00): Continue on I‑81 then merge onto I‑40 W toward Nashville. Grab lunch in Roanoke.

Evening (17:30‑20:00): Arrive in Nashville, check into Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville‑Downtown and enjoy a relaxed dinner near the Riverfront Park.

Day 2: Nashville → St. Louis, MO (Travel)

Morning (08:00‑11:30): Depart Nashville via I‑40 W, crossing the Tennessee‑Arkansas border.

Afternoon (12:00‑16:30): Stop for lunch in Memphis and explore a quick view of Beale Street. Resume travel on I‑55 N.

Evening (17:00‑19:30): Arrive in St. Louis, check into Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis and stroll the Gateway Arch Plaza at sunset.

Day 3: St. Louis → Kansas City, MO (Half‑way Stop)

Morning (08:00‑11:00): Leave St. Louis on I‑70 W, passing through Columbia.

Afternoon (11:30‑15:00): Lunch in Columbia, then continue to Kansas City. Optional quick visit to the Nelson‑Atkins Museum of Art (if time permits).

Evening (15:30‑18:00): Check into Hotel at the Plaza. Enjoy dinner at the Power & Light District.

Day 4: Kansas City → Denver, CO (Travel)

Morning (07:00‑12:00): Early start on I‑70 W across Kansas, crossing the iconic Kansas Flint Hills.

Afternoon (12:30‑17:00): Lunch in Hays, KS; continue through the Rocky Mountains, stopping at Vail Pass for photo ops.

Evening (17:30‑20:00): Arrive in Denver, check into The Crawford Hotel at Union Station, and have dinner in the historic LoDo district.

Day 5: Denver – City Highlights

Morning (09:00‑12:00): Explore Denver Botanic Gardens and grab brunch at the nearby Union Station market.

Afternoon (12:30‑16:00): Visit the Denver Art Museum followed by a stroll through Larimer Square for shopping.

Evening (16:30‑20:00): Take the Denver Skyline sunset view from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and dine at the on‑site restaurant.

Day 6: Rocky Mountain National Park

Morning (08:00‑12:00): Drive to Rocky Mountain National Park (≈1.5 h). Begin with the Bear Lake Loop hike.

Afternoon (12:30‑16:00): Scenic drive on Trail Ridge Road, stopping at Alpine Visitor Center and Many Glacier for wildlife spotting.

Evening (16:30‑19:00): Return to Denver, check back into The Crawford Hotel, and unwind with a relaxed dinner in the RiNo Arts District.

Day 7: Colorado Springs – Garden of the Gods & Pikes Peak

Morning (08:00‑11:00): Drive to Garden of the Gods (≈1 h). Walk the Central Loop Trail for iconic red‑rock vistas.

Afternoon (11:30‑15:00): Take the Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit for breathtaking mountain views.

Evening (15:30‑19:00): Return to Denver, check into The Crawford Hotel (or optional stay at Garden of the Gods Resort for a change of scenery), and enjoy a farewell dinner at Fruition Restaurant.

Day 8: Denver → Lusby, MD (Return)

Morning (07:00‑12:00): Depart Denver on I‑70 E, crossing the plains of Kansas.

Afternoon (12:30‑17:00): Stop for lunch in Kansas City (optional) and continue east on I‑70 E toward St. Louis.

Evening (17:30‑22:00): Arrive back in Lusby, concluding the trip.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Hotel – Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville‑Downtown: 1 night – 8 hrs – $150
• Hotel – Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis: 1 night – 8 hrs – $140
• Hotel – Hotel at the Plaza (Kansas City): 1 night – 8 hrs – $130
• Hotel – The Crawford Hotel (Denver): 4 nights – 32 hrs – $560
• Denver Botanic Gardens: 3 hrs – $15
• Denver Art Museum: 3 hrs – $13
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre (sunset view): 2 hrs – $20
• Rocky Mountain National Park (entrance): 8 hrs – $30
• Trail Ridge Road (scenic drive): 4 hrs – $0
• Garden of the Gods (park entry): 3 hrs – $0
• Pikes Peak Cog Railway: 4 hrs – $75
• Fuel (round‑trip ~2,800 mi @ $3.70/gal, 25 mpg): ~112 gal – $415
• Meals (average $40/day per person): 8 days – $320
• Miscellaneous (souvenirs, parking): $100
• Total Estimated Cost: $2,066

Tips

If you have extra time, consider extending your stay in Colorado by adding a day in Aspen or a scenic drive through the San Juan Mountains. To shorten the trip, you can skip the Kansas City overnight and drive straight from St. Louis to Denver, reducing the itinerary to 6 days, but be prepared for longer driving days. Adjust hotel selections to match your budget—motels along I‑70 can cut accommodation costs significantly.