These Colorado road trips beat airfare pain

Higher airfare and broader economic concerns have pushed many travelers to rethink long-haul trips this summer.

The big picture: The Iran war has sent oil prices soaring, causing airlines to cut flights and raise fares while drivers pay more at the pump.

• Flight and hotel bookings have already dipped, Virginia Tech professor Mahmood Khan previously told Axios. "People are very hesitant to make long-term bookings."

Still, nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans say they plan to take a summer vacation this year, up from 66% last year, per a new survey from transportation company Enterprise Mobility.

💭 My thought bubble: Since my summer travel budget is leaning more "road trip" than "Euro getaway," I've been brainstorming Colorado escapes that don't require airfare, checked bags or a toddler meltdown at the Denver airport.

• Luckily, we live in a ridiculously stunning state, and Travel + Leisure recently rounded up its 20 best places to visit in Colorado.

🚘 Full disclosure: My picks aren't exactly around the corner from the Springs, but if you're looking to cash in some PTO days without boarding a plane, they're all worth your time.

For a family adventure: Rattlesnake Canyon Arches

(Drive time from the Springs: Roughly 5.5 hours)

If you've always wanted to see arches but haven't made the trek to Utah, this western Colorado spot might scratch the itch.

• Bonus: There's no national park entrance fee.

For "a sacred place": Mesa Verde National Park

(Drive time: Roughly 7 hours)

Mesa Verde is one of those places that ends up on people's "someday" lists. The southwestern Colorado park preserves the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people and is both a UNESCO World Heritage site and an International Dark Sky Park, per T+L.

For a missed history lesson: Amache National Historic Site

(Drive time: Roughly 3 hours)

Set on the eastern Plains, this is one of the state's most important historic sites — and one that remains surprisingly under the radar. Amache tells the story of more than 10,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated there during World War II.

For a "wait, this is Colorado?" getaway: Crestone

(Drive time: Roughly 3 hours)

Tucked in the San Luis Valley, Crestone has a population of about 150 people and a reputation for spirituality and quirkiness. T+L highlights its off-grid homes, meditation centers and sites like the Crestone Mountain Zen Center.

The bottom line: If airfare is making you wince this summer, Colorado is doing its best to remind us that some of the most interesting destinations are just a tank of gas away.