Adventure No. 1
@WhereverWeRoamIsHome
September 2026 Colorado Adventure
Ten days west and back: Oklahoma, Kansas, and the Colorado Rockies.
The roadbook
Ten days west and back.
Ten days west and back from Afton, Oklahoma through Dodge City and Colorado.
Route
Oklahoma to the Rockies and home again.
- 01 Afton, OK
- 02 Dodge City, KS
- 03 Estes Park, CO
- 04 Grand Lake, CO
- 05 St. Vrain, CO
- 06 Lakewood, CO
- 07 Colorado Springs, CO
- 08 Royal Gorge, CO
- 09 Dodge City, KS
- 10 Afton, OK
Day 01
September 11, 2026 • Friday
Afton, Oklahoma to Dodge City, Kansas
The trip begins across the plains, with enough margin to let western Kansas become part of the story instead of just the distance between two points.
- Miles
- ~340 mi
- Wheel time
- ~5.5–6.5 hr
- Overnight
- Dodge City
- Elevation
- ~2,600 ft
Context & history
Frontier Miles, Real History
Dodge City grew where the Santa Fe Trail, the railroad and the cattle trade collided on the western Kansas plains. Founded in 1872, it became one of the best-known names of the cattle-town era. Boot Hill, lawmen such as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, and the long shadow of the frontier make this more than a convenient first-night stop. For this trip, that history matters because Day 1 is our transition from ordinary roads into a journey with a sense of place.
“The first day should feel like the beginning of the trip — not just a test of endurance.”
- Founded
- 1872
- Known for
- Cattle-town era
- Don’t miss
- Boot Hill • El Capitan
Weather
Plains day. Check AM radar and wind before departure.
T-Mobile
Towns usable/strong; rural Kansas can soften.
Fuel
Top off before long rural stretches.
Overnight
Dodge City — paid electric or fatigue backup.
Along the way
Day 1 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
First night
Paid electric if it buys real rest; otherwise keep the boondock/fatigue backup simple.
Road style
Long plains run; daylight and fuel margin matter more than squeezing in every optional stop.
Day 02
September 12, 2026 • Saturday
Dodge City to Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park
A long transition day: plains in the morning, the Front Range by evening, and the first real sense that the mountains are taking over the horizon.
- Miles
- ~400–425 mi
- Wheel time
- ~7–8 hr
- Destination
- Estes Park / RMNP
- Signal
- Strong in town; variable in park
Context & history
The Front Range Appears
Estes Park sits at the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, surrounded by a landscape that changes quickly from foothills to granite peaks. The town became a base for visitors long before modern national-park tourism, and today it works as both a destination and a practical staging point for the park. This is the payoff day after the plains: I want the drive to end with time to see downtown Estes, look toward Longs Peak and get oriented before the concentrated RMNP days begin.
“The horizon should look completely different by dinner.”
- Estes Park
- Gateway town
- RMNP
- Established 1915
- Longs Peak
- 14,259 ft
Weather
Front Range arrival; temperatures fall quickly after sunset.
T-Mobile
Estes Park strong; RMNP coverage becomes variable.
Fuel
Arrive with margin — this is the long driving day.
Overnight
Electric is the priority after the long run.
Along the way
Day 2 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
RMNP entry
2026 general timed entry: 9am–2pm. Bear Lake corridor: 5am–6pm. $2 processing fee.
Arrival
A late-day arrival may naturally fall outside the general timed-entry window, but Bear Lake rules are separate.
Day 03
September 13, 2026 • Sunday
RMNP East Side / Bear Lake Corridor
A flexible park day built around Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Moraine Park and the waterfalls and granite scenery that define the east side of RMNP.
- Driving
- Local / flexible
- Bear Lake
- 9,475 ft
- Overnight
- Estes / RMNP area
- Signal
- Spotty in corridor
Context & history
Water, Granite & Glacial History
Bear Lake sits in a classic glacial basin beneath the high peaks of the Front Range. The short walk around the shoreline is easy, but the view opens a much larger story: ice carved these valleys, exposed the granite and left behind the chain of lakes and waterfalls that make this corner of the park so photogenic. The Bear Lake corridor is intentionally a slower day. I do not want to measure it by miles; the point is to stop often, take the weather as it comes and let the scenery dictate the pace.
“This is the day to trade odometer numbers for time outside.”
- Bear Lake
- 9,475 ft
- Alberta Falls
- Classic short hike
- Pace
- Stops over mileage
Weather
High-country weather can change rapidly. Verify morning-of.
T-Mobile
Bear Lake corridor can be weak or spotty.
Fuel
Local mileage; focus on timing, parking and shuttles.
Overnight
RMNP east-side base / electric plan.
Along the way
Day 3 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Bear Lake
Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road is required 5am–6pm unless entering outside that window.
Release
Additional next-day inventory releases at 7pm MDT on Recreation.gov.
Day 04
September 14, 2026 • Monday
RMNP, Estes Park & Peak-to-Peak Transition
A gateway day that leaves room for town, viewpoints and one more look at the east side before the route begins to pivot toward the Continental Divide.
- Base
- Estes Park
- Elevation
- ~7,500–9,500 ft
- Style
- Scenic + flexible
- Focus
- Town • peaks • park
Context & history
Estes Park: More Than a Gateway
Estes Park is often treated as the front door to Rocky Mountain National Park, but the town has its own history and rhythm. Mountain tourism, ranching and the desire to experience the high country all shaped the community. The surrounding peaks are never just background; they are the reason the town exists in the form we know today. I want this day to leave room for the human scale of the trip — walking downtown, seeing the river and shops, and looking back toward the peaks that will dominate the next day from Trail Ridge Road.
“A gateway does not have to be an empty day. Sometimes the town is part of the experience.”
- Town elevation
- ~7,500 ft
- Role
- RMNP gateway
- Pace
- Flexible / low stress
Weather
Lower-stress gateway day, but mountain showers remain possible.
T-Mobile
Best in Estes; weaker away from town.
Fuel
Low-mileage day — useful time to reset supplies.
Overnight
Mary’s Lake / electric option if available.
Along the way
Day 4 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Easy day
Use Estes, Stanley, Lily Lake or Peak-to-Peak as energy and parking allow.
RV reality
No toad: every stop has to work for the Greyhawk.
Day 05
September 15, 2026 • Tuesday
Trail Ridge Road to Alpine Visitor Center & Grand Lake
The signature high-country day: climbing above timberline, crossing the Continental Divide and descending toward the quieter west side of the park.
- High point
- 12,183 ft
- Alpine VC
- ~11,796 ft
- Route
- Trail Ridge Road
- End
- Grand Lake
Context & history
Engineering Above Timberline
Trail Ridge Road is one of the defining experiences of Rocky Mountain National Park. Completed in the 1930s, the road climbs into alpine tundra and reaches 12,183 feet at its high point. For long stretches there are no trees at all — only wind, rock, tundra and huge views. This is one of the days I have been waiting for. I do not want to “get through” Trail Ridge Road. I want the road itself to be the destination: overlooks, short stops, the Alpine Visitor Center and the unmistakable feeling of crossing from one side of the Rockies to the other.
“The road becomes the destination when every turnout changes the scale of the view.”
- High point
- 12,183 ft
- Landscape
- Alpine tundra
- Divide
- Crossed en route
Weather
Alpine exposure: wind, cold and sudden changes possible.
T-Mobile
Expect long gaps above timberline.
Fuel
Begin with enough range; do not plan on alpine fuel.
Overnight
Grand Lake / west side.
Along the way
Day 5 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Trail Ridge
V15 departure snapshot: NPS listed Trail Ridge Road open to through travel.
Morning call
Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: 970-586-1222. Check again before climbing.
Day 06
September 16, 2026 • Wednesday
Grand Lake / West RMNP to St. Vrain & Front Range
A quieter west-side day: water, wildlife country and the Colorado River headwaters before the route begins bending back toward the Front Range.
- Miles
- ~100–140 mi
- Grand Lake
- 8,369 ft
- Style
- Water + wildlife
- Overnight
- Front Range
Context & history
Where the Pace Changes
Grand Lake is Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake and sits near the headwaters of the Colorado River. Its setting feels different from the east side of RMNP: more water, broader valleys, quieter shorelines and a stronger sense of the park’s western edge. After the exposure of Trail Ridge Road, this day should feel deliberately calmer. Grand Lake, the Kawuneeche Valley and nearby short stops make a good reset before the trip points back toward busier Front Range roads.
“After the exposed high country, I want one day where the views keep going even when the odometer does not.”
- Grand Lake
- 8,369 ft
- Setting
- Headwaters country
- Pace
- Scenic + relaxed
Weather
Cool mornings at 8,000+ ft; calmer valley day.
T-Mobile
Grand Lake usable; valley/park gaps possible.
Fuel
Refuel before bending back toward the Front Range.
Overnight
Front Range / St. Vrain direction.
Along the way
Day 6 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Pace change
Grand Lake and the west side are intentionally calmer after the alpine day.
Signal
Town service is better than the valley; keep offline navigation available.
Day 07
September 17, 2026 • Thursday
Front Range to Casa Bonita & Southbound
A deliberately different Colorado day: from mountain geology and the Denver metro to one of the state’s strangest, most iconic entertainment landmarks.
- Focus
- Front Range + Denver
- Stop
- Casa Bonita
- Direction
- Southbound
- End
- Colorado Springs area
Context & history
Casa Bonita: Colorado Pop Culture in Pink
Casa Bonita opened in Lakewood in 1974 and became famous for far more than dinner: cliff divers, theatrical rooms, caves, music and a giant pink facade turned the restaurant into a Colorado institution. After a major renovation and reopening in the 2020s, the spectacle is still the point. I like this stop because it deliberately breaks the rhythm of mountains and overlooks. A good road trip should have a few places that are memorable for completely different reasons — and Casa Bonita certainly qualifies.
“Not every memorable Colorado stop has to be wilderness. Some places are pure story.”
- Opened
- 1974
- Location
- Lakewood, Colorado
- Why go
- Food + spectacle
Weather
Metro-to-foothills day; check I-25 corridor conditions.
T-Mobile
Strong through Denver/Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
Fuel
Metro day — easiest point to top off.
Overnight
Colorado Springs area.
Along the way
Day 7 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Casa Bonita
Reservations are available online.
Address
6715 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214.
Day 08
September 18, 2026 • Friday
Seven Falls to Garden of the Gods
Water and stone in the same day: a canyon waterfall sequence in the morning and Colorado Springs’ red-rock landmark later on.
- Seven Falls
- 7 cascades
- Stairs
- 224 steps
- Garden
- Free public park
- Style
- Walk + scenic drive
Context & history
Water, Stone & Deep Time
Seven Falls descends through South Cheyenne Cañon in a sequence of seven named cascades. The experience is vertical — narrow canyon walls, water, stairs and elevated viewpoints. Garden of the Gods is the opposite kind of drama: open red sandstone fins and balanced formations set against Pikes Peak and the Front Range. Putting them together makes sense because the day tells two geological stories in very different ways: one intimate and enclosed, the other broad, open and sculptural.
“One place is about rushing water; the other is about rock that has been standing there for ages.”
- Seven Falls
- Seven named cascades
- Stairs
- 224 steps
- Garden
- Public park since 1909
Weather
Canyon and red-rock walking day; verify afternoon storms.
T-Mobile
Generally strong in Colorado Springs.
Fuel
Local day; parking geometry matters more than range.
Overnight
Colorado Springs area.
Along the way
Day 8 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Seven Falls
V15 snapshot: Fri Sep 18 open 9am–7pm. Adult online: $25 AM / $21 PM.
Garden of the Gods
Free park; oversized vehicles should use the overflow lot.
Day 09
September 19, 2026 • Saturday
Optional Royal Gorge to Dodge City, Kansas
If time and energy line up, Royal Gorge adds one enormous western landmark before the trip turns decisively east toward Kansas.
- Bridge
- Opened 1929
- Height
- ~956 ft above river
- Choice
- Optional / energy-based
- Direction
- East to Kansas
Context & history
A Bridge Above, a Railroad Below
The Royal Gorge Bridge opened in 1929 high above the Arkansas River and quickly became one of Colorado’s best-known engineering landmarks. Far below, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad follows the river through the narrow canyon, giving the same landscape a completely different sense of scale. The bridge is the overhead spectacle; the railroad is the canyon-floor perspective. For us, Royal Gorge works best as an option rather than an obligation: if the day feels right, it is an extraordinary final Colorado stop; if not, the route can turn east and protect the return schedule.
“Royal Gorge is not a box we have to check. It is worth doing only if we still have enough day left to enjoy it.”
- Bridge
- Opened 1929
- River
- Arkansas River
- Mode
- Optional / flexible
Weather
Royal Gorge rides are weather dependent. Check before detour.
T-Mobile
Good near Cañon City; variable on rural return legs.
Fuel
If doing the Gorge, top off before turning east.
Overnight
Dodge City.
Along the way
Day 9 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Royal Gorge
Optional. V15 snapshot: Sat Sep 19, 9am–5pm; rides begin 10am.
Admission
V15 snapshot: adult internet general admission $39.95; reservations not required.
Day 10
September 20, 2026 • Sunday
Dodge City to Afton, Oklahoma — Home
The final long drive home: familiar roads, a simpler agenda and enough margin to finish the trip without turning the last day into a race.
- Miles
- ~340 mi
- Wheel time
- ~6 hr
- Fuel
- ~42.5 gal @ 8 mpg
- Finish
- Afton, Oklahoma
Context & history
The Road Turns Back Toward Home
The return from Dodge City is intentionally practical. By this point the memories are in the mountains, canyons, lakes and oddball stops behind us. The job of the last day is to get home comfortably and leave enough energy to remember the trip for what it was — not for how tired we were at the end. Dodge City gives the homeward leg a fitting bookend: frontier roads on the first night, the same western plains on the last morning, and a clear sense that the loop is complete.
“The trip does not end when the scenery gets flatter. It ends when we pull in with a list of places we would gladly turn around and see again.”
- Distance
- ~340 mi
- Drive
- ~6 hr
- Home
- Afton, Oklahoma
Weather
Homeward plains drive — check wind before departure.
T-Mobile
Generally improving toward larger towns.
Fuel
~42.5 gal at 8 mpg planning rate.
Overnight
Home — Afton, Oklahoma.
Along the way
Day 10 gallery
Roadbook notes
Practical notes for the day
Homeward
~340 miles / ~6 hours. Keep the last day deliberately simple.
Fuel model
~42.5 gallons at the 8 mpg planning assumption.
Official planning links
The links behind the roadbook.
The complete guide
Take the V15 roadbook with you.
The downloadable edition contains the complete 97-page September 2026 Colorado Adventure guide.
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