36 Activities
⚡ Colorado Springs to Estes Park: A 3-Day Tour of Colorado's Front Range
Starts from
Colorado Springs
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
232 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
36
Duration
3 days
Length
437 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Colorado Springs
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
232 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
3 days
Length
437 mi
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Start the day with a green chili smothered breakfast burrito — a Colorado favorite.
- Break often for scenic overlooks along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.
- Sleep over at the historic Estes Park hotel that inspired "The Shining".
- Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Get a group photo that proves you've been to the real "South Park".
This route includes CCS charging stations. For Tesla Superchargers, follow this link.
When it comes to classic US road trips, a few days touring Colorado's Rocky Mountains is definitely one for the bucket list. And while summer into early fall is the busiest road-tripping season here, in part due to practicality — these are really the only months when the Continental Divide crossings and certain mountain passes are guaranteed to be open — the mountains are just as spectacular during peak winter majesty and as the snow melt gives way to spring greens.
This three-day road trip into the Rocky Mountains' Front Range was designed with Colorado's four-season splendor in mind, which means you can hit the road in your EV to explore quaint, quirky, and historic mountain towns such as Florissant and Nederland any time of year, via scenic mountain highways and byways that are beautifully maintained. All destinations along the route — including iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and the natural wonderland that is Rocky Mountain National Park — are open 365 days a year, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
When it comes to classic US road trips, a few days touring Colorado's Rocky Mountains is definitely one for the bucket list. And while summer into early fall is the busiest road-tripping season here, in part due to practicality — these are really the only months when the Continental Divide crossings and certain mountain passes are guaranteed to be open — the mountains are just as spectacular during peak winter majesty and as the snow melt gives way to spring greens.
This three-day road trip into the Rocky Mountains' Front Range was designed with Colorado's four-season splendor in mind, which means you can hit the road in your EV to explore quaint, quirky, and historic mountain towns such as Florissant and Nederland any time of year, via scenic mountain highways and byways that are beautifully maintained. All destinations along the route — including iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and the natural wonderland that is Rocky Mountain National Park — are open 365 days a year, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
This route includes CCS charging stations. For Tesla Superchargers, follow this link.
When it comes to classic US road trips, a few days touring Colorado's Rocky Mountains is definitely one for the bucket list. And while summer into early fall is the busiest road-tripping season here, in part due to practicality — these are really the only months when the Continental Divide crossings and certain mountain passes are guaranteed to be open — the mountains are just as spectacular during peak winter majesty and as the snow melt gives way to spring greens.
This three-day road trip into the Rocky Mountains' Front Range was designed with Colorado's four-season splendor in mind, which means you can hit the road in your EV to explore quaint, quirky, and historic mountain towns such as Florissant and Nederland any time of year, via scenic mountain highways and byways that are beautifully maintained. All destinations along the route — including iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and the natural wonderland that is Rocky Mountain National Park — are open 365 days a year, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
When it comes to classic US road trips, a few days touring Colorado's Rocky Mountains is definitely one for the bucket list. And while summer into early fall is the busiest road-tripping season here, in part due to practicality — these are really the only months when the Continental Divide crossings and certain mountain passes are guaranteed to be open — the mountains are just as spectacular during peak winter majesty and as the snow melt gives way to spring greens.
This three-day road trip into the Rocky Mountains' Front Range was designed with Colorado's four-season splendor in mind, which means you can hit the road in your EV to explore quaint, quirky, and historic mountain towns such as Florissant and Nederland any time of year, via scenic mountain highways and byways that are beautifully maintained. All destinations along the route — including iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and the natural wonderland that is Rocky Mountain National Park — are open 365 days a year, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Start the day with a green chili smothered breakfast burrito — a Colorado favorite.
- Break often for scenic overlooks along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.
- Sleep over at the historic Estes Park hotel that inspired "The Shining".
- Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Get a group photo that proves you've been to the real "South Park".
Travel itinerary
12 Activities
Day 1
172 mi0.2 mi
Colorado Springs to Golden, via a Scenic Rocky Mountains Route
This drive day is all about taking the road less traveled through the Rockies to travel between Colorado Springs and the foothills town of Golden, Colorado. The highly scenic drive is bookended by stops at two of Colorado's most famous red rock sights, Garden of the Gods and Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. Along the way, there are stops in the mountain towns of Florissant and Fairplay — the later of which is, with a population of 724, the largest town in South Park basin.
10 Activities
Day 2
84 mi0.4 mi
Golden to Estes Park, via the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
If you thought yesterday's drive through the Rockies had some pretty incredible views, just wait for today's, which includes Colorado's oldest scenic byway and one of the prettiest roads through the Front Ranges. After breakfast and a slight detour to charge the EV for the day's drive, the route passes through a couple of historic mining communities, Black Hawk and Central City. Next up, stop in the eclectic mountain town of Nederland for a bit of local discovery and a lunch at a brew-and-cue type joint with a backdrop of mountain views. A leisurely drive along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway — one of Colorado's most popular fall foliage routes — leads to Estes Park, tonight's overnight and the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Overnight at the Stanley Hotel, a grand historic hotel with an infamous Hollywood cameo.
14 Activities
Day 3
181 mi0.7 mi
Explore Rocky Mountain National Park Before Returning to Colorado Springs
An earlier start today means more time to explore one of Colorado's crown jewels, Rocky Mountain National Park. First up is a drive along the park's famous Trail Ridge Road, which is also known as the "Highway to the Sky" as it's the highest-elevation continuous paved road in the US, surpassing 12,200 feet above sea level at its highest point. From Trail Ridge Road, a picturesque 9-mile drive leads to the park's most famous alpine lakes, Bear Lake, for a short nature hike (optional). After lunch in Estes Park, it's time to start making our way out of the mountains and back south towards Colorado Springs. For the most part, the journey south sticks to pretty country roads that hug the foothills of the Front Range and promise beautiful views of the Flatirons, as well as open prairie and pasture lands, as the sun slowly sinks behind the mountains.