Colorado To California Road Trip: Top 15 Tips

Colorado to California road trip is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 1,118 miles of Colorado to California drive takes around 17 hours and 11 mins without stops.

This article includes 15 top tips that turn your Colorado to California drive into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Colorado to California, take your coffee and keep reading!

5 Best Hotels On The Road Trip From Colorado To California

On Colorado to California road trip, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here are the top five hotels on the Colorado – California route!

1. Tivoli Lodge: Tivoli Lodge is one of the best hotels where you can stay on a Colorado to California road trip. Driving from Colorado to Tivoli Lodge might take around 1 hour and 51 mins. The Tivoli Lodge is a ski resort located in Vail Village. The resort is known for its friendly, caring, and personalized service. The new European-style architecture blends in with the surrounding natural environment, with views of Vail’s Golden Peak ski area and within steps of the Vista Bahn ski lift. Check the Tivoli Lodge, one of the best hotels in Vail, Colorado, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to California from Colorado is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, the hotel is 220 miles away from Colorado, and it would take 3 hours and 57 mins to drive. The La Quinta Grand Junction Hotel features a 24-hour front desk and expresses check-in/out, convenience store, pool, and complimentary breakfast. Free parking is available onsite. If you want to learn more about the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. Best Western Plus Abbey Inn: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Best Western Plus Abbey Inn. Best Western Plus Abbey Inn is located in St. George, Utah, and it’s 608 miles away from Colorado. You can arrive there in 9 hours and 24 mins of non-stop driving. The Best Western Plus Abbey Inn in Saint George, UT, offers modern amenities and a thoughtful design. With an in-house fitness room, the hotel is perfect for guests looking to stay active while on the road. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Best Western Plus Abbey Inn for more information.
4. Park MGM Las Vegas: If you are taking a road trip from Colorado to California, Las Vegas, Nevada, must have a place you should visit. Plus, Park MGM Las Vegas is one of the best hotels in town. It is Park MGM Las Vegas, 731 miles from Colorado, and it would take 11 hours and 16 mins to drive. Looking to enjoy some of the best food Los Angeles has to offer without leaving the comfort of your hotel? Bavette’s, a poolside restaurant by celebrated chef Roy Choi, offers a taste of the city’s famed South of France-inspired dining scene. Or, for a more casual experience, head to Juniper Cocktail Lounge, a bodega-style bar and eatery perfect for grabbing a handcrafted cocktail. If you need more info about the price and availability of Park MGM Las Vegas, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. Best Western Plus Hill House: Our next hotel is Best Western Plus Hill House, Bakersfield, California. It will take 15 hours, and 21 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from Colorado. The Best Western Plus Hill House is a pet-friendly hotel near many popular Bakersfield attractions, including Rabobank Arena. It is a brief drive to many areas of interest. The hotel offers complimentary continental breakfast and on-site restaurant dining options, ensuring the amenities needed for an enjoyable stay. Check the Best Western Plus Hill House on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Best Western Plus Hill House for reviews, prices, and availability.

In this part, we explained five different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Colorado to California. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people who will take identical Colorado to California routes.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from Colorado to California. We have five restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

5 Best Restaurants On Colorado To California Road Trip

Some restaurants will please you on your Colorado to California road trip if dining is a pleasure. In this section, we list the five different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Colorado to California. Stay hungry and enjoy!

1. Swiss Chalet – Vail: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on Colorado to California road trip with Swiss Chalet – Vail. Swiss Chalet-Vail is located in Vail, Colorado, 73.9 miles from Colorado. It would take 1 hour and 49 mins of driving. The Swiss Chalet provides a wide variety of authentic regional dishes, including hearty favorites like Schnitzel and delicious fondues. With an award-winning Wine Spectators Best Award of Excellence list of over 1,000 selections, it is the perfect place to enjoy a meal with family and friends. For more information about Swiss Chalet Vail, you can visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Swiss Chalet Vail.
2. Bin 707 Foodbar: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to California from Colorado is Bin 707 Foodbar. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, Bin 707 Foodbar is 221 miles from Colorado and would take 4 hours of driving. Bin 707 Foodbar is committed to responsible sourcing from local, Colorado, and domestic sources. The restaurant is a Zero Foodprint member, a 2018 and 2019 Good Food 100 restaurant, and a James Beard Smart Catch Leader for its ongoing commitment to sustainability within the industry. If you want to learn more about Bin 707 Foodbar, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Cliffside Restaurant: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Cliffside Restaurant. It will take 9 hours and 28 mins of car drive to take 609 miles from Colorado to Cliffside Restaurant, St. George, Utah. The restaurant is on a cliff above the boulevard with a scenic view of the St. George valley. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with an incredible view that can’t be found anywhere else in southern Utah. You can check Cliffside Restaurant on TripAdvisor or Google Maps for more information.
4. Fresco Italiano, Las Vegas: Fresco Italiano, Las Vegas, deserves to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fresco Italiano is a Tuscan-inspired restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. The restaurant is known for its creative Italian-style cuisine, which features a variety of pasta dishes with freshly made sauces, handcrafted flatbreads, steaks, chicken, and fresh seafood. Fresco Italiano, Las Vegas, is 729 miles away from Colorado, and it would take 11 hours and 11 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Fresco Italiano, Las Vegas, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. 24th Street Cafe: If you enjoy dining, 24th Street Cafe would be an excellent choice in Bakersfield, California. It’s 1,009 miles from Colorado and would take 15 hours and 23 mins of car driving. Bakersfield residents and visitors flock to this restaurant for its home-cooked meals and variety of menu items. This is the place to be for a hearty dinner or light snack. If you want to learn more about the 24th Street Cafe, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.

This section lists our five restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Colorado to California. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 1,118 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a California road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Colorado to California. Keep reading.

5 Places To Visit On Colorado To California Drive

A unique experience awaits you in California. However, some unique destinations, like Vail, Colorado, are on your road trip. Therefore, we want to explain the top five destinations we recommend on the California route.

• Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens will be the first destination we recommend you stop by on your Colorado to California road trip. Located in Vail, Colorado, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is 73.0 miles away from Colorado, and it would take 1 hour and 50 mins to drive. The labels on the plants in this botanical garden provide visitors with information. If you want to learn more about the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Downtown Grand Junction: Downtown Grand Junction, Grand Junction, Colorado, is one of the destinations we recommend you stop by on the Colorado to California route. It’s 221 miles from Colorado and will take about 4 hours of driving. Downtown is home to dozens of local shops, music venues, restaurants, and galleries. In addition, the area’s tree-lined streets showcase public art, fountains, and historical buildings, making it a great place to enjoy local cuisine, unique gifts, and family fun. If you want to learn more about Downtown Grand Junction, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website.
• Red Hills Desert Garden: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Colorado to California is St. George, Utah. And if you visit St. George, Utah, we suggest you visit Red Hills Desert Garden. You can arrive at Red Hills Desert Garden after 9 hours and 25 mins of driving. The park is worth a visit for those who enjoy coffee and beautiful landscaping. The pathways are peaceful, and the location is close to downtown. Best of all, the park is free to enjoy. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of Red Hills Desert Garden for more information.
• Clark County Heritage Museum: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Clark County Heritage Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, on Colorado to California road trip. Clark County Heritage Museum is 746 miles from Colorado, and you can arrive there after 11 hours and 28 mins of driving. The 30-acre museum site features a modern exhibit hall with a timeline exhibit about southern Nevada from pre-historic to modern times, as well as a collection of restored historic buildings that depict daily life from different decades in Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, and Goldfield. This museum has some outstanding exhibits in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. I enjoyed learning about Las Vegas and its history in the early years. This place is worth a visit. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of Clark County Heritage Museum before going there.
• Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace: Located in Bakersfield, California, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the road trip from Colorado to California. You must take 15 hours and 22 mins of driving to arrive at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. The live music created a great ambiance while we dined. The service was good, and it was very family-friendly. In addition, the museum and memorabilia added charm to this unique place. If you want to learn more about Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.

FAQ of the Road Trip From Colorado to California

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about Colorado to California drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From Colorado To California?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the Colorado to California road trip takes approximately 17 hours and 11 mins to drive. Therefore, the driving distance between Colorado to California is 1,118 miles.
• If you want to make Colorado to California road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be four days and 3 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Colorado-California route, you will have to walk for 14 days and 13 hours.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Colorado To California?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to California. On the road, you can visit Vail, Colorado; Grand Junction, Colorado; St. George, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Bakersfield, California. Here we list five places to visit for you. For more information about the best places on Colorado to California journey, you can check the 5 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Colorado To California part.

1. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: 73.0 miles / 1 hour and 50 mins to drive from Colorado | 1,045 miles / 15 hours and 25 mins of driving to California.
2. Downtown Grand Junction: 221 miles / 4 hours to drive from Colorado | 899 miles / 13 hours and 21 mins of driving to California.
3. Red Hills Desert Garden: 607 miles / 9 hours and 25 mins to drive from Colorado | 514 miles / 7 hours and 56 mins of driving to California.
4. Clark County Heritage Museum: 746 miles / 11 hours and 28 mins to drive from Colorado | 402 miles / 6 hours and 18 mins of driving to California.
5. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace: 1,011 miles / 15 hours and 22 mins to drive from Colorado | 107 miles / 1 hour and 52 mins of driving to California.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From Colorado To California?

There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from Colorado to California. We have selected five hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 5 Best Hotels On The Way To California From Colorado section.

• Tivoli Lodge: 74.4 miles / 1 hour and 51 mins to drive from Colorado | 1,045 miles / 15 hours and 27 mins of driving to California.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction: 220 miles / 3 hours and 57 mins to drive from Colorado | 900 miles / 13 hours and 18 mins of driving to California.
• Best Western Plus Abbey Inn: 608 miles / 9 hours and 24 mins to drive from Colorado | 511 miles / 7 hours and 49 mins of driving to California.
• Park MGM Las Vegas: 731 miles / 11 hours and 16 mins to drive from Colorado | 389 miles / 6 hours of driving to California.
• Best Western Plus Hill House: 1,008 miles / 15 hours and 21 mins to drive from Colorado | 109 miles / 1 hour and 55 mins of driving to California.

Where To Eat Between Colorado to California?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Colorado to California drive, you can consider the five restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 5 Best Restaurants On The Way From Colorado To California.

1. Swiss Chalet – Vail: 73.9 miles / 1 hour and 49 mins to drive from Colorado | 1,045 miles / 15 hours and 24 mins of driving to California.
2. Bin 707 Foodbar: 221 miles / 4 hours to drive from Colorado | 899 miles / 13 hours and 20 mins of driving to California.
3. Cliffside Restaurant: 609 miles / 9 hours and 28 mins to drive from Colorado | 513 miles / 7 hours and 54 mins of driving to California.
4. Fresco Italiano, Las Vegas: 729 miles / 11 hours and 11 mins to drive from Colorado | 393 miles / 6 hours and 11 mins of driving to California.
5. 24th Street Cafe: 1,009 miles / 15 hours and 23 mins to drive from Colorado | 108 miles / 1 hour and 53 mins of driving to California.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Colorado to California. We have listed five hotels, five restaurants, and five places to visit on Colorado to California drive. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Colorado to California as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken Colorado to California road trip? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Colorado to California and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.