What We Packed for a Summer Trip to Denver, CO
Hi, travelers!
In July 2026, we visited Denver, Colorado for the first time! We’d always gone through Denver for a layover flight, but never thought that counted as officially visiting the state. When deciding where to go for a summer vacation, we landed on visiting Colorado due to wanting to see some mountains and avoiding humid, hot weather (we almost went to Louisiana . . . in July . . . could you imagine?!).
Packing for Colorado was a little tricky since we knew it was going to be hot during the day but cool at night. Trying to find that balance can be a little challenging, but we both felt like we packed well! Here’s an overview of what was in our suitcases, plus a list of some things we bought when we arrived that we couldn’t pack.
Lillian’s suitcase
Some tank shirts and t-shirts: I had about two of each since we were only there for a handful of days. Colorado can get warm during the summer, so I wanted to remain as comfortable as possible!
A few pairs of shorts: To go with the shirts! I had a denim pair and a couple of soft cloth shorts.
Running shoes: Many blogs will tell you that if you are in Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ll need hiking boots. I can tell you right now: if you’re doing some of the walking loops we did, like Bear Lake Road or Sprague Lake, running shoes/tennis shoes are perfectly fine! I had a pair of Brooks on and was completely comfortable.
Tevas: I love wearing my Tevas! These are great if you’re traveling through parts of Colorado that require you to walk on trails or dusty roads and you don’t want to wear flip flops but want to keep your feet free from socks and sneakers. Many Tevas are pretty water-resistant too!
Over-the-ankle socks: Wearing socks that won’t slide down your feet are super important, especially when hiking or walking on trails. Also, if trails are dusty, this prevents your ankles from getting dirty.
A long, flowy sundress: It’s always good to have this staple in your wardrobe/suitcase. I’ve literally had this one sundress that I brought on this trip for at least ten years! It’s my go to travel dress because it can roll up easily and fit in luggage, is lightweight, and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
One pair of jeans: Sometimes the mornings or evenings can be chilly! Having a pair of jeans on hand is always a good idea in the mountains.
A crewneck: Same as the jeans; always good to have a crewneck to throw on in case temperatures drop!
A jean jacket: This is always in my suitcase regardless of where I’m going because it’s a staple in my closet, but I loved having it on this trip because it allowed me to cover my arms but still be dressy if going out to dinner (as opposed to a crewneck).
My Turbie towel: This is the first time I’ve packed this, and I don’t know why I haven’t done this on every trip! My hair is long and thick, and it usually takes forever to dry after a shower. I have several of these Turbie towels at home, so I brought one with me this time for when I rinse off at the end of the day. They’re also small so they’re easy to pack!
Sunglasses: An essential for summer traveling. I wore my sunglasses the entire trip.
A small crossbody purse: I brought this specifically for Rocky Mountain National Park. Having a small crossbody that essentially only holds your phone, ID, and credit card is perfect for when you want to have your essentials on you but not lug around your whole purse. I wore this at the national park because I didn’t want to leave my stuff in the car, but didn’t want to have my purse on me while I hiked. This was the perfect middle ground!
Lip balm and hand lotion: Super, super important when traveling out West. The air can get very dry when you’re in Colorado, and within the first few hours of being there, my hands were already chapped! Having lip balm and lotion on hand are crucial.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: I always have to have a book on me when I travel, just in case! This was my pick for this trip because it’s a slim paperback that’s easy to pack, and is all about discovery and a long journey in search of treasure, which felt like the perfect vibe for a few days traversing the mountains.
Ryan’s suitcase
Comfortable footwear: The most important item in my suitcase was comfortable footwear. I knew going into this that we were planning on walking and doing some light hiking, so shoes were at the forefront of my mind when packing. I brought very chunky Nike Air Monarchs which were perfect. They had so much padding and I made sure to break them in before leaving for our trip. My feet were comfy and protected the entire time!
Shorts and T-Shirts: Basically my entire suitcase was full of different variations of the same outfit. I brought khaki shorts in a tan and a blue color. These were my everyday shorts, perfect for exploring Denver, Boulder, and Golden, walking around, and light activity. I also made sure I packed athletic shorts for our day at Rocky Mountain National Park which were breathable and light for walking and hiking.
Sunglasses: Like Lillian, I made sure that sunglasses were in my bag at all times. The sun was shining all day and there were not a lot of clouds, so these were a necessity.
Carhartt Cross Body Snap Bag: This bag is genuinely a lifesaver. My family and I all purchased these bags for our trip to Ireland and I will be bringing it on every trip I take from now on. It is lightweight, durable, and really good quality. It has a simple flap that opens and has several pockets that divide the bag in useful sections. I was able to put my sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, pills, and other items in this and still had room for more!
Moisturizer: This has to be in your bag if you are planning a trip to Colorado during the summer. I have normal to mixed skin, so I was unsure how I would react to the thin air of Denver. After landing, it was clear that my face was so dry! I not only brought my normal Ecuerin Water Gel moisturizer, but I also brought a heavier Cetaphil lotion for dry skin, which came in handy.
Vaseline: I also try to bring a small jar of Vaseline no matter where I go. I can use it for lip balm or put it on dry patches of skin. I am also prone to nosebleeds, so I take a small dab and place it on the inside of my nostrils to hydrate the skin in my nose.
Portable phone charger: I bring one of these everywhere I go. A portable phone charger will always be needed no matter where, especially in Colorado. I thought it was very important to bring one when we went to the National Park, just in case we were to lose phone battery while hiking.
Phoebe Burman’s Going To Lose It by Brooke Averick: Similar to Lillian, I also try to bring a book when I travel because you never know if you will have free time to read. I was able to read in the airport, on the plane, and before bed each night!
What we got in Colorado
Thankfully, there was a Target close to our hotel, so that was our first stop before officially checking into our room. These are the things we got and took back to our room that were essentials but we couldn’t take on the plane:
Gatorade/Electrolytes: With temperatures reaching nearly 100℉ each day, staying hydrated was at the forefront of our mind. We got a large pack of Gatorade as well as a box of electrolyte powder. We honestly had at least one a day, making sure that we were beating the heat and taking care of ourselves!
Diet Coke: Ryan is a big Diet Coke drinker, so this was a no brainer when stopping for extras. I think if you are on a trip for more than two days, get a pack of your favorite drink for the hotel room and to take on the go (you will thank us later).
Sunscreen: Both of us are prone to getting sunburnt. We each packed our SPF essentials (which you can read about here), but the spray sunscreen we had at home was too big for the TSA carry-on policy. We went to the travel section and got a small spray SPF 50 sunscreen to take with us throughout the day.
Bug spray: Since we were planning on walking through some mountains and forest areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, the last thing we wanted was to be swatting bugs out of our face all day! Getting bug spray was one of the first things we picked up to avoid mosquitos in the summer heat.
Mints: Lillian made sure to get a pack of mints for her purse while we were at the store to help with possible nausea when driving. These were great to have on hand when cruising through twisty mountain roads, and we indulged on a mint many times throughout the trip.
We hope this post was helpful when packing for out west or a national park during the summer. We believe that this list will help ease some of the stress surrounding planning and packing for a major summer trip. Want to read more about planning, preparing, and other helpful packing tips? Visit the Pack & Prepare section for more!
Happy travels,