Must see between Tucson and Denver?

May 24, 2010 3:50 PM

What are some interesting places roughly midway/equidistant between Tucson and Denver?

Such as parks or towns where a few old friends could hang-out or camp-out for two-three days? I'd been thinking of Marfa, TX, but that's as far from Denver (14hrs) as Tucson..

posted by unmake to travel & transportation (7 answers total)

Two places that come to mind immediately are Mesa Verde National Park and Moab, Utah, with arches and canyonlands in the immediate vicinity.
posted by pickypicky at 4:07 PM on May 24, 2010

Albuquerque is about equidistant, as is Flagstaff, and there are lots of parks, campgrounds and wilderness areas between the two. Other centrally-located towns that are somewhat comparable to Marfa would include Taos, Santa Fe and Las Vegas, NM.

There are many very interesting natl. parks in the four-corners area of AZ, NM, CO and UT, all of which would be about the same drive from Tuscon and Denver -- Lake Powell, Canyon de Chelly, Mesa Verde, etc.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:12 PM on May 24, 2010

Isn't that about where that ski resort was?

Anyway, I'd vote for Mesa Verde. Definitely worth a trip.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:50 PM on May 24, 2010

Flagstaff doesn't look halfway to me.

I would do either Telluride, Delores, Cortez, Durango area (SW Colorado) or Santa Fe area or Arches/Canyonlands/Moab area (and there are tons of cool areas outside of Arches/Canyonlands that won't be as swamped).

If you are doing this in the summer I'd stick with some elevation and mountains so the SW CO or Santa Fe options.

I lived in Durango so I'd encourage that option - there is limitless awesomeness around there.
Memail me if you want some specifics.
posted by fieldtrip at 8:03 PM on May 24, 2010

Have you seen Black Canyon National Park? It's an amazing sight. It's a little bit away from your half-way point, though.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:21 PM on May 24, 2010

I live in Flagstaff and I love it, but it's about 4 hours from Tucson and about 12 from Denver, so seconding Durango, Mesa Verde, and Santa Fe/Albuquerque.
posted by joshuaconner at 11:26 PM on May 24, 2010

Monument Valley. Not on a straight line, but roughly equidistant.
posted by LonnieK at 10:48 AM on May 25, 2010