Grand Junction

Grand Junction is a city of about 69,000 in western Colorado, the most populous city in the western half of the state and seat of Mesa County. Located on the Colorado River at the foot of Grand Mesa, Mount Garfield, and Colorado National Monument, the city is a vital part of Colorado's Wine Country and an ideal base for exploring Southwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah.

The city sits at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, though its name derives from the rivers rather than railroads. Locals joke about "Chief Ouray's Curse" — named after the Ute leader who once lived here — which says that once you visit the Grand Valley, you're destined to return again and again. Grand Junction offers dinosaur museums, wine tasting, fine dining, excellent shopping, arts and theater, and abundant outdoor recreation.

The mild, sunny days of spring and fall draw visitors to this mini-sunbelt. Late March brings fruit orchard blossoms with highs around 70°F. Summer is high season with temperatures reaching 90-100°F. September brings grape harvest and spectacular fall foliage. Winter (November through February) is the slow season with reduced hotel rates.

By Plane

Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), also known as Walker Field, is served by Allegiant Air, American Eagle, Delta Connection, Denver Air Connection, and United Express with nonstop service from Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. Some service is seasonal. Most hotels on Horizon Drive offer shuttle service. Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 4 hours east.

By Train

Amtrak serves Grand Junction with the California Zephyr, running daily between Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. Grand Junction Amtrak station is at 339 S 1st St, a few blocks west from downtown.

By Car / Road

Interstate 70 runs east-west just north of town. Grand Junction is about 30 minutes east of the Utah border and 4 hours west of Denver. US 50 runs north-south from downtown to Delta and Montrose, then east toward Gunnison and Pueblo. US 6 runs east-west parallel to I-70. US 139 runs north-south over Douglas Pass to Rangely.

The Grand Valley's roads are designated by distance from the Utah border and lettered north-south axes, but the grid is complicated by fields and orchards. Pick up a free map at a Visitor Center. Public transportation includes a local bus system. Rental cars are available at the airport from Advantage, Alamo, Avis, and Hertz. For extreme cyclists, the Kokopelli Trail connects Moab, Utah to downtown via the Colorado River Front Trail (5-6 day strenuous excursion). The Tabeguache Trail offers a 142-mile north-south slickrock route from Montrose.

• Colorado National Monument — Red sandstone formations and dramatic canyon scenery just south of town

• Grand Mesa — The world's largest flat-top mountain, with skiing, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding

• Dinosaur Journey Museum — Paleontology exhibits and dinosaur fossils

• Museum of the West, 462 Ute Ave — Regional history and culture

• Climbers Wall and Rattlesnake Arches — Some of the largest natural arches outside of Arches National Park

• Colorado Wine Country vineyards and tasting rooms throughout the Grand Valley

• Wine tasting at numerous vineyards and tasting rooms in the Grand Valley

• Hiking, camping, and boating at Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa National Forest, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison

• Kokopelli Trail mountain biking from Moab, Utah

• Visit Palisade for peach and fruit picking in late summer

• Explore the Colorado River Front Trail system for walking and cycling

• Attend the Colorado Mountain Winefest in September

• Golf at several courses with mesa and canyon views

• Kayaking and rafting on the Colorado River

• Bin 707, 2809 North Ave — Farm-to-table restaurant with locally sourced ingredients and an extensive wine list. Entrées $18-35
• 626 on Rood, 626 Rood Ave — Contemporary American cuisine with creative dishes. Entrées $20-38
• Kabob International, 2516 Highway 6&50 — Excellent Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food at reasonable prices. Mains $10-18
• Peach Street Distillery, 1835 North 8th St — Colorado's first distillery tasting room with small plates
• Il Bistro Cafe Italiano, 320 Main St — Italian cuisine in a downtown setting. Entrées $15-28

• Kannah Creek Brewing Company, 1960 Lipona Way — Local craft brewery with taproom and restaurant
• Peach Street Distillery — Colorado's first craft distillery, producing bourbon, gin, and brandy
• Numerous winery tasting rooms throughout the Grand Valley, including Colorado Cellars, Two Rivers Winery, and Carlson Vineyards
• The Historic Avalon Theatre building area downtown has bars and nightlife

• Budget: La Quinta Inn & Suites, 2825 Crossroads Blvd — Affordable chain hotel near I-70 with pool. Rates from approximately $90/night.
• Mid-range: Hotel & Historic Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St — Boutique hotel in the heart of downtown above the historic Avalon Theatre. Rates from approximately $150/night.
• Upscale: The Grand River Hotel, 2501 Main St — Full-service hotel with restaurant, bar, and conference facilities. Rates from approximately $180/night.

Grand Junction offers outlet stores and local boutiques. Downtown features galleries, antique shops, and specialty stores. The area is known for local wines, Palisade peaches and other fruit, and Western art. The Downtown Farmers Market operates seasonally.

• Colorado National Monument (adjacent, 15 min) — Dramatic red rock canyons and mesa-top views
• Moab, Utah (110 miles west, ~2 hr) — Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (65 miles east, ~1 hr) — One of the deepest and most dramatic canyons in North America
• Palisade (10 miles east, ~15 min) — Peach orchards, wineries, and the famous Peach Fest
• Grand Mesa (30 miles south, ~45 min) — World's largest flat-top mountain with year-round recreation
• Delta and Montrose (30-45 miles south, ~45-1 hr) — Access to the Uncompahgre Valley and Ouray