Must-do Road Trips in USA

Colorado

1. San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway

Ridgway - Ouray - Silverton - Hermosa - Durango - Mancos - Dolores - Ames - Placerville - Ridgway (4 hr 50 minutes - 224 miles)

  • This route covers Telluride Ski Resort between Ames - Placerville
  • Ouray - Silverton stretch is called Million Dollar Highway

  • Very beautiful, but risky

  • Drive from Ridgway - Durango stretch on Hwy 550.
  • Drive from Durango - Mancos stretch on Hwy 160.
  • Drive from Mancos - Dolores stretch on Hwy 184.
  • Drive from Dolores - Placerville stretch on Hwy 145.
  • Drive from Placerville - Ridgway stretch on Hwy 62.

2. Highway 90 / 145

Moab, UT - La Sal, UT - UT/CO Border - Naturita, CO - Telluride, CO (2 hr 41 minutes - 132 miles)

  • Drive from Moab, UT - La Sal, UT along Hwy 191.
  • Drive from La Sal, UT - UT/CO border along Hwy 46.
  • Drive from UT/CO border - Naturita, CO along Hwy 90.
  • Drive from Naturita, CO - Telluride, CO along Hwy 145.

3. Trail Ridge Road

Grand Lake, CO - Estes Park, CO (1 hr 34 minutes - 49 miles)

  • Drive through the Rocky Mountains National Park between Grand Lake, CO - Estes Park, CO on Hwy 34 (Trail Ridge Rd).

4. Grand Mesa

Mesa, CO - Cedaredge, CO (53 minutes - 39 miles)

  • Drive from Mesa, CO to Cedaredge, CO along the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (Hwy 65).
  • Quick detour to Grand Mesa - Take Hwy 121 to Grand Mesa and then take Hwy 123, Old Grand Mesa Rd to join back on Hwy 65 (1 hr 12 minutes - 40 miles).

5. Top of the Rockies

Stretch 1: Copper Mountain, CO - Leadville, CO - Granite, CO - Twin Lakes, CO - Independence Pass, CO - Aspen, CO (1 hr 53 minutes - 82 miles)

  • Drive from Copper Mountain, CO to Leadville, CO along Hwy 91.
  • Drive from Leadville, CO to Granite, CO along Hwy 24.
  • Drive from Granite, CO to Aspen, CO along Hwy 82.

Stretch 2: Minturn, CO - Leadville, CO - Granite, CO - Twin Lakes, CO - Independence Pass, CO - Aspen, CO (2 hr 10 minutes - 89 miles)

  • Drive from Minturn, CO to Granite, CO along Hwy 24.
  • Drive from Granite, CO to Aspen, CO along Hwy 82.

6. Lariat Loop

Morrison, CO - Evergreen, CO - Bergern Park, CO - Golden, CO - Morrison, CO (1 hr 5 minutes - 37 miles)

  • Drive from Morrison, CO to Evergreen, CO along W Bear Creek Ave (W Hwy 74).
  • Drive from Evergreen, CO to Bergen Park, CO along Evergreen Pkwy (Hwy 74) then merge on to I-70 E and then immediately take exit 254 on the right.
  • Merge on to Hwy 40 and then take left on S Lookout Mountain Rd.
  • Continue on Lookout Mountain Rd until it becomes 19th St and we reach Golden, CO.
  • Then take a right on 6th Ave, follow for a while and then take Hwy 470.
  • Follow 470 and then take Hwy 8 exit on the right.

7. Pikes Peak

Denver, CO - Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak, CO (2 hr 17 minutes - 98 miles)

  • Drive from Denver, CO to Colorado Springs, CO along I-25.
  • Take exit 141 towards Hwy 24 W.
  • Follow Hwy 24 W to Cascade, CO and take exit on Fountain Ave.
  • Take left on Pikes Peak Highway and follow all the way to the top of the mountain.

8. Mt Evans

Denver, CO - Idaho Springs, CO - Mt Evans Peak, CO (1 hr 35 minutes - 60 miles)

  • Drive along I-70 W and take exit 240 towards Hwy 103 W (Mt. Evans Scenic Byway)
  • Follow Hwy 103 all the way to Mt. Evans Rd (Hwy 5)
  • Follow Hwy 5 all the way to the top of the mountain.

Idaho

1. Swan Falls Rd / Western Heritage Historic Byway

2. Northwestern Passage Scenic Byway

3. Lemhi Pass

Wyoming

1. Beartooth Highway

2. Snowy Range Scenic Byway

Utah

1. Capital Reef National Park Scenic Byway

2. Rt 12 - All American Road

3. Hwy 89

Montana

1. Going to the Sun Road

2. Lemhi Pass

Arizona

1. Hwy 89A

2. Hwy 163 AZ / UT

Kayenta, AZ - Bluff, UT