Denver Colorado skyline with Rocky Mountains backdrop

Best 14 Days in Colorado — Photography

Denver → Colorado Springs

14 days · 2 cities · 24 activities · route optimized by distance

This photography itinerary reshuffles the schedule around photography activities — golden-hour viewpoints, iconic landmarks, and photogenic landscapes. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, mostly at your own pace. Includes 4 must-see landmarks across Denver and Colorado Springs.

Highlights: Pikes Peak — America's Mountain, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Rocky Mountain National Park Day Trip, Downtown Denver & LoDo

Arriving Wed, Jul 1 Change

This 14-day Colorado photography itinerary features 13 themed activities across Denver and Colorado Springs.

Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking

24+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 2 cities

Where you'll stay
Hotel in Denver · From $155/night +1 more
See lodging →
Trip cost
~$5,289 total · $378/day
See budget →
Top picks
Rocky Mountain National Park Day Trip, Mount Evans day trip: Private day tour, Breckenridge day tour
See itinerary →

Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out

Denver

Denver Denver · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 1 Wed, Jul 1 Full Denver
Morning
Rocky Mountain National Park Day Trip$$~3 hrs

Day trip from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park — alpine scenery, wildlife, and Trail Ridge Road

$30 Verified Mar 2026
Afternoon
Mount Evans day trip: Private day tour$$~8 hrs

Opt for a premium experience as a private guide leads you to Mt. Evans and handles all of the logistics. You'll enjoy pe

$539 Verified Mar 2026 Book this tour →
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 2 Thu, Jul 2 Light Denver
Full Day
Breckenridge day tour$$~9 hrs

Enjoy a scenic journey through the Rockies on the way out to the picturesque ski village of Breckenridge. You'll first w

$115 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 3 Fri, Jul 3 Full Denver
Full Day
Glacier Hike and Geothermal Cave Pools$$~8h 30m

Join an experienced guide for a hike up St. Mary’s Glacier. You’ll ascend through the Colorado forest and end with a bre

$169 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 4 Sat, Jul 4 Moderate Denver
Morning
Supercar Test Drive in Colorado Canyon: 65 mile base class$$~3 hrs

Indulge in a tour that takes you through four Rocky Mountain roads and canyons and allows you to drive multiple base cla

$574 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
Afternoon
Supercar Test Drive in Colorado Canyon: 35 mile base class$$~1h 30m

In a base class car, take in every curve of Golden Gate Canyon on a scenic drive up CO-46. Either drive the full length

$324 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 5 Sun, Jul 5 Moderate Denver
Morning
Supercar Test Drive in Colorado Canyon: 65 mile elite class$$~3 hrs

Indulge in a tour that takes you through four Rocky Mountain roads and canyons and allows you to drive multiple elite cl

$787 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
Afternoon
Supercar Test Drive in Colorado Canyon: 35 mile elite class$$~1h 30m

In an elite class car, take in every curve of Golden Gate Canyon on a scenic drive up CO-46. Either drive the full lengt

$574 Verified Mar 2026 Book this experience →
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 6 Mon, Jul 6 Moderate Denver
Morning
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre$~3 hrs

Visit the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a world-famous outdoor concert venue set among 300-million-year-old red sandstone formations

Afternoon
Downtown Denver & LoDo$~3 hrs

Explore downtown Denver's vibrant LoDo district with Union Station, Larimer Square, and the 16th Street Mall

🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 7 Tue, Jul 7 Moderate Denver
Morning
RiNo Art District$~3 hrs

Wander Denver's River North Art District, home to over 200 street murals, craft breweries, and creative studios

Afternoon
Golden Triangle Museum District$$~3 hrs

Visit Denver's premier museum district: the Denver Art Museum, History Colorado Center, and Clyfford Still Museum

🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 8 Wed, Jul 8 Moderate Denver
Morning
Denver Botanic Gardens$$~3 hrs

Stroll through 24 acres of cultivated gardens featuring alpine plants, water gardens, and a world-class tropical conservatory

$17 Verified Mar 2026
Afternoon
Coors Brewery Tour in Golden$$~3 hrs

Tour the world's largest single-site brewery in the charming mountain town of Golden, 30 minutes from Denver

$20 Verified Mar 2026
🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 9 Thu, Jul 9 Moderate Denver
Morning
City Park & Denver Museum of Nature and Science$~3 hrs

Explore Denver's largest park with the Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Zoo, and panoramic mountain views

Afternoon
Boulder Day Trip$~3 hrs

Visit the vibrant college town of Boulder with its Flatirons backdrop, Pearl Street Mall, and Chautauqua Park

🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 10 Fri, Jul 10 Moderate Denver
Morning
Colorado Springs Day Trip$~3 hrs

Day trip from Denver to Colorado Springs for Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and Manitou Springs

Afternoon
Denver Craft Brewery Crawl$$~3 hrs

Sample Denver's thriving craft beer scene with a self-guided crawl through LoDo, RiNo, or the Highlands

🏨 Hotel in Denver

Downtown / LoDo / Cherry Creek / Highland

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: Kimpton Hotel Born $200-350/nightThe Ramble Hotel $130-230/nightThe Crawford Hotel $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Denver from $155/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Denver → Colorado Springs
1h 30m Drive straight to Colorado Springs without sightseeing along the route.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 11 Sat, Jul 11 Full Colorado Springs
Morning
Pikes Peak — America's Mountain$$~3 hrs

Summit the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak by car, cog railway, or on foot — the inspiration for 'America the Beautiful'

Afternoon
The Broadmoor & Seven Falls$$~3 hrs

Visit the legendary Broadmoor resort and nearby Seven Falls — a series of seven cascading waterfalls in a box canyon

🏨 Hotel in Colorado Springs

Downtown / Old Colorado City / Manitou Springs

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: The Broadmoor $300-500/nightThe Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel $100-180/nightCliff House at Pikes Peak $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Colorado Springs from $140/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 12 Sun, Jul 12 Full Colorado Springs
Morning
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo$$~3 hrs

Visit America's only mountain zoo, set at 6,800 feet with panoramic views and up-close giraffe feeding

$35 Verified Mar 2026
Afternoon
North Cheyenne Canon Park$~3 hrs

Hike through a dramatic 1,600-acre canyon park with waterfalls, wildlife, and access to Mount Cutler trail

🏨 Hotel in Colorado Springs

Downtown / Old Colorado City / Manitou Springs

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: The Broadmoor $300-500/nightThe Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel $100-180/nightCliff House at Pikes Peak $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Colorado Springs from $140/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 13 Mon, Jul 13 Moderate Colorado Springs
Morning
Garden of the Gods: Rock Climbing Tour$$~4 hrs

See the Garden of the Gods from a different perspective during a private 4-hour rock climbing experience in Colorado Spr

$135 Verified Mar 2026 Book this tour →
Afternoon
Manitou Springs$~3 hrs

Explore the charming mountain town of Manitou Springs with its mineral springs, vintage Penny Arcade, and eclectic shops

🏨 Hotel in Colorado Springs

Downtown / Old Colorado City / Manitou Springs

wifiparkingair-conditioning
Travelers book: The Broadmoor $300-500/nightThe Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel $100-180/nightCliff House at Pikes Peak $150-280/night
Book Hotel in Colorado Springs from $140/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 14 Tue, Jul 14 Colorado Springs
Checkout & Depart

Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from Colorado Springs!

Where You’ll Stay

Estimated total: $1,576–$2,364

Trip Budget Estimate

$5,289 estimated total per person
$378 per day
Lodging $1,970
Activities $3,319

Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.

Typical range for Colorado

$1,400 – $7,000 per person for 14 days

Budget: $100/day — Budget motels, fast-casual dining, public transport Mid-range: $250/day — Hotels, restaurants, car rental Luxury: $500/day — Resorts, fine dining, guided tours

Similar Destinations

Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to Colorado.

🧳 Practical Info for Colorado

📄 Visa
ESTA required for Visa Waiver Program countries. CA citizens visa-exempt. See US entry requirements.
💵 Tipping
18–20% tip expected at restaurants. Standard US tipping culture applies.
💱 Currency
US Dollar ($ USD). Cards accepted everywhere.
🔌 Power
120V, Type A/B plugs. EU/UK/AU travelers need an adapter.
📶 Connectivity
Good coverage in cities and ski resorts. Mountain passes and remote trails may lack signal.
🚨 Emergency
911 (general emergency)

🚗 Getting Around Colorado

🚗 Car

Car rental essential for mountain passes and national parks. AWD recommended in winter.

✈️ Flight

Denver International is the main hub. Eagle County (Vail) and Montrose (Telluride) have regional airports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit?

Spring and fall offer the best weather and fewer crowds. Summer is peak season. Check regional weather patterns for specific conditions.

Do I need to rent a car?

A car is essential for road trips and national parks in the US. Public transit is limited outside major metro areas.

How much does a week cost?

Budget: $100-150/day. Mid-range: $200-350/day. Luxury: $500+/day. Costs vary significantly by region and season.

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