New York to the Rocky Mountains: The Ultimate Weeklong Escape from NYC

The Summer time is the best time of the year to plan an extended escape from city life. Here at Road Trip NY, our favorite vacation involves hitting the pavement in your preferred automobile and letting the road take you on a good old-fashioned American road trip adventure. In previous posts on the blog, I have highlighted shorter day-trips, suggested stops for food and hiking and some of my favorite things to remember when planning your trip.

I hope for this post to be the most detailed itinerary yet, with suggestions for a one-way road trip from New York City to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the tremendous ripple of earth that separates the East and the sprawling Great Plains from the vast expanse of the West. The following post features suggestions for such a trip, including cities and towns to stop in, places to eat, things to do and places to stay, usually unique AirBnb's along the way.

Pack your bags, your snacks and get your playlists ready for Road Trip NY's biggest trip yet!

New York to the Rocky Mountains: The Ultimate Escape from NYC

Day One: New York, NY to Pittsburgh, PA

1. Driving across the country can be exhausting, so before you begin prepare yourself for long periods of time on the road. In one of my opening posts, I cover some of the important things to consider and remember when you embark on a long term road trip. While the first day of travel may be familiar to those from the northeast, you're sure to find some places to explore between home and your first stop. 
2. What better way to kick off your great American road trip adventure than a stop at an amusement park. Hershey Park is a great half way stop to rest your legs, let some energy out and stock up on chocolate for the road. Plus the sweet smell will linger in your nose all day!
3. Once you get to Pittsburgh theres a good chance you'll be starving after your long drive, so head over to Primanti Bros for a taste of an authentic Pittsburgh style sandwich. Served between two fresh slices of Italian bread each sandwich features a pile of coleslaw, a stack of french fries, tomatoes, provolone and a choice of meat. What better way to cap off your first day?

Suggested Lodging: Try this carriage house on the north side of town.

Day Two: Pittsburgh, PA to Cincinatti, OH

1. Split up your day of driving by stopping halfway from Cincinatti, your destination for the day, in Columbus, where you'll find food and shops to enjoy. One of the coolest spots in the city is the German Village Historic District. In German Village, stop at The Book Loft, a home turned bookstore that is home to thousands and thousands of books, as well as literary themed swag like t-shirts and other knick knacks. 
2. Before you leave German Village, head to Katzinger's for lunch. You won't feel far from NYC here, as they're known for their corned beef sandwiches, bagels and pickles. Be sure to wash it down with a black cherry soda and get back to your ride for the rest of your trip to Cincinatti.
3. As you roll into Cincinatti, stop by Mount Echo Park to stretch your legs on one of many hiking trails, or to just sit back and enjoy the view. Mt. Echo Park offers some of the most incredible views of Downtown Cincinatti, Northern Kentucky and the Ohio River that the city has to offer.

view from Mount Echo Park

Suggested Lodging: Try this stunning loft condo with a view of the historic Music Hall. 

Day Three: Cincinatti, OH to St. Louis, MO

1. Leave yourself plenty of time for your drive to St. Louis as you'll want to stop first in Louisville for an authentic taste of some Kentucky bourbon. While there are a number of great distilleries in the area, I suggest a stop at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company. With roots back to 1889, Kentucky Peerless offers tours that detail the rich history of making bourbon in the state, along with a light sampling that will give you a taste of what the city has to offer. 
2. As you head towards St. Louis, the first thing that you'll be able to spot on the skyline is the famous Gateway Arch. While it is time consuming and often difficult to get on a tour that goes all the way to the top, it isn't necessary to appreciate the immense structure. Take a walk underneath the Arch along the Missouri River for some fantastic photos. 
3. As your day wraps up in St. Louis, get ready to finish it off with some flavor. One of my favorite things to do food-wise throughout the midwest is to sample the different styles of barbecue. Try Pappy's for a typical homestyle plate of rich and delicious St. Louis BBQ. Try their famous ribs and make sure to sample the slew of sauces!

view of the Gateway Arch from the park underneath

Suggested Lodging: Try this super affordable artist retreat in Benton Park. 

Day Four: St. Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO

1. Head out of St. Louis towards Kansas City as you get ready to enjoy a day with a little less driving. Your first stop of the day will be at the Weldon Spring Conservation Area, a nature preserve with an assortment of trails and a boat launch that provides great views of the nearby Missouri River. Have your morning coffee, go for a run or just take a walk along the river. The park is a great place to reflect as you move through your road trip journey. 
2. As you'll arrive in Kansas City earlier than previous cities, grab some lunch before you prepare for your final stop of the day. One of the most legendary sandwiches in Kansas City is from Arthur Bryant's BBQ. It isn't just the exceptional depth of rich smoky flavor that makes Arthur Bryant's special, their sandwiches are larger than the average human head. Eat as much as you can and then make sure to take a box to preserve the rest of your eventual late night snack.
3. As a relaxing, laid back way to end the day, score some Kansas City Royals tickets and catch one of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball at Kaufmann Stadium, one of baseballs premier venues. Kick back with a beer and ballpark hot dog as you take in some baseball that isn't in the Bronx. (or Queens)

overlooking the Missouri River from Weldon Spring

Suggested Lodging: Try the Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park as you may want the amenities of a hotel before your next night where you'll be camping out. 

Day Five: Kansas City, MO to Great Bend, KS

1. Take in the vastness of the Great Plains by taking state route 56 out of Kansas City towards Great Bend. Be sure to stop in Midway for a picture of their sign that claims to be equal distance from San Francisco as it is from New York City: approximately 2,200 miles. There are some funny towns out there including Ottowa and Russia, yes, Russia, KS, be sure to get out and have a look around and you'll be sure to feel quite far from home. 
2. Outside of Great Bend, KS is the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, the largest wetland and waterfowl refuge in the Great Plains. There is a primitive camping area on the unnamed road that leads to Cheyenne Bottoms and I highly suggest spending the night there. It is free, quiet, safe and as long as you have basic camping gear, it is just about the best place to stay out there in the middle of nowhere. 
3. Head into Great Bend and stop by Dillon's Grocery Store for ingredients to make dinner around the campfire. Don't forget the s'mores! 

camping at Cheyenne Bottoms

Suggested Lodging: Try the camping area at Cheyenne Bottoms. 

Day Six: Great Bend, KS to Taos, NM

1. Day six includes the longest drive yet, so unzip your tent at the crack of dawn, break down your campsite and hit the road. The drive is well worth it, as we finally convene with the Rocky Mountains in Taos, NM. Make your way to Dodge City, KS, where you can grab breakfast and prepare for the long ride to Taos.
2. After you fly down the highway and into New Mexico, stop in Red River, one of New Mexico's popular ski towns and your first stop in the Rocky Mountains. Technically, you will find yourself in the Sangre de Cristo range, the southernmost stretch of the Rockies. Red River has a cool downtown styled after the wild west. Stop at the supermarket for some grub to take to your AirBnb for the night, a goji berry farm on the outskirts of Taos. 
3. As the drive took up most of the day, most businesses in Taos will be closing by the time you get there (lots of art galleries) but take a drive through town and up to Taos Pueblo to feel as though you've stepped back in time. Taos Pueblo features adobe buildings that have been standing for over 1,000 years. 

sunrise at the goji farm

Suggested Lodging: Try the writers cabin at this goji farm on the outskirts of Taos. 

Day Seven: Taos, NM to Denver, CO

1. As with many great road trips such as those of the beat generation, this adventure terminates in Denver. But before we finish, there are a couple more sights in store. Leave the farm and head north towards the Colorado border, passing through San Luis, the oldest town in Colorado. Follow the Sangre de Cristos to where they meet the Colorado Rockies, just north of your first stop, the Great Sand Dunes National Park. 
2. Stop at the Great Sand Dunes to take in one of the most interesting natural wonders in the nation. Enjoy the dunes by sand sledding, hiking or dipping in Medano Creek. The park isn't just sand dunes. There are forests, alpine lakes, peaks and much more. Spend as much time as you want to take in the final National Park of your trip, then hit the road towards Denver. 
3. Bop into Denver on the final ride of your weeklong journey. What better way to finish off the trip than by toasting to your adventure and travels at Wynkoop Brewing Company, one of Denver's premier breweries. Located right across from Denver's Union Station, Wynkoop offers a variety of beers as well as a delicious dinner menu. When your beer is finished, so is the trip. 

Great Sand Dunes NP

Suggested Lodging: Try this affordable home near downtown. 

Although we've traveled from New York to Denver with a full itinerary of food to try and sights to see, it is important to stay spontaneous on the road, stopping occasionally to see certain things, trying things you may not otherwise try and so on. While one could follow my own adventure exactly and have a great time, I encourage all road travelers to stay in touch with their own wishes and interests on the road. Sometimes long road trips can be overwhelming, so be sure to spend extra time in any cities that you particularly like, or maybe add a couple of stops or even a detour or two along the way, thats what makes it a real road trip. But remember, the best type of vacation always involves hitting the road! 

See you on the road!