Sometimes Even Living in One of the Most Beautiful Cities in America, You Just Need to Get Away for a Couple Days
I’ve lived in Colorado Springs over twenty years. Worked for Delta Airlines, traveled to just about every major city in this country, and chose this place on purpose. West side, enduro bikes, RV camping all over the state. This place is home.
But sometimes you need a weekend somewhere else. A different view. Maybe a hot spring you haven’t been to forty times. Maybe a town where you can sit on a patio and stare at a mountain range you don’t see every morning.
These are the places I actually go — in my truck, towing the RV, sometimes on the bike. Every one of them is doable as a Friday-afternoon-to-Sunday trip from the Springs. If you’re looking for something closer that doesn’t require an overnight, check out our day trips guide instead.
Buena Vista and Salida — About 2 Hours West
If I had to pick one weekend getaway from Colorado Springs, it’s the BV/Salida corridor. Two hours west on Highway 24, over Wilkerson Pass, and you drop into the Arkansas River valley with the Collegiate Peaks staring you in the face.
Buena Vista — locals call it “Byoona Vista,” not the Spanish pronunciation — is a small mountain town that’s gotten more popular but still hasn’t lost its character. Good restaurants, a few breweries, and hot springs that are the big draw. Cottonwood Hot Springs is the rustic, quiet option. Mount Princeton Hot Springs is bigger and more developed. Both are worth it.
Salida is about twenty minutes further south and punches way above its weight. The downtown is a designated Creative District — art galleries, live music, restaurants that would hold their own in Denver. The Arkansas River runs right through town, and in summer the whitewater rafting is world-class.
For RV camping, the Arkansas River corridor has a bunch of options — private campgrounds and dispersed camping on BLM land. I’ve camped along the river multiple times and waking up to the sound of the Arkansas never gets old.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- Hot springs — soak under the stars at either Cottonwood or Mount Princeton
- Whitewater rafting on the Arkansas — half-day and full-day trips available everywhere
- Salida’s downtown on a Saturday evening — live music, good food, mountain-town energy
- The drive over Wilkerson Pass alone is worth it, especially in fall
Breckenridge and Frisco — About 2.5 Hours Northwest
Breckenridge doesn’t need much introduction. Beautiful in every season, one of the best main streets in the state, and always something to do whether it’s January or July.
In winter it’s skiing, obviously. But I think summer is the better time for a weekend trip from the Springs. The crowds thin out, the hiking opens up, and Main Street feels more relaxed. Bikes, waterfalls, fishing in the Blue River — all at 9,600 feet.
I actually prefer staying in Frisco. It’s ten minutes from Breck, right on Lake Dillon, less crowded and less expensive. Great restaurants, a nice marina area, and it puts you central to everything — Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and the bike path connecting all of them. RV campground right on the reservoir.
The drive is straightforward — I-25 north to C-470, then I-70 west through the Eisenhower Tunnel. Friday afternoon I-70 traffic can be brutal though. Leave early or wait until after 7 PM.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- Main Street Breckenridge — one of the best mountain town main streets in the country
- Summer hiking — Quandary Peak for a 14er, or dozens of easier trails
- Lake Dillon area — kayaking, paddleboarding, sunset views from the marina
- Winter skiing — obviously, if that’s your thing
Great Sand Dunes National Park — About 3 Hours South
The first time I drove to Great Sand Dunes National Park, I thought I’d taken a wrong turn. Massive sand dunes sitting at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains — it looks like someone photoshopped the Sahara into southern Colorado.
The dunes are the tallest in North America — Star Dune tops out around 750 feet. In late spring and early summer, Medano Creek flows at the base and creates a natural beach where people splash around. It’s surreal.
The stargazing is the other reason to make this an overnight trip. Great Sand Dunes is an International Dark Sky Park, and on a clear night the Milky Way is so vivid it almost looks fake. Bring a blanket, lie on the sand after dark, and look up.
Pinon Flats campground inside the park fills up fast in summer — book early. Dispersed camping on nearby BLM land, and Alamosa is about 35 minutes away with hotels.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- The dunes themselves — unlike anything else in Colorado or honestly anywhere
- Medano Creek in late May and June — a natural beach at the base of the dunes
- Stargazing — International Dark Sky Park, bring a blanket and lie on the sand
- The San Luis Valley is fascinating — oldest town in Colorado (San Luis), good Mexican food in Alamosa
Pueblo — About 45 Minutes South
Pueblo gets overlooked by Colorado Springs residents, and I think that’s a mistake. Yeah, it’s close — but spend a full weekend there and you’ll be surprised.
The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk is the centerpiece — a mile-and-a-half channel through downtown with boat rides, restaurants, and a nice walking path. Pleasant on a warm evening.
The food scene caught me off guard. Pueblo has strong Chicano and Italian heritage, and both show up in the restaurants. The green chile is legendary — they grow their own Pueblo chile peppers. In August there’s the Colorado State Fair, and every September the Chile and Frijoles Festival takes over downtown.
Lake Pueblo State Park is great for camping, boating, and fishing. If you’re bringing an RV, the south shore campgrounds have good hookups and reservoir views.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- Pueblo green chile — try it everywhere, it’s different from New Mexico green chile and it’s fantastic
- Colorado State Fair in August — livestock, rodeo, concerts, carnival
- Lake Pueblo State Park — camping, fishing, boating on a big reservoir
- The Riverwalk on a warm evening with a cold drink
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff — About 1.5 Hours Southwest
This one’s for people who want to really get away. Tiny towns in the Wet Mountain Valley — about as far from the hustle as you can get while still being close to home.
The main attraction is the view. The Sangre de Cristo range rises from the valley floor, and on a clear day you can see 14ers lined up like a wall. The whole valley has that old-Colorado feel — ranches, horses, wide open spaces, not a chain restaurant in sight.
Westcliffe is also a designated International Dark Sky Community. If you thought the stargazing at Great Sand Dunes was good, Westcliffe might be even better. Star parties, observatory events — the community takes it seriously.
There’s not a ton to “do” here in the traditional sense. But that’s the point. You go to Westcliffe to slow down, watch the light change on the Sangres at sunset, and remind yourself what quiet actually sounds like.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- Sangre de Cristo views — the whole western horizon is 14ers
- Dark sky stargazing — one of the best spots in the country
- The drive down Highway 96 — gorgeous and almost no traffic
- Genuine quiet — no crowds, no noise, just mountains and sky
Glenwood Springs — About 3.5 Hours West
Glenwood Springs is the longest drive on this list that’s still in Colorado, but it’s worth it. The town sits where the Roaring Fork River meets the Colorado River — one of the most beautiful settings for a town in the state.
The hot springs are the headliner. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is the world’s largest — over two blocks long. Iron Mountain Hot Springs has a more boutique feel with individual pools overlooking the river. Do one Saturday, the other Sunday.
The bike path through Glenwood Canyon is one of the best paved rides in Colorado — flat, scenic, family-friendly. Hanging Lake needs a permit and shuttle now, but it’s worth the planning.
The town itself has a fun downtown with good restaurants and breweries, and the whole place has an energy that’s active without being hectic. Mountain biking above town is excellent too if you’re into that.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- Hot springs — do both the big pool and Iron Mountain for the full experience
- Glenwood Canyon bike path — easy, stunning, and accessible
- Hanging Lake (book the permit in advance) — worth the planning
- The drive through Glenwood Canyon on I-70 is one of the most scenic stretches of interstate in America
Canon City and Royal Gorge — About 1.5 Hours Southwest
Close enough for a day trip — I covered it in our day trips guide — but there’s enough to fill a weekend if you’re into camping or rafting.
The Royal Gorge Bridge spans 1,250 feet across a canyon dropping 955 feet to the Arkansas River. Walk across it, ride the gondola, or take the railroad along the canyon bottom and look up. The scale is impressive.
I’ve camped near the gorge multiple times. Royal Gorge KOA is solid for RVs, and there’s dispersed camping on nearby BLM land. The Arkansas west of Canon City is prime rafting territory — Bighorn Sheep Canyon for intermediate runs, the Royal Gorge section for class IV-V.
Don’t skip Skyline Drive in Canon City — a narrow one-way road along a ridge above town. Ten minutes, panoramic views, and slightly terrifying in the best way.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park — plan at least half a day
- Arkansas River rafting — multiple outfitters and difficulty levels
- Camping near the gorge — beautiful area with good options for RVs and tents
- Skyline Drive — a quick but unforgettable detour through Canon City
Santa Fe, New Mexico — About 5.5 Hours South
This one pushes the boundary of a “weekend getaway,” but I’m from New Mexico and I go regularly. Leave Friday afternoon on I-25 south, and you’re eating green chile enchiladas on the Plaza by dinnertime. Worth every mile.
Santa Fe is unlike any other city in the Southwest. Adobe architecture, Canyon Road galleries, the food — it has a feel you can’t replicate. The Plaza has been the center of everything since 1610. You can spend a full day walking Canyon Road and eating at restaurants that have been perfecting New Mexican cuisine for decades.
The food is the real reason I keep going back. New Mexico green and red chile are different from anything in Colorado — richer, more complex, and they put it on everything. Christmas style — half green, half red — is the move. Meow Wolf is the newer attraction everybody’s talking about, and it’s genuinely one of the most creative, mind-bending art experiences I’ve ever had. Just go.
The drive down I-25 through Raton Pass into northern New Mexico is beautiful in its own right. The landscape shifts from Colorado pines to high desert mesas. If you have an extra day, Taos is about 70 miles north of Santa Fe and worth the side trip.
What Makes It Worth the Overnight
- New Mexican food — green chile, red chile, sopapillas, the whole experience
- Canyon Road galleries — one of the most concentrated art districts in the country
- Meow Wolf — genuinely unlike anything else you’ve ever done
- The Plaza on a Saturday morning — farmers market, street vendors, perfect people-watching
Planning Tips for Weekend Getaways from Colorado Springs
After twenty-plus years of taking these trips, here’s what I’ve learned about planning a weekend away from the Springs.
RV-Friendly Destinations
Easiest for RVs: Pueblo, Buena Vista/Salida (Highway 24 all the way), and Canon City. Breckenridge is doable but Friday I-70 traffic is stressful in a big rig. For more on RV camping near the Springs, check out our RV camping guide.
Best Seasons
Summer is peak season everywhere. September and early October are my favorite — fewer crowds, aspens turning, perfect weather. Winter opens different options — Breckenridge for skiing, Glenwood for hot springs in the snow.
Book Ahead
Pinon Flats at Great Sand Dunes, anything in Summit County during ski season or summer weekends, and Hanging Lake permits — book well in advance. Everything else is fine with a week or two of notice.
The Drive Matters
The drive is part of the experience for all of these. Take the scenic route when you can, stop at the overlooks, and enjoy the drive as much as the destination.
Get Out There
Living in Colorado Springs puts you within a few hours of towering sand dunes, world-class hot springs, dark sky communities, whitewater rivers, and one of the best food cities in the Southwest. You don’t need a plane ticket. You just need a tank of gas and a Friday afternoon.
Pick one, throw a bag in the truck, and go. You’ll come back Monday morning remembering why you live in this part of the country in the first place. For more ideas close to home, check out our guides to the best scenic drives and hiking trails around Colorado Springs.
About the Author: Dominic Ferrara has lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. After working for Delta Airlines and visiting just about every major city in the United States, he chose Colorado Springs for its scenery, sunshine, and outdoor lifestyle. He lives on the west side near Ute Valley Park, where he e-bikes, camps, and explores the mountains regularly. His recommendations come from two decades of eating, hiking, and living here — not from a weekend visit.
