On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we’re taking you to one of the absolute best RV vacation spots in the whole country: Colorado. If you think Rocky Mountain National Park is the only thing to see there, pay attention because our friend Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy is here to give us an introduction to RVing in Colorado in this two-part series.

In this episode, we’ll cover Denver, Colorado Springs, and locations in Eastern Colorado. Then, come back for Part 2 to hear about the mountain towns, national parks, and other highlights from Western Colorado.

Here is a guest post from Kerri complete with all the information and links you’ll need as you begin thinking about RVing in Colorado:

Home to some of the highest peaks in the U.S., the tallest sand dunes in North America, charming mountain towns, epic outdoor adventures, AND cool cities, Colorado is just brimming with RV vacation potential. But, where do you begin when planning an RV trip to a state that is packed with as much potential as Colorado?

Luckily, the Colorado Tourism Office gives us a head start by dividing the state into 8 regions, which I will use as a road map for sharing travel highlights and great campgrounds from each part of the state, going from east to west. Plus, I dug deep into the RV Atlas archives for some blast-from-the-past campground reviews!

First, let’s first get a grasp of Colorado’s layout and geography. Most travelers cross the state using interstate I-70, which cuts across Colorado somewhat north of the midline. The Rocky Mountains run perpendicular to the highway, bisecting the state. 

While the mountains dominate the middle of the state, the eastern half seems more like Kansas and the western half is more like Utah. Even within the mountains themselves, there is a lot of geographic diversity and plenty to explore outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.

To hear more about RVing in Colorado, including travel highlights and campgrounds, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Now, let’s begin look at RV travel attractions and campgrounds in Eastern Colorado. Remember, you can check out this map to see an overview of all 8 regions.

Bordering Kansas, this region is home to wide-open plains. If you’re driving along I-70 heading west, you won’t feel like you’re heading to the mountains for at least an hour past the border, though your RV will definitely be tilted skyward due to the incline. You may notice your gas stops gradually increasing in frequency well before you see any of Colorado’s famed mountains, but eventually, the silhouette of the Rockies will be barely visible on the horizon. Until then, explore the grasslands and pioneer history of northeast Colorado.

Photo in the public domain, courtesy of the National Park Service

This is another wide-open landscape, with small towns dotting the plains. This area borders Kansas, the OK Panhandle, and northern New Mexico. It is a strong agricultural region, with historical highlights related to the Santa Fe Trail and frontiersman Kit Carson. 

To hear more about these Colorado RV travel highlights and campgrounds, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

If you want the perfect mixture of urban adventures and natural wonders, a trip to Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park can’t be beat. You get the best of both worlds! This region lies northeast of the state’s center, where the Rocky Mountains bisect the state. If you are heading east to the higher elevations, spend some time in Denver to get acclimated before you begin the climb into Estes Park. Also, if RMNP is too packed, there’s plenty of scenery to explore outside the park.

Located in the southern Front Range, Colorado Springs makes a great hub for a Colorado vacation with much to see in and around the city, including one of the nation’s most iconic spots, Pikes Peak. To the west, you’ll find dramatic elevation changes, Old West towns, and many beautiful places to explore.

Are you excited about great possibilities for RVing in Colorado? We’ve told you about two of the largest cities and the most popular national park, but that’s not all! We have a lot more to come in part 2, where we will talk about the travel highlights and great campgrounds in Western Colorado. We haven’t talked about the fascinating cliff dwellings, the Little Switzerland of America, or the highest sand dunes in North America. Make sure to check it out to hear about these attractions and more when we continue our discussion about RVing in Colorado with Kerri next time.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to RVing in Colorado Part 1: Eastern Highlights appeared first on The RV Atlas.