10 Best Road Trips near Denver

Idaho Springs is a fun little town in Clear Creek Canyon that's home to a historic mining district as well as a ski area if you're looking for outdoor recreation. When you take a road trip here, you can spend time at several historic locations like the old mine and historic water wheel.

The time of year you visit will have a big impact on your experience. While the mountains always offer fun hiking trails, you'll want to visit during the winter if you're interested in skiing. You'll find this city west of Denver about 40 minutes away.

Georgetown is a mining town where you can enjoy outdoor fun and historic sights that are easy to see via the Loop Railway. The train around Georgetown is one of its top attractions and is remarkably convenient, offering panoramic views and taking you past several mines.

You'll find other recreational opportunities available here, with fishing being especially popular. You can take a boat out on the lake during the summer or partake in some ice fishing during the winter. You can get to this town by heading west from Denver for a little under an hour.

Boulder is a city known for its high quality of life where you'll find friendly people, outdoor adventure, and rich cultural events and activities. If you're a fan of music and dance, you'll find regular performances in local theatres available.

If you're looking for a more active destination at the end of your road trip, you can enjoy an immense array of open spaces and things to do. Hiking and biking are the most popular activities, but you'll find some climbing routes as well if that's more to your interest. All of this can be found just 25 miles northwest of Denver.

Golden is a fun, historic town that is known best for its array of breweries and outdoor activities amongst the surrounding mountain region. Several microbreweries are located here including Golden City Brewery, Barrels & Bottles, and Cannonball Creek. Coors is also headquartered here, so it's an ideal destination if you're looking for a beer tour.

For more-active visitors, you'll find plenty of opportunities for hiking and climbing around the area. Rock climbing is especially popular, and there's a mountaineering museum located in Golden as well. You can get to this town by heading west from Denver for about 25 minutes.

The Garden of the Gods is a designated national natural landmark where you'll find incredible rock formations and outdoor recreational activities with one-of-a-kind photo opportunities. The rock formations here are varied and impressive, including 3 narrow vertical rocks known as the Three Graces and a balanced rock that looks as if it'll fall but never does.

When you visit this natural destination, you can enjoy several hiking paths to see the sights. Rock climbing is available as well, but you'll need to get a permit and obey the climbing regulations and guidelines. You can get to this destination by heading 70 miles south of Denver.

Loveland is a relatively small community where you'll find a large population of artists with their works on display along with outdoor adventure. Art museums are especially popular here, and while you can visit them all year long, Loveland hosts sculpture shows in August with even more pieces on display.

If you're looking for outdoor adventure, you won't have to look far, as this town is located in the Colorado Front Range region. The mountainous surrounding areas offer hiking and biking routes. You can get to Loveland by heading about an hour north from Denver.

Central City is a unique place to visit and is a former mining town with a thriving arts scene, restaurants, and historic sites you can visit. The gold mine is one of the most popular attractions here, where you can not only learn about history but also try your luck at panning for some gold.

When you visit this city, you'll find a wide variety of restaurants including one in the Teller House, where you'll find the iconic painting known as "The Face on the Barroom Floor." Additionally, there's an opera house here with breathtaking acoustics. You'll find it all just under 40 miles west of Denver.

Evergreen is a small community where you'll find a variety of parks and outdoor recreational opportunities that vary based on the season you visit. Many of the outdoor adventures here centre around Evergreen Lake with boating, fishing, hiking, and biking available. Visit during the winter, and you can go ice skating.

Several historic places are located within Evergreen, and most of them are public parks dating back years and years. Additionally, you'll find historic buildings like the Humphrey House and Hiwan Museum. See it all for yourself just under 30 miles west of Denver.

Grand Lake is a charming town located on Colorado's biggest lake where you'll find a laid-back atmosphere with outdoor fun all year long and theatre in the summer. The lake area is useful whether you're looking for relaxing time outdoors or something more adventurous with opportunities for hiking and biking.

When you visit during the summer, you can check out the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, which hosts local theatrical productions, primarily Broadway musicals. You can explore it all just over 100 miles from Denver to the northwest.

Rocky Mountain National Park / Estes Park is a scenic and protected park where you'll find towering peaks and vibrant green valleys teeming with opportunities for outdoor adventure. You can embark on tours of the area in a guided Jeep or take on the trails yourself on foot or on a bike.

If you're travelling as a family, you'll find plenty of fun that all ages can enjoy including climbing walls and horseback riding. Additionally, there are several bars and restaurants in the area. You'll find it about an hour and a half northwest of Denver.