Road trip from Denver to Santa Cruz
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ITINERARY
22h 48m1,314 miles16 stops
1
LoDo Massage Studio
Therapeutic Massage Services! At LoDo Massage Studio, we believe a good massage can be a powerful tool to reshape and restore how your body feels and functions. Our massage therapists are talented, licensed, experts who are passionate about providing transformational therapeutic bodywork. Our studio encourages our LMTs to use their unique experience and skill to customize your massage to your body’s exact needs by using a wide range of modalities. Looking for a place to start? Named for our beloved city, our signature Mile High Massage service is tailored to suit you just right. You could also choose a relaxing Swedish massage, invigorating Sports Massage, or effective Neuromuscular Massage. We also offer add-ons like Aromatherapy, and Hot Towels to create a massage bespoke for your body.
2
St. Pete's Fly Shop
3
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Urban Air Adventure Park is much more than a trampoline park. If you're looking for the best year-round indoor attractions in the Fort Collins area, Urban Air is the perfect place. With new adventures behind every corner, we are the ultimate indoor play
4
The Farm at Lee Martinez Park
5
Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, is the state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive Natural Area. All just minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is renowned for plant collections, themed gardens, over 560,000 springtime blooms, gorgeous private rental spaces, a world-class summer concert series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs.
6
Sugar House Park
Once the site of Utah Territorial Prison, this park is a lot more pleasant today, with a gently rolling landscape great for running.
7
Great Salt Lake
This 20,000 square mile lake, the second saltiest in the world, is also a wildlife refuge attracting millions of migratory birds every year to the ten islands within it.
8
Rosewood Lakes Golf Course
Championship golf surrounded by the natural beauty of the Nevada desert: players wind through sixty acres of protected wetlands that are home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfowl.
9
Ryan's Saloon & Broiler
10
Wilbur D. May Center
MUSEUM/ GIFT SHOP/ ARBORETUM/ EVENT VENUE/ The Wilbur D. May Center is located in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park at 1595 North Sierra, Reno, Nevada. The Wilbur D. May Museum features rotating exhibits for the whole family, smaller art shows, the permanent collection of Wilbur May's travels around the globe, an adjoining botanical garden, and plays home to many events throughout the year such as weddings, executive fundraisers, and educational seminars.
11
Enchambered: Sacramento Escape Room
Real Escape games let you live the game. We have real-life escape games where teams of 3-12 people are locked into a custom built, challenging and entertaining environments to solve the many mysteries, puzzles and challenges. You need to unlock the final clues to open the door and escape the room. Escape Rooms are fun for all ages.
12
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
13
Funderland Amusement Park
Historic Funderland Amusement Park is now open for its 2024 78th Anniversary season! First opened in 1946, Funderland continues to delight generations of Northern California families. Located on two lovely acres in Sacramento's beautiful 100+ year-old William Land Park, Funderland features ten child-sized amusement rides and attractions (nine of which children can also share and ride with their parents and grandparents!), four fun photo ops (perfect for family group shots!), a FunderTreats concession stand featuring delicious food, amusement park treats, and drinks, and plenty of big, mature shade trees! Funderland offers families a delightful day outside in welcoming and comfortable surroundings, and is also the perfect place to have your next birthday party, fundraiser, group, or corporate event! Parking is always free, and Funderland's one-price Gate Admission gives guests of all ages both entry to the park AND unlimited rides for the entire day!
14
Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center
Open to the public, the Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Visitors can walk through the colorful gardens lined with towering palm trees, sit by the fountains and cascading waterfall, enjoy the beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay Area, and feel the peace of the grounds. While you're there, you can take a guided tour at the Visitors' Center, learn more about you're family's history at the FamilySearch Library, and attend events at the Temple Hill Auditorium. Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enter the temple itself. A coveted location for photographers, the Oakland Temple is one of the best locations to enjoy a sunset over the Bay. At night, the Oakland Temple is brightly lit and can be seen throughout the Bay Area. Devotionals, concerts, and performances are hosted throughout the month in the Temple Hill Auditorium and most events are free.
15
Lake Merritt
Saltwater lake in the middle of the city.
16
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Customize this Trip
OVERVIEW
1
Start:LoDo Massage Studio
Denver, Colorado·
5.0
(99) review
Therapeutic Massage Services! At LoDo Massage Studio, we believe a good massage can be a powerful tool to reshape and restore how your body feels and functions. Our massage therapists are talented, licensed, experts who are passionate about providing transformational therapeutic bodywork. Our studio encourages our LMTs to use their unique experience and skill to customize your massage to your body’s exact needs by using a wide range of modalities. Looking for a place to start? Named for our beloved city, our signature Mile High Massage service is tailored to suit you just right. You could also choose a relaxing Swedish massage, invigorating Sports Massage, or effective Neuromuscular Massage. We also offer add-ons like Aromatherapy, and Hot Towels to create a massage bespoke for your body.
2
Start:St. Pete's Fly Shop
Fort Collins, Colorado·
5.0
(9) review
2008 E Harmony Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80528-3447
3
Start:Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Fort Collins, Colorado·
4.0
(9) review
Urban Air Adventure Park is much more than a trampoline park. If you're looking for the best year-round indoor attractions in the Fort Collins area, Urban Air is the perfect place. With new adventures behind every corner, we are the ultimate indoor play
4
Start:The Farm at Lee Martinez Park
Fort Collins, Colorado·
4.5
(93) review
600 N Sherwood St, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2061
5
Start:Red Butte Garden
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(925) review
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, is the state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive Natural Area. All just minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is renowned for plant collections, themed gardens, over 560,000 springtime blooms, gorgeous private rental spaces, a world-class summer concert series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs.
6
Start:Sugar House Park
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(99) review
Once the site of Utah Territorial Prison, this park is a lot more pleasant today, with a gently rolling landscape great for running.
7
Start:Great Salt Lake
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.0
(987) review
This 20,000 square mile lake, the second saltiest in the world, is also a wildlife refuge attracting millions of migratory birds every year to the ten islands within it.
8
Start:Rosewood Lakes Golf Course
Reno, Nevada·
3.0
(9) review
Championship golf surrounded by the natural beauty of the Nevada desert: players wind through sixty acres of protected wetlands that are home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfowl.
9
Start:Ryan's Saloon & Broiler
Reno, Nevada·
4.5
(9) review
924 S Wells Ave, Reno, NV 89502-2522
10
Start:Wilbur D. May Center
Reno, Nevada·
4.5
(97) review
MUSEUM/ GIFT SHOP/ ARBORETUM/ EVENT VENUE/ The Wilbur D. May Center is located in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park at 1595 North Sierra, Reno, Nevada. The Wilbur D. May Museum features rotating exhibits for the whole family, smaller art shows, the permanent collection of Wilbur May's travels around the globe, an adjoining botanical garden, and plays home to many events throughout the year such as weddings, executive fundraisers, and educational seminars.
11
Start:Enchambered: Sacramento Escape Room
Sacramento, California·
5.0
(98) review
Real Escape games let you live the game. We have real-life escape games where teams of 3-12 people are locked into a custom built, challenging and entertaining environments to solve the many mysteries, puzzles and challenges. You need to unlock the final clues to open the door and escape the room. Escape Rooms are fun for all ages.
12
Start:Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
Sacramento, California·
4.0
(98) review
1200 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95814-3247
13
Start:Funderland Amusement Park
Sacramento, California·
4.0
(99) review
Historic Funderland Amusement Park is now open for its 2024 78th Anniversary season! First opened in 1946, Funderland continues to delight generations of Northern California families. Located on two lovely acres in Sacramento's beautiful 100+ year-old William Land Park, Funderland features ten child-sized amusement rides and attractions (nine of which children can also share and ride with their parents and grandparents!), four fun photo ops (perfect for family group shots!), a FunderTreats concession stand featuring delicious food, amusement park treats, and drinks, and plenty of big, mature shade trees! Funderland offers families a delightful day outside in welcoming and comfortable surroundings, and is also the perfect place to have your next birthday party, fundraiser, group, or corporate event! Parking is always free, and Funderland's one-price Gate Admission gives guests of all ages both entry to the park AND unlimited rides for the entire day!
14
Start:Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center
Oakland, California·
5.0
(940) review
Open to the public, the Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Visitors can walk through the colorful gardens lined with towering palm trees, sit by the fountains and cascading waterfall, enjoy the beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay Area, and feel the peace of the grounds. While you're there, you can take a guided tour at the Visitors' Center, learn more about you're family's history at the FamilySearch Library, and attend events at the Temple Hill Auditorium. Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enter the temple itself. A coveted location for photographers, the Oakland Temple is one of the best locations to enjoy a sunset over the Bay. At night, the Oakland Temple is brightly lit and can be seen throughout the Bay Area. Devotionals, concerts, and performances are hosted throughout the month in the Temple Hill Auditorium and most events are free.
15
Start:Lake Merritt
Oakland, California·
4.5
(926) review
Saltwater lake in the middle of the city.
16
Start:St. Patrick Catholic Church
San Francisco, California·
4.0
(98) review
756 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103-3113
CHECKLIST
GPS device or app
Download Offline Map
Car charger and portable battery
Water bottles and snacks
Travel pillow and blanket
Sunglasses and sunscreen
First-aid kit
Trash bags
Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Driver’s license and vehicle registration
Cash and cards
Camera or smartphone
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the driving distance between Denver and Santa Cruz?
The distance is 1,314 miles
What's the travel time between Denver and Santa Cruz?
The driving time can vary depending on traffic conditions, but it is typically 22h 48m mins in normal traffic
What are some of the best cities to visit between Denver and Santa Cruz?
Some popular stops includeSan Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Reno, Denver, Fort Collins, Salt Lake City
Are there any cool sights or attractions I shouldn't miss on my drive to Santa Cruz?
There are plenty! Here are some stops you shouldn’t miss on your way to Santa Cruz
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Lake Merritt
Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center
Funderland Amusement Park
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
Enchambered: Sacramento Escape Room
Rosewood Lakes Golf Course
Ryan's Saloon & Broiler
Wilbur D. May Center
LoDo Massage Studio
St. Pete's Fly Shop
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
The Farm at Lee Martinez Park
Sugar House Park
Great Salt Lake
Red Butte Garden
What’s the weather like in Santa Cruz?
The weather in Santa Cruz is generally mild year-round, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. See the links below for more information
Weather in Santa Cruz in January
Weather in Santa Cruz in February
Weather in Santa Cruz in March
Weather in Santa Cruz in April
Weather in Santa Cruz in May
Weather in Santa Cruz in June
Weather in Santa Cruz in July
Weather in Santa Cruz in August
Weather in Santa Cruz in September
Weather in Santa Cruz in October
Weather in Santa Cruz in November
Weather in Santa Cruz in December
Interested in a detailed plan for your time in Santa Cruz?
Plan your dream Santa Cruz trip with our daily itineraries featuring must-see attractions! See them here!
A 1-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
A 2-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
A 3-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
A 4-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
A 5-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
A 6-day itinerary in Santa Cruz
Where else can I travel to if I'm starting my trip in Denver?
We have a lot of great trip options for Denver! See the links below for all the itineraries we created for you