Where to Stay in Colorado Springs (Best Places & Areas)

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Colorado Springs

Your ideal accommodations will depend on your itinerary. Check out the above Colorado Springs map for reference. Some of the most popular areas to stay are downtown, near Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy area, Manitou Springs, southeast Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, and Monument.

Let’s break it down further:

Garden of the Gods

👉 Best Area For Sightseeing | ✨ Best Garden of the Gods Hotels: Garden of the Gods Club & Resort • The Broadmoor • Cheyenne Mountain Resort

Garden of the Gods is one of many gorgeous Colorado Springs attractions. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also nearby, and you’ll have beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains throughout the area.

Additionally, this region is home to The Broadmoor, one of the best-known luxury hotels in Colorado Springs. It has its own hiking trail to a beautiful waterfall, six on-site restaurants, 36 holes of golf, a full-service spa, and more.

Pros of Staying in Garden of the Gods Neighborhood:

• Beautiful scenery
• Near lots of unique attractions
• Great for tourists

Con of Staying in Garden of the Gods Neighborhood:

• You’ll need a car to get around
• Not close to downtown

Downtown Colorado Springs

👉 Best Area For Museums | ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: Kinship Landing • Hyatt Place Colorado Springs Downtown • The Mining Exchange

There are plenty of attractions and cultural sites in the Colorado Springs city center. Downtown is a designated Creative District in the state of Colorado, so there is lots of public art on display. Several museums including the Pioneers Museum and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum are nearby, and there are lots of shops and restaurants. 

Kinship Landing is a beautiful boutique hotel, and Hyatt Place includes an indoor swimming pool and free hot breakfast, which adds to the value of your stay there.

Pros of Staying in the Downtown Neighborhood:

• Shops and restaurants within walking distance
• Near parks, museums, and live music venues

Con of Staying in the Downtown Neighborhood:

• Seeing iconic sights will require a car

Air Force Academy

👉 Best Area For Air Force Proximity | ✨ Best Air Force Academy Hotels: Great Wolf Lodge • The Lodge at Flying Horse • Drury Inn & Suites

Whether you’re visiting a cadet or just checking out the area, there are several great places to stay near the Air Force Academy. The communities of Northgate and Briargate are near the academy on the northern side of Colorado Springs. They feature some great hotels; although, there is limited public transportation here and you’ll need a car rental.

In particular, Great Wolf Lodge is so much fun with a waterpark, a climbing area, and other attractions — you may have trouble convincing the kids to leave the premises. Drury Inn & Suites has an indoor swimming pool and a free hot breakfast each morning, making it easier to get on your way. 

Pros of Staying in the Air Force Academy Neighborhood:

• Close to the academy
• Lots of hotels with family-friendly amenities

Con of Staying in Air Force Academy Neighborhood:

• Need a car to get around
• 15 min from sights like Garden of the Gods and downtown

Manitou Springs

👉 Best Area For Pikes Peak Access | ✨ Best Manitou Springs Hotels: Cliff House at Pikes Peak • Red Wing Motel • Villa Motel at Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs is one of the most charming small towns in Colorado and a great place to stay for vacation vibes. The downtown area has plenty of ice cream shops, cafes, and souvenir stores — as well as fantastic lodging like the Cliff House at Pikes Peak.

Manitou Springs is also the starting point for getting to Pikes Peak, so if that’s on your itinerary, then this makes a great base camp. You can hike, drive, or take one of the state’s most scenic train rides to the summit.

Pros of Staying in Manitou Springs:

• Quaint downtown with shops & restaurants
• Several interesting attractions in the city
• Starting point for getting to Pikes Peak

Con of Staying in Manitou Springs Neighborhood:

• Not many upscale amenities if you’re looking for a resort feel

Southeast Colorado Springs

👉 Best Area For Business Travelers | ✨ Best Southeast Colorado Springs Hotels: Radisson Hotel Colorado Springs • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Colorado Springs-Airport • TownePlace Suites by Marriott Colorado Springs South

This region is near the Colorado Springs airport, so it’s a great spot if you’re in town on business — especially if you’ll be arriving late or leaving early on a flight.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites and other hotels in this area feature free transportation to and from the airport. However, you may want a car if you plan to do some sightseeing. 

Pros of Staying in Southeast Colorado Springs Neighborhood:

• Close to the airport
• Plenty of food and bars in the area
• Free airport transportation

Con of Staying in Southeast Colorado Springs Neighborhood:

• Farther from sights and attractions

Old Colorado City

👉 Best Area For Historic Charm | ✨ Best Old Colorado City Hotels: Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast • Old Town GuestHouse B&B

Old Colorado City is a small historic area in El Paso County, just outside of Colorado Springs. It has plenty of cute boutiques, bars, bistros, and a sizable number of art galleries. There are also charming places to stay, like Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast.

Old Colorado City was a main industrial hub in the late 1800s, and as such was a quintessential Wild West town. It’s a charming place to situate yourself while you explore the Colorado Springs area, and you’ll have a blast diving into the history.

Pros of Staying in Old Colorado City Neighborhood:

• Quaint, walkable streets
• Lots of B&Bs and vacation homes to stay in

Cons of Staying in Old Colorado City Neighborhood:

• Not many hotels
• Need a car to get around

Monument

👉 Best Area For Getting to Denver | ✨ Best Monument Hotels: My Place Hotel-Colorado Springs • Monument Retreat • Fairfield Inn and Suites

Monument is north of Colorado Springs, along I-25 and closer to places to stay in Denver. This makes it a great choice if you’d like to visit both cities; although, it’s much closer to Colorado Springs. In fact, it’s about 50 miles from Denver and only 20 miles from Colorado Springs.

Nearby Palmer Lake and the Pike National Forest provide plenty of space for outdoor activities. If you want to get out of the city feel and crowds, Monument may just be your place.

Pros of Staying in Monument Neighborhood:

• Quiet
• Lots of outdoor activities nearby

Con of Staying in Monument Neighborhood:

• 20-minute drive to Colorado Springs

Tips for Staying in Colorado Springs

Rent a Car

There are some cities in Colorado that you can visit and not need your own wheels. But if you want to explore attractions in Colorado Springs or make a day trip to Denver, then you’ll want a rental car. 

The exception to this is if you’re traveling to town for business. Hotels near the Colorado Springs airport usually offer free airport shuttle transportation and you can find places to eat and drink at your hotel or nearby. 

🚗 Pro Tip: Discover Cars is a great place to look for a Colorado Springs rental car.

Drink Lots of Water

You’ll want to drink lots of water while you’re in Colorado Springs, or anywhere in Colorado. Staying hydrated will help your body to better deal with the challenges of higher altitudes. Also, if you’re out exploring, you’ll likely be using a lot of energy and will need to make sure you stay hydrated for that reason as well.

Always Wear Sunscreen

The high altitude can also do a number on your skin. Make sure you apply sunscreen liberally and often. This is another one of those things it’s easy to forget in the winter months but the reflection from the snow makes it even more important to protect yourself. 

Sunscreen for sensitive skin like La Roche-Posay Sunscreen Milk works great for the face, with a sport sunscreen for arms and legs. 

Spend a Day Acclimating

Don’t plan to summit Pikes Peak, one of Colorado’s iconic 14ers, the day after you get into town. Spend a day or two doing some easy sightseeing — strolling the cute historic streets or visiting a Colorado Springs museum. Let your body adjust for a bit before tackling more strenuous outdoor activities.  

Plan Your Trip

From hikes near Colorado Springs to cultural sites and afternoon tea at an actual castle, there’s a lot to do in this city. Plan ahead to make the most of your visit — and be sure to consider day trips from Colorado Springs, too.

Be Prepared

Not sure what to pack for a trip to Colorado? Check out this Colorado packing list, which includes the items many people frequently forget or wish they had thought of when they’re visiting.

FAQs About Where to Stay in Colorado Springs

Is downtown Colorado Springs safe?

Downtown Colorado Springs is safe. You’ll find many people out and about, both during the day and at night, headed to restaurants, bars, museums, and shops. 

Is downtown Colorado Springs walkable?

Downtown Colorado Springs is walkable. Visitors who stay in the area will find restaurants, bars, shops, parks, and other attractions that are all within an easy stroll. The area is a designated Creative District, which means there is a lot of public artwork that can be viewed on a pleasant walk through the area as well.

What is the best part of Colorado Springs to stay?

The Garden of the Gods area is the best part of Colorado Springs to stay in. Visitors will be close to the park, as well as to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Old Colorado City, and other sights that are unique to Colorado Springs.

Can you stay on Pikes Peak?

You can stay on Pikes Peak. You can stay closer to the top of the peak if you plan to camp. There is also a hostel-like bunkhouse and tent cabins at Barr Camp on the way up to the summit. If you’re looking for a comfortable hotel and more upscale amenities, the Cliff House at Pikes Peak is at the foot of the mountain.

***

Thanks for reading my guide! Check out my article on where to stay in Colorado for more trip planning advice.