Best route to Buena Vista

Question

What is a more scenic route and which roads would you take: Colorado Springs to Buena Vista or Boulder to Buena Vista? Thanks!

Answer

Both routes—Colorado Springs to Buena Vista and Boulder to Buena Vista—offer scenic drives, but the scenery and experiences differ. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Route 1: Colorado Springs to Buena Vista

Take US-24 West through Woodland Park and over the Rampart Range. You’ll pass through Pikes Peak and the Pike National Forest, which offers beautiful mountain vistas and forested areas.
Continue on US-24 to US-285 North towards Buena Vista. This portion travels through South Park, a high-altitude grassland basin, giving a mix of open plains and mountain views. You’ll see dramatic peaks like the Collegiate Peaks as you approach Buena Vista.
This route is direct, roughly 2.5–3 hours, and features classic Colorado landscapes—mountains, forested roads, and open valleys.

Route 2: Boulder to Buena Vista

Take CO-119 (the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway) north to Nederland, then CO-72/CO-7 through the mountains. This portion offers stunning views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain high country.
Continue south via US-285 from Fairplay to Buena Vista. This path goes through the South Park basin, with scenic mountain passes and quaint towns like Fairplay and Como along the way.
This route is longer (roughly 5–5.5 hours) but offers more winding mountain roads, alpine scenery, and small historic towns—very picturesque and ideal for those prioritizing views over speed.

Comparison:

If you want a quicker, scenic route with classic mountain vistas, Colorado Springs to Buena Vista via US-24 and US-285 is your best option.
If you want a longer, more dramatic, and varied mountain experience with alpine passes and historic towns, Boulder to Buena Vista via the Peak to Peak Byway and US-285 is more scenic and adventurous.
Both routes provide excellent photo opportunities, but the Boulder route emphasizes high mountain scenery, while the Colorado Springs route has more diverse landscapes with forest, plains, and peaks.

Overall, your choice depends on whether you prioritize travel time or the scenic experience. For a mix of convenience and beauty, Colorado Springs to Buena Vista is ideal; for a full mountain road experience with more stops, Boulder to Buena Vista is exceptional.