Where to Stay in Colorado (Best Areas to Vacation)

8 Best Areas to Vacation & Stay in Colorado

You’ll find fun things to do in Colorado everywhere in the state. Whether you want skiing in the mountains, the quieter scenery of Northern Colorado, Denver’s museums, or the culture in Boulder, you’ll find lots to keep you busy.

I broke this list down into the eight areas of Colorado that people are most interested in visiting. If you’d like to do several things, like visit Denver and ski in the mountains, then your best bet is to stay at least one night in each place so you have time to enjoy each area. 

Denver

👉 Best Area For City Fun | ✨ Best Denver Hotels: The Maven • The Oxford Hotel • The Crawford

Undoubtedly, Denver is one of the best cities in Colorado. It’s full of museums, sports teams, parks, and a whole lot of unique things to do!

There are dozens of hotels to choose from, but I especially recommend The Maven for its central location. Union Station lies just a few blocks away, providing public transit all over the metro area.

Check out our complete guide on where to stay in Denver to find your perfect stay.

Pros of Staying in Denver:

• Lots of great restaurants, bars, and breweries
• Several pro sports team stadiums 
• Many museums and theaters 

Con of Staying in Denver:

• Hotels can be pricey

Boulder

👉 Best Area For College Town Vibes | ✨ Best Boulder Hotels: Hotel Boulderado • St. Julien Hotel & Spa • Basecamp Boulder

If you’re looking for beautiful hiking trails, horseback riding, rock climbing, and mountain biking spots, then Boulder is a great option. It may be the best city to stay in Colorado for outdoor enthusiasts.

However, it’s also home to the largest college in Colorado, meaning plenty of college football games, along with great music and a Shakespeare Festival every summer. 

If you’re new to Boulder, you’ll want to stay at St. Julien Hotel & Spa or another spot near Pearl Street. This outdoor mall is where you’ll find all the action. Browse shops, find spots to eat, and get a drink or a cup of coffee. 

Boulder is about a half-hour drive from Denver. Get planning your trip to Boulder with our complete guide to where to stay in Boulder.

Pros of Staying in Boulder:

• Funky, college town vibe
• Lots of great bars & restaurants
• Lots of hiking & nearby nature

Con of Staying in Boulder:

• Can be expensive

Colorado Springs

👉 Best Area For Pikes Peak Access | ✨ Best Colorado Springs Hotels: The Broadmoor • Garden of the Gods Club & Resort • Great Wolf Lodge 

Colorado Springs is the best spot to stay if you want to visit Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and Manitou Springs.

The city is located on the east side of the Rocky Mountains and about an hour south of Denver — close enough that you can make this your home base and still see all that Denver has to offer, but generally at a lower cost. The Broadmoor, a five-star luxury resort, is one particular exception (and it comes highly recommended).

Another benefit to staying in a hotel in Colorado Springs is that there are lots of hiking trails and outdoor activities in the area. If you’re looking for a city with easy access to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs may be your best area to stay in Colorado.

For more tips, see my detailed guide to where to stay in Colorado Springs.

Pros of Staying in Colorado Springs:

• Many hotels & restaurants are cheaper than Denver and Boulder
• Close to Pikes Peak
• Lots of outdoor activities in Colorado Springs

Con of Staying in Colorado Springs:

• Not as urban and bustling as Denver

Northern Colorado

👉 Best Area For Laid Back Nature | ✨ Best Northern Colorado Hotels: Boulder Brook on Fall River • The Elizabeth Hotel • The Armstrong Hotel

Northern Colorado has a very different feel than the metro areas of Denver and Boulder. The mountains look different here, and the vibe is less urban and more relaxed. Two big colleges, Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, also bring plenty of students to the area. 

Estes Park, a town just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, is a big regional draw and a great place to make your home base while you explore the park. It’s full of wildlife sightings, hiking trails, and forested wilderness. Steamboat Springs, also in Northern Colorado, makes for a great mountain getaway.

Pros of Staying in Northern Colorado:

• Lots of spots most tourists don’t visit
• Close to Rocky Mountain National Park
• Small college towns

Con of Staying in Northern Colorado:

• Many Colorado landmarks are farther south

Central Mountain Towns

👉 Best Area For Skiing | ✨ Best Mountain Hotels: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek • The Lodge at Breckenridge • The Arrabelle at Vail Square

Many of Colorado’s central mountain ski towns are just a short drive off I-70. These include Vail Resorts ski destinations including Vail, Breckenridge, and Keystone.

Staying in this area can be pricey, so if you’re traveling with a large group or family, it’s probably best to spend the money on a roomy hotel suite or cabin. This will help you save a little if breakfast is included or if there’s a kitchenette. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple and really want to save, look for hostels.

I also suggest staying in Frisco, a small town set in the center of Summit County. Hotel rates are more affordable than slopeside lodging, yet key tourist attractions are within a short driving distance.

Pros of Staying in Central Mountain Towns:

• Close to skiing
• Close to outdoor activities in summer
• Many have spas and upscale shopping

Con of Staying in Central Mountain Towns:

• Mountain resort town hotels can be pricey

Western Slope

👉 Best Area For Hot Springs | ✨ Best Western Slope Hotels: The Little Nell • Glenwood Hot Springs Resort • Castle Creek Manor 

The Western Slope of Colorado encompasses many different areas, from Maroon Bells and the upscale Aspen ski resorts to the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction.

You’ll find plenty of family fun and outdoor activities here, plus some of Colorado’s best hot springs in Aspen and Glenwood Springs.

Pros of Staying on the Western Slope:

• Fewer crowds
• Lots of outdoor activities

Con of Staying on the Western Slope:

• Towns are far apart 

Southern Colorado

👉 Best Area For Historic Adventures | ✨ Best Southern Colorado Hotels: New Sheridan Hotel • The Strater Hotel • Fireside Cabins

From Durango and Mesa Verde National Park to the various mining and ghost towns, you’ll get a whole lot of history in the southern Colorado area. Pagosa Springs is a great spot to pamper yourself and soak in the hot springs. Meanwhile, the skiing in Telluride, Wolf Creek, and Purgatory can’t be beat.

Pros of Staying in Southern Colorado:

• Lots of outdoor activities
• Lots of historic sites
• Beautiful scenery

Con of Staying in Southern Colorado:

• A far drive from Denver and more populated spots

Quirky Small Towns

👉 Best Area For Unusual Adventures | ✨ Best Quirky Small Town Hotels: Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort • Bross Hotel B & B • The Delaware Hotel

Colorado is full of funky, artsy, outdoorsy small towns that don’t get the love that the areas with fancy ski resorts do. Some of my favorites include Buena Vista and Leadville in the central mountains, as well as Silverton in the southwest corner.

You can vacation here and find things to do that many people who visit Colorado never discover. You can also avoid the crowds of the bigger towns!

Pros of Staying in Quirky Small Towns:

• Off-the-beaten path activities
• Fewer crowds
• Less expensive restaurants, bars, and entertainment

Con of Staying in Quirky Small Towns:

• Fewer conveniences
• Possibly a much longer drive to the airport and other sites

Tips for Staying in Colorado

Plan Your Colorado Trip in Advance

Colorado has a variety of places to visit and things to do. However, many of these things are a far distance from each other.

If you want to see the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park but also stop in Denver to explore, that’s a six-hour-plus drive. If you’re planning to drive from Denver to ski in the central mountain towns off I-70, traffic on weekends can also be a big issue. 

Set realistic expectations for what you will see and how long it will take you to get there. If you’re visiting in late fall, winter, or spring, check the weather for storms as well — those will definitely affect your travel!

Take Time to Acclimate

You’ll already be a mile above sea level when you land in Denver. It’s likely that many things you want to do here will take you to even higher altitudes. 

If you’re planning to ski, hike, or try other outdoor activities, then give yourself a day or so to acclimate to Colorado’s elevation first. Do some easy sightseeing and check out historic main streets, or explore a museum before tackling a long hike or skiing.

Hydrate!

One easy way to help acclimate is to drink plenty of water. Bring a water bottle along while sightseeing, and definitely bring at least one and possibly several when you hike, mountain bike, or exercise.

If you plan to get out in the mountains and do some hiking, try the Grayl filtration water bottle.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Colorado gets at least some sun on most days of the year, and it’s easy to burn here. Bring a good sunscreen and reapply it frequently. 

Pack Smart for Colorado

Bringing everything you need on your Colorado trip (without bogging yourself down) is an art. Abigail has a helpful Colorado packing list, which includes 22 things that many people forget when they’re visiting Colorado.

Know the 420 Laws

We’re a green state…and not just in an eco-friendly way! If you’re planning on smoking pot while visiting Colorado, then make sure you read up on the laws of Colorado marijuana use beforehand.

Don’t Stay by the Airport

If you’re looking for a spot to stay the night before you fly out, or you’re getting in late and want a nearby spot to crash, then the hotels near DIA are a great choice. 

But if you’re looking to stay in Denver, then don’t book near the airport. It’s a half-hour drive from DIA to downtown Denver, and even farther to the mountains.

Want More? Listen to Abigail’s Colorado Podcast Episode!

If you liked this post, you’ll love Abigail’s (a fellow Travel Lemming creator) Colorado episode on the Travel Lemming Podcast. It’s available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts (just search “Travel Lemming Colorado”). 

She talks about where to stay in Colorado at minute mark 23:39. Here are the hotels she mentions in the episode:

• The Crawford (Denver)
• Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood by IHG (Denver)

The host, Betty, and Abigail also discussed her favorite things to do in Colorado (05:40), the best ski resorts & passes (32:38), travel tips and best time to visit (40:53), why more people should visit Colorado (03:09) and all the other common questions about travel to Colorado. 

Download now and remember to listen to the entire episode before you arrive in Colorado.

FAQs About Where to Stay in Colorado

What is the most beautiful place to stay in Colorado?

Telluride is the most beautiful place to stay in Colorado. Telluride is situated in a box canyon in southern Colorado and is known for both gorgeous mountain views and for the historic buildings that line Main Street. 

Which part of Colorado should I visit?

You should visit Denver on a trip to Colorado. The capital city has a variety of museums, performing arts centers, stores, and well-regarded restaurants, all set against a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Rocky Mountain National Park is about a ninety-minute drive from Denver, and is another must-see destination.

Is Denver or Colorado Springs better for vacation?

Denver is better for a vacation if this is your first time traveling to Colorado. There are many things to do in Denver and it’s just a short drive to hiking and sightseeing in the mountains. Although it is cheaper to stay in Colorado Springs, it’s best to spend the money and stay in Denver.

When should I visit Colorado?

The best time to visit Colorado is from March to May or September to October. Those months are considered the off-season, and you’ll find cheaper rates and fewer crowds. 

How many days do you need to visit Colorado?

You’ll need one week to visit Colorado if you want to spend time in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Rocky Mountain National Park. If you want to explore southern Colorado, including the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park or the breathtaking town of Telluride, you’ll need at least 10 days. 

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As a local, I love every single one of these areas for different reasons and I think they’re all worth a visit. Welcome and enjoy your stay! For more help planning your trip, see our Colorado road trip itinerary next.