A Fun-Filled 3-Day Itinerary to Explore Colorado

  1. Day 1: Exploring the Rocky Mountain National Park
    1 hour 30 minutes (70 miles) from Denver International Airport

    Start your trip in Colorado by walking through the stunning Rocky Mountain National Park. Enjoy hiking trails of several difficulty levels, while traversing mountains, meadows, streams and tundra. Catch a glimpse of the region's wildlife like elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes. In winter, adventure sports such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also available.

  2. Day 2: Sightseeing in Colorado Springs
    2 hours (100 miles) from Rocky Mountain National Park

    Spend the day exploring Colorado Springs, nicknamed Olympic City USA, set on the foothills of the Rockies. Begin your day with a visit to Garden of the Gods, home to millions of years of history and dramatic geologic formations like towering red sandstone pillars. Dive into the city's Olympic history at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, followed by cave exploring and zip-lining at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park.

  3. Day 3: A day in Denver
    1 hour 30 minutes (70 miles) from Colorado springs

    End your trip in the vibrant city of Denver, Colorado's capital. Start with a visit to the Denver Art Museum to lay eyes on its extensive collection of more than 70,000 works of art from around the world. Travelling with kids? Then a trip to the Downtown Aquarium with its underwater zoo and aquarium that houses species present across the world's ecosystems, is perfect for a fun family trip.

Time and Costs Estimates:

  • Entrance fee to Rocky Mountain National Park ($15 per vehicle, $10 per person if entering on foot/bike)
  • Average daily budget for food ($40) and travel costs ($30)
  • Average cost of a 1-day city pass for Colorado Springs ($80)
  • Average cost of entrance fee to Denver Art Museum ($13)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $298

Useful tips:

If you have more time, consider visiting other nearby attractions such as the Great Sand Dunes National Park or the Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado Springs. For hiking enthusiasts, several other trails in Rocky Mountains National Park including Bear Lake and Emerald Lake hike can add to the itinerary. If you have less time or prefer city vibes, skip the Rocky Mountain National Park and spend more time in the Cherry Creek or LoDo neighborhoods in Denver for a shopping and food spree.

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