Denver to Chicago 1 – This trip includes 4 anchors: the wonderful city of Chicago, and Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands (and its surroundings) and the Rocky Mountain National Parks. The second half of this route leads to the least touristic, off the beaten path America – that of the small and remote towns, that of the Wild West and that of traveling through endless prairies and plains of corn and wheat – east of the Rocky Mountains, while the first half is more classic and touristic. In terms of scenic beauty – Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands do not have dramatic landscapes but they have an exceptional charm, and it is also a perfect place for wildlife viewing. In contrast, in the Rocky Mountain National Park the views are more dramatic and the topography is more impressive. This is a great Central USA route intended mainly for advanced travelers (those who have already visited more iconic destinations in the region such as Yellowstone National Park). This route includes relatively long drives (especially in the second half).
Day 1 – Land in Denver and enjoy the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: Denver
Day 2 – Spend the morning in Denver and drive to Grand Lake, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Grand Lake
Day 3 – Cross the Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road and stop and hike along this scenic route, 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Estes Park
Day 4 – Hike and travel in the eastern part of the Rocky Mountain National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Estes Park
Day 5 – Drive north to Rapid City, 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
(if you wish to shorten the drive of the next day you may sleep in the day in Hot Springs, located 1 hour south of Rapid City)
Day 6 – Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and/or the Black Hills (including Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway), 1-2 hours drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
Day 7 – Visit Badlands National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
Day 8 – Drive north to South Dakota, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Medora
Day 9 – Visit the southern unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Medora
Days 10,11 – Drive east to Chicago, 14 hours drive divided to two days
Lodging location: first night along the way, second night Chicago
Please note: it is advised not to make reservations for the first night and to decide when to stop according to how tired you are; points of interest along the way (located from west to east) are – Maplewood State Park, Lake Maria State Park, Mirror Lake State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park (see map, visiting these sites may add a few hours to the total driving time); it is also possible to add a day or two to the drive a spend them in Minneapolis (if visiting the city – don’t miss this park and this huge mall – that also has a water park and more attractions).
Day 12 – Visit Chicago
Lodging location: Chicago
Day 13 – Enjoy one more day in Chicago
Lodging location: Chicago
Day 14 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our Central USA and Northwest USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
