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We are planning our first trip to Colorado we fly into Denver in September and we have 10-11 days available. We plan to drive we are 2 adults 50s enjoy nature, scenery , photography, short walks, not hiking . This is our suggested itinerary arrive Denver stay 1 night and collect rental car. Drive to Estes park via boulder , stay 2 nights Estes park (Rocky Mountain NP). Drive to grand junction stopping off at Glenwood springs. Stay 2 nights Grand junction (Colorado NM), we would like to visit Black canyon of the Gunnison NP not sure where to stay . After this is it feasible to also cover mesa verde NP and Great Sand Dunes NP the head back to Denver.

Have I missed lots of things that we should have factored into our trip ? Is it possible in 10 nights to cover the 5 national parks , we don’t mind a long day of driving 5-6 hours but prefer 2.5 or less most days if possible . To have 2 nights at some of the stops is preferable . Thanks for reading and offering advice - so excited to visit your beautiful state .

Answer

Fantastic — your plan already hits some of Colorado’s most beautiful and varied landscapes, and 10–11 days can work well if you pace it thoughtfully. You can see all five destinations you named (Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Mesa Verde NP, and Great Sand Dunes NP) in that time, but it will involve a mix of short drives and a few longer driving days. Below I’ll (1) review feasibility and driving times, (2) propose a practical itinerary with suggested nights, and (3) give logistics & photography-friendly tips so the trip matches your interest in scenery and short walks rather than long hikes.

Quick feasibility and driving-time reality check

Denver → Estes Park (via Boulder) is a straightforward ~70–90 minute drive in normal conditions — an easy first leg to acclimate and enjoy the Rocky Mountain scenery.
Estes Park → Glenwood Springs is a longer mountain-to-mountain day (roughly 3.5–4 hours). Stopping in Glenwood Springs on the way to the Grand Junction region is a good, scenic midpoint.
Glenwood Springs → Grand Junction is quick (about 1¼–1½ hours), so using Grand Junction as your base for Colorado National Monument (and nearby wineries/food) makes sense.
Grand Junction → Mesa Verde is a longer drive (~4–4.5 hours) and doable as a day transfer if you want two nights near Mesa Verde afterwards; alternatively break it up with a stop in Cortez or Dolores.
Mesa Verde → Great Sand Dunes is a long drive (about 4–5 hours). It’s feasible but is one of the longer legs on your trip; plan this as a travel/arrival day with a relaxed late-afternoon visit to the dunes.

Suggested 10–11-day / 9–10-night itinerary (balanced, photo-friendly)

Night 1 — Denver
Arrive Denver, overnight near airport or downtown depending on flight arrival time. Pick up rental car the next morning.
Nights 2–3 — Estes Park / Rocky Mountain NP (2 nights)
Drive Denver → Boulder (short scenic stop if you like) → Estes Park. Spend two days on leisurely scenic loops and short walks (Bear Lake corridor, Trail Ridge Road viewpoints if open in September, Sprague Lake, and short scenic pulls for photos). Two nights gives time to acclimate and get great morning/evening light in the park.
Night 4 — Glenwood Springs (1 night, optional)
Drive Estes → Glenwood Springs (~3.5–4 hours). Break up the long cross-state drive, enjoy hot springs or the scenic Glenwood Canyon viewpoints. This keeps the next day short to Grand Junction.
Nights 5–6 — Grand Junction / Colorado National Monument (2 nights)
Short drive from Glenwood to Grand Junction (~1.25 hr). Base here for Colorado National Monument scenic drives, overlooks at sunrise/sunset, and a relaxed winery/food scene. You can also do a half-day trip to the Colorado River overlooks. Grand Junction works well as the base for exploring the western Colorado desert scenery.
Nights 7–8 — Mesa Verde area (2 nights)
Drive Grand Junction → Mesa Verde (~4–4.5 hours). Stay in Cortez or Mancos (Cortez is the most common base) for easier access to the park. Spend a full day in Mesa Verde exploring viewpoints and the cliff dwellings (take the scenic overlooks and short guided tours; the park is very photogenic and doesn’t require strenuous hikes).
Night 9 — Great Sand Dunes area (1 night, or 2 if you prefer)
Drive Mesa Verde → Great Sand Dunes (~4–5 hours). Stay in Alamosa or Fort Garland. Time your arrival so you can photograph the dunes in late afternoon or at sunset; then consider a dawn shoot the following morning. If you want a more relaxed pace, add a second night here (makes the next return to Denver much easier).
Night 10 — Return to Denver (1 night)
Drive Great Sand Dunes → Denver (~3.5–4.5 hours depending on route). Overnight in Denver before your flight home the next day. If you have an 11th night, either add it to the dunes for photography or split the return with a stop in Salida or Buena Vista for spectacular mountain scenery.

Where to stay for Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon is most conveniently accessed from Montrose (about a 20–30 minute drive from the South Rim access points), so if you want to include the Black Canyon in your trip, consider spending either one of your Grand Junction nights combined with a short day-trip to the park or overnighting in Montrose for one night en route to Mesa Verde. Montrose is the usual gateway for visiting Black Canyon and gives you the easiest access to rim drives and overlooks.

Alternative routing notes

If you’d rather minimize very long driving days, drop Glenwood Springs as an overnight and make Grand Junction your direct next stop from Estes (longer driving day but fewer total nights). Or add an extra night at either Mesa Verde or Great Sand Dunes and skip the Glenwood overnight.
If Black Canyon is a priority, a practical regional pattern is Grand Junction → Black Canyon (day trip/overnight in Montrose) → Cortez/Mesa Verde. That reduces backtracking and keeps drives more comfortable.

Tips and photo-friendly advice

Sunrise & sunset: For landscapes, aim for sunrise at the dunes (soft light) or the Monument/Black Canyon overlooks at golden hour. September light is great and the temperatures are milder.
Pace for short walks: Your plan to focus on short walks and viewpoints is perfect — many overlooks have short paved or graded paths (Mesa Verde overlooks, Colorado National Monument Rim Rock Drive viewpoints, Black Canyon rim overlooks) that suit photography without long hikes.
Altitude & weather: You’ll be at elevations from ~4,500 ft (Grand Junction) to 8–9k+ ft (Rocky Mountain and parts of Mesa Verde approach). Hydrate, take it easy your first day, and pack layers — mountain weather changes quickly in September.
Reservations & timing: September is popular — reserve lodging early. Check seasonal road openings (Trail Ridge Road in RMNP can close in shoulder season, though September is usually open early in the month).
Driving conditions: Mountain roads can be slow even for modest distances; build cushion time into longer driving days for stops and scenic detours (Glenwood Canyon, Redstone, Ouray if you extend, etc.).

Final assessment

Yes — you can cover all five parks in 10–11 days, but expect a few long driving legs (notably Estes → Glenwood, Grand Junction → Mesa Verde, and Mesa Verde → Great Sand Dunes). With two nights at most stops and one night at a few strategic towns (Glenwood, Grand Junction, Cortez/Mesa Verde, Alamosa for the dunes), the trip will be busy but rewarding — exactly the right mix for photography and scenic short walks. If you prefer a less rushed pace, consider dropping Glenwood as an overnight (turn it into a scenic stop) or skipping one park to add more time to the others.

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