Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road Itinerary
The Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road is a 129 km journey that starts and ends in Vail, Colorado. This is a great road trip for any driver, as it offers breathtaking views, a moderate budget, and memories that will last a lifetime. The best time of year to drive this route is in the summer months, when the weather is warm and the skies are clear.
The route passes through Copper Mountain, Leadville, and Minturn, offering a variety of attractions along the way. In Copper Mountain, travelers can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. Leadville is a historic mining town with plenty of cultural attractions, while Minturn is known for its scenic hiking trails.
The road conditions are generally good, and the trip can be completed in one day. This is an amazing journey that will provide you with an unforgettable experience.
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number of days
129 km
route length
fair
budget
tourist
good for
on the right
traffic direction
moderate
accident level
START
Vail
Distance 129 km
Driving time 1.7 h
Pace: fast
38.6 kWh
Airports
DEN
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Vail is a stunning mountain town located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA. It is the perfect starting point for the "Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road" road trip. Vail offers a variety of outdoor activities, including skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling in the winter and hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the summer.
Visitors to Vail can explore the town's many attractions such as the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the Vail Valley Museum, and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. For those looking for a more adventurous experience, Vail also offers hot air balloon rides and zip-lining.
The closest international airport to Vail is Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE). Car rental services are available at the airport, making it easy to explore Vail and the Rocky Mountains.
Whether you're looking for a relaxing vacation or an outdoor adventure, Vail is the perfect starting point for the "Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road" road trip. With its stunning mountain views and plethora of activities, Vail is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
1
Vail
- Copper Mountain
Distance 32 km
Driving time 0.4 h
Pace: fast
9.7 kWh
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Itinerary
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Welcome to the incredible road trip from Vail to Copper Mountain! This stage of your tour will take you through some of Colorado's most stunning scenery, and you'll be able to experience the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The 20-mile journey takes less than an hour to complete, so you'll be able to spend plenty of time exploring the attractions of these two great locations.
In Vail, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Gore Range and the Eagle River, and take a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Eagle River. You can also take a gondola ride to the top of Vail Mountain, where you can take in the incredible views of the surrounding area.
When you reach Copper Mountain, you'll be able to explore the resort village, which is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. You can also take a ride on the American Eagle chairlift to the summit of Copper Mountain, where you can take in the breathtaking views of the Tenmile Range.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your road trip from Vail to Copper Mountain!
Copper Mountain - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - Wikimedia Commons
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2
Copper Mountain
- Leadville
Distance 38 km
Driving time 0.5 h
Pace: fast
11.3 kWh
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Itinerary
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Are you ready for a fantastic road trip from Copper Mountain to Leadville? This 23 mile drive takes less than an hour, and offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the area. The road takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado, with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, you'll pass through historic mining towns and get a glimpse of the rich history of the region. You'll also have the chance to visit some of the area's most interesting attractions, including the Leadville National Historic Landmark District and the Leadville Mining Museum. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the area's most famous landmarks, including the Twin Lakes and Mount Elbert. With so much to see and do, you won't want to miss a single thing! For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, be sure to check out the Itinerary of this stage.
Leadville - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - Wikimedia Commons
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3
Leadville
- Minturn
Distance 47 km
Driving time 0.7 h
Pace: fast
14.1 kWh
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Itinerary
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Welcome to the Leadville to Minturn road trip! This 29mi journey is a fantastic way to explore the beauty of Colorado, with a driving time of less than one hour.
Start your adventure in Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the United States, where you can visit the Matchless Mine and the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and the two historic churches, St. George and St. Patrick.
Your next stop is Minturn, a small mountain town with a rich history. Here, you can explore the historic buildings of the town, the Minturn Saloon, the Minturn Country Club, and the Minturn Memorial Park.
Along the way, make sure to pay attention to the historical sites and the stunning scenery of the Rocky Mountains. For more information on attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please consult the Itinerary of this stage.
We hope you enjoy your Leadville to Minturn road trip!
Minturn - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - Wikimedia Commons
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4
Minturn
- Vail
Distance 12 km
Driving time 0.2 h
Pace: fast
3.5 kWh
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Itinerary
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Welcome road-trippers! Let us take you on a journey from Minturn to Vail. This beautiful 7mi drive will take you less than 1 hour and it is part of a larger tour.
Starting in Minturn, you can visit the Minturn Saloon, a historic bar with great food and a unique atmosphere, or take a stroll in the Minturn Mile, a beautiful walk along the Eagle River.
Continuing your journey, you will arrive in Vail, where you can explore the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the largest alpine garden in North America, or the Vail Ski Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in the world.
More information regarding attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route is available in the "Itinerary" of this stage. So don't miss out and join us on this amazing adventure!
Vail
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Vail, Colorado, is the final destination of the Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road. This stunning mountain town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, is a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of picturesque beauty. Its iconic mountain backdrop is perfect for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking. Along with two world-class ski resorts, Vail also offers a wide variety of shopping, dining, nightlife, and entertainment.
For those who prefer to explore by car, the town of Vail is full of winding roads that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The Vail Pass is a must-see, as it winds through the White River National Forest and offers breathtaking views of the Rockies and the nearby Eagle River. Other popular attractions include the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the Eagle Bahn Gondola, and the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum.
For international travelers, the closest international airport to Vail is Denver International Airport (DEN). From there, it’s only a two-hour drive to Vail. There are also a number of shuttle services that offer transportation from the airport to Vail.
Vail is the perfect ending point to the Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road – a road trip through the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado. From the stunning mountain views to the vast array of activities and attractions, Vail is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road at a glance
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Start:
Vail
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End:
Vail
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Distance:
129 km
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Stay:
1 day
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Getting there:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
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When to drive:
June, July, August, September, October
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More info:
More info you can find in the "Itinerary" section at each stage.
Hopefully, our road trip idea gave you plenty of inspirations for your future holiday excursions.
It is a ready-made option that can be conveniently expanded into a longer itinerary – you’re limited only by your creativity.
If travelling by car is your plan when exploring highlights around Colorado, there are a number of vital road rules to follow and a bunch of things to remember to make your road trip smooth.
These tips will surely become useful for tourists who are interested in car hire or hiring a camper in Colorado.
In Colorado, there are a number of traffic rules to be followed while travelling.
Alcohol is best to be avoided at any cost while travelling around Colorado.
The amount of alcohol that the driver can consume is extremely low and cannot exceed 0.5‰.
Never exceed the allowed speed limit when driving around the build-up areas, which is 40km/h.
Around rural areas, holidayers can travel at the maximum permissible speed of 72km/h.
While on motorways, you cannot exceed the permissible speed of 129km/h.
We recommend driving with your headlights on at daytime and equipping your car with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit to ensure appropriate safety.
The majority of holidaymakers wonder about the costs of the whole trip.
Well, depending on the needs of the travellers, the amount of money that you have to pay may vary.
A wide range of budget possibilities is described below.
If you’d like to benefit from the cheapest offer to cover the planned 5 stages across Colorado, it can be roughly 13 EUR.
Travel expenses connected with economy accommodation will cost up to roughly 77 EUR.
Tourists should also take into consideration the fact that they will spend more or less 72 EUR for restaurants and food in this option.
Travellers will have to pay around 45 EUR if they choose the budget hire car offer as well.
Thus, going for vehicle rental will increase the expenses of the road trip from approximately 162 EUR to around 207 EUR.
Holidaymakers who are interested in greater comfort and the standard option will pay more or less 25 EUR for the gasoline needed to cover the itinerary.
If you are into standard accommodation options, expect that the expenses may amount up to roughly 121 EUR.
Travellers can expect that the standard option in terms of restaurants and food will cost around 108 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the tour in a standard hire vehicle should expect a cost of more or less 54 EUR.
Summing up the standard offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total roughly 308 EUR for holidayers who would like to try car hire and 254 EUR for those who are not interested in renting.
Holidayers who would like to take advantage of the highest level of convenience will be pleased with the premium offer.
The whole estimated cost of the tour in this versions of services is 470 EUR with car rental and 254 EUR without a hire vehicle.
Travellers who would like to cover the tour in a premium rental car can expect a cost of around 90 EUR.
In the top standard configuration of the trip, you need to spend the maximum of 38 EUR on the gasoline needed to cover the tour.
Holidayers who opt for top services in all aspects of their trip should expect to pay approximately 144 EUR for food and restaurants and around 198 EUR for overnight stays.
Our tour will also measure up to the expectations of all camper lovers.
If you choose this mode of transport, you should expect the costs of approximately 225 EUR.
Travellers will spend more or less 38 EUR on fuel allowing to cover all stages of the tour.
Holidaymakers who opt for camper rental should expect to pay more or less 55 EUR for overnight stays and around 72 EUR for expenses connected with food.
The Road Trip Costs section presents all the presented details in an easy to follow manner.
If Top of the Rockies Panoramic Road has sparked your creativity, our website is rife with intriguing road trips.
The great versatility of ideas will surely come up to the expectations of the most demanding travellers.