The best time to visit Colorado Springs, CO, is in the spring, from March to May, and in the fall, between September and October. Although Colorado Springs is a spectacular destination at any time of year, if you’re looking for maximum bang for your buck, these months can’t be beat.
The shoulder season months (March to May and September to October) offer comfortable temperatures, smaller crowds, and lower rates on just about everything in Colorado Springs. All that, plus the pleasure of spending time surrounded by stunning natural beauty!
You can expect daytime temperatures in Colorado Springs to hover between the mid-40s to mid-50s Fahrenheit (7°C to 15°C) during the spring, while the average for fall is in the low to mid-70s (21°C to 23°C). These mild temperatures make it all the more tempting to experience this nature lover’s paradise.
While “The Springs” is a year-round travel destination, it’s wise to scope out the ups and downs of the mercury to narrow down your top travel choices. Get the inside scoop on when to visit Colorado Springs with this complete weather guide by season and by month!
Got more travel plans on the horizon? Check out our other weather & when to go guides and our Colorado Travel Guide for more tips & recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do on your vacation!
Weather in Colorado Springs
By season
Spring
If you’re looking for outdoor adventures, small crowds, and reasonable prices, put spring at the top of your list for a Colorado Springs visit. During the spring season (March, April, and May), you’ll avoid the summer crowds and snag some great hotel deals.
With average temperatures ranging between the 50s and high 60s Fahrenheit (10°C to 20°C), it’s a perfect time to get out and soak up the alpine scenery. (One caveat: March and April are known for their unpredictable weather. Snowstorms are still possible, so pack layers and prepare to be flexible!) As the locals will tell you: if you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes.
Spring is wildflower season, dappling the hills and mountainsides with beautiful splashes of color. If you’ve got energy to burn, get your adrenaline pumping on the hiking trails of the iconic Pike’s Peak. If you’re a river rat, gear up for whitewater rafting action. What’s better than shooting the tumbling Arkansas River alongside the awesome Rocky Mountains?
For landlubbers, there are plenty of local dry land hotspots, including the world-class Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the beautiful historic buildings of Old Colorado City.
Summer
If you want great weather and loads of activity options, plan a summertime stay in Colorado Springs. June to August is the city’s peak tourist season, featuring plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures with lows in the low-50s and average daytime highs in the low 80s.
Pack lots of layers that you can peel off as the mercury rises. The city’s dry heat can be intense in the sunshine, too, so be sure to pack a water bottle whenever you’re out and about.
Warm, sunny weather makes this a perfect time to enjoy a bounty of natural attractions. Explore the world-renowned Pike’s Peak or the stunning red rock of the Garden of the Gods. Or dive into the festival scene at events like the Manitou Springs Wine Fest or the Royal Gorge Whitewater Fest.
If you’ve got kids in your crew, check out family-friendly attractions like farmers’ markets, outdoor movie nights, or picnicking and camping at gorgeous Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
You won’t be the only one tempted by the charms of a Colorado Springs summer. This is the most popular time to visit, so expect sky-high hotel rates and low room availability at the most popular hotels in Colorado Springs.
Book well in advance – and be prepared to wait your turn to get that perfect Pikes Peak pic!
Fall
If you want to experience Colorado Springs at the height of its natural beauty, fall is the hands-down winner. Blazing with brilliant foliage, the months of September and October are dazzlers – making The Springs one of the country’s most popular destinations for “leaf peeping.”
With comfortable highs ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit (13°C to 24°C), the autumn season is perfect for outdoor activity and tackling popular Colorado Springs day trips like Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. And as the summer’s tourist surge subsides, so do the flight and hotel rates. A perfect combination!
Fall is a beautiful time to drink in the splendors of the top tourist attractions in Colorado Springs. Head for the amazing Garden of the Gods, a National Natural Landmark. With over 20 miles of hiking trails that cut through stunning red rock formations, this is an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Test your climbing skills on the world-famous Pikes Peak and be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountain range in its gold-and-russet glory. Hike the Manitou Springs Incline for amazing views of the city.
But why stay earthbound? Soar through the air on a zipline, and take in an unforgettable birds-eye view of the color-drenched alpine scenery.
Winter
The winter months from November through February are relatively quiet in Colorado Springs. Winter sports enthusiasts pass up the city’s less-than-ideal snow conditions in favor of the deep powder of ski towns like Vail. This makes for small crowds—and the cheapest flight and hotel rates of the year.
Colorado winters can be fickle—mild one day and frigid the next, with nights dropping below freezing. But don’t let that crimp your style. Follow the lead of Coloradans, and keep extra layers within easy reach.
Compared to other Colorado cities, The Springs enjoys relatively temperate winters, with quick snow melts and average daily highs hovering around 45°F (7°C).
Get into the festive winter spirit at the city’s famous Broadmoor Hotel in southwest Colorado Springs. Decked out for the holidays, this historic hotel hosts loads of fun, family-friendly events from November through the New Year.
Enjoy breathtaking mountain views while staying cozy with a scenic mountainside tour on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Or brave the elements and snowshoe over one of the area’s nearby trails.
Check out a slew of fun cold weather events, including the Cripple Creek Ice Festival, the Fruitcake Toss, and the Steamboat Winter Carnival.
By month
January
No way around it: January is the coldest month in Colorado Springs, with an average high of 42°F (6°C) and an average low of 14°F (-10°C). If you’re willing to brave the cool temps, you’ll be rewarded with the year’s cheapest flights and hotel rates – and the best time to (nearly) have the place to yourself.
Dress in layers and get out to soak up some residual holiday spirit. Warm up at fun events like the Fruitcake Toss at Manitou Springs. Where else can you see holiday leftovers fly?
February
With nearly five inches of snow, February is one of the snowiest months of the year – so you’ll have plenty of material to build snowmen and have snowball fights. The mercury begins to creep upwards, with an average low of 19.5°F (-7°C) and an average high of about 45°F (7°C).
Dive into Colorado Springs’ winter action at the Cripple Creek Ice Festival, where ice carvers transform huge ice blocks into entrancing works of art. Soak up the spirit (and some warming homemade gumbo) at the Manitou Springs Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-off. Get in on the fun at the Steamboat Winter Carnival, the oldest running winter carnival west of Mississippi.
March
March in Colorado Springs can be temperamental, with everything from rain to snowstorms to relatively balmy average highs in the mid-50s Fahrenheit (low-teens°C). Weather conditions can shift faster than forecasters can keep up with – but as the locals like to say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes.”
With the warming weather, visitors begin to return for key events like Spring Break and the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Colorado Springs. Dozens of local restaurants and vendors come together to offer Taste of Pikes Peak, a delicious array of culinary treats.
April
In April, the mercury continues to rise, with averages in the low 30s (-1°C to 1°C) on the low end to the upper 50s degrees (mid-teens degrees Celsius) on the high end.
April marks the return of the popular First Friday Art Walks in Old Colorado City, a great time to browse local galleries and engage with the artists. Don’t miss out on Pikes Peak Restaurant Week, when you can sample from a bevy of restaurants with fixed-price discounted menus. And since April is a month to celebrate rebirth, why not raise a glass at the Spring Wine Extravaganza?
May
May is a beautiful time, with wildflower season in full bloom. Though the occasional snowstorm has been known to blow through, May sees the transition of snowfall into about two inches of rainfall.
The mercury is on a steady rise in May, with comfortable averages ranging from lows in the low 40s (4°C to 6°C) to highs close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21°C). Bonus: since the summer surge hasn’t yet begun, you’ll still be able to snag good hotel deals.
Late May is the unofficial festival kickoff season. Get in on the pre-summer action at events like the Territory Days in Old Colorado City, Colorado’s biggest street fair. Other May events to check out include Art on the Streets, Canon City Music & Blossom Festival, and the Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival.
June
June is a busy time in Colorado Springs as a wave of visitors begins to arrive to enjoy the warm weather. Unfortunately, that means that hotel prices jump by over 50% – making this the most expensive time to visit.
Temperatures are still very comfortable, ranging between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (10°C to 27°C) as the average lows and highs.
Get into the summertime swing with popular local events like the Old Colorado City Farmers Market. Check out Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where the climbing is done by vehicles racing to reach the summit.
For more down-to-earth fare, chow down at the Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast, then cheer on the buckaroos at the Top of the World Rodeo.
July
Come July, the Colorado Springs summer is in full swing. This tends to be the city’s hottest month, with temperatures ranging from lows in the mid-50s (12°C to 13°C) to highs in the upper 80s (low 30s°C). The month’s 2.8 inches of rainfall helps offset the dry heat – but don’t forget that water bottle!
Join the crowds that throng to the 4th of July Symphony in the Park, the Rocky Mountain State Games, and other festive community events. But if you’d prefer to stay cool, no sweat! Chill out with some whitewater rafting in Cañon City, or hang out at the Whitewater Festival for “boats, bands, and beer.”
August
With the arrival of August, the mercury begins a gradual descent – but by only a degree or two. The average temperature in Colorado Springs in August ranges from a high of about 84°F (29°C) to a low of about 55°F (13°C). The length of the day decreases by over an hour, giving some respite from the July heat. With over 3 inches of rain, August is the city’s wettest month – so consider packing rain gear.
August is the city’s summer swan song, so drink the last drop! Cheer on riders and their stubborn steeds at Donkey Derby Days in Cripple Creek. Immerse yourself in the vibrant displays at the Mountain Arts Festival. Or savor some final sips of local ambrosia at the Manitou Springs Wine Festival.
September
September may be Colorado Springs’ most comfortable month weather-wise. Temperatures begin to cool off, with average highs of about 75°F (24°C) and lows in the upper 40s (8°C to 9°C).
September burnishes the alpine landscapes with brilliant color, so pack your camera and hit the area’s miles of trails to capture it.
See summer off with a bang and in a hot-air balloon at the legendary Labor Day Lift-Off. Join the crowds at the renowned Pikes Peak Marathon, where competitors clamber 13.1 miles to the top of Barr Trail to reach the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak.
Dive into “Funtober” at The Springs’ Oktoberfest, featuring Dachshund Dash, brat eating and stein hoisting contests, and plenty of oompahs!
October
October is when the chill sneaks in, with temperatures ranging from lows of 35°F (2°C) to highs around 65°F (18°C). It often ushers in the region’s first snowfall – so be prepared! The good news: thinning crowds means lower hotel rates and a better accommodation selection for you.
The best news: this month is when Colorado Springs is in its full foliage glory, with oaks, cottonwoods, and aspens flaunting gorgeous hues of russet, orange, and gold. Max out the leaf-peeping season with a road trip along Pikes Peak Highway, or take in stunning views on an unforgettable cruise along Highway 67 through the Rocky Mountains to Cripple Creek.
November
November is considered the “low season,” but that makes it a great time for travelers who want to take a break from the crowds and high hotel rates. Get a jump on the holiday hustle and enjoy the city’s year-round attractions.
The mercury dips yet again, with an average high of about 50°F (10°C) and a low hovering around 25°F (-4°C). You can expect between four and five inches of snow, but that’s offset by abundant sunshine and relatively mild temperatures.
Pack for the cooler weather so you can stay active outdoors. That includes long-sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, hats, and boots for snow or hiking.
December
December is the coldest month of the year in Colorado Springs, with an average low of 18°F (-8°C) and a high of 44°F (7°C). But the good news: with nearly six inches of snow, the city is a winter wonderland! Despite the holiday season crowd, hotel prices generally remain low.
Get into the festive spirit at The North Pole Santa’s Workshop, a vintage amusement park. Take in the seasonal light displays at the historic Broadmoor Hotel and Seven Falls. Got a sweet tooth? Give yourself a treat at the Holiday Chocolate Festival.
