Colorado is undoubtedly one of the best places in the U.S. to plan an RV road trip. There are thriving, vibrant urban areas, paired with natural beauty and the entire state seems to be focused on a love and appreciation for the outdoors and adventures.
So with that being said, what should you know about renting an RV in Colorado and planning your road trip?
The following are some things to consider, and some must-see destinations you should try to include in your itinerary.
Pick Your Top Spots
If you only have around a week or so for travel, which is the typical length most people plan for, you’re not going to be able to see all of Colorado. It’s usually better to try and pick some of your top spots that you have to see, rather than trying to see every single thing in the state.
If you have anywhere from 10 to 14 days to travel, you’ll obviously be able to see more, but you will have to plan accordingly.
Colorado is around 380 miles wide, and from top to bottom it’s 280 miles.
A lot of experienced RVers agree that it’s better to see fewer things and spend more time at them, than trying to fit everything in all at once.
Travel Route
Choosing the specifics of your travel route is going to be dependent on what you like and prefer to see when you’re traveling.
For example, if you want to see the mountains, you’ll focus on the western part of the state.
There are also quite a few national parks in the state including Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Within around 7 to 10 days you could pretty reasonably plan to at least cover the national parks in Colorado.
You’ll have to choose where you’re flying into as well unless you’re driving into the state. Most travelers opt for Denver because it’s easier, but there are smaller airports throughout the state as well.
Plan Your Activities Ahead of Time
A lot of road trippers, particularly if they’re new at it, feel like they should just head to their destination and let the road take them where it may.
Some issues with this may cause you to reconsider, however.
First, if you do that you don’t usually end up getting to see much of the state at all. It’s actually better to plan it out to ensure that you get to see what’s most important to you. Otherwise, you’ll be trying to plan along the way, and it’s not likely to go the way you want it to.
Finally, you should try to plan not only your route and places you’ll visit ahead of time but your activities as well. Book what you can in advance, not just to maximize your time in Colorado, but also to make sure you stay on budget if that’s a concern for you.
