Colorado Springs Travel and Things to Do Guide
With plenty of sunshine, recreation and excitement around every bend in the trail, Colorado Springs offers endless possibilities for meeting and event attendees. Beckoning visitors with endearing neighborhoods, cutting-edge restaurants and unique attractions, the city is a rare combination of urban amenities and a serene, seemingly untouched landscape. With so much to offer, it's no wonder Colorado Springs welcomes approximately 23 million visitors each year.
The allure of this mountain destination is apparent as soon as guests touch down at the Colorado Springs Airport. Just 11 minutes from downtown, the airport is serviced by all major airlines with Southwest service beginning on March 11, 2021. destinations. Colorado Springs Airport features one of the best on-time records in the country and is known as "Colorado's Small Airport," offering short lines, short walks and a quick in-and-out experience. After visitors land, hotel shuttles, taxis, rental cars, and Uber vehicles ferry them with ease to one of 15,456 area hotel rooms. With accommodations ranging from familiar brands to mountain retreats to upscale boutique hotels, Colorado Springs can meet a variety of needs and price points.
Easy access is just the beginning of Colorado Springs' appeal. The Broadmoor World Arena, the region's premier sports and entertainment attraction, is a great facility for hosting events on a large scale. Within walking distance of shops, dining, and nightlife, the arena features 21,500 square feet of exhibition space for up to 142 booths. An additional 22,500 square feet on the main concourse has seating for up to 8,500 people.
The full-service hotels in Colorado Springs offer well-equipped convention and meeting space in addition to luxurious lodging. Business and pleasure blend beautifully at The Broadmoor Hotel. Just minutes from downtown, the highly lauded Broadmoor offers 185,000 square feet of flexible meeting space amid the grandeur of a 3,000-acre luxury resort. While at The Broadmoor, delegates can enjoy the on-site convenience of championship golf courses, a world-class spa, and numerous restaurants and lounges.
Located on 217 acres, the AAA Four Diamond, 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort is one of the more popular Colorado Springs event venues. Its IACC-certified Cheyenne Mountain Conference Center features more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including 38 conference rooms and ballrooms, as well as an amphitheater.
Groups can also meet in one of four ballrooms at the Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center. With 50,000 square feet of function space and 500 guest rooms, the Hotel Eleganté is ideal for conventions and meetings. Planners can also invite guests to the property that started it all: The Antlers Hotel. Opened in 1883, the Antlers was the first hotel built by Colorado Springs' founder, Gen. William Jackson Palmer, as a flagship resort to spur the town's tourism. Today, planners enjoy 27,500 square feet of function space spread among 17 well-equipped rooms. Under new ownership, the Antlers Hotel is enjoying a top-to-bottom renovation.
One of the area's newest additions is The Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel. This AAA Four Diamond, full-service luxury boutique hotel sits in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs and offers 117 rooms and 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Many alternative spaces are available to add a unique taste of the city to an event. From historic sites to red rock retreats, Colorado Springs offers planners plenty of options to keep guests entertained. Host a meeting at the Lodge at Moose Lake at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Touted as America's only mountain zoo, it offers 5,200 square feet of meeting space, along with breathtaking views. Or, for an event with a modern flair, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center offers 15,328 square feet of space set in an elegant Art Deco building.
Along with tourism, Colorado Springs' economy is driven largely by the military. The city is home to the United States Air Force Academy, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and Fort Carson Army Base. In addition, a number of colleges and universities call the city home, including Colorado College and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
The allure of this mountain destination is apparent as soon as guests touch down at the Colorado Springs Airport. Just 11 minutes from downtown, the airport is serviced by all major airlines with Southwest service beginning on March 11, 2021. destinations. Colorado Springs Airport features one of the best on-time records in the country and is known as "Colorado's Small Airport," offering short lines, short walks and a quick in-and-out experience. After visitors land, hotel shuttles, taxis, rental cars, and Uber vehicles ferry them with ease to one of 15,456 area hotel rooms. With accommodations ranging from familiar brands to mountain retreats to upscale boutique hotels, Colorado Springs can meet a variety of needs and price points.
Easy access is just the beginning of Colorado Springs' appeal. The Broadmoor World Arena, the region's premier sports and entertainment attraction, is a great facility for hosting events on a large scale. Within walking distance of shops, dining, and nightlife, the arena features 21,500 square feet of exhibition space for up to 142 booths. An additional 22,500 square feet on the main concourse has seating for up to 8,500 people.
The full-service hotels in Colorado Springs offer well-equipped convention and meeting space in addition to luxurious lodging. Business and pleasure blend beautifully at The Broadmoor Hotel. Just minutes from downtown, the highly lauded Broadmoor offers 185,000 square feet of flexible meeting space amid the grandeur of a 3,000-acre luxury resort. While at The Broadmoor, delegates can enjoy the on-site convenience of championship golf courses, a world-class spa, and numerous restaurants and lounges.
Located on 217 acres, the AAA Four Diamond, 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort is one of the more popular Colorado Springs event venues. Its IACC-certified Cheyenne Mountain Conference Center features more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including 38 conference rooms and ballrooms, as well as an amphitheater.
Groups can also meet in one of four ballrooms at the Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center. With 50,000 square feet of function space and 500 guest rooms, the Hotel Eleganté is ideal for conventions and meetings. Planners can also invite guests to the property that started it all: The Antlers Hotel. Opened in 1883, the Antlers was the first hotel built by Colorado Springs' founder, Gen. William Jackson Palmer, as a flagship resort to spur the town's tourism. Today, planners enjoy 27,500 square feet of function space spread among 17 well-equipped rooms. Under new ownership, the Antlers Hotel is enjoying a top-to-bottom renovation.
One of the area's newest additions is The Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel. This AAA Four Diamond, full-service luxury boutique hotel sits in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs and offers 117 rooms and 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Many alternative spaces are available to add a unique taste of the city to an event. From historic sites to red rock retreats, Colorado Springs offers planners plenty of options to keep guests entertained. Host a meeting at the Lodge at Moose Lake at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Touted as America's only mountain zoo, it offers 5,200 square feet of meeting space, along with breathtaking views. Or, for an event with a modern flair, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center offers 15,328 square feet of space set in an elegant Art Deco building.
Along with tourism, Colorado Springs' economy is driven largely by the military. The city is home to the United States Air Force Academy, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and Fort Carson Army Base. In addition, a number of colleges and universities call the city home, including Colorado College and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Weather and Seasonality
The high altitude and proximity to the mountains afford Colorado Springs a mild climate with low humidity. With an average of 300 days of sunshine annually, Colorado Springs enjoys seasonably warm summers that cool significantly during the evenings. The average temperature in summer is a pleasant 82°F. Long, sunny autumns are common, while spring is usually mild.
Warm Chinook winds create rapid temperature increases that keep winters mild as well. Although Colorado Springs has a high altitude, the region gets less snow on average than Denver, Salt Lake City, or Minneapolis. Average annual snowfall is approximately 37 inches, and average annual precipitation is 17.4 inches. The average high temperature in winter is 45°F. It's truly a year-round destination.
Warm Chinook winds create rapid temperature increases that keep winters mild as well. Although Colorado Springs has a high altitude, the region gets less snow on average than Denver, Salt Lake City, or Minneapolis. Average annual snowfall is approximately 37 inches, and average annual precipitation is 17.4 inches. The average high temperature in winter is 45°F. It's truly a year-round destination.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | 41°/17° | Low |
| February | 44°/20° | Low |
| March | 51°/26° | Low |
| April | 60°/34° | High |
| May | 68°/42° | High |
| June | 79°/52° | High |
| July | 85°/57° | Medium |
| August | 82°/56° | Medium |
| September | 75°/48° | High |
| October | 63°/36° | High |
| November | 50°/25° | Low |
| December | 42°/18° | Low |
