Trip Itinerary from Salt Lake City to Albuquerque via Denver

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

In this route, you will experience the contrast between the fascinating desert landscape of the impressive Arches and Canyonlands national parks in southeast Utah and a trip on a magical mountain peak road in the "Rocky Mountain" National Park with impressive views and sightings of many wild animals. The route also includes the famous resort towns of Glenwood Springs, Vail, and Aspen. At the end of the route, you will visit culturally unique cities: Albuquerque and Santa Fe in New Mexico.

Route Map between Colorado and its Neighbors (9)

Map of itinerary from Salt Lake City to Albuquerque via Denver

♦ Link to Google Map with the route

Destinations along the route

Destination		Days of stay
Salt Lake City		1-2
Arches National Park (Moab)		1
Canyonlands National Park (Moab)		1
Glenwood Springs		2-3
Estes Park - Rocky Mountains		2-3
Colorado Springs		2-3
Santa Fe		1-2
Albuquerque		1-2

Total: 11-17 travel days.

Route length: 1860 km. Total driving duration without stops: about 19 hours.

Recommended destinations, accommodations, and articles for each stop on the route:

For each destination, there is a link to my detailed article about it with photos, attractions, and important tourist information.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and its economic and cultural center. It is an excellent starting point for a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The city serves as the spiritual center of the Mormon sect, which is its main uniqueness. Most of the tourist attractions in the city are related to the Mormons. The city's main attraction is Temple Square.

♥ Recommended hotels in Salt Lake City

Article: ◄ Trip to the city of Salt Lake City

Order tours from GetYourGuide.com:

The city of Salt Lake City

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks - (In the Moab area)

Southeast Utah is an area of wild and magical nature, where the erosion of red rocks by the forces of nature created hundreds of amazing canyons, arches, bridges, spires, columns, and massive natural sculptures scattered across the land. Arches National Park is one of the most special and interesting parks in the area. The park contains the largest number of natural arches in the world. Not far from Arches lies Canyonlands National Park, which is much larger than Arches. This park is divided into three parts that are completely separate from each other, each with its own separate entrance.

Article: ◄ Trip to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Southeast Utah

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is a town of about ten thousand residents in the state of Colorado, famous for its hot springs. It is recommended to visit the family amusement park located at the top of a mountain, reached by a scenic cable car, explore stalactite caves, or join a quiet or adventurous river trip on rafts, kayaks, SUP (stand-up paddleboard), as well as fishing. The town is located in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, about 250 km west of the city of Denver and is also adjacent to two famous and luxury resort towns, Aspen and Vail, each of which is recommended for a day trip.

Article: ◄ Trips in Glenwood Springs and its surroundings

Glenwood Springs

Estes Park - Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park

A trip to "Rocky Mountain" National Park includes driving along the main road, number 34, called "Trail Ridge Road", which is the highest continuous paved road in the world. The road climbs to mountain peaks at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters and offers impressive viewpoints. Along the way, you can see many wild animals: elk, moose, bighorn sheep, marmots, squirrels, interesting birds, and more. In the eastern part of the park, there are many small lakes.

Also drive from Estes Park on a lovely scenic route called: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway. This is a scenic road passing between mountains, lakes, and charming towns with many viewpoints and options for hiking and cycling.

♥ Recommended hotels in the town of Estes Park:

♦ Hotel Estes ♦ The Estes Park Resort ♦ Streamside on Fall River

Information: ◄ National Parks Website: Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, located near impressive and towering mountain peaks, is a wonderful destination off the beaten path for the typical tourist—ideal for nature and landscape lovers, and for adrenaline-seeking action fans thanks to a variety of options for jeep tours, rafting, rock climbing, etc., but also for culture and history buffs. Every year, about five million tourists visit the area and travel among the 55 attractions the city and its surroundings have to offer.

Article: ◄ The traveler's guide to Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak

Santa Fe

Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, is the oldest capital city in the USA: it was founded in 1607. It is the first city in the USA to be declared a UNESCO Creative City – thanks to the combination of the special design of its houses, its unique handicrafts, and the extensive art based on folklore. More than ten percent of the city's residents work in art, and there are hundreds of galleries, art shops, and art markets. The city is also known for the large and colorful art festivals held there annually.

Article: ◄ The traveler's guide to Santa Fe

Adobe houses in Santa Fe

Street sculptures in Santa Fe

Albuquerque

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico. The beautiful and colorful Old Town is one of the city's main attractions. It has over 150 shops, restaurants, and galleries. The city is considered one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in the USA, which is reflected in its diverse architecture, artworks, cultural centers, and of course, its food.

♥ Recommended hotels in Albuquerque

Article: ◄ The traveler's guide to Albuquerque

Albuquerque