If you’re looking for day trips from Denver, I just created the perfect one day itinerary just for you!

Grand Lake, CO is located just two hours north of Denver, Colorado and makes the perfect summer day trip when you want to get away from all the city life and just chill on the lake.

And trust me, you’re going to want to add this mountain town to your summer bucket list.

When I moved to Colorado, I was honestly a little disappointed at how few lakes there were that you could go swimming in.

Many of the state's lakes are reservoirs with limited swimming access, making traditional beach days harder to come by.

When I visited Grand Lake for the first time, I was thrilled. It reminded me a lot of the lakes in the northeast that I miss.

It has everything you want in a lake town—shops, boats, beaches, and parks. Not to mention the water is clear, clean, and perfect for cooling off on a hot summers day.

Grand Lake is the ultimate summer day trip because it's close enough to Denver and Boulder for a quick getaway, offers a swimmable lake, and has plenty of activities to keep you busy all day long.

Here’s your entire day planned:

Late Morning (10 am - 12 pm)

Coffee
Beach
Swimming

Type this address into your GPS: 1117 Lake Ave, Grand Lake, CO 80447. This will take you to the closest public parking lot to the town beach.

If it’s full, I’d recommend looking for parking on Grand Ave. which is still walking distance to the beach.

Plan to arrive around 10am and claim a spot on the local town beach, Gene Stover Lakefront Park, before it gets too crowded. Spend the late morning swimming and lounging in the sand before it gets too hot.

Spend the late morning swimming, relaxing in the sand, reading a good book, or soaking up the mountain views. There's also a dock where visitors often jump into the water on warm summer days.

If you need a pick-me-up, grab some coffee from Other Side Gear & Coffee Shop or Jumpstart Coffee & Tea for a drink and snack before settling in for the morning.

This is the start of the summer day trip you’ve been dreaming of.

Early Afternoon (12 pm - 2 pm)

Lunch
Explore downtown

Bring a lunch to snack on while at the beach or walk into town and choose from a variety of local restaurants to eat at.

Some popular lunch spots are Miyauchi's Snack Bar, Sparky’s Snack Shack, or Blue Water Bakery.

After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the town, grab some sweet treats, like ice cream at Miyauchi's, or just browse the different shops and boutiques along Grand Ave.

This part of town has a classic mountain-lake-town feel that's worth slowing down and enjoying.

Late Afternoon & Evening (2 pm - 6 pm)

Boating
Dinner

No trip to Grand Lake is complete without spending time on the water.

Spend the latter part of the day on the water. Whether you bring your own paddleboards, rent kayaks from Mountain Paddlers, or rent a pontoon boat from Grand Lake Marina, spending a day on this beautiful lake is a must.

You can easily launch your paddleboards right next to the town beach where there is a boat ramp. You can rent from this location as well.

Pack some drinks and snacks, gather your friends, and spend the afternoon cruising across the lake while taking in the surrounding mountain scenery.

Once you're back on shore, wrap up your adventure with dinner at one of Grand Lake's local restaurants before making the scenic drive back to Denver.

Some popular dinner spots include Sagebrush BBQ & Grill, One Love Rum Kitchen, and Grand Pizza.

Whether you're visiting for the beach, the boating, or the small-town charm, Grand Lake is one of the best summer day trips in Colorado—and once you visit, you'll understand why so many people return year after year.