Hop in the car and prepare for an unforgettable spring break experience within six hours of Denver.
It's that time of year when we're all getting desperate to get away. Denver has had its share of snow, and activities around the Mile High City are looking sparse. The only thing to do is wait for summer to return ... or plan a vacation for March or April. We've picked locations within six hours of Denver that have plenty of outdoor and indoor activities alike for you to enjoy.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
If splashing around in the hot springs sounds like your cup of tea, visit Glenwood Springs. You can make the 150-mile trip in about 2.5 hours, and it has the largest mineral hot spring pool in the world, which is more than two city blocks long. You can also explore the hiking trails and view the stunning turquoise waters of Hanging Lake. Or, if you need more excitement, check out Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Just under four hours outside of Denver sit the tallest sand dunes in North America. Make sure to rent a sandboard or sand sled offsite before you arrive. It's also a great place for horseback riding! In the later spring months, you can also go tubing in Medano Creek and outside the park, you can hike to Zapata Falls.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Meow Wolf may be in Denver now, but that doesn't mean the original Meow Wolf art gallery in Santa Fe isn't definitely worth a visit. There's a myriad of other art galleries as well, along with fantastic restaurants and plenty of hiking trails when you want to explore outside, and it's all just 5.5 hours outside of Denver.
Moab, Utah
Moab is also about 5.5 hours away from Denver, and it sits between Canyonlands National Park and Zion National Park. It's known around the world to be one of the best places for mountain biking, and you can also check out geologic formations at places like Dead Horse Point and Arches National Park. You might even spot dinosaur tracks at Bull Canyon Overlook or Copper Ridge, or check out artifacts at the Museum of Moab.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
This gorgeous, giant park has 244,000 acres of rock formation, buttes, spires, and pinnacles. You can even find fossils of saber-toothed tigers and three-toed horses, and you'll also see live animals like bison, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep in the grasslands. And it's all just six hours outside of Denver.
Hole in the Wall, Wyoming
Located six hours away from Denver, Hole in the Wall is famous for being the hideout for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Nearby, you'll also find Hell’s Half Acre, Ayres Natural Bridge Park, and Thunder Basin National Grassland, which are all beautiful places to visit.
Do you have any travel plans for spring break? Have you visited any of these locations before? Let us (and your fellow readers) know about it in the comments!
