Road Trip to Boulder

An Urban + Nature Itinerary

Hop in your car, pack some goodies and hit the road! You’re headed to Boulder for some urban-meets-nature fun. 

"Boulder, Colorado may have perfected the urban/outdoors balance: it’s close to Denver for big-city benefits, it has its own smaller city personality, but then it focuses on outdoor activity in every other way." — Lonely Planet

Day 1: Local Favorites + Scenic Drives

Morning

Get an early start at the Boulder Farmers Market where you can get your provisions for the afternoon: cheese, bread, fruits, veggies and maybe some prepared foods from the food court. Every Saturday 8am-2pm (April-November) and Wednesdays 3:30-7:30pm (May-October).

While you’re here, stop in the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and the stunning Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, hand-crafted in Boulder’s sister city of Tajikistan.

If it’s not a Saturday, visit Le Frigo, Dish or Organic Sandwich Co or some picnic-perfect local foods.

Mid-Day

Take a 20-minute drive to reach Eldorado Canyon State Park — take Hwy. 93 south to Eldorado Springs Drive — and set off on a trail through sandstone cliffs or along South Boulder Creek to find your perfect picnic spot among the pine trees and golden rock walls. If it's a summer weekend or holiday (May 15-Sept. 15), timed-entry reservations are required. Alternatively, you can ride the free Eldo Shuttle, which runs on summer weekends and guarantees entrance (park fees apply).

Feeling up for a scenic drive? Take a jaunt up Coal Creek Canyon continue on to the little mountain hamlet of Nederland and return to Boulder via Boulder Canyon. This will take you at least a couple of hours, depending on how often you stop to explore. Here's a guide to this drive.

Late Afternoon

Once back in Boulder, explore the heart and soul of the city: Pearl Street.

Do a little shopping — kids will love Into the Wind kite and toy shop, cooks can’t resist Peppercorn and readers will get lost among the shelves at Boulder Bookstore.

Sit and sip a latte at OZO Coffee, or wander down to East Pearl Street and hit up Boxcar for finely crafted coffee.  

On the way, stop to admire the historic Boulder Theater and the old county courthouse for their art deco architecture, and pop into Art Source International to view historical photos of Boulder, old maps and retro posters.

Evening

After a low-key dinner, catch a theater, dance or art show at the Dairy Arts Center or an indie movie at the Dairy’s Boedecker Cinema. Check our searchable events calendar for ideas.

Post-show prohibition-era cocktails at Bitter Bar, drinks from the roaming gin-and-tonic cart at Corrida or farm-to-bar concoctions at Bramble and Hare are a must.

Day 2: Views, Brews and Big-Name Chefs

Morning

Begin with a delicious breakfast on the veranda of the historic Chautauqua Dining Hall, whose owners also run a local farm that helps supply the restaurant with fresh picks for their delicious farm-to-fork cuisine.

Take a few steps from the restaurant and you’re at the foot of Boulder’s famous Flatirons. Burn off the morning’s calories with a Chautauqua hike, or simply sprawl out on the grass and admire the view from Chautauqua Park.

Mid-Day

An e-bike ride will have you zooming through Boulder with ease. Go on a tour with Beyond Boulder Bike Adventures, Electric Cruiser Bike Tours, Pedego or JD's Joyrides. 

Try out the Boulder lifestyle and grab lunch at Flower Child (incredible-tasting, “clean” and organic foods) or Leaf (completely vegetarian and completely delicious). 

Late Afternoon

Head to East Boulder, a burgeoning industrial district turned microbrewing hotbed. Stop at Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery for a cocktail or Upslope Brewing or Wild Provisions for a beer tasting. 

Evening

Continue your exploration of East Boulder with dinner at nearby Blackbelly Market, Top Chef champion Hosea Rosenberg’s first restaurant. 

Add-on: Rocky Mountain National Park

Boulder is just an hour from Rocky Mountain National Park, so if it fits in your schedule, adding on a day (or a few) to explore the park’s majesty-filled landscape is well worth it.

Follow Hwy. 36 north toward the town of Lyons, worth a stop for its cute cafes and shops.

Continue on to Estes Park, a charming tourist destination with a bustling downtown filled with fudge and ice cream shops, cute boutiques and spectacular views.  

You’re now just minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, with its crystalline lakes, fragrant ponderosa pine forests and sprawling meadows. Hike, picnic, drive Trail Ridge Road, spot wildlife and enjoy the spectacular terrain. Please be aware dogs are not permitted in the park, except in parking areas and established camping and picnic areas. Here's a map of the drive.

Please note: If you're visiting late May through mid-October, you will need a Timed Entry Permit Reservation to enter the park. Rocky Mountain National Park accepts only cashless payments at entrances and campgrounds for fees and payments. Find more information here.

Another option is to take the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway on your return from Estes Park. It's one of the most gorgeous drives in the region with tons to explore along the way.