Where to Stay in Colorado (Best Areas to Vacation)

8 Best Areas to Vacation & Stay in Colorado

You’ll find fun Colorado things to do in just about every part of 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 in Colorado.

I broke this list down into the 8 areas of Colorado 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 plan to stay at least one night in each place so you have enough 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 stay in Colorado. It’s full of museums, sports teams, parks, and a whole lot of unique things to do! Be sure to check out Nate’s guide to what to do in Denver to help you plan your trip.

The city is big enough that you’ll likely want to rent a car with Discover Cars, especially if you want to visit nearby sights like Red Rocks or hiking paths in the foothills.

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

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 cultural musical performances and a Shakespeare Festival every summer. 

If you’re new to Boulder, then you’ll want to stay near Pearl Street for all the action. The Pearl Street Mall is an outdoor mall where you can browse shops, find great spots to eat, and get a drink or a cup of coffee. 

Boulder is about a half hour drive from Denver, so you can spend a day there as well. 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 at a way lower price point.

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 the benefits of 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, the vibe is less urban and more relaxed, and everyone loves going on outdoor adventures. 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 Northern Colorado 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 Colorado 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, and are some of the best places to stay in Colorado with mountain views.

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.

Check out our guides to staying in these popular Colorado mountain towns:

• Where to Stay in Breckenridge, Colorado
• Where to Stay in Frisco, Colorado
• Where to Stay in Keystone, Colorado
• Where to Stay in Leadville, Colorado

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 iconic Glenwood hot springs, and 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 Mesa Verde National Park to Durango and the various mining and ghost towns in Southern Colorado, 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, and skiing in Telluride, Wolf Creek, and Purgatory can’t be beaten.

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. The advantage of this is that you can vacation in these towns and find things to do that many people who visit Colorado never discover. You can also avoid the crowds of the bigger resort towns!

For ideas on cool Colorado small towns to visit, check out Abigail’s list of the 13 best small towns in Colorado.

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

As you can see from the summaries above, Colorado has a variety of activities and places to visit. However, many of these things are quite 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. Not to mention, 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!

If you’re looking for more ideas for what to do in Colorado, check out our Ultimate Colorado Travel Guide. 

Take Time to Acclimate to the Elevation

Landing in Denver, you’ll already be a mile above sea level, and 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 by checking out historic main streets, or heading to a museum before tackling a long hike or spending a day skiing. 

Hydrate!

One easy way to help acclimate to the higher elevation 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, check out the super cool 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 throughout the day. 

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 23 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. 

However, if you’re looking for where to stay in Colorado near Denver or other Colorado attractions, then don’t stay near the airport. It’s a half-hour drive from the airport to downtown Denver, and even farther to the mountains. 

If you’re planning to spend time in Denver, be sure to check out Nate’s guide to where to stay in Denver for more ideas! 

FAQs About Where to Stay in Colorado

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Hopefully, this guide has given you some good ideas for where to stay in Colorado, depending on what you’re planning to do and see. As a local, I love every single one of these areas for different reasons and I think they’re all worth a visit. Enjoy your stay and welcome!