THE TO GO LIST

If you’re looking for a Colorado road trip that combines dramatic landscapes, small mountain towns, National Parks, and plenty of opportunities to get outside with your dog, this route should be on your list.

This Spring, my dog Lambeau and I went on a road trip through southern Colorado, starting at Great Sand Dunes National Park, continuing to Pagosa Springs, and ending at Mesa Verde National Park. It was the perfect mix of adventure and slower-paced mountain-town time, and one of those trips where the drive was just as beautiful as the destinations.

The route is especially great if you want to experience a different side of Colorado beyond the more popular (and expensive) destinations like Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, and Aspen.

Our Southern Colorado Road Trip Route

Our road trip took us through three very different Colorado destinations:

Longmont → Great Sand Dunes National Park → Pagosa Springs → Mesa Verde National Park

Each stop had its own personality. Great Sand Dunes was all about surreal scenery in the middle of nowhere, Pagosa Springs gave us time to slow down and enjoy a mountain town, and Mesa Verde brought a completely different kind of adventure with its ancient cliff dwellings and unique history.

If you have about 6-7 days, you can comfortably experience all three spots without feeling like you’re spending the entire trip in the car.

Stop 1: Great Sand Dunes National Park

Our first stop was Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and, for late March, it was extremely warm. Sand dunes always feel like another planet to me, and I think Lambeau was confused as to why there was sand but no ocean.

The park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains rising dramatically behind them. The contrast between the enormous golden dunes and rugged Colorado mountains makes this one of the most unique landscapes in the state.

What to Do at Great Sand Dunes National Park

The main attraction is (obviously) the dunes. You can hike directly into them, and there’s no designated trail once you’re on the sand, so you can choose your own adventure.

One thing to know: hiking in sand is hard. Even if you’re an experienced hiker, climbing the dunes is a completely different experience than hiking a traditional mountain trail.

Go early for sunrise, or later in the day if you can. The sand can become extremely hot in the afternoon, even during cooler months.

If you’re also traveling with your dog, pay attention to the temperature of the sand. Dogs’ paws can burn quickly on hot sand, so cooler morning and evening hours are much safer.

We spent a few hours exploring the area, but with the temperatures and the wind blowing sand everywhere, I didn’t want to subject Lambeau to a full day, here.

Is Great Sand Dunes National Park Dog Friendly?

Yes — with some important restrictions.

Dogs are allowed in certain areas of Great Sand Dunes National Park, including the main dune area, but they aren’t permitted on many of the park’s trails or in the backcountry. Always check the current National Park Service rules before your visit, especially if you’re planning to hike beyond the main dune area.

Where to Stay Near Great Sand Dunes National Park

There are several small towns and lodging options surrounding the park, including accommodations in Mosca, Alamosa, and nearby areas.

One of the biggest advantages of staying nearby is that you can get to the park early, explore before the hottest part of the day, and stick around for sunset without having to drive a long distance afterward.

I’d also recommend filling up on gas and grabbing any food or supplies you need before heading toward the park. The park is pretty remote, and these necessities become much more limited as you get closer to the dunes.

Stop 2: Pagosa Springs, Colorado

After a day at Great Sand Dunes, we headed toward Pagosa Springs: a charming mountain town surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.

This was the perfect transition from our more adventurous national park day into a slower portion of the trip.

Pagosa Springs is best known for its geothermal hot springs, but there’s much more to do here if soaking isn’t your thing. The town sits along the San Juan River and is surrounded by hiking trails, forests, mountains, and plenty of opportunities to get outside.

Things to Do in Pagosa Springs

The obvious choice is to visit the hot springs. After spending the day hiking through sand, soaking in naturally heated mineral water sounds pretty perfect.

You can also walk around downtown, explore the river, grab coffee or a meal, and use Pagosa Springs as a base for exploring the surrounding San Juan Mountains.

If you’re traveling with a dog, Pagosa Springs is also a nice place to simply slow down. There are plenty of opportunities for walks and outdoor adventures, although you’ll want to check individual trail and business pet policies.

Here are my top recommendations in Pagosa Springs:

-Soak at The Springs Resort & Spa

-Eat at Riff Raff Brewing Company (they have designated dog-friendly tables!

-Go hiking in San Juan National Forest. There are so many beautiful trails just 25-30 minutes outside of town.

-Grab coffee at Root House – we went multiple times before walking along the San Juan Riverwalk

Stop 3: Mesa Verde National Park

From Pagosa Springs, we continued Southwest toward Mesa Verde National Park. While Great Sand Dunes is defined by its enormous landscape and Pagosa Springs by its mountain-town atmosphere, Mesa Verde is all about history. The park protects thousands of archaeological sites, including the famous cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Pueblo people.

On our way there, we stopped for a quick bite at James Ranch in Durango for dinner. This was the perfect spot for me to grab a quick, healthy bite, and to walk Lambeau around the ranch.

Where We Stayed: Mesa Verde Motel

For our time near Mesa Verde, we stayed at the Mesa Verde Motel (partially hosted) in Mancos, which made a convenient home base for exploring the national park and surrounding area.

I love finding boutique, locally-owned places to stay because they often give you a much more personal feel than a large chain hotel.

The motel was a particularly good fit for this trip because it’s both pet-friendly and walkable to downtown Mancos. Plus, they have an onsite restaurant/coffee shop that made mornings super convenient.

If you’re planning your own Mesa Verde trip, I’d recommend staying in or around Mancos, Cortez, or Durango. These towns give you convenient access to Mesa Verde while also putting you close to restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and other amenities.

Exploring Mesa Verde National Park

Even if you go in the off-season, you’ll want to give yourself a full day to see Mesa Verde. The park is much larger than it initially appears, and driving between different areas can take a while. Additionally, there are only a few short trails within the park, so this is more of a sightseeing adventure than exercise.

The cliff dwellings are the obvious highlight, but tours of the dwellings are not year round, and require an advance reservation during the seasons that they are offered. Despite this, you can see most of the dwellings very well from the viewpoints throughout the park.

Cliff Palace is one of the most recognizable sites in the park, and seeing the structures built into the cliffs is genuinely incredible. Understanding the history behind what you’re seeing, as well, makes the experience so much more meaningful.

Traveling to Mesa Verde With a Dog

This is another destination where traveling with a dog requires a little planning.

Dogs aren’t allowed on most trails in Mesa Verde National Park, and they generally can’t accompany you into archaeological sites. If you’re traveling solo with your dog, this is especially important to consider because you’ll need to plan around where your dog can safely stay while you explore areas where pets aren’t permitted.

That said, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery together from areas where dogs are allowed.

The Best Part of a Colorado Road Trip? The Drive.

One of my favorite things about this route was that we weren’t just driving from one destination to another on basic highways. In fact, if you have time, you can take the (most) scenic route along the Million Dollar Highway for a truly epic way to wrap up your road trip.

It is out of your way? Technically, yes. But Southern Colorado is incredibly scenic, and it is so, so worth the extra miles.

Tips for Taking a Colorado Road Trip With Your Dog

If you’re considering doing this route with your own dog, here are a few things I’d keep in mind:

Check pet restrictions before visiting National parks. Dogs are not allowed everywhere, and National parks tend to have much stricter rules than regular parks and forests.

Be mindful of the heat. This is especially important at Great Sand Dunes. Sand can quickly become dangerously hot for dogs’ paws.

Bring plenty of water. Southern Colorado can be dry, and you’ll encounter stretches of road where services are very limited.

Don’t underestimate the distances. Colorado looks relatively compact on a map, but mountain roads can make driving times much longer than expected.

Book dog-friendly accommodations in advance. Pet-friendly rooms can be limited, especially in smaller towns.

Give your dog time to adjust. Between altitude, heat, long drives, and lots of new smells and environments, road trips can be exhausting for dogs too.

Keep your itinerary flexible. One of the best things about a road trip is being able to slow down when you find somewhere beautiful. Pause to marvel at wildlife, unexpected roadside hot springs, and ghost towns.

Our Southern Colorado Road Trip: Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an epic Colorado road trip with your dog, I can’t recommend this southern Colorado route enough.

Great Sand Dunes National Park was the adventure. Pagosa Springs was the reset. Mesa Verde National Park was the history lesson.

Together, they made for a road trip that felt incredibly varied without requiring weeks of travel.

If you love national parks, scenic drives, small mountain towns, outdoor adventure, and traveling with your dog, put southern Colorado on your list. You don’t need a complicated itinerary; just a full tank of gas, a good playlist, plenty of snacks (plus water for your pup!) and a willingness to take the long way.

Southern Colorado Road Trip at a Glance

Day 1: Drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park
Day 2: Explore Great Sand Dunes + surrounding area
Day 3: Drive to Pagosa Springs + explore town
Day 4: Stay in Pagosa Springs to unwind
Day 5: Drive to Mesa Verde National Park + settle in
Day 6: Explore Mesa Verde
Day 7: Drive home

This is one of those trips I’d happily do again, and next time, I’d probably add even more time to explore the smaller towns and outdoor spaces along the way.