2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary for the Perfect Weekend Trip

Looking for a weekend getaway in Colorado Springs? This popular Colorado town is a perfect vacation destination in the US for people looking for incredible mountain views, historic natural treasures, and spectacular hiking trails. There are so many things that make Colorado well-known!

Colorado Springs is widely known for being the home of Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, award-winning restaurants, and amazing downtowns. Of its rapid growth in the tourism and job industry and lower median home price, Colorado Springs has become one of the cheapest places to live in Colorado.

2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary

No matter if you have just 2 days in Colorado Springs, this travel guide will help you to get the most of your Colorado Springs trip.

In this article, we share the best Colorado Springs itinerary for 2 days, how to get around, where to eat, where to stay, and the best things to do in Colorado Springs, and some helpful practical travel tips.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay any extra penny, but I’ll get a small commission that encourages me to deliver more helpful content for you.

Best Time to Visit Colorado Springs

Summer is the peak time in Colorado Springs. You will see the maximum traffic during the summer weekends. Although you can visit Colorado Springs at any time of the year as it gets about 245 days of sun each year, but the best time to visit COS is in Spring(March to May) and fall(September to mid-November) months when the temperature hovers around 50s and 60s, making for ideal hiking condition.

Downtown Colorado Springs
Downtown Colorado Springs

During this time, you will see fewer crowds and can get closer to nature. The best thing is that you can find some amazing flight deals and hotel deals in the spring and fall seasons.

Winter is not harsh in Colorado Springs. In fact, the average high temperature hovers in the 40s. Winter is also great for skiing and to get accommodation at an affordable price.

How to Get to Colorado Springs

The nearby airport is the Colorado Springs Airport which is just a 20 minutes drive from downtown Colorado Springs. You can also choose Denver International Airport(85 miles from COS) which is well-connected with the other parts of the country and the world. Take a bus, shuttle, or taxi from the airport to get to Downtown Colorado Springs.

If you are going for a weekend trip from Denver, you can drive your own car or rental car through I-25 to get to Colorado Springs. It takes about 1 hour and a half to the south.

Don’t want to drive? No issues. The cheapest way to reach Colorado Springs from Denver is to take the Bustang service or Greyhound from DIA. This costs around $12-14 one way.

Getting Around Colorado Springs

Car: The best convenient way to get around Colorado Springs is by car. If you don’t have your own car, no worries, you can rent a car from the nearby airport for your 2 day trip to Colorado Springs. A rental car is perfect for a road trip in Colorado Springs. Check out road trip essentials before hitting the road.

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Interstate 25
Interstate 25

Although you can explore Downtown Colorado Springs and nearby Manitou Springs on foot, but having your own car or rental car will give you an extra advantage to discover other Colorado Springs attractions.

Uber and Lyft are available here but using them frequently will end up costing more than a rental.

Bus: Looking for the cheapest option to get around Colorado Springs? Take advantage of Mountain Metropolitan Service that operates more than 20 routes throughout the city. Purchase a day pass for $4 and get their service from 5 am to 10 pm.

Bike: Another option is to rent a bike(starting from $2 for 30 minutes) from the city’s bike-share program called PikeRide. Colorado Springs is a bike-friendly city and it has nearly 200 miles of paved and unpaved trails.

Two Days in Colorado Springs Accommodation

There is no shortage of hotels near the Downtown area. From luxurious resorts to budget-friendly hotels and hostels, the city has numerous accommodation options for all types of travelers planning to spend two days in Colorado Springs. You can check my other article on how to book cheap hotels from anywhere in the world.

Best Western Plus Executive Residency Fillmore Inn: This hotel is just a few miles from downtown Garden of the Gods and Colorado Springs. The hotel offers barbecue facilities and a terrace and features an indoor pool, free WiFi, free parking, and a coffee maker. The rooms are clean, spacious and the staffs are very polite and helpful.

La Quinta by Wyndham Colorado Springs South AP: It is perfect for those who are on a lower budget and are planning to stay more than one day in Colorado Springs. Most tourist attractions of Colorado Springs are a short drive from this hotel.

This pet-friendly hotel offers a complimentary breakfast and features an outdoor pool for its guests. It is equipped with all modern amenities including free WiFi, a flat-screen cable TV, a coffee machine, and many more.

Booking.com

Where to Eat in Colorado Springs

Both American and Mexican cuisines are very popular in Colorado Springs. Surprisingly, most restaurants in Colorado Springs are less expensive than you would think.

The Rabbit Hole: This underground bar and restaurant is located in Downtown Colorado Springs and known for its cozy atmosphere and delectable gourmet entrees. This restaurant is incredible all around. Amazing food, great service, perfect ambiance – what else can one expect? You must try their rack of lamb and cheesecake dessert.

Chicken Salad
Chicken Salad

Carlos’ Bistro: Looking for exquisite dining in Colorado Springs? Look no further than Carlos’ Bistro. Carlos’ Bistro won’t disappoint. They have a full set of courses from appetizers to dessert. They have an old-school charm and perfect settings for a romantic Colorado Springs getaway. Their signature dishes like lobster salad and Paella are very delicious.  Their cocktails are also wonderful and for dessert, the creamsicle Cocktail is a must-try.

If you are on a budget and want to save some bucks from your food budget, you may check out how to eat cheap while traveling.

2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary

Colorado Springs has become popular among people looking for cheap vacation spots in Colorado. Tourism in this charming town has increased a lot in recent years for its pleasant weather, stunning landscapes and scenery, scenic hiking trails, and beautiful ski resorts. Now you may have a question – “Are 2 days in Colorado Springs enough?” The answer is Yes. You can even visit Colorado Springs in one day if you know the place well and have proper planning.

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You have to adjust your Colorado Springs itinerary as needed to account for weather, how much time you have for each landmark. Here I have prepared a list of the best things to do in Colorado Springs in such a way that you would get a mix of it all. The suggested itinerary will give you a brief idea of the attractions that are worthwhile visiting and how to plan your own Colorado Springs itinerary.

Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway – PC: Flickr

Best Things to do in Colorado Springs in Two Days

Wondering what you should do in Colorado Springs in 48 hours? It is an amazing place in Colorado State full of sightseeing and outdoor activities. It is not recommended to try to see all attractions on a short trip to Colorado Springs.

If you like to travel deeper, it’s better to visit fewer places and cherish the sights and the scenery instead of rushing from one place to another. I have split the Colorado Springs itinerary into 2 days so that you can plan your Colorado Springs trip in the most efficient way.

Below is our suggested itinerary for what to do in Colorado Springs in two days.

Day 1 of 2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary

Downtown Colorado Springs

You only have two days in Colorado Springs, so start as early as possible and head to Downtown Colorado Springs on your first day. With plenty of options for breakfast or a cup of coffee, Downtown is a great place to start. Take the advantage of the city’s bike-share program PikeRide and explore the pretty Downtown on two wheels.

This place offers a variety of shopping, dining, parks, museums, festivals, and events. Downtown Colorado Springs is a family-friendly place. Take a self-guided tour of local attractions, parks, museums throughout the Downtown area.

2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary | Downtown Colorado Springs
Downtown Colorado Springs – PC: Flickr

Seven Falls

Next, see the Saven Falls that is a series of seven cascading waterfalls in Broadmoor. It is not all about waterfalls, you can see jagged rocks, crystal clear streams, hiking trails, and rare flowers.

You can reach the top of the 181-foot waterfall by climbing a 224-step staircase or take the 14-story mountain express elevator. Adventure seekers challenge themselves on the ‘Soaring Adventure’ ziplines just outside the falls.

colorado springs in 2 days | Seven Falls
Seven Falls – PC: Flickr

Related Post: 12 Most Desired Places to Live in Colorado

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Located on the side of the mountain(6800 feet), the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a perfect place to visit if you are here with your kids. This 140 acres zoo is the one and only mountainside zoo in the US.

This alpine zoo is home to over 950 animals and approximately 180 species. Take a tram ride that circles the park, and see the native species in the Rocky Mountain Wild section. Your kids will definitely enjoy hand-feeding the friendly giraffes.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo | colorado springs itinerary
Hand-feeding the friendly giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – PC: Flickr

Shopping at Old Colorado City & Downtown Coloraso Springs

Finish off your first day in Colorado Springs by visiting Old Colorado City located just west of the downtown area. It is an ideal place for walking and shopping. You will see several unique shops apart from your regular department store lined up along the streets. Get some souvenir items for your friends and relatives or enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe.

READ NEXT:  11 Warmest Places In Colorado For Your Next Vacation

Day 2 of 2 Days in Colorado Springs Itinerary

The Garden of the Gods

When you are planning a Colorado Springs itinerary for 2 days, you cannot skip its most popular attraction, The Garden of the Gods. It is one of the best places to visit in Colorado Springs. This incredible park is famous for its stunning sandstone rock formations, scenic hiking, and biking trails, and the gorgeous views of Pikes Peak. In fact, you will find here some of the best hikes in Colorado Springs.

If you are looking for free things to do in Colorado Springs, The Garden of the Gods must be at the top of your list. It looks more beautiful at sunrise. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery before the crowds and explore the trails around the park. Palmer Trail is highly recommended to see some of the park’s best formations.

The Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods – PC: Flickr

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak, also known as America’s Mountain is about 12 miles from downtown Colorado Springs. You can reach the top(at 14,115 feet) by driving through the Pikes Peak Highway, by riding the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, or by foot via the Barr Trail.

If you have enough time, I recommend hiking the trail. If you don’t have any hiking boots, you can check any of these cheap hiking boots which will help you to hike any kind of trails. You can spot local wildlife(like yellow-bellied marmots and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep), wildflowers, and gorgeous rock formations. But when you have only 2 days in your Colorado Springs itinerary, it will be better to choose either a road trip or Cog Railway to save time.

Enjoy the jawdropping panoramic views of the mountains, the rock formations, and the Garden of the Gods from the top. Expect to spend around 3-4 hours in Pikes Peak.

The Famous Pikes Peak
The Famous Pikes Peak

Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs is located just outside of Colorado Springs, so it is very easy to incorporate Manitou Springs into your 2 days in Colorado Springs itinerary. After a strenuous hike at Pikes Peak, visitors love to taste the natural mineral springs of Manitou to rejuvenate themselves.

You will notice Old West feel in the Historic Downtown of Manitou Springs. Explore the town’s boutique shops, restaurants, souvenir stores, and art galleries.

Manitou Springs
Old Style Buildings in Manitou Springs – PC: Flickr

Ghost Town Museum

Looking for some unique things to do in Colorado Springs? I recommend visiting Ghost Town Museum in the late afternoon of the second day of your two days Colorado Springs itinerary.

It is an amazing museum to learn authentic Colorado history. It allows you to take a journey to the past years of Colorado’s exciting history. The museum has several antique games and a shooting gallery where you can shoot at targets using electronic rifles.

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