Ready for an adventure? How about adding a Colorado road trip to your list?
If there is one thing I love about planning a trip, it is finding a way to combine a little bit of everything. For our Colorado trip, we spent a week making our way through Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, and Golden, and it turned out to be the perfect mix of everything we were looking for.
I had been wanting to spend more time in Colorado, and this trip gave us the perfect excuse to explore more of the state. We mixed mountain hikes and outdoor adventures with historic and unique places to stay, including a famously historic hotel in Boulder that also had a few ghost stories attached to it. Give me beautiful scenery, a cozy place to stay, good food, a historic hotel, a few breweries, and somewhere to get outside, and I am pretty happy.
Since we visited in April, there was a little extra planning involved. Some areas still felt very much like winter, especially at higher elevations, while Boulder and Golden were starting to feel more like spring. It made for an interesting time to visit, and it was a great reminder that Colorado weather can vary quite a bit depending on where you are. Now that we have made the trip, I wanted to put together our full Colorado road trip guide to share exactly where we stayed, what we saw, where we ate and drank, and the places that made the trip worth taking. If you are planning your own Colorado road trip, this is everything I would recommend adding to your itinerary.
Our 7-Day Colorado Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive and Head to Estes Park
- Day 2: Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
- Day 3: Drive to Boulder
- Day 4: Visit Boulder
- Day 5: Drive to Golden
- Day 6: Visit Golden
- Day 7: Head home
For this trip, we flew into Colorado from Raleigh, North Carolina. We also rented a car so we could easily get between each destination. After doing the trip, I definitely recommend having a car for this itinerary. It gave us the freedom to stop along the way, explore outside of the main towns, and get to trailheads and other destinations without having to rely on public transportation.
Getting to Colorado
We flew Southwest for this trip, and our round-trip flights came out to $527.92 total. Since this was a week-long trip and we were packing for both spring weather and mountain conditions, I highly recommend doing a checked bag.
We also rented a car for the trip; I would absolutely recommend it. Because we traveled from Rocky Mountain National Park to Boulder and then Golden, having our own car gave us so much more flexibility. This is a must if you want to be able to see everything and not feel rushed. We were able to stop when we wanted, explore different areas, and adjust our plans based on the weather and trail conditions. We rented a car from Budget for this trip, and it was $350 total.
Day 1: Estes Park
Our first stop was Rocky Mountain National Park, and this ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. For our first two nights, we stayed in a cabin near Estes Park. I love staying somewhere that feels like part of the destination rather than just checking into a standard hotel, and the cabin was the perfect way to start our Colorado road trip. There was a river behind the cabins where we did some fly fishing, and it was super close to the park. We stayed at Twin Owls Cabin #2 at Elk Crossing Cabins in Drake, Colorado. The cabins are located along US-34, and the property has six green cabins with a wooden Elk Crossing Cabins sign.
I really loved having a cabin for the first part of our trip. After spending the day exploring the mountains, it was so nice to have a cozy and comfortable place to come back to, relax, and unwind. If you’re looking for a rustic yet comfortable place to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park, this was a great option for us. This for two nights was $370.
We spent the day driving through Rocky Mountain National Park and exploring the charming town of Estes Park. There is so much to see and do, from fly-fishing shops and candy stores to local restaurants and other little shops to explore. You can even visit the famous Stanley Hotel! We stopped in for a drink, and it was such a fun experience.
@lexpaigeandtheodore If you love nature visit the Rocky Mountain National Park! 🏔️🌲 #nature #rockymountains #rockymountainnationalpark #foryou #fyp #nationalpark #nationalparks
Day 2: Exploring Rocky Mountain National Park
Our second day was dedicated to exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. A valid entrance fee or park pass is always required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This costs $35 for one vehicle. Because we visited in April, we went into this part of the trip knowing that the weather and trail conditions could be unpredictable. Colorado in April can be a little tricky. We experienced much more spring-like weather in some areas, while higher elevations still had plenty of winter conditions. That meant we had to stay flexible with our hiking plans and check trail and weather conditions before heading out.
There are so many incredible hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, but visiting in April definitely changes what is realistic. Trail Ridge Road was still closed during our visit, so we did not plan on driving the full route. If you are visiting during the spring, make sure you check current road closures and trail conditions before planning your itinerary.
Day 3: Boulder, Colorado
After our time in Rocky Mountain National Park, we headed to Boulder, Colorado. I had been wanting to explore Boulder for a while because it seemed like the perfect combination of outdoor adventures, great food, shopping, breweries, and beautiful scenery. We spent two nights here, which ended up being the perfect amount of time to get a feel for the city and experience a little bit of everything without feeling rushed.
@lexpaigeandtheodore Step back in time staying at the Hotel Boulderado. 🖤 #hotelboulderado #colorado #foryou #fyp #hiddengems #coloradoadventures #hotelroom #bouldercolorado
For our stay, we checked into Hotel Boulderado, and honestly, the hotel itself ended up being one of the highlights of our time in Boulder. This place is iconic, and it is so cool! We booked a Historic King Suite, and the property was full of charm, character, and history. Located in the heart of downtown Boulder, Hotel Boulderado has plenty of stories surrounding it, including reports that rooms 302 and 304 are haunted. If you know me, you know that a little spooky history definitely makes a hotel more interesting. The hotel also has a connection to Stephen King’s Misery, which was another reason I was excited to stay here. P.S. They also have a speakeasy; highly recommend visiting!
What to Do
While we were there, we explored the property and took a self-guided tour, which was such a fun way to learn more about the hotel’s history and some of the stories behind it. If you’re looking for a unique and historic place to stay in Boulder, I would definitely recommend adding Hotel Boulderado to your list. We had a lot we wanted to fit into our two days, but we managed to experience a great mix of Boulder’s outdoor adventures, downtown attractions, and food scene. A few of the highlights from our time here included:
- Pearl Street Mall
- The Flatirons & Chautauqua Park
- Mount Sanitas
- Boulder Falls
- Local food and breweries
Of course, we also had to eat our way through Boulder. Some of the places on our list included Avanti, Rosetta Food Hall, and Avery Brewing Company, along with several other local breweries around the city. One of my favorite things about Boulder was how easy it was to combine outdoor adventures with everything else the city has to offer. You can spend the morning hiking with incredible mountain views, then head downtown for lunch, shopping, or a brewery without having to drive hours between each stop. That combination of adventure and city life is what made Boulder such a fun stop on our Colorado road trip.
Day 4: A Full Day in Boulder
We spent another night at Hotel Boulderado. This gave us a full day to explore Boulder at a more relaxed pace. We also had a 7 PM dinner reservation at Spruce Farm & Fish, conveniently located right by the hotel. This really helped keep the day flexible. We started our morning with a tour of Celestial Seasonings, and I absolutely loved it. The cost was only $6 per person. The tour included free tea tastings, a behind-the-scenes look at the factory, and an amazing gift shop filled with all kinds of tea-related goodies. It was such a fun and unique experience, and definitely one of my favorite stops in Boulder.
@lexpaigeandtheodore I love me some #teatime such a fun experience in #bouldercolorado #CelestialSeasonings #TeaTour #thingstodocolorado #fyp #foryou @celestialseasoningstea
Afterward, we spent the rest of the day wandering around downtown, popping into shops and exploring the area on foot. It ended up being quite rainy, but thankfully we had packed raincoats and umbrellas, which made it much easier to enjoy the day without letting the weather slow us down. We wrapped up the evening with dinner at Spruce Farm & Fish, making it the perfect way to end another day in Boulder. Honestly, I think that was the right choice. I would much rather have a few things on my list and actually enjoy them than try to squeeze a ton of different stops into one day. That was one of the biggest takeaways from this trip. Sometimes the best travel days are the ones where you have a general plan but still leave yourself room to wander.
@lexpaigeandtheodore Spruce Farm & Fish is a must-try spot for great drinks and food! #sprucefarmandfish #hotelboulderado #thingstodocolorado #coloradocheck #foryou #fyp #resturantreview
Day 5: Golden, Colorado
Next, we made our way to Golden, Colorado. Golden ended up being another one of my favorite stops because it had such a fun mix of mountain scenery, historic buildings, outdoor activities, restaurants, and breweries. We stayed at Table Mountain Inn in Golden. Our room was a Santa Fe Executive Suite, and the hotel was right in Golden, which made it easy to explore the town without spending a ton of time driving around. The hotel perfectly captures the essence of the West with its exceptional service, comfortable and private accommodations, and mouth-watering cuisine. The staff at Table Mountain Inn were friendly and attentive, making my stay even more memorable. My significant other and I visited the hotel to not only relax but also experience a sense of adventure. And you know what? This hidden gem provided just that.
@lexpaigeandtheodore Enjoy Southwestern hospitality and style when you stay at the Table Mountain Inn. #goldencolorado #colorado #tablemountain #tablemountianinn #fyp #foryou #hotelreview
More to See
Having a centrally located hotel made a big difference because we could walk around downtown and easily get to many of the places we wanted to see. There were several places we wanted to see while we were in Golden, and the town was easy to explore at our own pace. Some of my recommendations include:
- Lookout Mountain
- Golden Mill
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Clear Creek
- Golden Fly Shop
- The Golden Fly Shop was also on my list.
- Coors Brewery in Golden
For us, the main place we wanted to see was the brewery. You have to book in advance cause tickets sell out rather fast. For us, a trip to Golden would not feel complete without visiting the Coors Brewery. The brewery tour was around $20 when we visited, and beer samples were included. There were also sampling-only options available for anyone who did not want to take the full tour. The best tip I can give you is to book the day you want to visit 25 days in advance.
@lexpaigeandtheodore Full disclosure, we’re big fans of Coors Banquet.🍻 #coorslight #coorsbanquet #coorsbrewerytour #goldencolorado #colorado #fyp #foryou #coloradoadventures
Day 6: Exploring Golden
We had another full day in Golden, including a 10 AM site tour and a 7 PM dinner at Mountain Grill & Cantina. In between, we spent time exploring downtown Golden and walking along Clear Creek. Golden ended up being exactly the kind of place where you do not need every minute planned. Some of my favorite moments were simply walking around, finding places that caught our attention, and taking in the scenery. If you are planning your own trip, I would definitely leave some free time here rather than filling every hour with activities.
@lexpaigeandtheodore Hands down some of the best enchiladas I’ve ever had! #colorado #fyp #foryou #TableMountain #goldencolorado #tablemountianinn #resturantreview
Day 7: Heading Home
Unfortunately, all good trips have to come to an end. We checked out of Table Mountain Inn by 11 AM, but our flight was not until 6:40 PM, which gave us a good chunk of the day to enjoy Golden before heading to the airport. I always love having a later flight on the final day of a trip. It gave us time to have one last meal, take another walk around town, and enjoy a little more of Golden before heading home. It was a pretty perfect way to end the trip.
What to Pack for Colorado in April
If you are planning a Colorado road trip in April, my biggest recommendation is to pack for multiple seasons. The weather can change quickly in Colorado, especially in the mountains, so I would much rather have extra layers with me than wish I had packed them. We experienced a mix of spring-like weather in Boulder and Golden while higher elevations around Rocky Mountain National Park still felt much more like winter. I recommend bringing the following:
- Warm layers
- Waterproof hiking shoes or boots
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A warm jacket
- Rain jacket
- Warm socks
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Backpack
- Camera
- Car charger
Final Thoughts on Our Colorado Road Trip
After taking this trip, I can confidently say that Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, and Golden make an amazing Colorado road trip. Rocky Mountain National Park gave us the mountains and outdoor adventures. Boulder had great food, breweries, and historic charm. And Golden brought beautiful scenery and a laid-back atmosphere.
We also stayed in some really unique places along the way. Visiting Colorado in April was different from visiting in summer, especially when it came to hiking and trail conditions. But I actually loved experiencing the state during the shoulder season. My biggest recommendation is to stay flexible. Check the weather, check trail conditions, and be willing to change your plans if needed. Colorado’s conditions can change quickly, and what works in one part of the state may not work in another.
Overall, this trip had everything I look for: hiking, history, good food, breweries, cozy stays, and plenty of time to explore somewhere new. If you’re planning a Colorado vacation, road trip, or spring trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, I hope this guide helps you plan your own adventure. Save this itinerary for later and use it as a starting point for your own 7-day Colorado road trip!
With Love,
Lex Paige
