Colorado
Travelers come for the Rocky Mountains, ski towns and hot springs, with mesas, canyons and dunes in the south and west.
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Colorado is a landlocked state in the Mountain West, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Denver, the state capital and largest city, anchors the Front Range, where most residents live along the Rockies' eastern foothills. Colorado is the only U.S. state lying entirely above 1,000 meters, and its land runs from high plains to canyons, mesas, desert and alpine peaks.
Most trips here are built around the mountains. Colorado has 58 named peaks of 14,000 feet or higher, and the Western Slope holds ski towns, hot springs and river canyons. In the south, Great Sand Dunes sits in the San Luis Valley, and the southwest has traces of Ancestral Pueblo peoples. Denver sits at about 5,280 feet, so take the first day slowly. Summer suits high-elevation hiking, winter suits skiing, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in spring and summer. A week covers the Front Range and one mountain area.
Colorado in five
- Rest a day after arriving in DenverDenver sits at about 5,280 feet, and 58 named peaks in the state rise above 14,000 feet. Drink water and keep the first day easy before any hard hike.
- Start hikes early to avoid afternoon stormsAfternoon thunderstorms are common east of the Continental Divide in spring and summer. They are usually brief, but hail is frequent, especially in the northeast.
- Ride the California Zephyr over the RockiesAmtrak's California Zephyr crosses the Rockies between Denver and Grand Junction on Union Pacific tracks. It is the rail link to the Western Slope.Getting around
- Pack layers for Chinook winds and foothill weatherFront Range cities can be much warmer in winter during Chinook winds. Conditions in the foothills change over a few miles, so bring layers you can add and remove.
- Follow fire rules in the dry seasonColorado averages only 17 inches of precipitation a year, so wildfire risk is high. Obey fire bans and check the county or land agency before lighting any fire.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Colorado, the full guide
Denver
- Best for: First trip, rail travel
- Price band: $$
- Union Station is the Amtrak stop for the California Zephyr
- Walk to restaurants and bars in LoDo
- Denver is the largest city in Colorado
Skip if you want quiet streets and mountain views at the door.
Aspen
- Best for: Ski trips, film fans
- Price band: $$$$
- Aspen is one of the Western Slope ski resorts
- The Aspen Shortsfest film festival is held here
- Stay near the town center to walk to shops
Skip if you want the lowest prices or a short drive to Denver's airport.
Colorado Springs
Red sandstone towers, a 14,115-foot summit and mineral springs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, about 70 miles south of Denver.
Boulder
Go to Boulder for hikes on the red sandstone Flatirons, a car-free downtown on Pearl Street, and an easy drive to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Things to do in Colorado
See all attractions in Colorado
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for visa-waiver travelers; a visa for everyone else Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15% to 20% at restaurants and bars
- Time
- UTC-7 (MST), UTC-6 in summer (MDT, daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, skiing
- FebruarySnow, skiing
- MarchSnowiest month
- AprilWettest month
- MayStorm season
- JuneLong days
- JulyHot, storms
- AugustHot, dry
- SeptemberClear, mild
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCooling down
- DecemberCold, snow
Right now in Colorado
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 55%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 56%
Colorado
03:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°-1°56%Monday: Snow. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 56%.
- Tue8°-2°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed9°-2°83%Wednesday: Snow. High 9°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Thu8°-2°40%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Fri8°-1°12%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat10°-3°7%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun14°-2°2%Sunday: Clear. High 14°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 01:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Boulderabout 1 hour by carPearl Street shops and Flatirons trails, a short drive from Denver.Read the guide
- Colorado Springsabout 1.5 hours by carPikes Peak rises above the city, a fourteener close to town.Read the guide
- Glenwood Springsabout 3 hours by carResort hot springs on the Western Slope, on the road toward Aspen.
- Aspenabout 4 hours by carA ski resort town and the home of the Aspen Shortsfest film festival.Read the guide
Before you go to Colorado
Rules for Colorado, checked
- Check entry rules, including ESTA for visa-waiver travelers, on the official CBP site before you fly.Source
- Adult use of marijuana is protected by the state constitution. Check local rules on where it is allowed before you use it.
- The state sales tax applies to retail sales, and many counties and cities add their own sales tax on top.
- Fire bans and burn restrictions change with dry conditions. Check the county or land agency before you light any fire.
Plan around Colorado
State capital and largest city, on the Front Range
Read the guideBoulderUniversity town below the Flatirons, with Pearl Street shops
Read the guideColorado SpringsSecond largest city, with Pikes Peak rising above it
Read the guideAspenSki resort on the Western Slope, with the Aspen Shortsfest
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, highways and the California Zephyr to the Western Slope
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs ESTA or a visa before flying to Denver
Read the guideColorado FAQ
Is Colorado worth visiting for a first trip?
Yes, if you want mountains, cities and rail or road trips in one state. Denver, Boulder and one mountain town cover most first visits.
How many days do you need in Colorado?
Five to seven days covers Denver, Boulder and one mountain town. Add a day for each national park or for the hot springs at Glenwood Springs.
Is Denver or Colorado Springs a better base?
Denver is the larger city and the main rail hub, with the California Zephyr leaving from Union Station. Colorado Springs is closer to Pikes Peak.
Do I need a car in Colorado?
A car helps for mountain towns, the Great Sand Dunes and national parks. Denver and Boulder can be visited without one, and the California Zephyr crosses the Rockies between Denver and Grand Junction.
Is Colorado high altitude?
Yes. Denver is at about 5,280 feet, and 58 named peaks rise above 14,000 feet, known as fourteeners.
Can you visit the Great Sand Dunes as a day trip from Denver?
The dunes are in the San Luis Valley, a long drive from Denver. An overnight stay makes more sense.