EV Road Trip Colorado National Monument’s Rim Rock Drive
Our EV road trip through Colorado National Monument was a happy accident, discovered at the tail end of our western Colorado excursion.
After exploring Dinosaur National Monument, Cheryl and I arrived at the Fruita ChargePoint station ready to recharge for the next day’s adventure.
While charging, we reviewed our map and spotted Colorado National Monument just across the interstate, nestled between the towns of Fruita and Grand Junction.
It sounded like the perfect half-day end to our Colorado trip before heading east toward Denver—and eventually across Kansas, destination - Missouri humidity.
With its towering red rock formations, winding cliffside roads, and sweeping canyon views, Colorado National Monument feels like driving above a natural cathedral sculpted by time.
This cloud-high byway, known as Rim Rock Drive, offers 23 miles of jaw-dropping beauty—and a few hairpin turns to keep things interesting.
Climb in as we share the highlights from our short electric adventure.
At a Glance: EV Road Trip across Colorado National Monument
The Challenge
Pulling it Off
Park Visuals
Best EV Practices
OVERALL RATING: 5/5 stars
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EV Road Trip to Colorado National Monument: The Challenge
The route from Fruita to Grand Junction via Rim Rock Drive climbs over 2,000 feet in elevation, with tight curves and dramatic drop-offs that make for an unforgettable EV drive through Colorado National Monument.
With half a day to spare before a Denver area dinner with Cheryl’s cousin, we were ready to experience the heights.
The challenge emerged: don’t get lost in the beauty—stay on track and head east.
23 miles of wonder begins.
EV Charging at Colorado National Monument: How We Pulled It Off
The Fruita ChargePoint charger allowed us to complete our side trip without needing to reference our usual color-coded dots on an atlas EV road trip planning method.
Western Rock Rim Drive Ascending into Colorado National Monument
The previous night’s charge took us to 90% and the short drive to and from our Airbnb left plenty of juice to complete our EV road trip across Colorado National Monument.
Exiting the Monument into Grand Junction, we would take the charge back up to 90% at the Sam’s Club Electrify America station.
It’s a great reminder that with a little prep, EV travel can be just as adventurous as driving a gas-powered car.
EV Sight Seeing Colorado National Monument: Visual Highlights
If you’ve never taken an EV road trip drive through Colorado National Monument, prepare to be amazed; it is time to get up and go—experience the sweeping color palette straight out of a black-and-white John Wayne movie.
The drive up the western end revealed a landscape that transformed with each switchback, unfolding into a dramatic showcase of towering monoliths, deep canyons, and layered red rock cliffs that seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Balanced Rock, Colorado National Monument
One of our first sights was Balanced Rock, a massive boulder perched impossibly on a narrow pedestal—an iconic photo op.
As we climbed higher, the views opened up to reveal sweeping vistas of Monument Canyon and the distant Chalk Cliffs.
Established in 1911, the first caretaker, John Otto, created many of the hiking trails we see today.
The Civilian Conservation Corps began work on the scenic Rim Rock Trail in 1933, and the National Park Service completed this wonder in 1950.
Shielding our front window from the sun, we popped up our sunshade umbrella and entered the Colorado National Monument Visitor Center; the expansive outdoor balcony echoed with different languages as we took pictures of Monument Canyon.
Moving along to the Grand View Overlook, we captured backside photos of Independence Monument.
At Coke Ovens Overlook, we chatted with another retired couple from Iowa, making sure our conversation didn’t interfere with photos of the Coke Ovens.
Artists Point Overlook offered our last view of Monument Canyon before we reached the Upper Ute Canyon Overlook, walking out to experience the color of Ute Canyon.
Around the bend the Red Canyon Overlook provided long views down the canyon walls.
Our final stop was a picnic lunch at the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area before exiting the park.
EV Driving around Colorado National Monument: Best Practices
Driving through Colorado National Monument can take as little as a few hours or stretch into an entire day.
Our excursion lasted approximately four hours, allowing us to fully enjoy the pullouts and admire the weather-sculpted landscapes.
Ute Canyon, Colorado National Monument
One of the best tips for an EV drive through Colorado National Monument is: don’t sweat it (the drive, at least—the temperature was a bit warm).
The short distance from the west entrance to the east entrance will only challenge older EVs with limited battery range.
While the initial 2,000-foot ascent used some battery, the slow, scenic drive along the escarpment was ideal for electric vehicles.
Our four-hour tour consumed less than 25% of our battery charge—eliminating any concerns.
With a little planning, your EV road trip through Colorado National Monument can be smooth, scenic, and extremely efficient.
Birds Eye Review: Colorado National Monument is an EV Driving Experience
Our EV side trip through Colorado National Monument turned out to be one of the most memorable drives we’ve yet taken.
The breathtaking views, combined with the quiet confidence of our EV handling the terrain, created the perfect blend of adventure and quality time together.
With no engine noise, we felt more connected to the landscape—every canyon echo and rustling breeze seemed amplified.
If you’re considering this route, go for it. Charge up, take your time, and let the red rocks do the rest.
Ready to Hit the Road?
If you’ve been thinking about taking your EV beyond the city limits, I advise you to head to Colorado.
I-70 charging opportunities are growing and Colorado provides EV charging stations every 50 to 100 miles.
Have questions about planning your own EV road trip to Colorado National Monument? Drop them in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!
And if you’ve already done the drive, share your favorite stops or tips.
Let’s keep the EV adventure community rolling!
