Plan a Vacation to Glenwood Springs, Colorado (Visitor Guide on the Where, What and When)

Posted on by sarahelizabethlarose

Disclaimer: This post may include external links. These are not affiliates, and are services or products that I would or have used and recommended myself. For more information, see my full Disclosure page here. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: This post may include external links. These are not affiliates, and are services or products that I would or have used and recommended myself. For more information, see my full Disclosure page here. Thank you for reading!

Many people wonder – is Glenwood Springs worth visiting?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY.

Glenwood Springs is western Colorado’s favorite little tourist town. Originally a small tent-town for gold prospectors in the early 1800s, Glenwood has grown into a quaint, bustling little city that attracts visitors from all over the world.

(Read more about the history of Glenwood Springs in “Garfield County: The First 100 Years: 1883-1983” by Andrew Gulliford.)

From natural hot springs to a mountaintop amusement park, this mountain town offers an array of experiences for those seeking a big thrill to total relaxation.

The City of Glenwood Springs is a great place to bring your whole family for a fun weekend getaway at any time of year.

Hanging Lake, one of Glenwood Spring’s most iconic hiking destinations

Keep reading for the ultimate itinerary for your next family vacation to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. I’ll tell you where to stay, eat, and visit – the only problem is, you’re going to want to extend your trip so you don’t miss out on all this city has to offer.

For other fun things to do near Glenwood Springs, be sure to check these out:

Where is Glenwood Springs – and what’s the best way to get there?

First of all, if you’re not very familiar with Colorado, let me give you an idea where Glenwood Springs actually is.

The state of Colorado is basically a big rectangle. If you drew a line from East to West right above the center of it, that would be Interstate 70. The Rocky Mountains run down the center of the state as well, but from North to South.

Denver is on the east side of the Rocky Mountains along I-70. Glenwood Springs lies 157 miles west of Denver on I-70, which is typically a 2.5 to 3 hour drive.

If you’re looking to plan a weekend getaway to Glenwood Springs, or thinking about a quick visit or side trip on your way through Colorado, there are a few ways to get here:

Flights to Glenwood Springs

Denver International Airport is one option to fly in through; however, there is often a lot of traffic along I-70 between Denver and the mountain towns like Silverthorne and Vail. The drive from Denver to Glenwood Springs can quickly turn from 3 hours to 6 due to heavy traffic.

Other airports that are closer to Glenwood Springs include:

Before you look at flights, know that it is typically more expensive to fly through these smaller regional Colorado airports than through Denver (DIA) Airport. However, you’ll save a lot of time, headache, and stress avoiding the large city crowds and traffic stalls. There are also usually very short lines for security, which is rare to find in Denver.

Amtrak Train to Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is also home to an Amtrak train station. There are several dozen Amtrak stations throughout the US and southern Canada, and while a train ride may take a bit longer it can be a much more relaxing and scenic way to get to your destination.

The train station is in downtown Glenwood Springs, just past the Hotel Denver

Best Times of the Year to Visit Glenwood Springs

Knowing when to visit Glenwood is the key to making the most of your trip!

So what is the best time of year to visit Glenwood Springs? Honestly, you can visit during any season and still have an amazing experience…it just depends on what you want to do!

What To Do in Summer

While many people think of Colorado as having a mountain climate, the lower elevations of the front range and the western slope can still get pretty hot in the summers.

In Glenwood Springs, summer temperatures generally range from the low 80’s to mid 90’s (Fahrenheit). However, it does cool off nicely in the late evenings and early mornings.

Floating or whitewater rafting along the Colorado or Roaring Fork Rivers is one of our favorite ways to spend a hot summer day

Here are just some of the more popular things to do in Glenwood Springs in the summer:

The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is a must at any time of the year

While there are fun activities for every age and lifestyle, western Colorado is definitely favored by the outdoorsy folks and summer is my personal favorite time to be out exploring. Keep an eye out for poisonous plants and be sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing!

There are countless miles of trails and thousands of acres of public lands to check out via… well, whatever way you prefer!

What To Do in Fall

Fall is one of the most popular times to visit Glenwood Springs. Visitors come from all over to see the aspen trees and oak brush changing colors.

Oktoberfest is a great time at the Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park

Fall temperatures in Glenwood can range from 30*F to 80*F, but the days are generally gorgeous. Just be sure to bring some extra layers as weather can change quickly around the mountains.

Here are some fun ideas for a fall weekend trip to Glenwood Springs:

What To Do in Winter

Winter in Colorado is known for snowy sports, like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling – and Glenwood Springs has plenty of all of this. However, we have so much more to offer if you’re not feeling particularly athletic.

On average, winter temperatures in Glenwood are around 30-50*F – but some days can be much warmer or much colder than that. Snow doesn’t usually accumulate much until after the holiday season, but there can be some extreme storms before then.

The weather changes quickly, so always be prepared.

The Hotel Colorado has a huge tree-lighting party every year, with the most special guest in attendance

Some fun winter activities in Glenwood include:

What To Do in Spring

Spring in Colorado is also known as mud season, when all the snow starts to melt and run down the mountain streams. However, there is still plenty of fun to be had.

The weather can be pretty unpredictable in Glenwood, especially in the spring. Most of the snowfall generally occurs in early spring, but we do get some later storms as well. However, you’ll find that some snowstorms are followed by a beautiful 70*F day where most of the snow melts off.

The Alpine Coaster at the Caverns is open in the spring, but can get a bit chilly!

Moral of the story is, wear layers at all times in Glenwood Springs!

Wondering what to do during the spring in Glenwood Springs, Colorado? Here are some fun ideas:

Enjoy a drink or appetizer one of downtown Glenwood’s many patios

So…What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Glenwood Springs?

Now, you may have noticed a lot of the same places listed for each season. That’s because Glenwood Springs is truly open for business year-round! There’s never a “bad” time to visit, and there’s always something fun to do.

Generally, the weather in Glenwood Springs is pretty mild. Western Colorado is a high desert, meaning we don’t get a lot of rain. Late summer is considered “monsoon season,” which is essentially quick afternoon showers, if anything.

At about 5,760 feet in elevation, the City of Glenwood Springs also doesn’t get the same amount of snow as the higher elevations do. The average annual snowfall in Glenwood is around 65″ but much of this falls in the surrounding mountains.

Planning a destination wedding in Glenwood Springs? Here are some helpful tips to keep costs down on your wedding!

Where to Stay in Glenwood Springs

There are a lot of options for lodging in and around Glenwood Springs.

Best Hotels in Glenwood

One of the most popular stays is the historic (and supposedly haunted) Hotel Colorado. This offers walking access to the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Spa and is close to all the other amenities that downtown Glenwood offers.

Nestled right in downtown Glenwood is the boutique Hotel Denver, which has walking access to all of the best restaurants and shopping.

Another popular stay, especially for families with kids, is the Hotel Glenwood Springs. This hotel is located right next to the gondola that takes you up to the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and even boasts an indoor water park.

Camping and Home Rentals in Glenwood

There are also plenty of opportunities for a more rustic lodging experience. If you’re planning on bringing your dogs or pets, a local campground or rental home in Glenwood Springs might be better for you.

You can stay at one of the many campgrounds in and around Glenwood, such as Ami’s Acres Campground, which offers RV, tent, and alternative camping options.

You’ll also find a ton of rental options on sites like AirBNB (like this one with stunning river views) and VRBO (like this cute, dog-friendly apartment downtown). This is a very vacationer-friendly area and many homeowners have vacation homes here, so there are always a lot of rental options.

Where to Eat in Glenwood

Here’s one of my favorite things about Glenwood Springs: the restaurants. We live in Silt, just a 15-minute drive from Glenwood.

Oysters on one of Juicy Lucy’s four outdoor patios made for a perfect anniversary celebration this year

When it’s date night, or we’re just looking to switch things up for lunch, we love to head upriver to Glenwood for an amazing meal with a great ambiance.

Some of our favorite restaurants for date night dinners include Juicy Lucy’s Steakhouse, Colorado Ranch House, Kedai Pho & Japanese Cuisine, Smoke Modern BBQ, The Pullman, and The Riviera Supper Club – where everything is made from scratch, even their amazing Beef Wellington.

A few other great options that are a bit more casual include Sweet Coloradough or Rosi’s Little Bavarian Restaurant for breakfast, Slope and Hatch Tacos, Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, KC’s Wing House and Sports Bar, and Chomp’s Deli.

For other popular restaurants in Glenwood and the surrounding towns, here is an ultimate list of the Best Places to Eat near Glenwood Springs.

Check out this post for some other fun date night ideas in and around Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Springs Bars and Night Life

Glenwood Springs is a very family-friendly town. There are a few bars that stay open late, but most of the night life tends to die down around 10 or 11pm.

As far as traditional “bars” go, the options are fairly limited.

There are Doc Holliday’s Saloon and The Springs Bar and Grill, which are side-by-side. Both double as family-style restaurants for lunch and dinner, but stay open until 2am.

You can also check out Native Son Tapas Bar, which stays open til midnight and offers Happy Hour from 6 to 7pm.

Most of the restaurants also offer a bar area but these are not your typical “late-night party” bars.

For some other fun bars in the surrounding area, check out my post on the Best Bars and Breweries in Western Colorado.

Final Thoughts on Vacations to Glenwood Springs

Hopefully this guide answered all of your questions on how to have the best trip to Glenwood Springs. One last tip, though – if you need more help on where to go or what to do once you get here, just ask someone! All of the locals are friendly folks who love to share our favorite parts of where we live.

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Thanks for reading Ecology of a Small Town. If you like this post and others, please subscribe below!

You will only get an e-mail when I publish a new post (once a week or so). Your subscription tells the internet that what I’m writing is valuable and helps me reach more people.

As a “thank you” for subscribing, you’ll receive a link to download this FREE 30-page PDF of the best family-friendly spots to check out in Colorado!

But please, don’t send this PDF to friends and family – instead, encourage them to subscribe, too.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Your information will not be shared with any other parties. You will only receive e-mails when new posts are published.


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