Colorado Itineray Suggestions
 

ill be arriving in Denver 8/4 and leaving from DIA on 8/12. Plan on renting a car and spending time in Denver, Boulder, RMNP and Colorado Springs. Would appreciate any suggestions for how to break our time up, how many days in each place and suggestions for Hotels. Would like to keep budget at $150 per night. Any side trips which an be made from these locations? Advice on what to see or avoid? Would greatly appreciate any and all guidance! Thank You!

Need more info - who is going? Approx ages? Do you need 1 room or 2? What do you like to do/see? What made you pick Colorado as a place to vacation?

With 4 locations, you have 2 nights in each area but you can do Colorado Springs while staying in Denver.

IF you plan on doing anything involving altitude and you come from sea level, be sure to know the signs of altitude sickness and how to best acclimate. My first trip from New York City area to Colorado Springs and up Pike Peak Cog Rail got me VERY sick. It doesn't last too long, but I felt awful for almost a full day.

My husband and I are going so we will need one room. Age 58 . Would like to see Rocky Mountain National Park. We enjoy light hiking but will be cautious here do to altitude. Want to experience the beauty of the Rockies. We love history so we are always interested in historic sites. Love flowers so Botanical gardens are always a good bet for us. Love to eat, especially love to experience cuisine whic is unique to an area.
I have always wanted to visit Colorado (huge John Denver fan, please don't hold that against me...) but it was never in our budget before. Now we are finally starting to tick off those bucket list items and the Rockies are high on my list.
Would love to see a Ghost Town if there is one anywhere near where we will be.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Was considering 2 days in Denver, 2 days in Boulder, 3 days in Estes Park/ RMNP and 2 days in Colorado Springs. Is this enough/too much time in each of these places? Should I keep moving hotels with each new location?
Thank You!!

Personally, I think you have too many places. I don't like moving around that much, but that's me.

You can do Colorado Springs as a day trip from Denver. IF you wanted, maybe a night there.

Did you look at that link? They have some good routes.

Your suggested schedule (other than RMNP) is just the front range and not the most attractive. If you really want to see John Denver's Rocky Mountains then really need to plunge into the mountains. Your time is short and this is a fast pace recommendation

Arriving on the 4th head directly to Estes Park for the night. Spend afternoon and evening in EP.

5th - Drive over Trail Ridge Road taking as time as you like. Spend that evening in Winter Park or that general area.

6th - Hit Georgetown off I-70, Loveland pass to Frisco or Breckenridge.

7th - Breckenridge or Frisco - lots of trails in the area. Rent bikes and have the bike shop haul you to the top of Vail pass and ride by Copper Mt and back to Frisco/Breckenridge.
8th - To Leadville, some time on the Mineral Belt trail in Leadville, Independent Pass into the back side of Aspen, and the Maroon Bells, and probably on to Glenwood Springs.
9th - Your are three hours from Denver so head in that direction through Glenwood Canyon. Stop for a quick hike to Hanging Lake in the Canyon. Stay in downtown Denver, drop the car.

10th, 11th - Denver -- your choice of activities

12th - take the train from Union station to DIA.

The train that fmpden is referring to is the newly opened A Line. http://www.rtd-denver.com/a-line.shtml
It is now possible to get from Denver to Glenwood Springs and Aspen without a rental car.
The Colorado Dept of Transportation recently started running a bus from Union station to Glenwood Springs. The bus is called the "Bustang" and it leaves Union Station at 8:05AM every day. It drops off at the bus yard for the RFTD buses that go up to Aspen.

You CAN get to Glenwood springs without a car by the train, but you will not see RMNP, Breck, Leadville, etc. as from the car window and be able to stop and look and hike

I really like Fmpden's itinereary--we have done that in various parts and you will LOVE Colorado all the more. On the way back through Glenwood Canyon also stop to see the exhibit on how that highway was built--it is MORE than worth the stop for a bit of awe. LOL

What are you exact arrival and departure times. If any of this appeals to you I can give you another route that really gets into a J Denver song, through a ghost town (few exist anymore) and more away from the normal tourists sites.

Denver has a nice Botantical Gardens, it's a little ways from downtown but you may be able to get the bus.

Ditto to fmpden's route, definitely far better than your original plan.

In addition to the Denver Botanical Gardens, the Betty Ford Alpine Garden in Vail is excellent. fmpden's route takes you past Vail. I'm not a big fan of Vail, but since you like gardens that is definitely worth a stop.

One easy-to-reach ghost town that I know of is Ashcroft, just outside of Aspen.

fmpden, I'm curious what ghost town and other sites you would have posted for the OP, if you still feel like mentioning them.

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I am sending them off to my TA!

Ditto the Betty Ford garden in Vail. That is a favorite stop for us, an hour or so. The gift shop is very inviting!

If they have a car the botanic gardens has parking.
TA--really? For what? Just curious. ;o) On a budget you can usually do better on your own, IMO.