21 Activities
⚡ Explore the Rich Past of Colorado's Pikes Peak Region on a Family-Friendly Road Trip
Starts from
Colorado Springs
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
112 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
21
Duration
2 days
Length
209 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Colorado Springs
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
112 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
2 days
Length
209 mi
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Take in the views that inspired the song "America the Beautiful".
- Discover one of the last great gold rush towns in the Colorado Rockies.
- Hand-feed friendly giraffe at one of the country's most scenic zoos.
- Tour an unexpected treasure trove of American Western art.
- Try an In-N-Out Double Double and "animal-style" fries — a secret menu item.
This route includes CCS charging stations. For Tesla Superchargers, follow this link.
With the discovery of gold in "them thar hills" — meaning, in this case, the slopes of Southern Colorado's Rocky Mountains — hopeful prospectors headed to the region in droves, turning small, dusty frontier towns into boomtowns almost overnight in the late 19th Century.
Fortunes were made and lost, but the region's rich history and scenic splendors have a certain timeless appeal that enthralls and delights travelers of all ages. This two-day road trip through the Greater Pikes Peak Region delves into the region's mining and mountaineering spirit and includes its fair share of scenic drives and designated charging points, too.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
With the discovery of gold in "them thar hills" — meaning, in this case, the slopes of Southern Colorado's Rocky Mountains — hopeful prospectors headed to the region in droves, turning small, dusty frontier towns into boomtowns almost overnight in the late 19th Century.
Fortunes were made and lost, but the region's rich history and scenic splendors have a certain timeless appeal that enthralls and delights travelers of all ages. This two-day road trip through the Greater Pikes Peak Region delves into the region's mining and mountaineering spirit and includes its fair share of scenic drives and designated charging points, too.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
This route includes CCS charging stations. For Tesla Superchargers, follow this link.
With the discovery of gold in "them thar hills" — meaning, in this case, the slopes of Southern Colorado's Rocky Mountains — hopeful prospectors headed to the region in droves, turning small, dusty frontier towns into boomtowns almost overnight in the late 19th Century.
Fortunes were made and lost, but the region's rich history and scenic splendors have a certain timeless appeal that enthralls and delights travelers of all ages. This two-day road trip through the Greater Pikes Peak Region delves into the region's mining and mountaineering spirit and includes its fair share of scenic drives and designated charging points, too.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
With the discovery of gold in "them thar hills" — meaning, in this case, the slopes of Southern Colorado's Rocky Mountains — hopeful prospectors headed to the region in droves, turning small, dusty frontier towns into boomtowns almost overnight in the late 19th Century.
Fortunes were made and lost, but the region's rich history and scenic splendors have a certain timeless appeal that enthralls and delights travelers of all ages. This two-day road trip through the Greater Pikes Peak Region delves into the region's mining and mountaineering spirit and includes its fair share of scenic drives and designated charging points, too.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Take in the views that inspired the song "America the Beautiful".
- Discover one of the last great gold rush towns in the Colorado Rockies.
- Hand-feed friendly giraffe at one of the country's most scenic zoos.
- Tour an unexpected treasure trove of American Western art.
- Try an In-N-Out Double Double and "animal-style" fries — a secret menu item.
Travel itinerary
9 Activities
Day 1
106 mi
Road Trip to the Summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado's First In-N-Out, a Mountain Zoo, and More
Start your adventure on a high note with an awe-inspiring drive to the summit of Pikes Peak — one of Colorado's impressive "14-footers," referring to the mountains within the Rockies that surpass 14,000 feet in elevation. Afterwards, it's time for lunch at Colorado's first In-N-Out location, which draws legions of fans from all over the state, and visit an off-the-beaten path family-friendly favorite — the U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium.
Later in the afternoon, visit one of the country's highest elevation zoos, which offers a few delightful close encounters and more impressive views. Wind down with dinner at a family-friendly gastropub and leisure time at one of Colorado's most historic resort hotels, the vision of a famously eccentric historic local figure who was also an avid collector of art and sculpture depicting life in the wild American West.
12 Activities
Day 2
103 mi0.1 mi
Head Deeper Into the Rockies to Discover Colorado's Mining History
Today's adventure is all about going back in time, to Colorado's booming gold rush days of the late 1800s, which turned the luckiest prospectors into millionaires overnight. One of the region's prettiest drives connects the greater Colorado Springs basin with the historic mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor, where hulking shapes of abandoned mine shafts and equipment lend an eerie feel to the otherwise scenic alpine landscapes. The day's activities include options to get up-close to these relics, plenty of photo ops with historic facades, and immersive experiences that bring history to life for the whole family. On the return to Colorado Springs, stop in one last mountain town to sample its legendary mineral spring water and visit a family-friendly brewery, too.