Things to do in Colorado Springs
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Colorado Springs
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best month overall, warm, aspens turn, crowds thin after Labor Day.
Late May to June and early October are also excellent for hiking and sightseeing.
Peak summer, everything open but afternoon thunderstorms, crowds and higher prices.
Cold, bright and good value winter, Garden under snow and holiday lights at the Broadmoor.
Worst weather roulette, mud, ice, wind and summit closures with no rafting payoff.
Mid July is worst for crowds and storms if you hate booking ahead.
What's on
- Territory Days Memorial Day weekend
West side street festival in Old Colorado City since 1976.
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb late June
Race to the Clouds to the summit, highway closed to tourists on race day.
- Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo July
Summer rodeo, a peak season staple.
- Labor Day Lift Off early September
Hot air balloons at dawn and evening glows in Memorial Park, free admission.
- Emma Crawford Coffin Races late October
Eccentric Victorian themed coffin races in Manitou Springs.
- Boo at the Zoo October
Halloween event at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
- Festival of Lights Parade December
Downtown holiday parade.
Best things to do in Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods Park
Free red sandstone fins against Pikes Peak, with a paved central trail and quieter loops beyond.
Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Narrated railway to the 14,115 foot Pikes Peak summit without the hairpin driving.
Pikes Peak Highway
Self drive 19 mile summit road with schedule freedom, brake checks and big views.
Barr Trail
Steep 13 mile one way summit trail for fit, acclimatised hikers only.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Mountain zoo famous for hand feeding giraffes, plus a sky ride and uphill animal exhibits.
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Accessible downtown museum with interactive sport simulations and athlete stories.
Manitou Springs
Quirky walkable mountain town with mineral spring fountains, Victorian shops and trail access.
Manitou Springs Penny Arcade
Sprawling vintage arcade and pinball machines, many still very cheap to play.
Where to stay in Colorado Springs
Downtown
first trip, all-round base
Walkable Tejon core with restaurants, museums and the best boutique hotels.
The Broadmoor / Southwest (Cheyenne Mountain)
luxury and resort trips
Quiet leafy area by the zoo, Seven Falls and canon, with resort grounds and calm.
Manitou Springs
charm and outdoors base
Walk to breakfast, the Arcade and trailheads in a small mountain town.
Old Colorado City / West Side
value with character
Walkable dining and galleries, closest lodging to Garden of the Gods, usually cheaper.
Garden of the Gods / Mesa area
view splurge and golf spa trips
Paying for the park view from balcony, pool and golf course, driving everywhere else.
North Side / Air Force Academy corridor
academy families and road trips
Newer chain suites with easy I-25 access, practical but no walkable character.
Think twice about
- South Nevada Avenue corridor
Long known gathering place for people experiencing homelessness around Dorchester Park, with rising property crime and disturbance calls. Do not base here.
- East Academy Boulevard / Platte Avenue motel strips and airport-adjacent budget rows
Older exterior corridor motels, transient occupancy, nothing walkable and a long drive to west side attractions.
Best restaurants in Colorado Springs
The Penrose Room
Classic fine dining atop Broadmoor South, the proposal and anniversary room.
Carlos' Bistro
Tiny owner hosted room known for lobster bisque, lamb, filet and generous portions.
Four by Brother Luck
Southwest rooted four course dining from chef Brother Luck on Tejon.
Ephemera
Seasonal tasting menu in the COATI orbit, praised for wine pairing value.
MacKenzie's Chop House
Old school downtown steakhouse in a historic basement, a business dinner staple.
The Rabbit Hole
Subterranean themed dining room with New American plates and strong cocktails.
Till Neighborhood Bistro & Bar
Farm to table neighbourhood bistro that is the local date night default.
Paravicini's Italian Bistro
West side Italian beloved for veal, house pastas and red sauce comfort.
Best bars in Colorado Springs
The Golden Bee
English pub reassembled panel by panel, known for yards of ale and piano nights.
Cerberus Brewing Company
Local brewery named runner up in Best of the Springs brewery voting.
Goat Patch Brewing Company
Local brewery that won Best of the Springs brewery in 2026.
Red Leg Brewing Company
Local brewery near Garden of the Gods recommended for Springs beer.
Outdoor things to do in Colorado Springs
The Broadmoor Golf Club
Championship East and West courses with major history and immaculate mountain conditioning.
Kissing Camels Golf Course
Twenty seven holes on a mesa staring straight at Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.
The Club at Flying Horse
Private club golf in Black Forest prairie with a highly ranked newer North Course.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort Pete Dye Course
Accessible Pete Dye resort round in Broadmoor Valley with lake and mountain setting.
Patty Jewett Golf Course
Historic 1898 municipal course with a beloved clubhouse porch facing Pikes Peak.
Valley Hi Golf Course
Solid public golf without resort pricing, named alongside Patty Jewett for value.
Pine Creek Golf Club
Solid public golf without Broadmoor pricing on the north side.
Manitou Incline
Free reservation only climb of 2,768 steps gaining about 2,000 feet in under a mile.
Best hotels in Colorado Springs
The Mining Exchange
Boutique hotel in the 1902 gold exchange building with spa and live music venue.
Kinship Landing
Locally run design boutique with bunk suites, king suites and a cafe bar locals use.
The Antlers, A Wyndham Hotel
Historic grand hotel name on Cascade with direct Pikes Peak views and a pool.
Hyatt Place Colorado Springs/Downtown
Modern chain boutique a few blocks from Tejon, interchangeable on price and points.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Colorado Springs Downtown
Modern downtown chain boutique a few blocks from Tejon, pick on price that weekend.
Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs Downtown
Modern downtown chain boutique near Tejon with big hotel reliability.
SCP Colorado Springs
Renovated eco wellness hotel with fair value pricing, a short drive from downtown.
The Broadmoor
Grand lake resort with spa, pools, golf and many restaurants, the city splurge stay.
Is Colorado Springs expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $105 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $235 a person |
| Splurge | $450 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway: weeks ahead
- Pikes Peak Highway: weeks ahead
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: weeks ahead
- U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum: a few days ahead
- The Broadmoor Seven Falls: a few days ahead
- Cave of the Winds Mountain Park: a few days ahead
- The Broadmoor Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Kissing Camels Golf Course: weeks ahead
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo advance e-tickets are required and summer slots sell out days ahead.
- Manitou Incline free reservations are required online, prime morning slots go first.
- Pikes Peak Cog tickets and highway timed entry sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Is Colorado Springs safe?
- Hide everything in cars at trailheads, break ins are the most common visitor crime.
- Be descending by noon in summer thunderstorm season, lightning is a serious risk.
- Hydrate before arrival, go easy on alcohol early, and save summit and Incline for day two plus.
Colorado Springs travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Garden of the Gods at noon on a summer Saturday is the worst version of the best park.
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings were relocated in the early 1900s, visit as a reconstruction or skip.
- Chain dining on Academy Boulevard when downtown restaurants are a short drive away.
Getting around Colorado Springs: public transport and more
- You need a car or paid tours for days, attractions cluster west while lodging spreads east.
- Rideshare works downtown, Broadmoor and Manitou but thins at trailheads and Royal Gorge.
- COS airport is about 20 minutes from downtown, Denver International about 90 minutes.
Who Colorado Springs suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Colorado Springs your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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