Fall Road Trips in Colorado

Routes

Avg Distance

467 mi

Avg Drive

9h 44m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Oct 17, 2026

0 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

Colorado in the fall offers a spectacular backdrop for road trips, with its high-altitude terrain providing dramatic scenery. With 30 routes averaging 467 miles and nearly 10 hours, you can explore diverse landscapes. Max elevations often exceed 5,000 feet, and while EV infrastructure varies, the crisp air and vibrant foliage create an ideal driving environment.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.33/gal

Diesel: $6.18/gal

Typical trip cost

$62–$315

One-way, ~467 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~163 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-10-12

Climate through the year: Colorado

Colorado peaks at around 90°F in Jul and cools to 44°F / 18°F in Dec. Wettest month is May at ~2.2 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in
Jan	45	19	0.4
Feb	46	20	0.4
Mar	56	28	0.9
Apr	62	34	1.7
May	71	44	2.2
Jun	83	53	1.9
Jul	90	60	2.1
Aug	88	58	1.6
Sep peak	80	50	1.4
Oct peak	65	37	1
Nov peak	53	26	0.6
Dec	44	18	0.4

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for CO — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Check the weather forecast for your route, not just your origin and destination.
Bring layers for shoulder-season travel — mornings and evenings can be much cooler than midday.
Colorado routes can vary in condition depending on the time of year. Check for construction zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Colorado that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 467 miles).

Current regular gas averages $4.33/gallon in Colorado (week of 2026-10-12). Diesel: $6.18/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $62 and $315. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Sep, Oct, Nov, Colorado typically sees daytime highs in the 53–80°F range with about 1 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

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