For anyone looking for great driving roads, Colorado is one place that definitely should be on their todo list.  From high mountain passes, deep river canyons, and gently winding scenic roads; Colorado driving roads have it all.  A lot of peoples impression of the typical Colorado road trip usually involves a drive up the Pikes Peak highway or a drive along the Grand Mesa Byway.

However, Road Trips in Colorado can consist of so much more and in areas of Colorado never expected.  Central Colorado is known for the grandeur and splendor of the Rocky Mountains, while some areas are reminiscent of Southwestern USA.  No one particular area is associated with the best Colorado drives.  The Best Road Trips in Colorado can be found throughout the state regardless of the type of adventure you are seeking.  Ideally, the best Colorado road trips would encompass the entire state, but for most people, that is not practical, so sometimes you need to pick the particular Colorado roads you want to explore.

Scenic drives in Colorado are everywhere, and without saying, no sacrifice on corners, turns, elevation changes, and challenges.  Watching Roads ToGo Colorado travel videos, illustrate the beauty of this fantastic area of the United States.  Even during the summer, snow is still visible on the mountains at higher elevations.  Most populated areas in Colorado, are along the Interstate 25 corridor, where there several great Colorado driving roads.  Leaving the populated areas, the true nature of this state begins to emerge as illustrated in the RoadsToGo Colorado road videos.

Climb to the top of a high mountain pass, or venture down that deserted highway that follows along the edge of a deep canyon gorge, the best drives in Colorado are scattered throughout the state.  While one Colorado road trip might involve sharing the spectacular views with other tourists, the next Colorado road adventure might be that hidden gem where no other vehicles are encountered.

Regardless if you are looking for the perfect Colorado motorcycle roads, the best scenic drives in Colorado, or challenging Colorado driving roads, a Colorado road trip will never disappoint.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 5 (Mount Evans)

Colorado State Highway 5 is also known as the Mount Evans Scenic Byway.  This is the highest paved road in the continental United States and is a 14 mile stretch of road.  This great Colorado driving road is a round trip ticket, so once you make it to the summit, enjoy the trip back down along one of the best and most scenic driving roads around.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 14

Colorado State Highway 14 is also known as Poudre Canyon Road.  This great Colorado driving road gracefully winds through the deep and narrow Poudre Canyon, following the Poudre River.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 17

Colorado State Highway 17 is a great Colorado driving road that traverses high mountain pastures that span from Colorado into New Mexico.  This route closely follows the route of the Antonito to Chama narrow gauge railroad.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 65

Colorado State Highway 65 is also known as the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway.  This 50 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road crosses the top of a large flat topped mountain known as the Grand Mesa.  Even though Grand Mesa is a flat topped mountain, this road provides a leisurely ride with a wonderful mix of graceful curves, elevation changes, and spectacular views.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 82 (Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway)

Colorado State Highway 82, is also known as the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway.  This great Colorado driving road is a 43 mile stretch of road crossing the continental divide at Independence Pass.  Traveling from Twin Lakes to the town of Aspen, this road offers some of the best mountain scenery available, with apsen trees galore.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 92 (Blue Mesa Byway)

Colorado State Highway 92 is also known as the Blue Mesa Byway.  This great Colorado driving road is a 42 mile stretch of road that runs along the North rim of the massive Gunnison river canyon.  This road is overlooked by most travelers, and with minimal traffic, can be a fantastic adventure.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 103

Colorado State Highway 103 is a 31 mile stretch of road crossing over Squaw Pass.  Climbing past the turn off for the road to Mount Evans, this great Colorado driving road continues to climb into the mountains providing scenic views that become more and more spectacular.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 119 (Boulder Canyon Road)

Colorado State Highway 119 is also known as Boulder Canyon Road.  This 16 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road begins in the town of Boulder and plunges into the Eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, snaking its way through a deep and narrow canyon.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 139

Colorado State Highway 139 is one of those driving roads that time has forgotten, where traffic is almost non-existent.  This 71 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road takes you from high desert, up to a high mountain pass, and then drops you back down into high desert terrain.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 141

Colorado State Highway 141 is a 94 mile stretch of road that follows the magnificent canyon of the San Miguel and Dolores rivers. The unique canyon walls and rock formations, provide one of the best Colorado driving road experiences.  The scenery provides a glimpse of what Monument Valley in Arizona might have looked like thousands of years ago.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 145

Colorado State Highway 145, is a 90 mile stretch of road that passes over Lizard Head Pass and the remote resort town of Telluride.  This great Colorado driving road trip can be divided into two pieces with a stop over in the town of Telluride for some fun and relaxation.

COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 347 and EAST PORTAL ROAD

Colorado State Highway 347 and East Portal Road can be combined together for a great Colorado road trip through Black Canyon of he Gunnison National Park.  Colorado State Highway 347 provides spectacular views down into the canyon below.  East Portal Road, which is can be accessed at the National Park entrance, takes you deep into the canyon you were admiring from Colorado State Highway 347 above.

COUNTY ROAD 43 (Devil’s Gulch Road)

County Road 43 is also known as Devil’s Gulch Road.  Devil’s Gulch Road is a nice 15 mile stretch of road just outside the town of Estes Park, that most visitors to the Rocky Mountain National Park do not know about and will never experience.

COUNTY ROAD 62 (Guanella Pass Road)

County Road 62 is also known as Guanella Pass Road.  This great Colorado driving road is a 24 mile stretch of road adventure filled with hairpin corners, dramatic elevation changes, and spectacular scenic views.

COUNTY ROAD 306 (Cottonwood Pass)

County Road 306 is also known as Cottonwood Pass Road.  This great Colorado driving road is a 19 mile stretch of road that terminates on the continental divide at the Cottonwood Pass summit.  This road is poplar with bicyclists, so please share the road, this is enough adventure for everyone.

HARPERS CORNER ROAD

Harpers Corner Road is a 30 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road passing though the Dinosaur National Monument, that terminates at a rarely seen fantastic canyon overlook.  The great thing about this road, there is only one way in and out, so you get to enjoy the scenery in both directions.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ROAD

Lookout Mountain Road is a 7 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road that offers fantastic views of the Golden / Denver Colorado area.  This road provides a pleasant mixture of winding turns, interlaced with dramatic hairpin curves.

MONUMENT ROAD and RIM ROCK ROAD

Combined together, Monument and Rim Rock roads, provide a 26 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road passing through the Colorado National Monument.  Located just outside of the city of Grand Junction, these two roads quickly climb into the rocky hills, which dominate the city’s Southwestern skyline.

PIKES PEAK HIGHWAY

Pikes Peak Highway, located just outside of the city of Colorado Springs, is a 19 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road.  There is only one other way to reach the top of Pike Peak, which is the Cog Rail Railroad.  Both methods of transportation provide wonderful and fantastic views across the plains to the East, and mountains to the North, West, and South.  Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful views at the summit.

RUINS ROAD and WHETHERILL ROAD

Combined together, Ruins and Whetherill Roads are 36 miles of great Colorado driving road that runs from plateau to plateau, and canyon to canyon, as you make your way to the cliff dwellings in the Mesa Verde National Park.  Plan a road trip to combine the roads of the Mesa Verde National Park with some of the best driving roads in Colorado also located in this area.

SKYLINE DRIVE

Skyline Drive a short but very sweet 3 miles of great Colorado driving road.  Located just West of the town of Canon City, you can combine this little adventure with a visit to nearby Royal Gorge for a perfect Colorado road trip.

US HIGHWAY 6 (From Golden Colorado)

This portion of US Highway 6 is a 15 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road, which begins in the town of Golden Colorado and snakes its way through a deep and narrow canyon as it heads West into the Rocky Mountains.  And of course, no Colorado canyon road is complete, without a cool and clear mountain stream.

US HIGHWAY 6 (Loveland Pass)

This portion of US Highway 6 is also know as Loveland Pass.  This is an 18 mile stretch of road which bypasses the boring freeway, and crosses the continental divide at Loveland Pass.  This great Colorado driving road is filled with hairpin turns, dramatic elevation changes, and wonderful scenic views.

US HIGHWAY 24

US Highway 24 is also known as the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway.  This great Colorado driving road is a 32 mile stretch of road which crosses the continental divide at Tennessee Pass.  Make sure you plan your road trip to include some time in the historic mining town of Leadville.  Don’t forget to say hi to the unsinkable Molly Brown.

US HIGHWAY 34 (Estes Park to Loveland)

This portion of US Highway 24 is a 30 mile stretch of road that follows the Big Thompson river canyon.  This great Colorado driving road is a combination of a deep and narrow canyon, and views of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

US HIGHWAY 34 (Trail Ridge Road)

This portion of US Highway 34, also known as Trail Ridge Road, is a fantastic 45 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road passing through the Rocky Mountain National Park.  This wonderful road is filled with curves and corners, dramatic elevation changes, and spectacular scenic views that are beyond belief.

US HIGHWAY 36

This portion of US Highway 36 is a fun 20 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road that includes the wonderful scenery of the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Passing through the tourist town of Estes Parks, provides a great distraction spot for everyone from sport enthusiasts to ghost hunters.

US HIGHWAY 40

US Highway 40 is a wonderful 45 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road, which passes through the ski resort town of Winter Park.  The road is a fun combination of beautiful mountain and valley scenery, graceful winding turns, and dramatically sharp corners.

US HIGHWAY 50 (Montrose to Gunnison)

This section of US Highway 50, is a 65 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road which runs along the edge of the Blue Mesa reservoir, crossing it several times.  A road trip along this great driving road will also provides sweeping views across ranches, meadows, surrounding mountains, and canyons.

US HIGHWAY 50 (Monarch Pass)

This section of US Highway 50, is a 60 mile stretch of great driving road which crosses the continental divide at Monarch pass.  US Highway 50 is a major East / West highway that is highly traveled, so do expect a fair amount of traffic.

US HIGHWAY 160 (Wolf Creek Pass)

This section of US Highway 160, also known a Wolf Creek Pass, is a 42 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road that crosses the continental divide at Wolf Creek Pass.  Made famous in a Country and Western song, historically this was a narrow two lane road considered extremely dangerous during the winter.  Now, the majority of the road through the pass is well paved with multiple lanes, making the road slightly less exciting.

US HIGHWAY 550 (Million Dollar Highway – Durango to Silverton)

This section of US Highway 550, a portion of the Million Dollar Highway, is a 47 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road which crosses both Molas and Coal Bank Passes.  The combination of strong granite faced mountains, lush pine and aspen forests, beautiful deep valleys, and green high mountain meadows, make this portion of the Million Dollar Highway a fantastic road trip adventure.

US HIGHWAY 550 (Million Dollar Highway – Silverton to Ouray)

This section of US Highway 550, a portion of the Million Dollar Highway, is a 23 mile stretch of great Colorado driving road, which crosses Red Mountain Pass, before following the Uncompahgre Gorge.  The portion of this road that passes through the Uncompahgre Gorge, was literally cut out of the side of the mountain, as it winds its way through the gorge.

 Roads ToGo, the Best Driving Roads and Best Motorcycle Roads

SITE MAP