Las Vegas to Denver Roundtrip Road Trip Itinerary

Hoover Dam is located just a short drive outside of Las Vegas, so if you’re planning any road trip with a Las Vegas campervan rental, it just makes sense to stop here, especially if your travels are taking you east. For the first leg of our journey to Denver and back, Hoover Dam makes a nice stopping point during the four-and-a-half-hour drive to the Grand Canyon. Plan to use a whole day for the drive. Even though it’s just a half-day drive, technically, you want to give yourself plenty of time to see the sights.

At Hoover Dam, you can take guided tours, including a dam tour and power plant tour. Do note that only power plant tours can be reserved ahead of time; guided dam tour tickets must be purchased on-site, at the time of the tour.

Once you get to the Grand Canyon, you have plenty of choice in activities. Visit the North Rim or South Rim or both. Take a scenic drive. Go for a hike. Reserve a guided mule ride through the canyon. Go for a whitewater rafting tour. Definitely plan to spend at least an entire day here, after your arrival.

You’ll have a few options for places to park your campervan, with multiple campgrounds along the canyon’s South Rim and North Rim. Be sure to make reservations in advance, as well as purchase a park entrance pass in advance.

Once you’ve had your fill of the Grand Canyon (which, is that even possible?), head off to the second stop on our Las Vegas campervan rental driving itinerary: Albuquerque, New Mexico. The fastest route is a little over 400 miles and takes just under six hours to complete. However, if you don’t want to drive straight to Albuquerque, you’ve got options.

Interesting stops along the way include Flagstaff, Arizona, where you can visit the charming downtown for shopping and dining, and then visit nearby sites like Walnut Canyon National Monument, to see the ancient Indigenous cliffside dwellings, or Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, to learn more about Flagstaff history.

Drive a little further and you’ll reach Petrified Forest National Park, also in Arizona, where you can see Triassic fossils, petrified wood, petroglyphs and multiple museums.

Once you do reach Albuquerque, you’ll enjoy the city’s urban center, but also a wealth of history, too. The city was founded in 1706 and you can still witness many glimpses of the past, such as the historic adobe buildings in Old Town. Make time to visit the city’s handful of museums and take in the region’s Indigenous history at sites like the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

When you’re ready to park your campervan, try top-rated options like NomadLand RV Park Albuquerque or Arbor RV Park.

Next up, we’re headed to Texas — Amarillo, to be exact. This part of the roundtrip road trip between Vegas and Denver takes you almost directly east, across New Mexico and into the Texas panhandle. The drive is just under 300 miles and takes just over four hours.

On your way out of Albuquerque, consider a stop at Sandia Peak, in the Sandia Mountains. There, you can take an aerial tramway and see the mountain peaks from a bird’s eye perspective, as well as the city. (Take note, though — this isn’t an activity for those scared of heights!)

Otherwise, the drive is relatively uneventful, so settle back and watch the landscapes roll past, until you make your way to Amarillo. While not the most notable travel destination in Texas, Amarillo still has lots to offer the adventurous traveler. For example, you’ll be right next to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The second largest canyon in the United States, Palo Duro is called the Grand Canyon of Texas, and it’s worth your attention. Visit and hike, mountain bike or just take a scenic drive. Campgrounds are also available here, if you want to park your campervan and stay a while.

If you’ve had your fill of canyons back at the Grand Canyon, Amarillo visitors can also enjoy attractions like the famous Cadillac Ranch sculptures, the Texas Air and Space Museum, Amarillo Zoo and Amarillo Botanical Gardens.

It’s time to begin heading back west at this point in our itinerary, as well as north. It’ll take about an entire day to drive between Amarillo and Denver, but don’t rush right through. Once you cross the state line into Colorado, there are plenty of scenic spots for you to stop awhile. With just a detour or two, you can see gorgeous trip highlights such as Blanca Peak, the fourth-highest summit in the Rockies; Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve; Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain; and Pike-San Isabel National Forest.

If you stop off in Colorado Springs, which is directly on your route, you can see Garden of the Gods, a geological landmark; Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, where your explorations will go underground; or The Broadmoor Seven Falls, which are exactly what they sound like, a series of waterfalls. Indoor attractions include myriad museums, like the National Museum of World War II Aviation, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, and Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.

Of course, once you get to Denver, you could easily spend a week just exploring the city and all it offers in the nearby surroundings. Within the city, you have excellent shopping, dining and museums, as well as historic sites. If you drive a bit further, you’ll be able to find plenty to do in the Rocky Mountains.

As for where you should set up your base camp while exploring the Mile High City, you might need to head outside of downtown, but you’ll find plenty of options in nearby Aurora, where you can hook up at Cherry Creek State Park.

Lastly, it’s time for us to finish this roundtrip road trip by returning your Las Vegas campervan rental to its home in Sin City. However, on the way from Denver to Vegas, you’ll stop by Arches National Park, and you have plenty of other possible places to stop, to break up this westerly, 12-hour, 800-mile drive. You’ll be driving through half of Colorado and all of Utah to get to Vegas, so you’re hardly wanting for options.

In the western half of Colorado, possible landmarks to stop at include Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, Aspen and multiple national forests including White River National Forest. Right after you cross the state line into Utah, you’ll come across Arches National Park, and other national parks nearby include Canyonlands National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. For city stays in Utah, try either Moab or St. George. From there, it’s just a short drive through the corner of Arizona, and then you’re in Nevada and to Vegas.

No matter where you’re headed from Vegas — whether it’s a short trip to the Grand Canyon or a cross-country trip that lasts for weeks — opting for a Las Vegas campervan rental to get you there can make your trip more convenient, comfortable and affordable. A campervan rental is outfitted with everything you need to set up camp wherever your travels take you and you’re essentially bundling the cost of your rental car with the cost of accommodations — and who doesn’t love saving a little in their travel budget?

Sound like exactly what you need? Reserve your Las Vegas campervan rental now — or just get a quick quote as you plan your perfect road trip.

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