WhereAreWe

I guess the way I'm seeing it is: the OP is spending time in Denver for a conference, where you can see the mountains from the city. Then at the conclusion of the conference, pack up, load the kids into an RV, drive through the mountains and spend 3 days at Mesa Verde? I would think the kids and everyone would have had enough 'looking' at mountains and want to be in the mountains, not Mesa Verde.

I would've been so mad at my parents if they had done something like that, especially in the August heat. Now, if it was part of a larger trip and we got to spend some decent time in the mountains, OK. But it sounds like the consensus is to drive to Mesa Verde and spend 3 days there, then drive back to Denver and beyond (Minnesota). I just don't know that 10 and 12 year old boys will be real excited about all that driving to spend 3 days looking at cliff dwellings and ruins when there are mountains all over the state that are being skipped over.

fmpden

The big issue you will have to SW Colorado is the travel time. While the roads are good it is not interstate driving. With several mountain passes to crawl over, it will be slow going with the RV. I personally would focus on the Summitt Cty area (Breckenridge/Frisco) and maybe as far west as Glenwood Springs. MV really is a couple of days and especially an overnight. I would save the Durango area for another week and another time.

Gretchen

I can tell you that kids that age DO like Mesa Verde. Having an RV to ride to get places is a LOT more fun than riding in a car on the same distance.
The OP hasn't really said if they are likely to be "in the area" again easily--so they will have to get there "again". I would see the further away part because the nearer part will be an easier "next trip". They will see the mountains coming back?
Anyway, have fun whatever you do. Colorado is a great and beautiful state.

tekwriter

My two cents: It's too slow and far to drive, and very, very hot in the Four Corners area in August. Mesa Verde is a worthy destination but not in this time frame. If you haven't spent much time in the Rockies, then stay closer to the Front Range (Summit County, RMNP or Colorado Springs) It will take much longer than six hours to reach Durango from Denver in an RV. I would look at perhaps two nights in Colorado Springs or the interior like Salida, then up to RMNP for three night en route back to MN. August is wonderful in the mountains with the abundant wildflowers and beautiful scenery. It will be a good vacation without an arduous drive to get to the destination!