DENVER, Colo. (April 28, 2026) — This summer, Colorado invites travelers to celebrate the state’s 150th anniversary and 250 years of American independence through a classic roadtrip. From the sun-bleached Eastern Plains to the soaring switchbacks of the San Juans, Colorado's roads tell a story around every curve. Epic views are just the beginning along the state’s legendary mountain passes and 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, where retro and design-forward motor lodges, roadside diners and quirky roadside stops make every mile more memorable. Visit Colorado.com for more inspiration.
QUINTESSENTIAL DRIVES & SCENIC BYWAYS
Colorado holds more America's Byways® designations than any other state, and a trip behind the wheel makes it easy to understand why. Whether chasing alpine summits, tracing silver-boom history, or cruising the wide-open prairie, there's a road built for it. In Colorado, EV travel is easy with 20 of the state’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways now available for electric-vehicle roadtripping.
Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway:
Follow the historic railroad and stagecoach routes that once led fortune-seekers to one of North America's greatest gold camps, Cripple Creek. The Shelf Road and Phantom Canyon sections wind through dramatic canyon routes, rewarding adventurous drivers along the way. Discover ancient fossils and some of the largest petrified redwood tree stumps in the world at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, home to America’s highest suspension bridge and zip line. You can also trade the car for a historic train ride on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad and Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway:
Roll through Spanish Peaks Country on this storied National Scenic Byway, where every curve reveals a piece of Colorado's multicultural past. Pause at Profile Rock, step inside the Francisco Fort Museum, one of Colorado's last surviving original adobe forts, then settle in for the night at La Veta Inn or the Cuchara Yacht Club. Refuel with a slice at Gub Gub's Pizza or a burger at Dog Bar & Grill before the road calls again.
Independence Pass & Maroon Bells:
Guests based in Snowmass or Aspen can tackle two of Colorado's most dramatic driving ascents. The climb to the summit of Independence Pass (a section of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway) will take you on Colorado's fourth-highest paved road at 12,095 feet. There is also the 17-mile stunning journey up Maroon Creek Road to the iconic Maroon Bells, arguably some of the most photographed mountains in North America. Note that reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells by car or shuttle.
The Million Dollar Highway & San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway:
No Colorado roadtrip bucket list is complete without the Million Dollar Highway, the breathtaking stretch of U.S. 550 between Silverton and Ouray. Extend the adventure by looping the full San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway connecting Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride and Cortez for a journey through some of the state's most celebrated silver-boom towns and Native American history. Experience the adventure of traveling by a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Take in views of Wilson Peak, the iconic Colorado 14er featured on the Coors beer label. Step into the past and experience the lives of one of America’s oldest cultures, the Pueblo people at Mesa Verde National Park and its cliff dwellings, which are some of the most notable and best preserved sites in the United States.
Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and Trail Ridge Road:
Colorado's oldest scenic byway threads through historic mining towns and pine forests with postcard views of the Continental Divide between Black Hawk/Central City and Estes Park. Don't miss the whimsical Carousel of Happiness, a restored 1910 ride featuring 56 hand-carved animals in Nederland and the Stanley Hotel, a landmark that first opened in 1909 in Estes Park and was the inspiration behind Stephen King’s novel, “The Shining.” Continue from Estes Park to Grand Lake over Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in North America that cuts through Rocky Mountain National Park.
Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway:
Stretching across the southeastern corner of Colorado, a sharp observer can still spot the original wagon-wheel ruts winding their way across the prairie. The route strings together a remarkable collection of stops. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is a reconstructed 1840s adobe trading post that once served as a crossroads for fur trappers, Santa Fe-bound traders and Native nations. The Comanche National Grassland is home to the largest dinosaur track site in North America and petroglyphs left by Native Americans centuries ago. Learn about complex American history with a detour to Amache National Historic Site, the former site of a World War II internment camp, and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site where visitors can learn, listen and reflect on the history of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians.
Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway:
The Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway is one of Colorado’s most striking road trips, tracing a path through the rugged high-desert landscapes of the state’s northwest. Stretching about 134 miles, the route links a series of world-class fossil sites, ancient rock art panels and dramatic canyon country. Driving the byway feels like traveling back in time. The region is rich with dinosaur bones, footprints, and active quarry sites, alongside evidence of early Indigenous cultures preserved in petroglyphs and pictographs. Along the way, travelers pass through sweeping mesas, deep red-rock canyons, and remote valleys shaped over millions of years, with highlights like Colorado National Monument, Canyon Pintado and Dinosaur National Monument. Make a detour to visit the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Reserve outside of Grand Junction and home to roughly 100 wild mustangs.
ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS WORTH THE STOP
Colorado's roads and highways are lined with the unexpected. From legitimate roadside legends to genuinely unexplainable curiosities, these stops should be a part of the roadtripping playlist.
- Bishop Castle, Rye: Southwest of Pueblo, Jim Bishop spent more than 60 years building a stone-and-iron fortress by hand. The result: three stories of interior rooms, a grand ballroom, towers, bridges and a fire-breathing dragon.
- Colorado Gators Reptile Rescue and Education. Mosca: See hundreds of rescued reptiles including alligators, crocodiles, caiman, tortoises and turtles. Visitors have the opportunity to pet, hold, and take pictures with a small alligator, feed the alligators and pet and feed tortoises.
- Colorado Trolls, Victor and Breckenridge: Rita Rock Planter in Victor and Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge are two giant art sculptures created and built by recycle artist and activist Thomas Dambo. These trolls are part of a massive global phenomenon focused on bringing awareness to our worldwide concerns about depleted natural resources and the significant amount of trash humans create and discard each day.
- Largest Fork in the U.S., Creede: Tucked into the San Juan Mountains, the tiny town of Creede is home to a 40-foot, 600-pound aluminum fork propped against the side of a building. After a photo, stick around to enjoy Creede’s inviting cafés and a performance at the famed Creede Repertory Theatre.
- Littleton Museum, Littleton: Just south of Denver, the Littleton Museum living history farms offer a peek into life on the Front Range of Colorado in the 19th century. The 1860s & 1890s farms contain five historical buildings and a variety of heritage fruits, vegetables, and livestock that are raised and cared for by our historic site interpreters.
- Masonville Mercantile, Loveland: Founded in 1896 as a gold-rush trading post in Northern Colorado, the beloved Masonville Mercantile has served as a general store, tavern, and community hub for 130 years. After a brief closure in 2024, new owners rescued and reopened the landmark in May 2025.
- Sasquatch Outpost, Bailey: Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch — call the hairy cryptids what you want, there's no denying their place in Colorado folklore. The Sasquatch Outpost is part outdoor supply store and part Sasquatch Encounter Discovery Museum. Snap a photo with the life-size replica before hitting the road.
- UFO Watchtower, Hooper: On a trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park, take a detour on State Highway 17 — nicknamed the Cosmic Highway — to the UFO Watchtower. This 10-foot viewing platform in the remote San Luis Valley invites you to scan the skies and lean into the extraterrestrial vibes of one of Colorado's most remote and storied landscapes.
- World's Wonder View Tower, Genoa: The historic roadside attraction on Colorado’s eastern plains has undergone a 10-year restoration project to be unveiled this summer, to coincide with its 100th anniversary, and it is rumored visitors can see six states from the top.
SLEEP LIKE A ROAD TRIPPER: MOTELS, MOTOR LODGES & ONE-OF-A-KIND STAYS
The resurgence of the classic American motor lodge is alive and well in Colorado, with a new generation of design-forward roadside stays redefining what it means to spend a night on the road.
- The All Inn Hotel, Denver: A storied 1950s motor inn along East Colfax Avenue enters a bold new era this spring as a 54-room boutique hotel, following a $22 million transformation of one of Denver's most storied corridors. Guests can settle into thoughtfully designed rooms, start the morning at All Is Well, and end the night with dinner and wine at FiNO before returning to a stay that feels distinctly local.
- Best Western Movie Manor, Monte Vista: One of Colorado's most beloved quirky overnight experiences: guests can watch a classic drive-in movie directly from their hotel room window and order movie snacks like popcorn, pizza and drinks delivered straight to their room.
- Island Acres Resort Motel, Gunnison: An authentically restored retro roadside motel with mid-century charm and modern comforts, ideally positioned for access to Blue Mesa Reservoir, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and surrounding National Forests.
- Mellow Moon Lodge, Del Norte: Mellow Moon blends vintage motor lodge nostalgia with sleek modern design across 15 stylish rooms. On-site, guests can browse local goods and provisions at Rodeo Mercantile and enjoy specialty coffee and creative craft bakes at The Lunar Lounge.
- The Nightingale Motel, Pagosa Springs: The Nightingale Motel, a historic Pagosa Springs landmark since 1898, has been reimagined as a stylish boutique stay with modern rooms in the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs. Tucked inside you'll find the Neon Mallard Cocktail Lounge, an art-filled speakeasy serving elevated cocktails.
- The Oasis on Eisenhower, Loveland: The Oasis on Eisenhower is a historic home turned Museinn (museum + inn), featuring 4 one-of-a-kind themed rooms and immersive art experiences from a UFO experience to sleeping like royalty in the genie's bottle.
- Palisade Basecamp RV Resort, Palisade: A perfect pit stop along the scenic Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway on Colorado's Western Slope, surrounded by orchards, vineyards, and the famous Palisade peaches. Bike to farm stands and wineries, then return to modern RV sites, cabins or van camping in the heart of wine country.
- S.Lumber Yard at FREIGHT, Leadville: Once a working lumber yard and freight depot, the property has been thoughtfully reimagined into a vibrant gathering place featuring a beautifully renovated event space, an outdoor stage and thirteen private, modern cabins.
DINERS, DRIVE-INS & COLORADO CLASSICS
The best road trip meals aren't always found in restaurants with reservations. Colorado's highways are dotted with spots where the food is as memorable as the scenery.
- Casa Bonita, Lakewood: Colorado’s infamous Casa Bonita was purchased by “South Park” creators and reopened as an “eatertainment” venue with James Beard award-winning chef Dana Rodriguez and its kitschy activations including the famed cliff divers.
- Coney Island Hot Dogs, Bailey: A beloved slice of Americana perched in the mountains of Park County, serving classic dogs to generations of road trippers since 1966. Right next door to the Sasquatch Outpost, it makes for a mythical lunch combo.
- The Fort Restaurant, Morrison: The Fort stands as a living replica of Bent’s Old Fort and a nationally celebrated culinary landmark—preserving, interpreting, and reimagining the flavors, traditions, and spirit of the Old West.
- Gray’s Coors Tavern, Pueblo: A Pueblo original since 1934, Gray’s Coors Tavern is the home of the legendary “Slopper,” a knife-and-fork burger smothered in famous Pueblo green chile that defines the city’s flavor. The Tavern was just awarded first place for the 2026 “Best Slopper in Pueblo.”
- Home Plate Restaurant, Fort Morgan: Classic comfort food on Colorado's Eastern Plains, where open roads, big skies, and nostalgia converge. A true road tripper's pit stop.
- Minturn Saloon, Minturn: The Minturn Saloon, a rustic steakhouse and bar, is one of the oldest buildings in the historic railroad and mining town of Minturn, and the current owners have brought the space into the future while preserving its historical charm.
- Silver Grill Café, Fort Collins: For nearly a century, the Silver Grill has been a cornerstone of Fort Collins, serving scratch-made breakfasts, locally sourced fare, and its famously oversized cinnamon rolls.
- The Sink, Boulder: From iconic ceilings that capture generations of graduates to the celebrities who have crossed it off their Boulder to-do list for more than 100 years, The Sink is a favorite stop for locals and visitors alike.
- Slow Groovin BBQ, Marble: Slow Groovin BBQ is a seasonal destination dining experience open May through October. Indulge in mouthwatering BBQ smoked in-house and served with delicious house-made sides.
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ABOUT COLORADO: Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine and 28 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, 26 scenic and historic byways and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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