We're planning a trip to Colorado in early July and are wondering how many days total we'll need based on what we want to see and do. We would like to see southwest Colorado (Durango, Telluride, Ouray), possibly a day or 2 at Rocky Mtn National Park, and hubby is doing a bike ride from Evergreen to Avon one day. A quick check on airfares makes me think flying into Denver will be the most cost effective (we're a family of 4). Assuming we start in Denver, should we go down to Colorado Springs, over to the southwest corner, up to Evergreen for bike ride, on to Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park, back to Denver? Or, would it be better to start in Rocky Mtn National Park, to Evergreen for bike ride, on to southwest corner, over to Colorado Springs, and back up to Denver?
How long does it take to get from Colorado Springs to Ouray (or visa versa)? How about from Avon to Ouray? Avon to Rocky Mtn National Park? We're unsure of driving times between the different areas. We'd like to spend the most time in the southwest corner, but if we end up flying into Denver, thought we'd get up to Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park for a day. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Denver to Durango -- where the SW Colorado experience should start is about 7 hours. It is about 1.5 hours less from Colorado Springs.

Here are some other similar threads that you might find helpful:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34920960

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34919688

Hope this helps...
Debi

Thanks. There's a ton of info in those other threads. We'd like to focus our trip on southwest CO, and then do the bike ride for my husband...all in 10 days or less. Do you think we should forget Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park? We thought since we'd be so close, we'd go up for a day. Maybe we should save that for another time. It sounds like Mesa Verde is worth doing. We'd like to take the kids on the Silverton/Durango train. Maybe get a little ways into New Mexico (any towns close to the border to recommend?). I'm thinking 4 or 5 days in the southwest corner. I'll read through those other threads. Thanks again.

Not sure if I should post a new thread, but I'm wondering how long the drive is from Durango to Aspen, and then Aspen to Evergreen. (I've gone through a ton of threads and can't find that bit of info). We're now thinking of flying into Montrose (night 1), down to Ouray/Durango (2 nights), maybe on to Abiquiu (1 night), back to Ouray/Durango (2 nights), on to Aspen (1 night), on to Evergreen for husband's bike ride (1 night), and back to Montrose (1 night). Would there be an excessive amount of driving on any one day? (That's what we're trying to avoid...we want to break up the driving as much as possible, but try to keep the trip to 10 days.)
Thanks.

It is hard to respond directly to your question. The big issue is that the roads are not very direct from point a to point b. Most of the roads are mountainist with keeps the average speed in the range of 50 to 60 mph. Not like driving on the interstates. And, unfortunately, in the summer we do a lot of road maintenance so traffic restrictions for that purpose is not uncommon and will slow you down. Any of the patterns you suggested will work.

Mesa Verde is a full day in itself and I would recommend staying in the park one night because it is diffiuclt to get in and out and it is some distance from everything.

I have found MapQuest and GoogleEarth to be fairly accurate for distance and time. Use it to judge your time requirements.

i am curious or more like concerned about the bike ride from evergreen to avon. if he does not normally live at high elevation and train constantly this is likely to be an excruciating adventure. from evergreen (approx 6000'elevation) he would ride all uphill to the tunnel (no bikes in tunnel) where he will have to head up loveland pass to an elevation of 11,990'. thin air, bad road, hot in evergreen - cold on loveland pass. then he has to ride back down to about to 7500'.
if he is not properly hydrated or has muscle issues he could be in serious trouble...

I, too am wondering about the bike ride...That's some serious mileage + elevation gain. Virginia forgot to mention Vail Pass as well. Without a race or support van, unless he really knows what he's getting into, this is some ride. 2 mountain passes, some interstate, a nasty 2 lane highway, a bike path. A logistically better option may be Vail to Summit or vice versa on the bike path.

In response to your last question, you'll be back tracking alot by doing Durango to Aspen to Evergreen. IE) From Durango, you'd have to go through Glenwood and another hour to Aspen. From Aspen to Evergreen, you'll have to drive back to Glenwood then I70 thru Avon to Evergreen. The Evergreen back to Avon on the bike. Then back from Avon thru Evergreen to Denver. (Independence Pass would add even more hours)

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Personally, I think my husband's nuts, but he does train for these big rides year-round and will have a support crew. I know our plans are a little haphazard. He's doing this 1-day bike ride and we thought we'd try to get a nice vacation out of it. We'd much rather spend the time in southwest CO rather than the Denver area, even though that would be easier logistically. From my point of view, I see it as a nice 7-8 day vacation in the southwest part of the state and then "oh, gotta get to Evergreen for this ride." I'll check mapquest for driving times. I never know how accurate they are because of the terrain, construction, etc. We're hoping we could drive from around Ouray to Aspen in one day.