Thanks to Colorado’s natural beauty, tons of production companies send their film crews to the Centennial State in search of the perfect landscape for a film backdrop. From classics like “Dumb and Dumber” to new hits like “Furious 7,” there’s a good chance you’ve already seen Colorado on the silver screen. If you’re looking to make a grand tour that visits the most famous film locations in the state, this is the road trip for you to see locations of movies filmed in Colorado. As with a lot of our road trips, we’ll start where we’re headquartered in Colorado Springs. Feel free to hop onto this itinerary anywhere along the loop.

1. Colorado Springs: Cop Car (2015)

A Kevin Bacon flick that’s earned an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Colorado Springs’ appearance in Cop Car feels like it’s ‘for the locals.’ Instead of featuring mountain-heavy scenes like many movies filmed in Colorado, the setting instead focuses on the rolling grasslands just outside of the town. Those who call Colorado Springs home will find these scenes highly familiar, not to mention a few local streets can be found, too.

It’s also worth mentioning Blackkklansman, which has a 96 on Rotten Tomatoes. While this movie was mostly shot in New York opposed to Colorado Springs, it’s based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first Black police officer for the Colorado Springs Police Department who happened to infiltrate the KKK.

2. Denver: Blades of Glory (2007) and Return of the Ghostbusters (2007)

Two classics that many have seen already, if you want to see the film location for Blades of Glory, you’ll need to find a reason to visit Ball Arena, formerly known as the Pepsi Center. Meanwhile, downtown Denver can be seen in Return of the Ghostbusters.

3. Estes Park: The Shining (1997)

No, no, no, not the 1980 movie by the same name, the TV series remake. While many people believe that the original film was shot in Colorado, it was actually shot in an English movie studio and at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. The original story was, however, inspired by Stephen King’s stay at the Stanley Hotel. The 1997 television series based on the same story features scenes from the Stanley.

The Stanley Hotel was also featured in another movie that’s mentioned later on during this road trip… stay tuned.

Bonus: This next film set isn’t included on this road trip, but if you happen to be passing by Genessee Mountain shortly after passing through Golden while westbound on I-70, you’ll see the ‘Sculptured House’ on the hillside. It’s a private-residence, but it’s where the 1973 Woody Allen movie Sleeper was filmed along with other locations in Denver and Boulder. Read more on that spot here.

4. Breckenridge: Christmas Vacation (1989)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation might be set in the Chicago suburbs, but a lot of it was actually filmed in Colorado’s Summit County area. The opening tree-cutting scene, for example, was filmed near the Breckenridge Golf Course. Meanwhile, the scene where the family gets stuck under a logging truck was filmed on Highway 9 near Silverthorne.

5. Glenwood Canyon: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

This action flick took advantage of the sheer canyon walls found in Glenwood Canyon for some stunning sequences. This part of the state is easy to tour, too, as I-70 travels directly through it. Want more views of the area? Consider a reservation on Hanging Lake Trail or check out Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

6. Aspen: Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Psych – while this movie is all about getting to Aspen, it was mainly shot elsewhere in Colorado. Maybe there’s a scene or two in Aspen, but I haven’t noticed and I’ve been looking. Thankfully, the other places it was filmed are already included in this road trip. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park plays the role of the Danbury, with scenes shot in Breckenridge and at Summit County’s Copper Mountain, too.

That said, the 1993 movie called Aspen Extreme was filmed here.

7. Telluride: Hateful Eight (2015)

This movie was filmed on Wilson Mesa near Telluride and to see a similar scene, that would mean a dangerous trek into the backcountry in the winter – not advised. That said, when this film crew came to town, they brought a party with them. If you make friends with a long-time resident of the town that was there while this movie was shot, they might have some stories to tell. Either way, Telluride is a beautiful place to visit.

8. Durango-Silverton Railway Line: The Prestige (2006) and many more

This train ride travels between Durango and Silverton and it’s worth checking out regardless of whether you’re a movie buff or not. That said, it’s been featured in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Ticket to Tomahawk (1950), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), City Slickers (1991), How the West was Won (1963), Night Passage (1957), and The Prestige (2006).

9. Durango: Cliffhanger (1993)

Not only were parts of this movie shot in Durango, it actually features scenes shot all around the Colorado Rockies. Don’t ignore the aerial shots in the movie and you might see a peak you recognize.

10. Creede: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Known for it’s beautiful landscape and unique rock formations, Creede got plenty of national attention after being featured in this film starring Johnny Depp. Part of the production for the movie involved creating a massive, temporary mining town set, too.

11. Antonito: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Believe it or not, you can actually book a stay at the ‘Indiana Jones Bed and Breakfast’ in Antonito, which played the role of Indy’s childhood home in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Checking out the town’s Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad will ring some bells, too.

12. Woodland Park: Furious 7 (2015)

If you really want to get a look at where this film was shot, you’ll need to hit the Pikes Peak Highway. While this location is advertised as another mountain in a completely different country in the movie itself, you’ll recognize the winding roads and beautiful landscape of Pikes Peak during a chase scene that involves parachutes on vehicles.

13. Colorado Springs at Peterson Air Force Base: Independence Day (1996)

Generally, this is a base that members of the public can not tour. That said, you can visit the Peterson Air Force Base Museum by following proper protocol procedures. Keep in mind that access to this museum is controlled as a security measure.

In Conclusion:

At nearly 22 hours of driving and 1,117 miles of travel, this is a long trip. Take a full week to really enjoy it as there are plenty of scenic detours and excursions to be found along the way.

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