Driving from Salt Lake City to Denver can be done in a long interstate day, but that is not the trip to take if you want the drive itself to matter. The more rewarding option is a three-day route that strings together a series of scenic byways and backways across Utah and Colorado, from the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway and the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway to the Colorado River Headwaters Byway and the Lariat Loop west of Denver. This route is longer than the direct interstate option, but it delivers far more variety: alpine viewpoints, red-rock geology, dinosaur country, mountain lakes, and foothill history.
For travelers who care more about scenery than speed, this is the version worth taking. The downloadable Southern Afro route guide and map lays out the original three-day structure at about 944 miles (1,519 km) and roughly 18 hours 34 minutes of driving, with overnight stops in Vernal and Granby.
Why this is the best scenic route
This route works because it avoids a single long, generic haul and instead builds the drive around roads that are scenic destinations in their own right. In Utah, you get mountain forest, overlooks, red rock, geology pullouts, and dinosaur-country detours. In Colorado, the drive shifts into river valleys, ranchland, canyon views, and finally the historic foothills west of Denver. It is not the fastest route, but it is the more memorable one.
Route at a glance
| Day | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Salt Lake City to Vernal via Nebo Loop and Flaming Gorge country | 408 miles (657 km) |
| Day 2 | Vernal to Granby via Jones Hole, Dinosaur country, and the Colorado River Headwaters | 411 miles (661 km) |
| Day 3 | Granby to Denver via the Lariat Loop | 129 miles (208 km) |
Total route distance: about 944 miles (1,519 km).
Who this road trip is for
This route is best for travelers who want a proper road trip, not just a transfer day between two cities. It suits anyone willing to trade speed for scenery, stop for overlooks and short walks, and spread the journey over three days. It is especially strong from late spring through fall, when the mountain byways are more reliably open and the stops are easier to enjoy. The big exception is the Nebo Loop, which is a seasonal road and closes to automobiles in winter.
Day 1: Salt Lake City to Vernal via Nebo Loop and Flaming Gorge country
Day 1 distance: about 408 miles (657 km)
Overnight: Vernal, Utah
1) Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway
The first scenic section is the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway, a winding mountain drive between Payson and Nephi. The byway itself is about 35 miles (56 km), while the original route guide budgets around 60 miles (97 km) including the approach from Salt Lake City. It is one of the strongest opening segments on this trip because it immediately swaps freeway monotony for mountain scenery, overlooks, forest, and the dramatic backdrop of 11,877-foot Mount Nebo. Highlights named by the U.S. Forest Service include Devil’s Kitchen, Walker Flat, Payson Lakes, and access to the Mount Nebo Wilderness.
This is also the first place where season matters. The Forest Service notes that parts of the Nebo Loop are a seasonal road and close to automobiles in winter, so do not build this itinerary around late-fall or winter travel without checking conditions first.
2) Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway
From there, continue toward the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway, one of the best scenic drives in northeastern Utah. The original guide budgets about 188 miles (303 km) for this section of the journey, while the official byway source suggests allowing about two hours for the core byway experience. From Vernal, the drive climbs into higher country and opens up views of the Uinta Mountains, Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and famous lookouts such as Red Canyon Overlook.
This is one of the route’s most complete scenic segments because it offers more than just windshield views. You can stop at interpretive pullouts, visit the Flaming Gorge Dam area, and slow the day down enough to make the drive feel like travel rather than transit.
3) Red Cloud Loop Scenic Backway
Before ending the day in Vernal, add the Red Cloud Loop Scenic Backway. The original route guide lists this at about 43 miles (69 km), though the day-by-day directions break out about 35 miles (56 km) of scenic segment. What matters more than the exact count is the character of the road: this is the rougher, quieter piece of the day, with sandstone canyons, meadows, mixed conifer and aspen forest, and distant views toward the High Uintas.
The practical warning here is important: the U.S. Forest Service says the majority of the backway is over unpaved roads. That makes it a worthwhile scenic detour in dry conditions, but not one to describe as a casual add-on in bad weather.
Where to stay on Day 1
Vernal is the obvious and sensible overnight stop. It keeps you positioned for the Dinosaur-area sections on Day 2 and gives you access to food, lodging, and services before the route heads deeper into northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado. Our attached PDF itinerary also uses Vernal as the Day 1 stop.
Day 2: Vernal to Granby via Jones Hole, Dinosaur country, and the Colorado River Headwaters
Day 2 distance: about 411 miles (661 km)
Overnight: Granby, Colorado
4) Jones Hole Scenic Backway
East of Vernal, the Jones Hole Scenic Backway makes a strong short detour. The original guide gives it 17 miles (27 km), and the official local byway description says it begins about four miles east of Vernal and climbs 2,600 feet to Diamond Mountain Plateau before dropping into a narrow canyon near the Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery.
This segment earns its place because it adds texture that the original post barely explained: open sagebrush, meadow country, aspen and pine, elk and mule deer habitat, and a more rugged canyon feel than the broader mountain-byway sections. If you have time to get out of the car, the nearby Jones Hole Trail in Dinosaur National Monument leads along the creek toward petroglyphs and pictographs at Deluge Shelter about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the fish hatchery.
5) Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway
Next comes the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, one of the clearest thematic anchors on the trip. The original article treated it as a quick 24-mile (39 km) segment, but the official Colorado byway page makes clear that the full byway is much larger: 134 miles (216 km) in Colorado and 486 miles (782 km) in total across Colorado and Utah, with enough fossil quarries, museums, monuments, and geological stops to fill two to three days on its own.
That matters because it changes how you should frame this section in the article. Rather than pretending readers are “doing” Dinosaur Diamond in half an hour, call this what it is: a scenic slice through a much larger prehistoric route. The must-mention entity here is Dinosaur National Monument, which sits across the Utah-Colorado border and is the obvious flagship stop if readers want to extend the trip.
6) Colorado River Headwaters Byway
Once in Colorado, the route shifts from dinosaur country into river valley scenery along the Colorado River Headwaters Byway. The original guide budgets this section at 146 miles (235 km). Official Colorado byway guidance highlights one practical note the original post needed to include: the road between Kremmling and State Bridge has a gravel surface and limited visitor services.
That is exactly the kind of information that makes a route guide trustworthy. It tells readers this is not just a pretty line on a map; it is a real drive with planning implications. Scenically, though, it is one of the best sections in Colorado. The byway follows the upper Colorado River corridor through Grand County, with Grand Lake, Granby, ranchland, and canyon country all shaping the drive.
Where to stay on Day 2
Granby is the right overnight stop if you want to break the trip cleanly before the final foothills section into Denver. It is positioned well for the Colorado River Headwaters corridor and leaves the Lariat Loop as an easy Day 3 finish rather than a rushed late-day add-on. The original PDF itinerary also uses Granby as the Day 2 stop.
Day 3: Granby to Denver via the Lariat Loop
Day 3 distance: about 129 miles (208 km)
Finish: Denver, Colorado
7) Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway
The final scenic section is the Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, west of Denver. This is where the drive shifts from open-road scenery to a more layered historic-and-cultural finish. The official byway is 40 miles (64 km) long and takes about two hours, connecting Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen while crossing Lookout Mountain via the historic Lariat Trail.
This is a much better ending than simply dropping into Denver on the interstate. The byway gives you one last scenic loop through foothills, canyon roads, and major Front Range landmarks, with Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, Dinosaur Ridge, and other heritage sites directly tied to the route.
After the Lariat Loop, it is a short final run into Denver. The original route guide budgets the closing city segment at about 14 miles (23 km).
Best stops on this scenic route
If you do not have time to stop everywhere, prioritize these:
- Devil’s Kitchen on the Nebo Loop for red-rock contrast and an easy scenic stop.
- Red Canyon Overlook on the Flaming Gorge section for one of the best views on the Utah side of the trip.
- Jones Hole / Deluge Shelter area if you want a short hike with creek scenery and rock art.
- Dinosaur National Monument if prehistoric landscapes and fossil history are a major reason you are choosing this route.
- Grand Lake on the Colorado side for a classic mountain-lake stop.
- Red Rocks and Lookout Mountain on the Lariat Loop for a strong finish before Denver.
Is this route doable in winter?
Not reliably in its full scenic form. The biggest problem is the Nebo Loop, which is a seasonal road and closes to automobiles in winter. Other sections may remain drivable, but weather, snow, and road conditions can still change the character of the trip fast. If you are traveling from late fall through spring, check Utah and Colorado road conditions before committing to the scenic version of this drive.
Is this route better than the direct interstate drive?
Yes, if your goal is scenery and not efficiency. No, if your goal is getting from Salt Lake City to Denver as quickly as possible. The direct interstate option is shorter and simpler. This route is the better choice for travelers who want the drive to feel like a road trip with real stops, not just a transfer between cities.
Final verdict
If you want the most scenic practical drive from Salt Lake City to Denver, do not treat it as a one-day interstate push. Stretch it into three days, overnight in Vernal and Granby, and build the trip around Utah’s mountain and canyon byways before finishing through Colorado’s river country and foothills. That version turns a functional drive into a memorable western road trip.