Colorado (USA) Travel Guide

Colorado was my first travel love, and it’s still one of my favorite states to visit. The scenery—in the words of my parents—is “dramatic” in the best way.

While the alpine views from the state’s mountain towns are an undeniable highlight, Colorado’s landscapes also include towering red rocks, otherworldly sand dunes, desert canyons, and even plains.

Whether you like to ski, hike, road trip, learn about history, stroll and shop, drink some of the country’s best craft beers, or just enjoy a good meal with a view, Colorado has something for everyone.

That said, Colorado is hardly an undiscovered destination so plan ahead especially for popular destinations in peak seasons.  You may need permits, advance tickets, or an “alpine start.”

Ready to visit Colorado? Use this Colorado travel guide page as the jumping off point to plan the Colorado adventure of your dreams.  Scroll down to see all Colorado blog posts.

When is the best time to visit Colorado?

There’s no bad season to visit Colorado, but the BEST season to visit Colorado depends on your interests and weather preferences.  Here’s a little more on each season:

Winter (December – February) – If you love winter sports or a hot toddy in a mountain lodge, winter is your season to visit Colorado.  Though, it is high season which means high prices and ski traffic on I-70.  It’s also worth noting that ski and snowboard season extends beyond February.

Spring (March – May) – Spring in Colorado is a season of contrast – you could get sunny, warm temps or you could get snow.  One March in Colorado Springs, I went from hanging in the yard in shorts to bundled up for snow in a matter of days!  Spring is a great time to consider Colorado if you’re looking for deals.

Summer (June – August) – Summer is prime time for outdoor adventures like hiking, climbing, mountain, biking and rafting.  July and August are particularly prime for hiking higher elevations or one of the states famous 14ers as snow has melted in most areas.

Mountain towns come alive with festivals and farmers markets, and long daylight hours give you plenty of time to pack in the fun.

Fall (September – November) – Fall in Colorado is for “leaf peeping” – i.e. roadtripping or hiking to view the fall color change. Seeing golden aspen leaves flutter might just make you believe in magic.

It’s also a nice time to visit cities as the weather is cooler.  Pre-season, you can find deals in ski towns and enjoy them with fewer crows than during season.