Best road-trip restaurants in Colorado

$$ · Sundance

Historic wraparound-porch dining hall at the foot of the Flatirons. (Chautauqua)

$$$ · Sundance

Colorado comfort food in a historic 1800s miner's cabin with a great brunch. (Pearl Street)

$$ · Montana & San Juan Skyway

Craft distillery and tasting room in downtown pouring locally made whiskeys and spirits with a convivial dog-friendly patio.

$$ · Pikes Peak Highway

A creekside Pikes Peak base meal that keeps the summit-drive day from becoming pure snack food.

$$ · Mesa Verde National Park

Farm-to-table comfort food sourced from Montezuma County growers since 2009, in the middle of downtown Cortez. The dependable sit-down dinner 15 minutes from the Mesa Verde entrance.

$$$ · Rocky Mountain & Colorado Rockies

Crested Butte institution in an 1882 building serving family-style skillet-fried chicken dinners with all the classic fixings.

$$ · San Juan Skyway

A downtown Durango launch meal for both the Million Dollar Highway and the San Juan Skyway.

$$ · Trail Ridge Road

A downtown Estes Park patio stop for the east side of Trail Ridge Road, easy to pair with an early or late park crossing.

$$ · Trail Ridge Road

A rustic Estes Park tavern dinner that feels right after the alpine sweep of Trail Ridge Road.

$$ · Rocky Mountain National Park

A 1937 Estes Park log tavern near the Rocky Mountain entrance, pairing hand-crafted comfort food, Colorado ingredients, local beer, and live music.

$$$ · Trail Ridge Road

A view-forward lodge meal at the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

$$$ · Rocky Mountain & Colorado Rockies

Lakeside restaurant open since 1915 on the north inlet with blue-water views, prime steaks, elevated burgers and salmon.

$$ · Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

An Idaho Springs cider-and-comfort-food stop that adds another Mount Blue Sky base-town option beyond pizza and brewpubs.

$$ · Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

A downtown Idaho Springs brewpub for the Mount Blue Sky base-town meal.

$$ · Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

An Idaho Springs sandwich stop for Mount Blue Sky travelers who want quick, local fuel before the climb.

$$ · Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

A stronger beer-and-burger option at the I-70 gateway to Mount Blue Sky.

$$ · Pikes Peak Highway

An easy brewery meal after the Pikes Peak descent, close enough to keep the summit-drive day simple.

$$ · Montana & San Juan Skyway

Themed cafe and bar celebrating the John Wayne film shot nearby, serving burgers and Western comfort food to Skyway travelers.

$$ · Million Dollar Highway

A Silverton saloon meal in the mining-town middle of US-550, handy when the pass timing pushes lunch into the high country.