The Ultimate Las Vegas to Denver Road Trip Itinerary
You cannot do better than this Las Vegas to Denver road trip itinerary if you're looking for an epic U.S. road trip.
Here, you’ll find out how to explore the best of what Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado has to offer in this incredible and family friendly Las Vegas to Denver road trip.
In this Las Vegas road trip planner, I’m sharing everything you’ll need to know to make your excursion fantastic.
For each stop, I’ve included suggested points of interest, favorite restaurants, recommended accommodations, and ways to extend each stop if you want to spend more time in one place.
If you travel at the same pace we did, this Las Vegas to Denver drive will take 11 days. However, you could easily expand this trip to last 2 weeks or more!
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Best Driving Route from Las Vegas to Denver
There are several ways that you can make your way from Nevada to Colorado, but which one is the best?
What you’ll find below gives you a taste of multiple national parks, 2 incredible cities, iconic views, and an ever-changing landscape.
1) Las Vegas, Nevada, to Grand Canyon National Park, then Monument Valley, Utah. Continue on to Moab, Utah, then head to Denver, Colorado via Grand Junction, Colorado.
*This is the route that I think is best! The full itinerary for this route is shared below.
PROS: You’ll experience Route 66, Grand Canyon. Monument Valley, and Arches National Park
CONS: You’ll miss Zion National Park and surrounding area.
TIME: If driven straight through, you’ll have around 15 hours and 45 minutes of drive time.
2) Las Vegas, Nevada, to St. George, Utah, then to Moab, Utah (where you’ll join up with the latter half of the itinerary below towards Denver)
PROS: You’ll get to visit Zion National Park.
CONS: You’ll miss Grand Canyon National Park and Monument Valley.
TIME: If driven straight through, you’ll have around 11 hours and 45 minutes of drive time.
3) Las Vegas, Nevada, to Flagstaff, Arizona, then up to the Four Corners Monument before heading to Denver via Durango, Pagosa, and the Rio Grande National Forest.
PROS: You’ll get to visit more of Route 66, you can spend time in Flagstaff, and you can explore the southwestern corner of Colorado before heading diagonally across the state to Denver.
CONS: You’ll miss the Grand Canyon National Park and Monument Valley.
TIME: If driven straight through, you’ll have around 15 hours of drive time.
Details of Your Las Vegas to Denver Road Trip
You’ve researched the 3 routes above, and you are fully on board with option #1, which will take you from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, then through Monument Valley to Moab Utah before heading west towards Denver, Colorado.
Here’s a day by day breakdown of your Las Vegas to Denver drive!
Note: we did this road trip with our two small children, who were 6 months and 4 years old at the time of travel.
The drive time each day has been purposefully kept short so that the emphasis is on experiences along the way and not just getting from point A to point B quickly.
Day 1: Arrival in Las Vegas, Nevada
Must see sights:
Welcome to Las Vegas sign. It is free to view the sign, and there is a small parking lot to park your car. You’re welcome to take your own photo, but there was one entrepreneurial guy there who’d take your picture for a donation.
Bellagio fountains. These run 24 hours a day and are coordinated to piped in music. While they’re always a fun sight, they’re most impactful at night.
the famous Las Vegas Strip. Try your luck at one of the many casinos, take in a show or concert, or simply people watch on the sidewalks!
If you didn't have two tired kids in tow on your Las Vegas to Denver road trip, you could do as the guys sitting near us did: get off the airplane and immediately head to the Strip for food, drinks, and fun.
However, we had an infant and preschooler in tow on a late night flight, so we grabbed our rental car, drove down the Strip to see the Bellagio fountains and called it a night.
Overnight Accommodations in Las Vegas, Nevada
We stayed at the Best Western McCarran, Las Vegas, Nevada.
It wasn't glitzy or glamorous, but it was clean, very close to the airport and the Strip, and perfect for a quick overnight stay.
Even though we were checking in late, the front desk clerk was friendly and helpful. She got us into our room as quickly as possible when she saw our sleepy kids.
I also felt safe walking around here at night as I had to run to the rental car a few times to grab things we’d forgotten.
Expand Your Trip
Add on a day in Sin City!
I would recommend spending more in Las Vegas than we were able to.
If I had to plan this trip over again, I'd add in another day here so we could better enjoy the city's offerings.
Then, you could pick up the itinerary below when you'd had a day or two in Las Vegas.
Day 2: Las Vegas, Nevada, to Grand Canyon National Park
On Highway 11 out of Las Vegas near the Nevada-Arizona border
Must see sights
Hoover Dam
Lake Mead
Seligman, Arizona
Day 2 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
After my husband went running, and we did another quick cruise along the Strip, we stocked up on snacks and baby supplies at a local grocery store.
(TIP: if you're doing this same road trip, make sure you grab anything you might need while in Vegas, as there are very, very few stores like Target or Walmart until you get to Grand Junction, Colorado!)
Within half an hour of leaving Las Vegas, we were stunned at the topography: gone were the flat stretches of land and tall buildings, and all around us were massive cliffs and scrubby desert plants.
We were going to stop at the Hoover Dam, but had gotten out of Las Vegas later than expected and didn't want to miss Route 66, so we pushed onwards.
I'm glad we did since I'd always wanted to drive down a portion of the Mother Road.
My daughter didn't have much knowledge about Route 66 other than what she'd absorbed from Cars, but even that was enough to have her shouting, "That looks just like Lightning McQueen's house!"
On Route 66 in Arizona
It's amazing how much the illustrators were able to incorporate from the landscape and architecture along Route 66 into that movie, and how much of it translates from cartoon to real life.
This was our longest day of driving, but we passed the time by reading off the funny Burma Shave signs along the road, and stopping about every 15 minutes to take more photos.
By the time we made it to Seligman, Arizona, we were all ready to stretch our legs.
We took in some Western history and ate classic American grub at the Roadkill Cafe.
The attached O.K. Saloon is an actual Wild West saloon, and guests are invited to wander the building to look at the antiques and photos on the wall.
The menu items at the Roadkill Cafe all have cringe-worthy names like the "Poached Bambi Burger" to tie in with the restaurant's theme of "You Kill It, We Grill It."
Comma splice aside, the motto is in name only--nothing on the menu is actually roadkill, and it's all in good fun.
After our meal, we poked our heads in the Arizona Territorial Jail and the Wild West Town where my daughter got to be a Wild West cowgirl.
Head down the street to Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-in. Here, you'll get plenty of puns from your server before you're served a huge milkshake, each of which comes with a blend of two flavors from their lengthy ice cream menu.
Grand Canyon South Rim at sunset
We cruised into the Grand Canyon just as the sun was setting, which made for some spectacular views from the South Rim.
Overnight Accommodations in Grand Canyon Village
We checked into the Bright Angel Lodge and attended a free ranger talk before calling it a night.
TIP! If you plan on staying inside Grand Canyon National Park, book way, way ahead.
I started looking for reservations three months before our big road trip from Las Vegas to Denver, which I thought would be plenty of time, but I was so wrong. Everything was sold out!
I started checking the Grand Canyon website multiple times a day in the hopes of catching a cancellation and lucked up: I got a room at the Bright Angel Lodge.
The upside is that the lodge is RIGHT on the rim, but the downside is that our room had to use the communal bath area.
Expand Your Trip:
You could easily break this day up into two, using the first to explore Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, and the second to drive along Route 66 towards the Grand Canyon with more stops in Peach Springs and Kingman.
If you wanted to approach the Grand Canyon from a different perspective, you could stay in Williams, AZ, take the train up early one morning, stay the night at the South Rim, and then head back to Williams the following day.
From Williams, you could then pick up the itinerary and make your way towards Monument Valley.
Day 3: Grand Canyon National Park to Mexican Hat, Utah
Sunrise at Lookout Studio on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Must see sights
Bright Angel Trail
Painted Desert
Monument Valley
Day 3 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
Although I'm easily overexcitable, I very rarely burst into tears. However, when we first glimpsed the Grand Canyon through the trees on our drive in, that's exactly what I did.
The scope and beauty of the Grand Canyon is so overwhelming and so beyond any words I could share: it's emotional on a level that I've rarely discovered on my travels.
We started the day by working on my daughter’s Junior Ranger booklet and attending a free ranger talk on the park's fossils.
We walked a little ways down the Bright Angel trail before heading back to our car to drive through the park.
Moran Point lookout
Our stops on the Desert View Drive included the Tusayan Ruins, the Moran Point lookout, and the Desert View lookout.
Sadly, we had to leave Grand Canyon National Park behind as we had other plans awaiting us just over the Utah border.
On the drive towards Utah, we passed through the Painted Desert. There are several scenic overlooks: they're all gorgeous, and you should stop at least once or twice.
Heading into the Painted Desert from the Grand Canyon
Between Tuba City and Kayenta, the landscape changes drastically about every 20 miles, so keep your camera at the ready.
We ended the day by driving through Monument Valley, but didn't stop since we had the entire next day allotted for exploring.
Overnight Accommodations near Monument Valley
We stayed in the cutest yurt just outside of Mexican Hat, Utah, which is one of the few towns near Monument Valley.
The yurts can be booked through the San Juan Inn, another choice of accommodation just down the road in Mexican Hat, Utah, proper.
The yurt had a queen bed, and space for both our toddler’s travel cot and our baby’s travel crib.
While there wasn’t a kitchen area, there was a fully functioning bathroom with toilet, shower, and sink.
We ate our meals outside on the picnic table, which was shaded by a large tree. We loved looking at the beautiful views surrounding the yurt!
Our yurt in Mexican Hat, Utah
Exploring near our yurt in Mexican Hat, Utah
Expand Your Trip
You definitely need more than one night and one day at the Grand Canyon, but we just couldn't fit anymore time into this trip.
Add in one or two longer hikes (there are plenty of easy ones for young families), or, if you're able, do the hike down into the valley to spend the night at Phantom Ranch.
Day 4: Mexican Hat, Utah
Must see sights
self-driving tour of Monument Valley
famous shot of road leading into Monument Valley
Day 4 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
Our trusty Toyota Avalon rental car maybe wasn't the best choice to take on the self-drive tour of Monument Valley, but I am happy to tell you that it made it through without getting stuck once.
(There might have been a few close calls, but we don't have to talk about those.)
Monument Valley, a part of the Navajo Nation, is best known for its appearance in dozens of Western movies: pretty much anything you've ever seen with John Wayne in it was filmed here.
It's also where Forrest Gump decides to end his massive cross country run.
On the road heading into Monument Valley
At the interior of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Beyond its place in American pop culture, Monument Valley is an important place for the Navajo people.
There are ancient drawings on some of the rock structures, and the massive Rain God Mesa in the heart of the park is where medicine men pray for water for their people.
Take your time (and plenty of photos) at each stop, and plan on spending between 2-3 hours in the park to fully enjoy it.
>> For more suggestions on visiting Monument Valley with kids, check out my post on our sister site. <<
You'll also have time to stop at the Mexican Hat, the namesake rock formation of the small town we stayed in.
It's such a strange looking formation since it looks as if it's going to topple over at any moment!
Mexican Hat rock formation in Mexican Hat, Utah
That night, we ate at the little restaurant at the San Juan Inn, the Old Bridge Grill.
We had Navajo tacos, which were like a giant funnel cakes piled with taco meat, refried beans, tomatoes, and lettuce. YUM.
Overnight Accommodations in Mexican Hat, Utah
We stayed our second night in our yurt in Mexican Hat, Utah.
Expand Your Trip
From Mexican Hat, you're just under 2 hours to the 4 Corners Monument, so that would be an excellent day's addition to your itinerary.
The Valley of the Gods would also be another great day out in the area, but to fully enjoy it, you'll need a vehicle with high clearance and 4-wheel drive since it's a remote park.
Day 5: Mexican Hat, Utah, to Moab, Utah
Hiking from Bowtie Arch near Moab, Utah
Must see sights
Bowtie Arch
Canyonlands National Park
Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail
Of all of the places that we saw on our road trip from Las Vegas to Denver, Moab and the Grand Canyon were the two areas that we could have easily spent a week at each.
For our first day in Moab, we ate lunch and did a little shopping in downtown, and then headed out for a hike to Bowtie Arch.
Along the drive from downtown Moab to the pull off for Bowtie and Corona Arches, you'll be able to see petroglyphs right alongside the road. Don't miss those!
We went on the hike to and from Bowtie Arch with our preschooler and infant, and it was definitely doable for 4 people from a very flat part of the country with little prior hiking experience.
Plus, it was a beautiful (and not very crowded) way to introduce us to this gorgeous area.
Once we'd gotten back to the car and rehydrated, we got up close with some incredible fossils over at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail.
Just inches from your face, you can see dinosaur vertebrate and leg bones, and a giant petrified tree trunk.
Overnight Accommodations in Moab, Utah
We rented a cabin at the Archview Campground (now called Canyonlands Gateway) just outside of Moab, Utah.
The cabins were situated in a small semi-circle around a large communal firepit.
Each was named after an element in a Wild West town.
We were the Bank, while other guests were in the Saloon or even the Brothel!
Inside, the cabins were small but functional. We had bunk beds, a small table and a vanity. There aren’t bathrooms into the cabins, but the bath house is steps from the front door.
Extend Your Trip
Devote at least a day or two to Canyonlands National Park.
We completely ran out of time to see this park, and it is #1 on our list for our return visit to Moab.
Day 6: Moab, Utah
Hiking at Arches National Park
Must see sights
Arches National Park
downtown Moab
Moab Rock Shop
Day 6 Road Trip Itinerary
We spent the majority of our day sightseeing around Arches National Park, which had been on my must-see list for years.
At Windows Arches, we did the easy 1 mile hike around the base), which was easy enough for us even with a slow preschooler and having to babycarry our infant.
We also loved Sand Dune Arch, where my preschooler loved walking in the sand along the way!
That, too, was an easy, flat, and kid friendly hike in Arches National Park.
>> Get more suggestions for your 1 day in Arches National Park itinerary. <<
Windows Arch at Arches National Park
NOTE: Arches National Park is not to be missed, but you’ll need to do some pre-planning.
As of 2022, Arches is one of the national parks that requires reservations, so do your research ahead of time to grab your timed entrance.
Also, The parking lots are very small for the number of people who are in the park, and we spent at least 20 minutes at each area searching for parking before we found a spot.
In a few places, it was so crowded that we never did find a place to park and had to head on to another part of the park.
We ended the day with a cookout back at our campground and s'mores by the fire as we gazed at the view of the La Sal mountains.
Overnight Accommodations in Moab, Utah
We spent a second night at the Archview Campground (now Canyonlands Gateway) just outside of Moab, Utah
Extend Your Visit:
With more time, I would've visited Dead Horse Point State Park, where the infamous car jumping scene from Thelma and Louise was filmed, as well as the opening credits of Tom Cruise free climbing a butte in Mission Impossible 2.
If my kids were a little older, I would've also wanted to do a tubing tour down the Colorado River.
Day 7: Moab, Utah, to Grand Junction, Colorado
Must see sights
Dinosaur Journey Museum
Colorado National Monument
Day 7 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
After a mind-numbing drive along the most desolate stretch of I-70 that exists, we arrived in Grand Junction, the biggest town we'd seen since we'd left Las Vegas a week earlier.
Exploring the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Grand Junction, Colorado
We headed straight to the Dinosaur Journey Museum, which was conveniently located right off of the interstate.
It's a small museum compared to some of the other dinosaur-centric offerings in Colorado, but it is well put together and very cool.
>> EXPLORE OTHER PLACES TO FIND FOSSILS IN COLORADO! <<
Our next stop was the Colorado National Monument.
I wish it hadn't been such a damp, raw day because there were areas that were obscured from fog and rain clouds, but we saw enough to realize how beautiful this park was.
On a nicer day, I would've loved to have done a few of the easier hikes in the area.
Part of the self-drive tour of Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colorado
As a note to whomever is driving in the Colorado National Monument, go slowly.
The cliff faces are sheer and this close to the road. It's not for the faint of heart, and there's a good reason that the speed limit maxes out at 25 mph!
Plus, there are many beautiful vistas, and you don’t want to blast past them.
Overnight Accommodations in Grand Junction, Colorado
We stayed in The Grand Vista Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado for one night.
It was a large hotel that needed a bit of updating, but, overall, it was clean and comfortable.
Our room was spacious with all of the usual features of a mid-range hotel. We did love the enclosed heated pool!
Extend Your Visit
There are some beautiful areas just outside of Grand Junction, including several wineries.
Day 8: Grand Junction, Colorado, to Glenwood Springs, Colorado
The historic hot springs at Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Must See Sights
Glenwood Caverns
Glenwood Hot Springs
Day 8 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
It might be tempting to rush from Grand Junction to Denver, but that would be a big mistake. You'd miss the adorable town of Glenwood Springs with its historic hot springs and downtown.
>> Read more about our full 2-day Glenwood Springs itinerary for families here. <<
While we were there, we visited Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, soaked in the historic Glenwood Hot Springs, and discovered the wonders of Colorado green chile sauce.
Overnight Accommodations in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
For our time in Glenwood Springs, we chose to embrace this lively little town’s past by staying in the historic Hotel Colorado directly across from the hot springs attraction.
The hotel was built in the Gilded Age in 1893 and served as the base for the rich and famous who were coming to the West.
When Teddy Roosevelt organized a hunt in 1905, he used the Hotel Colorado as his home away from home. Molly Brown, famous for her role on the HMS Titanic, was another famous guests as was President William Howard Taft.
We loved the huge lobby with its fireplaces and many seating areas, and our room was small but pleasant. There’s no A/C, but we didn’t miss it thanks to the cool mountain breezes coming into our room window.
Day 9: Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to Denver, Colorado
I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Denver, Colorado
Must See Sights:
Rocky Mountains
Loveland Pass
Breckenridge, CO
Georgetown, CO
Day 9 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
We spent an entire day meandering along I-70 towards Denver, and I'm so glad we didn't have anything set in stone. It was so much fun to stop along the way wherever we felt like it!
We hit our highest altitude yet at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level! as we came through Loveland Pass.
We stopped for lunch in Breckenridge and started to plan ski vacations back to the area for future years. We looked for bighorn sheep (unsuccessfully) in Georgetown, another historic small town along I-70.
Georgetown, Colorado
By the time we coasted into downtown Denver, we'd gotten a taste of what the ski resorts of Colorado were like...and realized that we could've made this entire 1.5 week trip into a 3 month visit!
Our kids were exhausted from getting in and out of the car all day, so we had a quick dinner cobbled together from room service at Hotel Teatro and a convenience store right around the corner.
Overnight Accommodations in Denver, Colorado
We stayed in Hotel Teatro, an upscale hotel in the LoDo district of downtown Denver.
The room was beautifully appointed with huge windows, and the bathroom was luxurious. We also loved all of the detailed and upscale decor throughout the hotel.
>> READ MY FULL HOTEL TEATRO REVIEW HERE. <<
Extend Your Visit
Instead of just blasting through the ski towns, I would spend a day or two skiing or hiking depending on the season in Vail, Breckenridge, Frisco, or Keystone.
Days 10-11: Denver, Colorado
Downtown Denver from the Hotel Teatro
Must See Sights:
Union Station
City Park
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Days 10-11 Road Trip Itinerary Overview
Our time in Denver was guided by the fact that my husband's brother and his family live there, so we didn't get as much sightseeing time in as we would've otherwise.
It was so much fun to hang out with them because we don't get to see them but once or twice a year typically!
We did get out and about during our time in Denver, and did the following:
Brunch at Snooze. So much incredible food, so little time. I got the smothered hashbrowns and still dream about them. The wait is absolutely worth it! We went to the Union Station location, so we got to see that gorgeous building as well.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Part science museum, part kids' museum, and completely amazing, this is one of the best immersive museums I've seen lately. There's everything from a planetarium and IMAX theatre to a hands on science lab and astronaut dress up area.
Golden, Colorado. We spent one gorgeous evening lingering along the Riverwalk before heading to dinner at Mountain Toad Brewery. We ate these amazing meals from Farmer in the Hive, a little food truck that was featured at the Brewery that night.
City Park. Located just across the way from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Zoo, this massive park has trails, summertime concerts, multiple lakes, and a huge playground.
>> EXPLORE OTHER FUN KID FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN DENVER! <<
Overnight Accommodations in Denver, Colorado
We spent a second night at the Hotel Teatro in LoDo, which was the best way to end our Las Vegas to Denver road trip!
Extend Your Stay
Denver is an incredible city with far more to do than what we could fit into just a few days.
Red Rocks National Monument just outside Denver is a popular music venue with incredible acoustics.
Downtown Denver boasts MLB games at Coors Field, multiple performing arts venues, an aquarium, and a kids' museum.
Have you visited any of these places on our road trip from Las Vegas to Denver? Which would be highest on your must-visit list?
