"head west".....West is a BIG area. You don't say how much time you have for this trip. If it's a month, for example....I would get out west expeditiously. The whole southwest quadrant of CO is fantastic in the fall, possible elk rut season and mountainsides full of golden aspen trees, San Juan Skyway scenic byway, etc. Almost every road in this section of CO is scenic.
In addition look up Grand Circle...all the parks in northern AZ and southern UT deserve your attention and enjoyment.
These suggestions would include Denver and Grand Canyon. But "West" is so much more. Northern parks like Yellowstone and Glacier (fall may be too late), the whole Pacific coast and also inland parks like Yosemite, Crater Lake, Mt. Ranier, etc.
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 32V
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara