Colorado Springs itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Colorado Springs, day by day: Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline, Manitou Springs and Cave of the Winds first, then Seven Falls, Helen Hunt Falls, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the downtown museums, and the Air Force Academy, Old Colorado City and Palmer Park as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Colorado Springs in 1 day
Day 1
Pikes Peak
A 14,115-foot summit west of the city, reached by the cog railway or the Pikes Peak Highway, with views across the Rockies and plains.
Manitou Incline
A steep former cable-railway track above Manitou Springs, now a strenuous hiking route with about 2,700 steps and a long climb.
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Small town below Pikes Peak known for its mineral springs, Victorian buildings, galleries and shops along Manitou Avenue.
Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
Show cave in Williams Canyon near Manitou Springs, with guided tours through limestone rooms and a canyon-side adventure course.
Garden of the Gods
Free public park of red sandstone rock formations against Pikes Peak, with paved paths, trails and a visitor centre.
Colorado Springs in 2 days
Day 1
Pikes Peak
A 14,115-foot summit west of the city, reached by the cog railway or the Pikes Peak Highway, with views across the Rockies and plains.
Manitou Incline
A steep former cable-railway track above Manitou Springs, now a strenuous hiking route with about 2,700 steps and a long climb.
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Small town below Pikes Peak known for its mineral springs, Victorian buildings, galleries and shops along Manitou Avenue.
Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
Show cave in Williams Canyon near Manitou Springs, with guided tours through limestone rooms and a canyon-side adventure course.
Garden of the Gods
Free public park of red sandstone rock formations against Pikes Peak, with paved paths, trails and a visitor centre.
Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
Living-history museum next to Garden of the Gods, with costumed staff showing life on a Colorado ranch.
Day 2
Glen Eyrie
English Tudor-style castle built in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the city, now a conference centre with guided tours.
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Local history museum in the former county courthouse on South Tejon Street, with free entry and exhibits on the region.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
A mountainside zoo with a large giraffe herd and animals from around the world, overlooking the city.
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Stone tower on Cheyenne Mountain honouring the humorist Will Rogers, with views over the city and the plains.
Seven Falls
Series of seven waterfalls in South Cheyenne Cañon, with a staircase up beside them and trails to a lookout.
Helen Hunt Falls
Waterfall in North Cheyenne Cañon Park with a small visitor centre and trails into the canyon.
Colorado Springs in 3 days
Day 1
Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
Show cave in Williams Canyon near Manitou Springs, with guided tours through limestone rooms and a canyon-side adventure course.
Glen Eyrie
English Tudor-style castle built in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the city, now a conference centre with guided tours.
Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
Living-history museum next to Garden of the Gods, with costumed staff showing life on a Colorado ranch.
Garden of the Gods
Free public park of red sandstone rock formations against Pikes Peak, with paved paths, trails and a visitor centre.
Miramont Castle
Victorian mansion in Manitou Springs built in the 1890s, now a museum with furnished rooms in a mix of architectural styles.
Day 2
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Small town below Pikes Peak known for its mineral springs, Victorian buildings, galleries and shops along Manitou Avenue.
Manitou Incline
A steep former cable-railway track above Manitou Springs, now a strenuous hiking route with about 2,700 steps and a long climb.
Pikes Peak
A 14,115-foot summit west of the city, reached by the cog railway or the Pikes Peak Highway, with views across the Rockies and plains.
Helen Hunt Falls
Waterfall in North Cheyenne Cañon Park with a small visitor centre and trails into the canyon.
Seven Falls
Series of seven waterfalls in South Cheyenne Cañon, with a staircase up beside them and trails to a lookout.
Day 3
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Stone tower on Cheyenne Mountain honouring the humorist Will Rogers, with views over the city and the plains.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
A mountainside zoo with a large giraffe herd and animals from around the world, overlooking the city.
Old Colorado City
Historic district on the west side of Colorado Springs with preserved 19th-century buildings, shops, galleries and restaurants along Colorado Avenue.
Rio Grande Engine No. 168
Steam locomotive displayed in downtown Colorado Springs, given to the city by the railroad in 1938.
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Local history museum in the former county courthouse on South Tejon Street, with free entry and exhibits on the region.
Palmer Park
Regional park on a mesa with red rock outcrops, caves and trails, reached by roads and views of the plains.
Watch: Colorado Springs
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Colorado Springs
Summer is the main season for Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and the hiking trails, though afternoon thunderstorms are common. Autumn, with golden aspens in late September, is also a good time. Winter brings snow and cold, often with sunny days, and the summit road and some sights have shorter hours. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place in late June.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Colorado Springs on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Colorado Springs on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Colorado Springs on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Colorado Springs
- Pikes Peak, at 14,115 feet, can be reached by the cog railway or the toll highway; the thin air can cause headaches, so drink water and allow time to adjust.
- Garden of the Gods is a free city park with paved paths and a visitor centre; arrive early on summer days, when the car parks fill up.
- The Manitou Incline is a very steep climb up a former railway; it is demanding at altitude, so go early and bring water.
- Weather changes fast in the mountains, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer, so start the high-altitude sights in the morning.
- Seven Falls and Helen Hunt Falls are in a narrow canyon, so check access rules and ticket requirements before you go.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cave of the Winds (Colorado): Chris Lott from Fairbanks, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Ken Brazier ( Ken g6 ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum: JAKeeran, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Garden of the Gods: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Glen Eyrie: David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0
- Helen Hunt Falls: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Manitou Incline: Lovemycavalier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Manitou Springs, Colorado: Smallbones, Public domain
- Miramont Castle: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Colorado City: ERoss99, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palmer Park: Rick, CC BY 3.0
- Pikes Peak: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rio Grande Engine No. 168: George Lytle Beam, Public domain
- Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site: ERoss99, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Seven Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun: Matt Wright, CC BY-SA 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
