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Home/Guides/Denver/Denver 4 Day Itinerary: The Mile High Basecamp

Itinerary

Denver · USA

Denver 4 Day Itinerary: The Mile High Basecamp

Red Rocks, the Rockies' elk meadows, the brewery trail and the mountain day.

5 min read · 4 days · Updated September 25, 2026

Plan this trip→Explore Denver→
  • denver
  • itinerary
  • 4 days
Destination
Denver, USA
Duration
4 days
Best time
Jun-Sep
Style
Culture · Food · History
Daily budget
170 USD

Denver sits a mile up against the Rockies: 300 days of sun, a craft-brewery scene that wrote the playbook, Red Rocks' amphitheatre, and the ski resorts 90 minutes west. Four days covers the city and the mountains.

At roughly $170 a day, the trip runs about $680 excluding flights. June–September is trail season; December–March is ski season.

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

  1. 01The City Days↓
  2. 02Red Rocks & the Mountains↓
  3. 03Your 4 Days in Denver↓
Itinerary

Your 4 Days in Denver

City (1–2), mountains (3–4).

  1. Day 1

    Union Station & LoDo

    The breweries and the murals.

  2. Day 2

    Red Rocks & Golden

    The amphitheatre's trails and the Coors town.

  3. Day 3

    Rocky Mountain NP

    Trail Ridge Road's elk meadows.

  4. Day 4

    Ski or Art & Farewell

    Breckenridge's slopes or the Art Museum; DEN.

The City Days

Union Station's restored hall, LoDo's breweries, the Denver Art Museum's western wing, and the RiNo district's murals and taprooms. The altitude note: hydrate on day one — the mile-high adjustment is real.

Red Rocks & the Mountains

Red Rocks Amphitheatre's natural acoustics and trails, Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road and elk meadows, and the ski-or-hike mountain day at Breckenridge or Vail.

Flights & stays in Denver

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Before you go

What to know before you go

Money

  • About $170/day at planning figures; breweries $8–10 per pour.
  • The Rocky Mountain entry $30/vehicle; ski passes vary.

Logistics

  • June–September for trails; December–March for skiing.
  • The altitude: hydrate, go easy on day one.

Turn this guide into a trip

The trip planner opens pre-filled with Denver — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.

Plan this trip→
Next step

Plan around this destination

  1. Explore DenverDestination→
  2. Denver travel costsBudget→
Explore

Related destinations

  1. BostonUSA→
  2. ChicagoUSA→
Keep reading

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  1. USA Travel GuideThe USA guide: the coasts, the canyons, the park pass and the two-region rule.New York · 9 min read→
  2. North America Travel GuideThe North America guide: the regions, the rails and the two-region rule.New York · 9 min read→
  3. Denver 4 Day Basecamp Itinerary: The Mile High CityRed Rocks, the Rockies' elk meadows, the brewery trail and the mountain day.Denver · 5 min read→
  4. How to Plan a Road TripThe road-trip method: base towns, the 2pm rule and the fuel math.Denver · 6 min read→
  5. Banff 4 Day Itinerary: Turquoise Lakes Under GlaciersLake Louise at dawn, Moraine's ten peaks and the Icefields Parkway.Banff · 5 min read→
  6. Buenos Aires 4 Day Itinerary: Tango, Steak and the Midnight CityTango milongas, La Boca's colors, Recoleta's mausoleums and the parrilla nights.Buenos Aires · 5 min read→
Trips

Ready-made trips

  1. Denver 4-Day Mile High Trip4 days · 680 USD→
  2. USA 7-Day Trip: The Southwest Loop7 days · 1,200 USD→
  3. Denver & the Rockies 5-Day Trip5 days · 850 USD→
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is 4 days enough for Denver?

Yes — the city, Red Rocks, the national park and one mountain day fit comfortably.

Do I need a car?

Yes for the mountains; the city's light rail and breweries work on foot.

How much does 4 days in Denver cost?

About $680 excluding flights at our $170/day planning estimate.