Shehzadi with Garden of the Gods in background

Hey there, fellow adventurers!

If you thought our journey couldn’t get any more epic, buckle up - because this leg of the trip took us from Topeka (see The Gateway Arch & St. Louis, Missouri - Kansas City - Topeka, Kansas) across the endless plains of Kansas to the jaw-dropping peaks of Colorado. It started with a day of contrasts, from the hypnotic flatness of America’s heartland to the dramatic rise of the Rockies. Let’s dive in!

The Great Plains: Kansas on I-70

We hit the road early from Topeka, with Shehzadi (our trusty Toyota Tundra) purring like a champ. Driving through Kansas on I-70 is an experience unlike any other. The landscape is so flat, it feels like you’re driving on a giant sheet of paper. The highway stretches out in a perfectly straight line to the horizon, front and back, and the sky - oh, the sky! It’s this vast, unbroken dome of blue that seems to go on forever.

Fields of wheat, corn, and sunflowers (not in bloom yet, sadly) spread out in every direction, creating a patchwork of greens and golds. Every now and then, we’d pass a small town with a grain elevator towering over it like a sentinel. It’s the kind of scenery that makes you feel small in the best way possible—just you, the open road, and the hum of Shehzadi’s engine.

24/7 Travel Store, Salina, KS

We found the cheapest gas so far at the 24/7 Travel Store in Salina, Kansas. This gas station also had a well-stocked convenience store, clean restrooms and, for those in need of them, a Subway restaurant, an ATM and EV charging stations, along with ample parking.

Hello, Colorado!

As we crossed the Kansas-Colorado border, the landscape began to shift. The flat plains gave way to gentle rolling hills, and then - bam! - the Rockies appeared on the horizon. It’s like Mother Nature decided to show off. The mountains rose up suddenly, their peaks dusted with snow even in July. We couldn’t help but roll down the windows and let the crisp mountain air fill the cab.

City of Colorado Springs

Driving into Colorado Springs was nothing short of magical. The city sits in a valley surrounded by towering peaks, and it feels like the mountains are watching over it. To the west, Pikes Peak loomed large, its summit often hidden by clouds. To the north, we could see Cheyenne Mountain and Mount Manitou, while Rampart Range stretched out to the east. It’s no wonder this place is called “America’s Mountain Town”.

Garden of the Gods: A Geological Wonderland

Balanced Rock

Our first stop was the legendary Garden of the Gods, and let me tell you, it lives up to the hype. This public park is a geological masterpiece, with towering red sandstone formations that seem to defy gravity.

Balanced Rock Information Board, Garden of the Gods

The Balanced Rock was a highlight - it’s this massive boulder perched precariously on a narrow pedestal, looking like it could topple at any second (don’t worry, it’s been holding strong for millions of years).

Sleeping Giant (left) and Kindergarten Rock (Gray Rock) formations at Garden of the Gods

We hiked through the park, marveling at formations like Sleeping Giant, Kindergarten Rock (Gray Rock), Kissing Camels, Siamese Twins, and Cathedral Spires. The red rocks against the blue sky were absolutely stunning, and we learned that these formations were created over 300 million years ago through erosion and uplift.

Garden of the Gods

The park also has deep ties to Native American history - the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes considered this land sacred, and their legends speak of the rocks as petrified beings or gifts from the gods.

A Taste of Nepal in Colorado Springs

Little Nepal: Indian Restaurant & Bar

After a day of exploring, we were starving, and we stumbled upon a little gem - a Nepali restaurant in the heart of Colorado Springs.

Little Nepal: Indian Restaurant & Bar

We drank Nepali chai (tea) and feasted on momo dumplings, spicy curries, and warm naan, and it was the perfect way to refuel after a day of adventure.

Pikes Peak: On Top of the World

Pikes Peak Summit: 14,115 ft.

The next morning, we woke up early to conquer Pikes Peak. Instead of hiking (because, let’s be real, we’re not that hardcore), we took the bus to the summit (the cog railway was sold out). In under 48 hours, we had climbed from the flat farmland of Kansas to over 14,000 feet up in the mountains!

View from Pikes Peak

The ride itself was an adventure, with winding roads and stunning views at every turn.

View from Pikes Peak

At 14,115 feet, the summit was a whole different world.

Visitor Center at at the top: Pikes Peak Summit

Even in July, it was bitterly cold, with gale-force winds and thin air that made us gasp for breath.

Ice Shelves at Pikes Peak, even in July

But the views - oh, the views! We could see for miles in every direction, with snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and dense forests stretching out below us.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway at the summit

We even spotted the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, a charming red train that chugs its way up the mountain.

View from Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and from the top, we could see other ranges like the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the south and the Mosquito Range to the west. The geological history here is mind-blowing - the Rockies were formed around 70 million years ago during the Laramide Orogeny (Late Cretaceous period, 80 to 70 million years ago) and the erosion over millennia has created the dramatic landscapes we see today.

On the Road Again: Colorado Springs to Moab

Hoosier Pass (Continental Divide), Colorado - 11,542 ft.

After soaking in the beauty of Pikes Peak, we hopped back into Shehzadi and started our drive toward Moab, Utah. The route took us across Hoosier Pass and Vail, where we made a quick stop to stretch our legs and grab a coffee. Vail is one of the charming mountain towns known for their ski resorts and alpine vibes. We crossed the Continental Divide there.

This leg of our journey was a beautiful reminder of how diverse and awe-inspiring this country is. From the endless plains of Kansas to the towering peaks of Colorado, every mile brought something new to marvel at.

As we drove west, the landscape changed again, with red rock formations and desert vistas hinting at the adventures to come in Moab. We couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement - Utah’s national parks were calling our names.

Next up, we’re diving into the red rock wonderland of Moab, where arches, canyons, and endless adventures await (see "Colorado Springs, Colorado to Moab, Utah"). Stay tuned, and as always, keep wandering!

Reference route map of The Vagabond Couple's 9,000-mile USA & Mexico overland roundtrip: Map-1 and Map-2.

The Vagabond Couple (and Shehzadi, our road-tripping queen) 🌍✨