Scenic Day Drives from Denver, Colorado, to Say Sayonara to Summer
With September here, Labor Day marks the beginning of the end of the summer season. Are you itching to get one more epic adventure in before summer ends? I know we are. At iDrive Denver, we are always ready to take in another moment of Colorado’s natural beauty. The adventures may never end with so many gorgeous places within reach from Denver. We put together some of our favorite scenic day drives.
Worried your car is not mountain ready? Check out our rental trucks and SUVs, prepared to take you on a mountain adventure before summer’s end. We also have the top things to remember when driving with such an altitude change, especially if you are visiting Denver, Colorado!
Worried your car is not mountain ready? Check out our rental trucks and SUVs, prepared to take you on a mountain adventure before summer’s end. We also have the top things to remember when driving with such an altitude change, especially if you are visiting Denver, Colorado!
Reminders for Driving Up in Altitude
Breathtaking scenery is a phrase that quite literally describes some of the phenomenal views these scenic drives will take you on. When you quickly increase your elevation, elevation sickness may set in. Here are important reminders on how to safely drive in high altitudes in a rental car.
- Go the Speed Limit – As tempting as it may be to slow down or speed through some gorgeous roads, maintaining the speed limit is the best way to experience any park or scenic byway.
- Pull Off at Overlooks – Taking your time to climb the mountain gives your body time to adjust to the new altitudes. Giving yourself a few minutes at each pull-off area allows you to breathe new air and acclimate, something you will be grateful for at the summit.
- Expect Weather Changes – Temperatures can vary up to 40 degrees from the base of a 14er to the summit. Even if you do not plan to adventure or take a hike up while driving along scenic roads, it is best to be adequately layered for a drop in temperature.
- Research the Park – Know what you are driving into before you go. Some roads have tolls, others a fee per person, and some park entrances hold a fee per vehicle. There will always be a park service number you can call to stay up to date with the swift weather changes that happen at such high altitudes.
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Mount Evans Scenic Byway is said to be North America’s highest altitude paved road. Beginning in Idaho Springs, the drive to Mount Evans Summit will take you from 7,526 feet to over 14,000 feet. For 28 miles, you can enjoy views as you climb 7,000 feet in elevation. Visitors sometimes spot big horn sheep, mountain goats, and even marmots along the way! Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine Trees stand out in the sea of forest.
Mount Evans Byway also boasts trails for both hiking and cycling as you drive up the mountain. Summit Lake Park and Mount Goliath Nature Area are two popular places to spend time in nature as you make your climb. Our 2022 Toyota Tundra is the perfect vehicle to bring your outdoor gear out for the day along Mount Evans Byway.
Free to drive along, the Mount Evans Summit may require a fee to park your rental car. The view from the top? A breathtaking look at the Continental Divide, where water flows to both oceans.
Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway will take you up to the humbling summit of Pike’s Peak; another breathtaking 14er Colorado has to share with us. Views from the top of Pike’s Peak on the clearest of days include the curvature of the Earth off into the horizon. Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Utah, and New Mexico are all visible from the top of the mountain.
Open year-round, Pike’s Peak Highway offers activities in all seasons. From hiking and playgrounds to trout fishing and skiing, our Toyota 4 Runner rental car is ready to join your next adventure. The Pikes Peak Highway is a great way to close out your summer. Reservations may be required to drive the final 3 miles to Pike’s Peak Summit.
The drive between Pikes Peak Highway and Denver is lackluster on I-25. For a more scenic route, take 105 from Sedalia to Monument. Connecting to 85 in Sedalia will send you straight into Littleton or to I-25 when you drive back north!
Trail Ridge Road in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road connects Grand Lake in the west and Estes Park in the east. Traveling the Rocky Mountain National Park in a Toyota Tundra rental truck makes the experience comfortable and that much more memorable.
Driving through the changing flora and fauna, forests of ponderosa pines and aspen trees give way to firs and spruce varieties, thinning until you reach the treeline. Elk, big horn sheep, marmots, and pikas are likely to appear. Peaking at 12,183 feet above sea level, Trail Ridge Road gives visitors a taste of the tundra found in Canada or Alaska. The summit will show views stretching from Wyoming to the Great Plains and along the Rocky Mountains.
Trail Ridge Road may require a timed entry permit for vehicles. Be sure to plan ahead; weather in the Rocky Mountain National Park is notoriously quick to change.
Bouns Drive: Rim Rock Drive at Colorado National Monument
Rim Rock Drive shows off the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado. An epically scenic drive, Rim Rock Drive, we suggest an overnight stay when visiting from Denver. Grand Junction is one of the most popular places in Western Colorado for families and adventure seekers. Delicious food and ample activities add to the magic of Rim Rock Drive and the Colorado National Monument.
The 23-mile stretch of paved road brings endless views of red canyons against a crisp blue sky. Immersed in rock formations that are 2-billions years old and counting, the Rim Rock Drive brings epic views in our 2021 Ford Bronco rental car in Denver. The convertible top allows you to take in all the beauty Colorado National Monument gives off.
Why Rent a Vehicle for a Denver Day Trip?
Renting a vehicle for your next mountain excursion will benefit you in many ways. Fitted for the terrain and weather, our trucks and SUVs for rent in Denver, Colorado, give you the ultimate vehicle to explore with. Scenic day drives like the ones above make for quite a few hours in the car. Riding in a comfortable vehicle as you explore the beautiful scenery Colorado offers outside of Denver makes the experience exponentially more enjoyable.
iDrive Denver offers a variety of rental vehicles to make your next adventure picture-perfect. Saving your vehicle from the extra miles, renting a car will help you enjoy the view rather than worrying about maintenance. When you rent with iDrive Denver, you can be sure the vehicle is in optimal condition when you pick it up.
Whether you are visiting Colorado or a local looking to get away, we are excited to meet you and hear your adventure stories! Browse iDrive Denver rental vehicles with free delivery in Denver, Colorado.