Dallas to Buena Vista Colorado Drive: A Beautiful Summer Road Trip.
Last summer, our drive from Dallas to Buena Vista Colorado became a beautiful summer road trip.
It was our first time driving to Buena Vista from Dallas, and we weren’t expecting to see much. We planned to stop whenever we saw something interesting along the way.
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First, we dropped our son and his friend at a band camp at West Texas A&M in Canyon, near Amarillo. Then we drove to Raton, New Mexico, and spent a night there.
Amarillo is the last big city in West Texas on your way to New Mexico or Colorado. We have driven through it many times. So, we didn’t stop between Dallas and Amarillo or spend time there.
If this is your first time visiting Colorado through Amarillo, you may want to spend a night there or visit Amarillo at a special time.
Driving from Dallas to Buena Vista Colorado.
Dallas to Raton, New Mexico. (Elevation 6,680 feet.)
As mentioned above, we spent a night in Raton, New Mexico. When we arrived, summer rain was pouring, so we didn’t drive around town.
We’ve been to Raton before. You may want to visit the Capulin Volcano National Monument, located before town. Sugarite Canyon State Park is a beautiful park outside of the city. If you like visiting haunted old cemeteries, go to Dawson Cemetery. It’s about 45 minutes drive west of town.
From Raton to Buena Vista is around 3 hr 15 min drive.
A brief look on Google Maps told me we had driven most of the driving direction when we left Crested Butte, Colorado, for Texas several years ago.
Then I saw we would drive part of Colorado Scenic Byway Highway of Legends. I’ve never heard about this scenic byway before. Of course, I had to curate our itinerary around Highway of Legends.
The drive to Buena Vista would be longer, plus stops along the way, but that’s ok.
We took Google’s driving suggestion on the way home. It’s faster for our travel time to Canyon, Texas, to pick up our son and his friend.
Here’s our driving direction to Buena Vista, Colorado.
Raton, New Mexico, to Trinidad, Colorado. (Elevation 6,010 feet.)
From Raton to Trinidad is about 21 miles through I-25 N. We left around 8.45 a.m.
Our first stop was the Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign. Then, we continued driving to downtown Trinidad.
Trinidad was still sleepy when we arrived there about thirty minutes later. There weren’t too many people and cars past the main street. Stores and museums were still closed.
I took my dog for a quick walk in the city, strolling from the Trinidad History Museum to the Coal Miners Memorial & Museum.
It’s a beautiful downtown full of Victorian architecture.
Trinidad to La Veta. Highway of Legends Scenic Byway.
Then, we continued our trip to CO-12 W, driving through the Highway of Legends, a National Scenic Byway.
It is called Highway of Legends because of the area’s rich history, the spiritual myths of Native Americans, and the history of their clashes with Spanish explorers.
The first stop was Cokedale, a tiny former coal mining camp about 8 miles (15 minutes drive) west of Trinidad. The elevation is 6,332 feet.
The town is designated on the National Register of Historic Places as the Cokedale Historic District. You will see the town sign on the right side of the road.
There’s a Cokedale Mining Museum in town, but it was closed during our visit.
But, the main attraction in town is the coke ovens that look like the Roman Empire’s arch.
It is visible right off Highway 12, on your left-hand side. You can park by the highway to take a quick picture.
Stonewall Gap, at 7,830 feet, was the next stop. It is about 24.5 miles (30 minutes driving) from Cokedale.
My heart started to skip when I saw interesting rock formations in the distance.
It’s the Dakota Stonewall Formation, and a mini mountain town, Stonewall Gap or Stonewall, was established there.
There’s a Stonewall Lodge & RV Park situated at the base of the Dakota Wall. My husband and I talked about vacationing there in the future. There is a Stonewall Shopping Bag, more than your general store.
Our next stop was Cuchara Village, about 22.5 miles or 35 min driving from Stonewall Gap.
From Stonewall Gap to Cuchara Village, the drive started to look beautiful. I could only imagine how it looked in the fall, with aspen trees growing on both sides of the highway.
We passed Monument Lake, North Lake State Wildlife Area, and Cucharas Pass.
The highway rises to Cucharas Pass, cutting through San Isabel National Forest. It’s so beautiful.
Don’t forget to stop at Cucharas Pass, elevation 9,995 feet.
Cuchara Village (Elevation 8,650 feet.)
The village is tucked away on the Highway of Legends. It is around 6 miles from the Cucharas Pass.
We were busy talking and almost missed the village. I saw colorful mailboxes and thought the village people were creative. Hehe.
I liked the village atmosphere when we got out of the car. The people seemed down to earth, and the dog was welcome everywhere.
Our dog Snoopy got treats from the must-stop Dakota Dukes gift shop. The Cuchara Country Store let him in when we walked through the store. Then, we had lunch at the Dog Bar & Grill, sitting on the patio under pine trees.
It’s hard to leave Cuchara Village. I told my husband that I would like to go back here.
In the end, we didn’t stop at La Veta. We will stop there when we do the whole Highway of Legends.
La Veta to Buena Vista (Elevation 7,960 feet.)
From La Veta, we took US-160 W to Alamosa. It’s about an hour’s drive.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is in this part of Colorado. We didn’t stop because we’d been there three times already.
Then we turned right onto CO-17 N for about 45 min. You’ll see The Great Sand Dunes in the distance to your right.
We continued driving on US Hwy 285-N to Buena Vista for about 50 min.
You can see mountain ranges on both sides of the road and in front of you. There were some snowcapped mountains here and there.
After you leave Poncha Springs, watch for the Collegiate Peaks on the left-hand side. There will be road signs pointed to the peaks.
Arrive at your accommodation in Buena Vista.
Buena Vista to Dallas, Texas, Drive.
On the way home to Dallas, Texas, we spent a night in Canyon. Our son had a concert at the end of his band camp.
From Buena Vista to Canyon, Texas, is about 413 miles or 7 hours drive. We drove through US Hwy 285 S and US-50 E to Co Rd 1A in Fremont County.
When we turned to Co Rd 1A, we thought GPS took us in the wrong direction. But it was a beautiful drive, and it was the right direction.
We saw a Farmer’s Market at Westcliffe and made a stop. Their produce and bread were cheaper than farmer’s markets in Texas.
Then, we got on I-25 S in Huefarno County from CO-69 S. The I-25 between Walsenburg and Trinidad is part of the Highway of Legends.
The road from Trinidad to Amarillo is the same as when you go to Trinidad from Amarillo/Raton.
Canyon is the location of Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second largest canyon in the United States. We’ve been there many times, but it’s always good to be back.
We stayed at The Silos at Canyon RV Park and enjoyed our stay there.
After watching the concert, we went straight home.
Driving nonstop from Dallas to Buena Vista, Colorado.
If you prefer, you can drive nonstop to Buena Vista, Colorado, from Dallas. It will take you around 12 hr 30 min per Google map.
From Dallas, you will drive on US-287 N to Amarillo. Then, turn to US-385 N/US-87 N to Raton in New Mexico.
At Raton, you will take I-25 N to Walsenburg, Colorado, before turning to CO-69 N and driving to Freemont County (Coaldale.)
Take US-50 W in Freemont County to Salida. From Salida, take CO-291 N and turn onto US Hwy 285 N to Buena Vista.
Dallas to Buena Vista Colorado Distance.
It is 762 miles between Dallas, Texas, and Buena Vista, Colorado. The driving time is around 12 hr 30 min, and the destination is in a different time zone.
Is Buena Vista, Colorado Worth Visiting?
Yes! I suggest you take this driving direction on your road trip from Dallas to Buena Vista, Colorado.
Here are more guides on road trips from Texas to Colorado and scenic byways in Colorado:
– 10 Adventurous Day From Dallas to Colorado Road Trip
– Colorado One Week Unplanned Trip: What to Do? Where to Go?
– Epic Road Trip to Colorado in November
– Driving the Silver Thread – Colorado Scenic Byway
– Driving the Million Dollar Highway in Southwest Colorado
The summer road trip from Dallas to Buena Vista looks absolutely exciting with so many attractions to offer. The total duration of 12 hrs 30 minutes is commutable with alternate routes as well. Besides, the Colorado Highway of Legends has so many captivating spots to view like the Cuchara pass at the elevation of 8650 ft., the beautiful Victorian architecture of Trinidad, the Roman arches of Cokedale ovens, the snow capped peaks of Colorado and the Stonewall gap.
Hi Umiko, I really enjoyed reading about your summer road trip from Dallas to Buena Vista, Colorado! Your detailed account of the Highway of Legends and all the charming stops along the way made me feel like I was on the journey with you. I especially loved your descriptions of Cuchara Village and the scenic beauty at Cucharas Pass. Your storytelling inspires me to explore this route myself someday. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful and vivid travel experience!
I love road trips and same as you, I usually drive without a clear plan and stop a lot along the way, every time I see something interesting. The Highway of Legends sounds pretty amazing! And I love that your trailer had a Snoopy on it, which I believe it’s your dog’s name as well.
Yes! Snoopy is our dog’s name. 🙂
Your road trip from Dallas to Buena Vista Colorado sounds like a great summer trip. I love when we have time to just stop on road trips when we find something interesting. The scenery was certainly lovely along this route. And great to find some much history along the Highway of Legends. We would definitely plan enough time to stop at the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
I love roadtrips like this! No strict itinerary but just the flexibility to see and do what feels like the moment. I enjoyed reading your post and you inspire us travel with our own little furball too. Sending our love to Snoopy.
I really loved reading about your trip from Buena Vista to Colorado. The nature stops you made along the way looked so beautiful—they made me feel like I was right there with you. I’d love to visit the coal mining museum and sites too someday!
Yes, the best thing about a road trip is that you do not have to make plans before and do the freewheeling and stop where you felt like. I have not traveled to these parts of USA. That image of Cokedale is interesting – where the coke ovens look like Roman Columns! Aspen trees lined road, wildflowers, lakes and Cucharas Pass sound like awesome stops. This looks like a beautiful route with varied landscapes.
I hope you will make it here soon. 🙂
I like how you decided to just go without any plans and stop whenever you find something interesting. Colorado Scenic Byway Highway of Legends? First of all, the name sounds very interesting. Good to know that they place lived upto it. It would be frustrating if I went on this road and if it wasn’t half as fancy as it sounds! Haha. I should read about Trinidad’s coal mining history. The museum would be interesting. Cuchara village sounds so intersting, esp. for dog owners. It’s the absolutely perfect way to take a break when your kiddo is in a camp!
This looks like it would be such a beautiful road trip to take in the summertime! The scenery is incredible and the final destination is absolutely breath-taking. One day, I would love to be able to do this myself.
Sounds like an incredible summer road trip! I love how you took the scenic route and explored hidden gems along the way. The Highway of Legends sounds like a fantastic surprise—Colorado’s scenic byways never disappoint! Also, stopping in Trinidad and exploring its Victorian architecture must have been a great experience. This makes me want to plan a road trip through this area myself!