Road trip from Denver to Grand Canyon

A road trip from Denver to Grand Canyon is on top of the bucket list many Americans. Moving through lush forests and scenic deserts, this trip is a leap to leave you breathless. The road trip to the canyon from Denver is about 12 hours. Take at least three days to discover the beautiful White River National Forest and Memorial Valley, the attractive sediments of Vermillion Cliffs and Grand Staircase – Escalante, and much more. 

Road trip from Denver to Grand Canyon

Denver to Grand canyon distance In different states, these two locations are more than a jump, skip and jump apart. But what lies between them incorporates some of the most memorable landscapes in the country. Seven hundred sixty-five miles (1230 km) lie between these two sites. If you were driving linear through, with no stops for sightseeing and fun, this trip would take about 12 hours. But if you’re making an affair out of it, you should forecast two to four days. The beautiful route goes via the I-70 W. This is how you can put it into your GPS for this road trip.

Denver to Grand Canyon south rim

Alternatively, take State Route 98, stay on the Navajo Trail, and pass by Tuba City. Soon after, you’ll get at Highway 89 – follow it south to Cameron, then take Route 64 with the Little Colorado River, over Grandview Point, and within the South Rim.

Denver to Grand Canyon by train

There is no straight connection from Denver to Grand Canyon. However, you can go by train to Denver Airport Station, take a walk to Denver airport, fly to Flagstaff, take a hike to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, then go for the bus to Grand Canyon. Alternatively, you can travel by train to Denver Airport Station, take a walk to Denver airport, fly to Phoenix, take a walk to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, AZ, then take the shuttle to Grand Canyon.

16 sightseeing stops on the trip

The top sightseeing stops between Denver and Grand Canyon include: 

• Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests – nestled in the Rockies, these beautiful forests are perfect for hiking, fishing, swimming, and more.
• White River National Forest – the state’s most visited National Forest boasts beautiful greenery, ample wildlife, and the gorgeous Maroon Bells.

• Dominguez – Escalante National Conservation Area – a beautiful chain of canyons running along the Gunnison River.
• Colorado National Monument – features unique granite formations, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and the scenic Rim Rock Drive.
• McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area – this park is reserved for the Black Ridge Canyon.
• Arches National Park – promoting more sandstone domes than any other place in the world, this park is ideal for hiking and sightseeing.
• Dead Horse Point State Park – the sight of Canyonlands NP and the Colorado River from a top Dead Horse Point is an attraction on this route.

• Canyonlands National Park – distinguished by its iconic mesas and buttes, this park is known for its challenging biking terrain (White Rim Road).
• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument – besides the gorgeous canyons, this monument features more archaeological sites than any other place in the country.
• Monument Valley – featuring unique sandstone buttes and blood-red sand, this valley has been the area of countless classic desert scenes in American cinema.
• Navajo National Monument – contains the Sandal Trail and the dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans.
• Antelope Canyon –comprised of two distinct sections (Upper and Lower) and is best known for the beams of sunlight peeking into the canyon.

• Horseshoe Bend – this horseshoe-shaped bend of the Colorado River is more commonly known as the East Rim of the Grand Canyon.
• Glen Canyon Dam – this gigantic dam ‘houses’ Lake Powell, one of the largest artificial reservoirs in America.
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – an unbelievable sequence of sedimentary rocks, it is possibly one of the most picturesque monuments.
• Vermillion Cliffs National Monument – features slick rocks and tall sedimentary stones, thought to be the product of millions of years of crumbling.

What is the best route for the trip?

The best route for your road trip from Denver to Grand Canyon involves driving through Colorado along the scenic I-70, then following several state routes through Utah. Depending on which Rim you’re going to, you can take one of two different routes once you’ve reached Arizona.

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About Denver

Denver is an American county town from the Old West era. Larimer Square, the city’s aged block, features a landmark 19th-century story. Museums include the Denver Art Museum, a futuristic composite known for its collection of clever works, and the mansion of famous Titanic survivor Molly Brown. Denver is also a bungee jumping point for ski resorts in the nearby Rocky Mountains.

About the Grand Canyon

 The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a nature-created genesis. They are distinguished by layered bands of red rock, which disclose millions of years of geological history in cross-sections vast in scale. The canyon averages 10 miles across and a mile massive along its 277-mile length. Much of the area is a national park, with Colorado River white-water rapids and sweeping vistas.

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