All drives
A Denver Weekend Drive to Boulder and Estes Park
Out through Boulder on US 36, back along the Peak to Peak byway. The National Park Service gives both routes between Denver and Estes Park.
- Distance
- 66 miles out, 108 miles back
- Driving time
- 1.5 to 2 hours out, 2.5 to 3 hours back
Trail Ridge Road generally closes to through travel mid-October to late May. Status line: 970-586-1222. Before you go, check current road conditions at COtrip.
Along the way
Photo credits
- Denver: J. Miers, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized
- Boulder: Jsdratm, CC0, resized
- Estes Park: National Park Service, Public domain, resized
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Sarbjit Bahga, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized
- Eldorado Canyon: OMCV, Public domain, resized
Closures and road notices
- The Park Service says Trail Ridge Road is closed to through travel from mid-October to late May, weather and conditions permitting. Source, checked November 3, 2026
- For today's status, call the Park Service's recorded Trail Ridge Road line at 970-586-1222, and check COtrip for roads outside the park. Source, checked November 3, 2026
Route facts and sources
- Day one: Denver to Estes Park via Boulder and US 36 is 66 miles and 1.5 to 2 hours, by the National Park Service. Source, checked November 3, 2026
- Day two: the Peak to Peak route between Denver and Estes Park is 108 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours, using I-70, US 6, Highway 119 to Nederland, Highway 72 and Highway 7. The Park Service describes it from Denver, so reverse it to drive home. Source, checked November 3, 2026
- CDOT lists the Peak to Peak byway itself at 55 miles and 80 minutes. Source, checked November 3, 2026
- Trail Ridge Road, an optional side trip from Estes Park, is 48 miles one way and climbs to 12,183 feet. Source, checked November 3, 2026