Itinerary in brief:
- 2 nights Denver
- 17 nights in a campervan
Day 1: Depart UK
Depart the UK from your chosen airport. You'll arrive in Denver on the same day and make your own way into the city to your hotel, where you'll check-in for two nights.
Included: International flight, hotel
Day 2: Denver
Spend your morning at leisure before joining the Urban Adventures Denver Highlights Tour in the early afternoon. This 3-hour tour will introduce you to the best of Denver, from the Colorado state flags flying above Larimer Square to the iconic Blue Bear. You’ll stop off to check the sea level (it really is one mile high!) before spying some souvenirs at the I Heart Denver store. The tour finishes with lunch at a local bakery, and you can spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring further or testing out some of the recommendations from your guide.
Included: Hotel, Denver walking tour
Days 3 - 19: Pick up Campervan and explore
This morning you will pick up your campervan and head off on your trip. This trip is based on an Apollo Tourer, but if you want something bigger or more luxurious, just ask! We'll be able to help.
From Denver, there are few different routes you can take. We would recommend driving in a loop, either north or south.
Northern idea: Driving north from Denver, you’ll immediately hit Boulder, a cool mountain city with pretty streets and a great food scene. Why not stock up with fresh local ingredients before setting off on a long drive through Wyoming, into South Dakota? Arriving in Rapid City, you’ll be well placed to visit the legendary faces of Mount Rushmore and vast landscapes of Badlands National Park. Next, you can drive back into Wyoming to look for aliens at the iconic Devil’s Tower, made famous when it appeared in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Soon you’ll arrive at the Rockies to spend a few days enjoying the geothermal wonderlands of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Salt Lake City sits directly south, so why not stop to explore its enormous Mormon Temple before driving back into Colorado? On the way, you can see the ancient footprints at Dinosaur National Monument. The ski resort of Vail is just as lively when it’s not snowing, so enjoy some rafting or kayaking before arriving back in Denver.
Southern idea: Heading east from Denver, you’ll pass through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. On the way, you can stop in Aspen, a ski resort that turns into a lovely alpine over the summer. While you're here, try hopping between the vineyards around Grand Junction and tasting the local wines. Passing into Utah, Moab is an excellent base for exploring the red rock landscape of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, before driving past the iconic rocks in Monument Valley. From here, you can gaze at the pink waves of Antelope Canyon in Page and the bizarre-looking hoodoos at Bryce Canyon on your way to Las Vegas.
After a couple of hedonistic days enjoying The Strip, drive east to the Grand Canyon before exploring New Mexico, home to bustling Albuquerque, pretty Santa Fe and the ancient pueblos of Taos. Returning to Colorado, you can visit Great Sand Dunes National Park and Colorado Springs before arriving back in Denver.
Whatever route you choose, we're sure that you'll have a brilliant time exploring the USA.
Included: Campervan
Day 20: Return campervan and depart from Denver
You'll return your campervan in Denver today, and make your way to the airport to catch your flight home.
Included: International flight
Day 21: Arrive UK
