3 Weeks in 3 States: Denver, Scottsdale, and a Road Trip In Between
- Erin Palek
- Dec 24, 2021
- 5 min read
3 weeks in 3 states! I worked remote in Airbnbs and road-tripped from Denver, through Utah and Arizona, to Scottsdale in October 2021. This post includes my 5-day road trip itinerary, favorite Denver and Scottsdale spots, and some of my favorite photos from the trip overall. :)
I experienced the tragic loss of my best friend Taylor this year. For those that might've read my blog post about my Utah itinerary, she was the one I did that trip with and is also the friend who inspired me to even start documenting my trips in a blog like this.
She always created new adventures for herself, like making the most of her remote job and working from a new city. And that's really what this trip was all about. I wanted to get out of my Cleveland comfort zone for a bit and just go with the flow with whoever I'd meet along the way. And wow, did I meet some really great people :')
How did I do a trip for 3 weeks? Does this girl work? I have a 9-5 job in a marketing role, and my company started a new work from home policy! Long story short, I asked "what if I was remote...just not in Cleveland?" I proposed still working eastern time hours, and I got a thumbs up! So if your job has some flexibility with being remote, you could maybe do a trip like this too!
I knew I wanted to spend the majority of my time working remote in Denver and Scottsdale. In planning out the logistics I thought - why not make a road trip out of it!
Overall, I spent 12 nights in Denver, 5 days road tripping through Utah and Arizona, and then 7 nights in Scottsdale. My Road Trip Itinerary and driving route is mapped out below, including links to Airbnbs.
Road Trip Itinerary Highlights:
Colorado (Denver)
Dillon
HWY 128 Scenic Byway
Moab
Arches National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park
Wilson Arch
Glamping Tents in Monticello
Forest Gump Point
Monument Valley
Sedona
Devil's Bridge Hike in Sedona
Arizona (Scottsdale)
Suggestions for adding into this route: Four Corners National Monument and Grand Canyon would be great options for an extended trip. They were just too out of the way for our time constraint.
Driving Route: Total drive time was about 15 hours. Not bad when you break it up among 4-5 days! From lush pine trees to cacti and rolling tumbleweeds, the different terrains we experienced was incredible. We drove through snowcapped mountains, into the valley of a canyon, alongside a scenic river, out in the wide open desert...
Getting Around: While my longer stays were spent in Denver and Scottsdale, I relied on public transportation and Ubers, but I also got so lucky with making some really great friends who were willing to give me rides :)
I did a rental car for the road trip for 7 full days. I got a Toyota Corolla from Budget.com and the Corolla was totalllly fine for this trip since this route is all established highways.
Weather: I did this trip from October 22 - November 14. All around, the weather was perfect for each area. In Denver, it was chilly enough to dress in cute layers, but there was no snow on the ground yet. In Utah, the highs were in the lower 60's so it was perfect for hiking during the day. In Arizona, it was a very pleasant heat in the 80's!
Download My Road Trip Itinerary! *Includes Airbnb Links*
OR
Denver Favorites:
Denver Union Station - A must-see in Downtown Denver of course. People also hang out and drink here til 1 am?! Definitely a vibe for a pregame or postgame.
Denver Central Market - In the Five Points / RiNo District, there's a bar inside, a bunch of food options, desserts, to-go items
Zuni Brewing Company - In the Highland area, chill patio, cute dogs
The Refinery - A bar on Blake Street (downtown). You must go here and ask for the flower shot that numbs your mouth. It's so silly and weird, thank me later.
Carbon Cafe & Bar - In the Highland area, cafe and coffee shop with a cool vibe inside. Went here for brunch and then walked around Highland after!
Scout Dry Goods / N Broadway - Awesome store for some thrift shopping, just south of downtown Denver. It's on N Broadway, which also has a bunch of other shops and restaurants along it for spending an afternoon into the evening.
RiNo District - Our Mutual Friend Brewery, Ratio Beerworks, Finn's Manor, Odell Brewing Co, Mister Oso
Highland Area - Really liked Recess Beer Garden, Avanti, Happy Camper, all pretty similar vibes for going out for drinks and meeting people!
Short Drives:
Washington Park & Sloan Lake - Visited both of these parks just outside of Denver with small inland lakes and trails. Wash Park feels more neighborhoody as it's surrounded by old charm homes.
Visit Golden - Quaint little mountain town that'll give you more of the out-west feel that downtown Denver won't. It's a nice stroll of local shops and restaurants, and there's a short walking trail along the river.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park - I've previously hiked The Loch via Glacier Gorge Trail that I will always recommend. On this trip, I wanted to hike the Emerald Lake Trail, but the trailhead was way too busy and overflowing because we arrived mid-afternoon. We ended up hiking the Cub Lake Trail, and it was still a decent hike!
Scottsdale Favorites:
Nightclubs - There were sooo many options in Scottsdale it was hard to decide. We went to Maya Dayclub, Casa Amigo, and Bevvy, which were all within walking distance of each other in the nightclubby area.
Old Town Farmers Market - We just happened to stumble upon this and it was so cute! It's every Saturday through May from 8 am - 1 pm. Fun to walk around and shop for local handmade goodies!
Hula's Modern Tiki - Hawaiian vibe restaurant right in Old Town with a nice atmosphere and fun drinks!
Diego Pops - Fun Mexican restaurant with trendy flare and a really awesome happy hour from 3 - 6pm.
Sip Coffee & Beer House - Vibey cafe near Old Town with breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, lunch foods, and also beer! Lots of people were working remote here during the day.
Wine Girl - Super cute and trendy little wine bar in Old Town Scottsdale, perfect for a girls trip.
Rusty Spur Saloon - Well we tried to go here, but the line was out the door! Popular western-feel pub with live music.
Welcome Diner - Eclectic little diner in Phoenix, close to the airport so it's a good last-day-food-stop before the airport.
Short Drives:
Hike Camelback Mountain - The most famous hike in Phoenix is Camelback Mountain! It's so worth the climb. I'd recommend going in the late afternoon, just before sunset! We ended our hike around 4:30 and it was the perfect golden hour. The hike took us a solid 2.5 hours.
Last Chance Bargain Shoes & Apparel - If you're looking for some thrifting, look no further than Last Chance! This place has a lot of nice brands reeeally discounted, but be prepared to dig in there for a while.
Visit Tempe - Just 15 minutes south of Scottsdale, we grabbed food at Culinary Dropout, which is a super cool spot, and then we walked over to the Tempe Beach Park. We didn't have time, but they have swan paddle boats and kayaks for rent on the river!
Desert Botanical Garden - Nice for an afternoon stroll through the gardens!
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