Philadelphia to Denver drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Philadelphia to Denver drive are Columbus OH, St Louis and Kansas City. The distance from Philadelphia to Denver by car is 1,727 miles, with a 26h driving time.

Planning a Philadelphia to Denver road trip itinerary

The Philadelphia to Denver drive connects the biggest city in Pennsylvania to the capital of Colorado.

Key attractions in Philadelphia include the Museum of the American Revolution, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn Museum. For great Philadelphia tour options, try the Old City historic walking tour, a night tour exploring the city’s dark side or an It’s Always Sunny-themed tour of South Philadelphia.

If looking for Philadelphia accommodation, the Club Quarters Rittenhouse Square is often great value, while the Kimpton Hotel Monaco has style and personality.

Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.

Philadelphia to Denver distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Philadelphia to Denver is 1,727 miles. That should make for a driving time of around 26 hours. Obviously, you’re going to need to make overnight stops along the way.

The best stops to add to a Philadelphia to Denver road trip itinerary are Columbus OH, St Louis and Kansas City.

For more suggestions of things to do between Philadelphia and Denver, check out the guides to the individual road trip sections.

Philadelphia to Denver road trip attractions: Columbus, Ohio.

In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.

Philadelphia to Denver drive: St Louis

St Louis is one of America’s great crossroads cities. The major landmark is the 630ft-tall Gateway Arch, which visitors can go to the top of. Other top attractions include the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium.

Good St Louis experiences include highlight-packed trolley tours, true crime walking tours and small group tours that include going to the top of the St Louis Arch and a Mississippi River cruise.

For St Louis accommodation with personality, try the Last Hotel or the Pennywell.

Best stops on a Philadelphia to Denver road trip: Kansas City

Technically two cities spread over two different states, Kansas City has a rich cultural heritage. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and American Jazz Museum show this off. Other top attractions include the National World I Memorial and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Good experiences in Kansas City include an indulgent food tour of the city’s best BBQ joints, Segway tours, the Sealife Aquarium and wine-tasting trips.