25 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Colorado Springs

👉 Jump to: Best Things | Museums & Cultural Attractions | Outdoors | Seasonal

I’m a Colorado mom of four with insights into the best things to do in Colorado Springs with kids! This guide covers outdoor activities and educational opportunities for every age and budget. It also includes day trips, some of the most popular attractions in Colorado Springs, and hidden gems your kids will love!

Also, for even more travel insights, be sure to check out my guide on fun things to do across the entire state.

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25 Things to Do in Colorado Springs with Kids

Garden of the Gods

Admire amazing natural rock formations.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 634-6666 | Garden of the Gods Website | Hours: 5 am – 9 pm daily (Nov – April), 5 am – 10 pm (May – Oct) | Entrance: free | 👉 Browse Garden of the Gods Tours on Viator

Kids and adults are fascinated by the rock formations at Garden of the Gods. We like to start at the visitor center, where kids can check out hands-on exhibits and films about the park, and grab a Junior Ranger booklet. Then, we drive into the park itself. There are several lots; although, parking is tricky on weekends or holidays. 

As you enjoy one of the best hikes near Colorado Springs, have the kids try to identify formations like the Kissing Camels and the Sleeping Giant. Also, watch for deer and bighorn sheep as you explore. Main trails are paved so they’re easy to navigate with strollers or wheelchairs. They’re also mostly flat and manageable for little legs.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Feed giraffes and many other animals at one of Colorado’s best zoos.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 633-9925 | Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $29 adults, $24 child

This is the most unique zoo my family has ever visited. It was designed so that kids could get as (safely!) close as possible to a variety of animals. We fed giraffes and budgies for a nominal extra fee. Lines can get long to purchase lettuce for the giraffes, so do that as early as you can. The giraffes are currently housed in a temporary enclosure while a new home is being built.

This really is a “mountain” zoo — you’ll be doing a lot of uphill walking! Paths are paved and good for strollers, and there is an elevator to reach some areas. The zoo requires everyone to reserve tickets ahead of time to avoid having to turn people away on busy days. 

We also happened to visit on a “Dog Day.” You can buy a special ticket for your pup so they’re allowed to visit the animals as well.

Great Wolf Lodge

Slide down a water slide, climb a ropes course, and go bowling at this fun hotel.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (844) 553-9653 | Great Wolf Lodge Website | Hours: 9 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: $40+ per full-day pass | 👉 Book a Stay at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge has a variety of activities for kids including an entire indoor water park. There’s also a ropes course, a bowling alley, a beauty parlor, and a scavenger hunt. You can pop in for a few activities after a day exploring, or book a night at this entertaining lodge. It’s one of the best places to stay in Colorado Springs, especially for families!

Manitou Springs

Shop for souvenirs and stop for a treat!

📍 Google Maps | Manitou Springs Website | 👉 Manitou Springs & Garden of the Gods Jeep Tour

Manitou Springs is one of the best day trips from Colorado Springs! My family loves it as an ice cream stop after visiting Florissant Fossil Beds or Garden of the Gods. 

There are several places to treat yourself to a snack after a day of exploring or to shop for souvenirs. There’s also a fun penny arcade in town where kids can play.

Pikes Peak

Drive or ride the train up America’s Mountain.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 385-7325 | Pikes Peak Website | Hours: Summer 7:30 am – 7 pm daily, Fall 7:30 am – 6 pm, Winter & Spring 9 am – 4 pm | 👉 Browse Pikes Peak Tours on Viator

Pikes Peak is one of the best Colorado 14ers. It’s nicknamed America’s Mountain and is said to be the place that inspired the opening lines to “America The Beautiful.” 

If you choose to drive to the top, there are places to stop along the way to stretch your legs and to let carsick kids take a breather — this is a winding road! 

You can also take the cog railway for an unforgettable experience on one of the state’s most scenic train rides. Make sure to spend some time at the visitors center at the summit to learn all about the mountain.

Museums & Cultural Attractions

Cave of the Winds

Tour caverns and try some high-adventure courses!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 685-5444 | Cave of the Winds Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (Sept – May); 9 am – 6 pm daily (Memorial Day – Labor Day) | Tours: $28+ adults, $18+ ages 4-12, free under 4

Explore these well-lit caves as a family and get an up-close look at stalactites, stalagmites, and other cool formations. Above ground, kids can try the Wind Walker challenge course, the Bat-A-Pult zipline-style ride, and the climbing wall. 

 👉 Pro Tip: Because of the low ceilings in the caverns, baby backpacks, and strollers are not allowed on tours. Front baby carriers are allowed.  

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Tour cliff dwellings and learn about the Ancestral Pueblo people.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 685-5242 | Manitou Cliff Dwelling Website | Hours: 9 am – 4/5 pm (varies by season) | Entrance: $12.75 adults, $8 ages 4-11, free under 4 & over 100

These replicated cliff dwellings near Colorado Springs have been open to the public for more than 100 years. The entire family can take a self-guided tour through the structures and learn more about the Ancestral Puebloans who lived in such homes.

Space Foundation Discovery Center

Kids can explore the Final Frontier at this space museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 576-8000 | Space Foundation Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tues – Sat, Closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: $13 adults, $7 under 16, free under 4 

The Discovery Center shares a collection of space artifacts and displays. Its exhibits cover moon exploration, model rockets, lunar modules, space food, and more. Plan to spend about two hours at this educational attraction. 

Air Force Academy

Visit this picturesque academy with cool aircraft and an unusual chapel.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 333–2025 | Academy Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: free

Kids will find several interesting places on the grounds of the Air Force Academy. The visitor center is the best place to start. Here, you can learn about life as a cadet, see an exhibit about the chapel, and take a nature walk. There’s also a planetarium on campus, where you can see IMAX films or listen to a talk.

👉 Heads Up: The Cadet Chapel is an interesting building to admire from the outside, but the inside is closed for repairs until 2027. 

The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

Indulge a dino-obsessed kid (or adult!).

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 686-1820 | Dinosaur Resource Center Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm Mon – Sat, 10 am – 5 pm Sun | Entrance: $13 adults, $9 under 13, free under 5

Explore the exhibits at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. Check out the skeleton and fossil replicas and learn about giants of the land and sea. Kids can also see paleontologists working on new projects at this educational attraction.

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

Learn the history of the Pikes Peak region.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 385-5990 | Colorado Springs Pioneers Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tues – Sat, Closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: Free

Kids can learn local history at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Some exhibits follow special themes like Women’s History Month. Others are geared towards kids, and there are special kid events like the Little Learners events for preschoolers.

Glen Eyrie Castle

Feel like a fairytale character as you sip afternoon tea at this castle.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 634-0808 | Glen Eyrie Website | Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm Mon – Fri; additional hours available with reservations 

The Glen Eyrie Castle is open for tours and teatime. Plus, your family can even spend the night at the castle! It’s definitely one of the more unusual places to stay in Colorado. 

The Glen Eyrie Castle is part of the ministry of the Navigators and also has a bookstore featuring Christian books, plus a coffee shop.

Play Street Museum

Enjoy rainy day fun with these interactive exhibits.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 377-9779 | Play Street Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 6 pm Mon – Fri, weekends open by reservation | Entrance: $14 kids 1-8 years, free under 1

Kids can explore this outdoor-themed play space on a day when it’s too cold or too hot to actually be outside! A tree house and campsite invite kids 8 and under to play pretend, and this is a great spot to make new friends or bring along a buddy.

The Edward C. Rochette Money Museum

Discover how money makes the world go ‘round.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 367-9723 | Money Museum Website | Hours: 10:30 am – 5 pm Tues – Sat, until 7 pm Sat, closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: $8 adults, free under 13

This is the largest museum on the collection of coins and money in the United States. Kids can gain a new understanding of U.S. and world history by learning about money in all its forms.

Ghost Town Museum

See how those in the Wild West lived.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 634-0696 | Ghost Town Museum Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily (June – Aug), 10 am – 5 pm daily (Sept – May) | Entrance: $8.50 adults, $5.50 under 17, free under 6

This museum features buildings and artifacts from around the Pikes Peak area. Kids can pan for gold, work a butter churn, and practice their aim at the shooting gallery. There’s also a gift shop with lots of fun souvenirs. 

Outdoor Attractions

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Bike and hike through beautiful red rock canyons.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 385-5940 | Red Rock Canyon Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily (May – Oct); 5 am – 9 pm daily (Nov – April) | Entrance: free

Red Rock Canyon Open Space has hiking and mountain biking trails, plus a free-ride bike park and off-leash areas for dogs. The park is also a popular spot for rock climbing tours. Even if kids aren’t climbing themselves, they’ll enjoy watching others try to make it to the top!

The Broadmoor Seven Falls

Climb the stairs to spectacular cascades.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (855) 923-7272 | Seven Falls Website | Hours: vary; seasonal (open March 14 – Nov. 30, 2025) | Entrance: $20 for adults, $14 kids 2-12

Seven Falls is a quick shuttle ride from the prestigious Broadmoor Hotel, which manages the attraction. You’ll then need to walk about a mile to the base of the stairs. Kids may have to take the stairs slowly, but they’ll enjoy following the stream up to the top and seeing the falls. 

They can also enjoy the rock shop, where you can shop for souvenirs. Soaring Adventure, above Seven Falls, features 10 zip lines, rope bridges, and rappelling for an unforgettable trip.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

See strange stone trees and fossil deposits.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 748-3253 | Florissant Fossil Beds Website | Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: $10 adults over 16, free for kids (credit card only)

Florissant Fossil Beds is one of the most interesting Colorado national monuments! To help kids understand what they’re seeing, start at the visitor center where you can get an overview of the park and its history. 

The Petrified Forest Loop takes you by several petrified tree stumps. The Geologic Trail walks you through a billion years of history in the valley. The Hornbek Homestead is another fascinating spot, where a single mom of four kids staked her claim and ran a successful ranch.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Admire colorful clays and learn about local history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 520-7529 | Paint Mines Park Website | Hours: dawn – dusk daily | Entrance: free

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park features layers of multicolored clay that were used as paint by Native Americans. Some areas of the park have evidence of humans dating as far back as 9,000 years. 

Kids can look at the bright clay layers and learn more about the people who lived in this area. They can also see fanciful natural formations like spires and hoodoos while on one of the best Colorado hikes.

Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Center

Explore nature around Colorado Springs.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 520-6387 | Nature Centers Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Tues – Sat, Closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: Free

Take the family on a hike, watch for local wildlife, and see the different ecosystems that make up the area. Inside the Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Center, you’ll also find interpretive programs and hands-on exhibits.

Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center

Learn why wolves matter and how they influence the local environment.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 687-9742 | Wildlife Center Website | Hours: 8 am – 6 pm Tues – Wed & Fri – Sun, closed Mon & Thu | Entrance: $25+ peak season adults, $20+ off-season adults, $15 ages 3 – 11  

The Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center near Colorado Springs is one of the most unique places to visit in Colorado! A special kids tour is geared towards 6 to 11-year-olds and teaches them about being a wildlife biologist. They’ll learn about the traits and adaptations of a wolf, and why they’re important to our state and to the world.

Helen Hunt Falls

Go chasing waterfalls on this easy, family-friendly hike.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 633-5701 | Helen Hunt Falls Website | Hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily (May – Oct), 5 am – 9 pm (Nov – April) | Entrance: free

Stop at the visitor center in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, next to the falls. Then, tailor your walk to Helen Hunt Falls to suit the abilities of your kids! 

Take a short walk to the bottom of the falls, or take another easy walk to see them from the top. You can also continue on to Silver Cascade Falls for beautiful canyon views. 

Seasonal Things to Do

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site

See how people lived hundreds of years ago.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 578-6777 | Rock Ledge Ranch Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed – Sat, 1 pm – 5 pm Sun, closed Tues & Wed (seasonal, June – Aug) | Entrance: $8 adults, $4 ages 3 – 17, free under 3 

This living history museum has tours, demonstrations, and other educational activities. It shares how people lived in the Colorado Springs area throughout history. 

From the Ute people to pioneer and Victorian life, kids can learn about a variety of time periods and the hardships people faced. They can also see a blacksmith work his trade, and shop at the general store for treats.

The North Pole

Enjoy Christmas in summer at this vintage amusement park!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 684-9432 | The North Pole Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Thurs – Mon, closed Tues & Wed (seasonal, May – Dec) | Entrance: GA free, $35 unlimited rides ages 3 – 59, $27 unlimited rides 60+, free unlimited rides 2 and under 

The North Pole (the amusement park, anyway) is along the Pikes Peak Highway on the way to the top of the mountain. You can get your thrills and grab some lunch at this historic attraction, which was built in 1955. Kids will enjoy the rides, and parents will appreciate the kitsch of this quirky spot.

May Natural History Museum

Have a blast with creepy, crawly creatures.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (719) 576-0450 | May Museum Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily (seasonal, May 1 – Oct 1) | Entrance: $13 adults, $10 under 13, free under 6

The May Natural History Museum is also known as “the bug museum,” and rightfully so! Kids can see the 7,000 insects that are preserved and on display to learn more about them. This is one of the largest private displays of tropical bugs on earth.

👉 Read Next: Best Things to Do in Colorado with Kids

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Hopefully, this guide has given you lots of great ideas! Let me know in the comments what you’re most excited to experience. Also, before you go, be sure to bookmark my list of things to do in Denver with kids for more family-friendly activities.