Interstate 25 runs North/South through the states of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. Featuring incredible vistas of American desert, red rocks, prairies, Rocky Mountains and more, you’ll feel like you’re Home on The Range as you drive this highway.
Check out our suggested itinerary below to experience this road trip for yourself.
1. Albuquerque, New Mexico (1 Day/Night)
Whether or not you’re in town during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, you should definitely take a balloon ride when you’re in town. Albuquerque offers ideal ballooning weather year-round, so this is the perfect place to take your first ride.
While in town, you may also want to consider:
- Shopping at boutiques and stores offering handcrafted jewelry, art, home décor and more
- Outdoor activities like hiking, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, etc.
- Golfing at many popular courses all year long
- Art, cultural and history museums in Albuquerque
If you’re planning a trip to Albuquerque, view our latest hotel deals.
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico (1 Day/Night)
“Adobe in Santa Fe at the Plaza – Hotel Inn and Spa at Loretto“. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
It’s just an hour drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. You may be surprised to learn that Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in America, established in 1607. The city is now thought of as a center for art, museums and dining that embrace Hispanic and Native American culture.
When you visit Santa Fe, you’ll want to consider exploring:
- Many popular museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art
- Shopping in high-end shops and the Indian Market
- Nearby parks and hiking trails
- The country’s oldest church, San Miguel Mission
- And so much more
You’ll love the atmosphere of Santa Fe, with more than 300 sunny days per year and tons of enriching cultural experiences. Check out our Santa Fe hotel deals online.
3. Pueblo, Colorado (1 Day/Night)
“John Wark – Pueblo Riverwalk at Night” by John Wark – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
This will be your longest drive on the road trip, with a 4-hour drive to Pueblo, a historic town off I-25, just south of Colorado Springs. This charming destination is the perfect stop on our road trip itinerary, because it offers excellent local restaurants, lots of friendly faces and fun things to do.
Visit Pueblo City Park, where for just 25 cents you can ride a historic carousel or train. The park is also home to the Pueblo Zoo, which features neon zoo lights during the holidays.
Pueblo is home to one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters in America. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day (weather permitting), Mesa Drive-In offers three screens, each showing a double feature nightly.
The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk is a great place to visit when you’re passing through Pueblo. Hop on a paddleboat, enjoy sculptures and mosaic art, or browse the farmers market.
Lake Pueblo is the perfect location for water recreation, like boating, tubing, swimming and fishing. Just a few minutes from Downtown Pueblo, you might even spot antelope on your way to the reservoir.
When you stay overnight in Pueblo, Colorado, you can enjoy a walk-in coupon rate.
4. Colorado Springs, Colorado (1 Day/Night)
Drive about thirty minutes north of Pueblo to Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is easily one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The city is situated at the foot of Pikes Peak, the mountain which inspired America the Beautiful. There are so many outdoor activities, museums and attractions in Colorado Springs, but three are our favorites:
- Garden of the Gods (pictured) is an incredible red rock park near the city. See favorite formations like the kissing camels and balanced rock.
- Pikes Peak (pictured) rises 14,110 feet above Colorado Springs. If you’re in the mood for a thrill, drive to the top – if not, the Cog Railway is a fun way to reach the summit.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, which offers animal encounters and zookeeper talks. You can see grizzlies, wolves and tigers up close! You can also feed the giraffes here for only $2!
Find an amazing hotel rate in Colorado Springs.
5. Denver, Colorado (1 Day/Night)
Drive an hour north from Colorado Springs and you’ll find Denver. When you reach the mile high city, you’ll find tons of attractions, sporting events, parks and restaurants with Rocky Mountain views. Denver is the place where the city meets the great outdoors.
If you’re only in Denver for a day, pick the things to do that appeal most to you:
- Denver Art Museum
- Sporting events: Broncos football, Nuggets basketball, Rockies baseball
- Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- Denver Zoo
- Denver Downtown Aquarium
- Rocky Mountain National Park (1.5 hours Northwest – you could see this on your way to Fort Collins if you planned it right)
Save on your stay in Denver.
6. Fort Collins, Colorado (1 Day/Night)
“Downtown Fort Collins Colorado“. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikipedia.
Drive another hour north on I-25 and you’ll reach Fort Collins, home to the beautiful Colorado State University campus. This is a perfect place to enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking, canoeing and rock climbing – the city even boasts 50 parks!
Fort Collins is also known for it’s local breweries. Many of the breweries in town offer free tours and tastings. From national companies like Anheuser-Busch to microbreweries like Black Bottle Brewery and Equinox Brewing, you’ll have plenty of pints to choose from.
Fort Collins hotel rates are more affordable than you think.
7. Cheyenne, Wyoming (1 Day/Night)
Once you travel 45 minutes from Fort Collins to Cheyenne, you’ll enjoy a true western frontier experience. We suggest visiting some of the most popular attractions in town, including a local bison ranch, the historic train depot, and the capitol building. You could even take a trolley tour of this classic town or a horseback riding tour nearby.
If you’re taking this road trip in the summer, try to take park in the exciting Cheyenne Frontier Days, which feature parades, amusement rides, rodeo events and more.
Use a hotel coupon when you stay in Cheyenne.
It’s easy to follow this itinerary in either direction (north-bound or south-bound) and see a part of America you’ve never seen before. To extend your trip, we suggest adding on a visit to Las Cruces, New Mexico before heading to Albuquerque.
