Colorado Springs

Downtown puts you in walking distance of Tejon Street, with history at The Antlers and The Mining Exchange and a more casual base at Kinship Landing. Near Old Colorado City and Garden of the Gods, the bed and breakfasts and a bicycle-themed motor lodge offer more character. The Broadmoor is its own world in the foothills, with two all-inclusive retreats further out.

See every option, checked against official sources, in our guide to where to stay in Colorado Springs.

Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak anchor any trip, with the zoo, Seven Falls and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum close behind. Several of the headline sights sit just over the line in Manitou Springs. A few attractions run short winter schedules or close for the season, so check dates before you drive.

See the full list of things to do in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs works all year, and that is its main edge over the ski towns. Visit Colorado Springs reports an average of 300 days of sun and blue skies and 15 to 16 inches of precipitation annually, and says snow melts and evaporates quickly.

Summer is the peak for good reason. July averages a high of 84 and a low of 55, and August is close behind. The free Garden of the Gods shuttle and the Pikes Peak seasonal shuttle both run through the busiest weeks. Expect crowds, and expect to reserve ahead for the zoo and the Incline. Old Colorado City holds Territory Days on Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to 31 in 2027.

Fall is the sweet spot. September averages 74 for a high and October averages 63, with lows of 45 and 34. Seven Falls drops to weekends in late fall, and its 2026 season ends November 29.

Winter is cold at night and often pleasant at midday. January averages a high of 42 and a low of 14. Pikes Peak stays open year-round, weather permitting. The highway closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and conditions at the top change quickly. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Electric Safari runs December 4, 2026 to January 1, 2027, closed December 24.

Spring warms slowly. April averages 59 and May averages 68, and May through August are the wettest months on the tourism office's chart. The Pikes Peak Highway also closes on the third Sunday in June for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, so check before you plan a summit drive that weekend.

Colorado Springs is 70 miles south of Denver on Interstate 25, about 1 hour 15 minutes of driving according to Visit Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Airport is 12 miles from downtown, just off I-25 at Exit 135. It has on-site car rentals and low-cost parking, and Visit Colorado Springs says fares are often price competitive with Denver International once you count car rental, tolls, drive time and gas. Mountain Metro Route 37 connects Hancock Plaza to the airport.

Rent a car if you plan to see more than downtown. Sights are spread across the city and into Manitou Springs. The Pikes Peak Highway has restrictions on large vehicles, so check them if you are bringing an RV or a bus.

Downtown is the exception. THE ZEB is a free Mountain Metro shuttle that runs up and down the main Tejon corridor every 7 to 10 minutes.

Parking is the main catch at the big sights. Seven Falls visitors must park at the Norris Penrose Event Center and ride a free shuttle. The Incline's preferred lot is the Dillon Mobility Hub at 134 Manitou Avenue, and the Barr lot and Ruxton Avenue are off limits for Incline hikers.

Garden of the Gods is free, and so is its Visitor & Nature Center. The park opens at 5 AM year-round, and closes at 9 PM from November through April and 10 PM from May through October, so it is easy to get in early and skip the busiest hours. Summer visitors can leave the car in the lot at Rock Ledge Ranch and take the free shuttle.

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is the best free hour downtown. It occupies the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse at 215 S. Tejon St, with free admission, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The Manitou Incline gains 2,000 feet in less than a mile over 2,768 steep steps. It is free but needs an online reservation and a signed waiver, and reservations for the next month open on the 1st of each month. The 30-minute slot is only an arrival window, with no time limit on the climb.

Do not plan your trip around the Air Force Academy's Cadet Chapel. It is closed for repairs with completion estimated for 2028. The Hosmer Visitor Center sits just outside the North Gate at I-25 Exit 156, open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM with no base entry required. Getting onto the base itself requires a visitor pass in advance.

If you drive Pikes Peak, the highway's own advice is to go straight to the summit first and stop on the way back down, since weather changes quickly. Use a low gear descending, brake in short intervals, and expect possible brake-temperature checks at Glen Cove. The summit has a visitor center and a cafe that sells the well-known high-altitude donuts.

Seven Falls is cheaper in the afternoon. Online adult tickets are $25 for 9 AM to 1 PM entries and $21 for entries from 2 PM, and walk-up tickets cost $2 more. Entry is timed, so buy ahead.

The city reaches about 6,035 feet at points, per Visit Colorado Springs, and Pikes Peak tops out at 14,115. Altitude can affect you, and the Pikes Peak Highway's guidance is plain: the only real treatment for altitude sickness is retreating to lower altitude. It is colder at the summit than in town, so bring warm layers even in summer.

Pack for big swings. Visit Colorado Springs recommends layers in cooler months and suggests tossing in a T-shirt in winter for the warm sunny days.

Visit Colorado Springs runs a seasonal visitor hub at Acacia Park, 115 E Platte Avenue, open daily from noon to 6 PM from Memorial Day weekend through mid-August.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo requires advance tickets for members and non-members alike. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, and giraffe feeding is $3 per lettuce bundle.

The Broadmoor's golf courses are open only to registered overnight guests and golf club members. Seven Falls and the Cog Railway are separate ticketed attractions that do not require a resort stay.