Colorado Springs.
Sitting seventy miles south of Denver along Interstate 25, Colorado Springs takes about seventy minutes to reach by car from the capital. The city sits at the base of Pikes Peak, defined by red sandstone geology, Olympic training facilities, and military outposts. Colorado Springs is worth visiting if you want high-altitude trails, sandstone rock climbing, and classic Front Range rail history. Look elsewhere if you want dense, walkable urban neighbourhoods and late-night nightlife.
Last updated 2 Nov 2026
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Colorado Springs, or somewhere near it
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What to do in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Colorado Springs spreads out across a wide high-desert plateau against the Front Range wall. Days naturally run on mountain time: out early on the red rock trails before the afternoon heat, followed by casual lunches in Old Colorado City. It suits travellers who prefer hiking poles to cocktail menus, rewarding early risers with clear mountain light and unpretentious roadhouse cooking along the foothills.
24 hours in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Start early at Garden of the Gods before the tour coaches arrive. Grab a green chile breakfast burrito in Old Colorado City, then take the afternoon cog railway up Pikes Peak from Manitou Springs. Finish with an unhurried dinner of seared local trout along Tejon Street. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Devote day two to Manitou Springs, climbing the notorious Incline steps or touring the cliff dwellings. Reward the effort with wood-fired pizza and a cold pilsner on West Colorado Avenue, followed by a quiet walk past Victorian cottages in the historic Old North End. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
A third day allows the seventy-minute scenic drive up to the gold-mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor over Gold Camp Road. Take an afternoon detour through the granite canyon of Phantom Canyon Road, returning for slow-smoked brisket at an authentic roadside smokehouse.
Colorado Springs Colorado United States itineraries by interest
Hiking in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Tackle the steep crags of Red Rock Canyon Open Space or the switchbacks of the Manitou Incline, rising two thousand feet in under one mile.
Local Dining in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Order pork green chile ladled over breakfast burritos or fresh Rocky Mountain trout pan-fried with butter at long-standing neighbourhood diners.
Mountain Railways in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Ride the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, climbing nine miles of pine forests and alpine tundra to fourteen thousand feet.
Rock Formations in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Walk the paved loop beneath the towering red sandstone fins at Garden of the Gods, ideally at dawn before the parking plazas fill.
Mining History in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Explore the Gold Camp Road tunnels and Victorian mining relics left over from the late-nineteenth-century Cripple Creek gold rush.
Craft Beer in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Sample crisp mountain-water lagers and spruce-infused IPAs at independent taprooms along Tejon Street and Old Colorado City.
Military Heritage in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Visit the modernist Cadet Chapel grounds at the Air Force Academy and the Cold War mountain installations around Cheyenne Mountain.
Historic Architecture in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Stroll tree-lined Old North End for Queen Anne residences, or visit the 1918 Broadmoor resort with its Italian Renaissance stone facade.
Day Trips in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Drive the winding mountain highway down to the royal gorge suspension bridge in Cañon City or the preserved gold-mining grid of Victor.
Olympic Sports in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Tour the interactive exhibits at the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum and watch athletes train at the central sports complex.
Coffee & Bakeries in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Grab dark roast drip coffee and dense sourdough loaves at local roasteries and neighbourhood bakeries along West Colorado Avenue.
Scenic Drives in Colorado Springs Colorado United States
Navigate the nineteen-mile Pikes Peak Highway, tackling nineteen hairpin turns through subalpine fir to the summit visitor centre.