Road Trips to Rocky Mountain National Park

By Kimberly Graf. Published on February 22, 2025

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful spaces in this country. The mountainous stretches of pristine wilderness inspire millions of people a year. So it's no surprise that it's a popular road trip destination, especially considering its proximity to locations such as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park. There are two long road trips here that drop you off at Rocky Mountain National Park along the way.

From Phoenix

Taking a route up from Phoenix is beneficial, because The Rocky Mountain National Park isn't the only destination along the way. It's not even the only National Park along the way.

You'll want to start in Phoenix and go north. This is a windy mountain road that leads you up, up, up, 7,000 feet into the mountains to Flagstaff. There's usually a twenty-thirty degree difference between the valley and the town of Flagstaff due to the elevation and environmental factors, like the presence of abundant evergreen trees.

It's a three-hour drive, so if you're leaving mid-morning you will definitely want to stop here for some lunch and some exploring, if you aren't in a rush. The quirky culture here is definitely worth more than a glance.

From Flagstaff, it's just an hour and nineteen minutes up to the Grand Canyon, or thereabouts. Grand Canyon National Park could eat an entire day of your time as you explore the stunning vistas and marvel at just how small you really are next to the massive crevice.

The trip out from the Grand Canyon is a long one, so make sure to stock up on supplies and stop somewhere along the way if you aren't going to be able to make it. It's four and a half hours north to our next stop.

The road to Cortez, Colorado from the Grand Canyon National Park is small but charming. It's nearly five hours of winding through Native American reservation land, red rocks and the beautiful vistas that make Monument Valley such a popular tourist destination. There's never a dull view from this road, and the sunsets are particularly beautiful.

You might choose to spend the night in Cortez before continuing. Check out some of the unique sights in this town before you head just ten minutes away to the welcome center for Mesa Verde. It's a wonderful drive up to a startling altitude, where you can get out at various points and enjoy the scenery. The main draw here is the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan peoples, as well as kivas and other structures.

You could spend hours in Mesa Verde exploring the culture. When you've had your fill, head an hour and 15 minutes down the road to Durango, Colorado for a different type of sightseeing.

Durango relishes in its role as an 'old west' town, and there's plenty in that vein that you can stop and see while you're here. This is in addition to good food, outdoor activities in the surrounding areas (in the beautiful landscape of Colorado, who could say no?), and wonderful shopping opportunities.

Durango is just three and a half hours from our next destination, which is another National Park – and an uncharacteristic sight in these parts. Great Sand Dunes National Park will greet you long before you go in. These huge sand dunes are the relic of an ancient lake in the area, which left behind this miniature desert in the middle of lush Colorado.

Remember to take a sled with you, as you can ride down these dunes. It's a ton of fun, and a great break from the car ride.

Our last stop is our final destination. It's another five hours to Rocky Mountain National Park, so you should plan accommodations accordingly. Remember that state parks and other campgrounds may allow you to enter the park and set up in the middle of the night, but National Parks are usually always fee-gated, so you have to go during the open hours to claim a campsite.

When you do get to experience the park, be ready to have your breath taken away. This park is an alpine wonderland with towering mountain ranges that are covered in snow most of the year. Get your fill of outdoor recreation, including crystalline lakes and high-altitude hikes with 12,000-foot overlooks. There's something for everyone here – it looks like a painting no matter what angle you're viewing it from!

This trip covers 941 miles total, and just drive time totals up to 16 hours and 14 minutes on average. You can take up to a week and never be bored!

From Denver to Grand Teton

This trip is about half as long and will take you from Denver to points north. We'll start in Denver and take the beautiful two-hour drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park. The scenery only gets better on the way!

Rocky Mountain National Park itself is worth spending a few days, if you have the time and are so inclined. It's rare to find views that look like they aren't real – but here, in the mountains and alpine wilderness, you will definitely find what you're looking for. Even if that's adventure and solitude.

When you do eventually move on, your next destination is Laramie, Wyoming. It's on the way to our last stop and it's a great tourist destination as well. There are a lot of museums dedicated to people that lived in the frontier, and the frontier way of life. There is so much to do and see here, but it's probably best to get some lunch at one of Laramie's great local restaurants before heading on.

The drive from Laramie to Grand Teton National Park is almost six hours, so you might want to find accommodation so that you can fully enjoy the park in the morning. It's a lot like Rocky Mountain National Park, but with a more northern climate that allows for greener vegetation and mountains that are covered with trees and greenery. There are beautiful trails and the Snake River to explore here! It's well worth the drive.

The trip covers 540 miles in all, which comes out to about ten hours of drive time before you stop and see the sights, of course.

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