Time to hit the road!
There are few things better than a wide-open country road, your favorite music on the radio, and a good friend to keep you company as you pass mile-marker after mile-marker. It's even better if you're in a vehicle you admire, and for me, that's a lot of them! But since we're in Colorado, and since my purposed destinations will require something versatile, I think that if I were to do it I'd have to choose a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. There's just something about that truck that speaks to me. Maybe it's the fact that it shares the same engine architecture as a Corvette or that its magnetically controlled dampening system (suspension) is technology Ferrari uses in their cars. Or maybe it's because I'd never have to worry about the weather, taking unmaintained dirt roads, or hauling something home. Plus, I could do it all while having my gluteals air-conditioned. Whatever the case, if you're looking for great destinations within a day's drive of Denver here's where I'd go:
1. Telluride, CO | 6 hrs., 10 min. from Denver
There's really no direct way to get to Telluride, but you wouldn't want that anyway. Often referred to as the Switzerland of America, this area of the Rockies is bar-none some of the most breathtaking scenery the state has to offer. Make sure you bring your hiking gear!
2. Mt. Rushmore, SD | 6 hrs., 5 min. from Denver
Politics set aside, Mt. Rushmore is an amazing feat, and it's only six hours from Denver. It's worth seeing at least once, and if you're feeling up for it, the Badlands National Park is just an hour and a half away!
3. Santa Fe, NM | 6 hrs., 9 min. from Denver
Santa Fe is one of the country's oldest cities and is truly unlike any other place in the country. In fact, you don't even feel like you're in the same country! There's a reason artists are attracted to New Mexico. Go check it out!
4. Moab, UT | 5 hrs., 29 min. from Denver
It wouldn't be America without Moab, UT, and it's a place every Denverite should visit! Better yet, bring your Jeep, your ATVs, your mountain bikes, etc., because Moab offers some of the most epic and challenging terrain in the world.
5. Crested Butte, CO | 4 hrs., 12 min. from Denver
What's now called "the last great Colorado ski town" is just a four-hour drive from Denver, and it's worth it. Like most of Colorado, Crested Butte is a good place to visit any time of the year, and unlike some of Colorado's other ski towns, actually has bars and restaurants that could impress Denverites.
That's it for now! Do you have any suggestions? If so, let us know in the comments below!
