United States to United States
Over the Rockies on Independence Pass, down the San Juan Skyway, then out into red rock country.
Direct
570 km
354.2 mi
Scenic route
900 km
559.2 mi
Days
4
about 6 hr direct
Tolls
£25
one way, per car
The drive
This is the drive that turns Colorado into Utah in front of you. Alpine passes and pine forest for two days, then the ground goes red and the sky gets enormous.
Independence Pass and the Million Dollar Highway are the two set pieces. Neither has much in the way of guardrail and both are worth an early start.
Arches and Canyonlands sit at the far end, and the road to the Island in the Sky mesa is a fine drive in its own right.
June to September, since the high passes are shut in winter.
Worth the detour
Colorado
Independence Pass
Narrow shelf tarmac to 3687 metres, tight, exposed and completely absorbing.
9.3 / 10 · 51 km
Colorado
Million Dollar Highway
A mining road cut into the San Juan cliffs with sheer drops and no barrier.
9.5 / 10 · 40 km
Colorado
San Juan Skyway
A full loop of the San Juans taking in Coal Bank, Molas and Lizard Head passes.
9.3 / 10 · 190 km
Where to break the drive
Aspen
At the eastern foot of Independence Pass.
Ouray
The start of the Million Dollar Highway.
Telluride
Box canyon town on the San Juan Skyway.
Questions
About 570 km, roughly 354.2 miles, by the most direct route. The scenic version described here runs closer to 900 km.
Around 6 hours of driving on the direct route, which most people split over two days. The scenic route takes 4 days without rushing.
Budget about £25 one way per car in tolls, vignettes and crossings, before fuel and hotels.
June to September, since the high passes are shut in winter.
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