What Are The Best Months to Visit Denver?
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
It can be hard to figure out what the best months to visit Denver are! No matter the month, Colorado is home to an array of attractions and activities to suit every taste.
Whether you’re drawn to winter sports, seeking relaxation in natural hot springs, or ready to explore vibrant spring trails or stunning fall colors, Colorado offers something special year-round. To assist in planning your ideal mountain getaway, we’ve curated a guide to the best month to visit Denver for your pass-time of choice.
After living in Denver for a few years, we’ve experienced it all, from being snowed in a high rise in LoDo to enjoying the beautiful summer weather up in Rocky Mountain National Park. Truthfully, here, we have a culture that embraces life year-round, so if you’re looking for the worst time to visit Denver, you won’t find it.
Whether you’re looking for the best time to go to Denver for snow or the best season to visit Denver for your particular hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Whatever your adventure style, Colorado will be calling your name all year long.
When is the best time to visit Denver?
People often think of Colorado’s wintertime skiing, but our warmer months see Colorado come to life. Spring brings wildlife and gorgeous greenery, framing the mountains and giving the most spectacular views. By late spring, the greenery is in full swing, but the real sweet spot is June. June sees less annual rain and more sunny days than May and July.
With an average daily temperature of 77 degrees, it’s perfect for enjoying a hike or spending an afternoon on a paddleboard. You’re early enough to enjoy long evenings without the brutal height of summer heat.
Best time to travel to Denver by type:
- For families: June: School is out, it’s not too hot for the little ones, and the weather is great for outdoor activities.
- For hiking: September: Summer heat has begun to cool off, and the mountains see beautiful color change.
- For winter sports: March: The snowiest month, March is great for catching a powder day. Warmer temperatures and sunshine create the perfect blend of winter and spring for late-season skiing.
- For fall foliage: September: The color change starts at a higher elevation at the beginning of September and makes its way to a lower elevation by the beginning of October. It happens fast, so if you’re wanting to see a specific area, you have to plan accordingly.
- For lower-budget trips: April – May or September—October are the cheapest times to visit Denver. During these times, the hotel prices are reasonable, and there are fewer crowds.
- For the best weather: June: The warmth of late spring, but not the heat of peak summer. This month is a sweet spot for less rain between May and July,
- For avoiding crowds: January: The slowest month for tourism in Denver is January, but shoulder seasons from April through May or September through October see fewer crowds and great weather.
Best Season to Visit Denver
Every season in Denver has a special charm, but Autumn in Colorado is uniquely beautiful. The brilliant colors popping up all over the state backdropped by beautiful rugged mountains is something to experience. Fall months still have beautiful warm days without the sweltering summer heat.
Let’s take a look at what each season in Denver is like!
Winter in Denver
Denver is an internationally sought-after destination in the winter. The Rocky Mountains are home to world-class skiing, and the cozy cabin vibe is a perfect escape in the snowy months. Denver is home to beautiful winter festivals, and even with snow on the ground, winter in Denver brings beautiful sunny days.
Things to do in Denver in winter:
- Ski or Snowboard: People come from around the world to ski Colorado’s famous rocky mountains. Whether you’re a beginner or looking for a challenge, one of Colorado’s 28 ski resorts will have the perfect slope for you. The best month for winter sports is March, with both warmer sunny days and the most snowfall.
- Hudson Holidays: Hudson Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights across their 30-acre property. Get a cup of hot cocoa and wander around the collections of incredible light shows.
- Visit an Ice Castle: Around Colorado, winter time brings beautifully built ice castles. Explore these multi-room masterpieces, complete with ice sculptures and slides. You can find them in Cripple Creek.
- Christkindl Market: Every year, Denver hosts the Christkindl Market where you can try an array of German foods and shop locally. It’s a tradition of ours to always go!
Spring in Denver
Watching the rugged Colorado landscape come to life in the spring is captivating. Spring offers an incredible duality, as Ski season stretches into April or May, but Denver temperatures start to reach into the 70’s. Denver streets start to bustle with life and festivals, and you will find an endless list of things to occupy your time.
Things to do in Denver in Spring:
- Visit a farmers market: Farmers Markets pop up across the Denver area selling everything from local produce to handcrafted goods. A morning wandering around a farmers market is a great way to start any weekend.
- Denver Arts Festival: The Denver Art Festival is an annual showcase of Colorado and national artists. Held in Central Park in late May, the festival sees over 50,000 yearly attendants.
- Denver Restaurant Week: Denver’s Restaurants come together to bring you specially curated multi-course meals. The streets close down to turn into pramadas with tables, music, and food-centered events.
Summer in Denver
Colorado has beautiful summers, and Denver brings the lively summer energy with events and activities to fill the long summer days. From mountains to lakes, festivals to lively parks, summer has a special allure to it.
Things to do in Denver in Summer:
- Spend the day on a lake: Denver has five lakes that allow you to take our paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes, and Sloans Lake also allows motorized boats. You can also venture outside of the city and find places to rent, paddle boards, kayaks, and even sailboats!
- Find a rooftop bar: Nothing beats a lively rooftop bar during a long summer evening. Pop in for happy hour and a view, or live music and a warm summer breeze.
- Taste of Colorado Festival: The Taste of Colorado hosts four summer weekend events at Civic Center Park. It’s a day packed with music, food, art, shopping, and games that have been going on since 1983.
- Take a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park: While RMNP is a little over an hour and a half drive from Denver, it’s such a great getaway in the summer months. Just get there early to avoid the crowds and don’t forget to make your reservation… cuz trust us, there are crowds here in summer.
Fall in Denver
Denver has everything you need for fall festivities. There are hayrides, pumpkin patches, beautiful hiking, apple picking, and autumn color changes. This beautiful time of year will have you grabbing your fuzzy socks and sipping on a pumpkin beer.
Things to do in Denver in fall:
- See the fall colors: Coloradans know the best time for color change down to the week, and that is the 3rd week in September. It happened fast, so if you want to get the most brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges before the leaves fall, you have to plan accordingly.
- Go to a corn maze: Great corn mazes pop up all around Denver in the fall. Usually accompanied by fall games and hayrides, it’s a great way to get into the fall day spirit. Some are big enough to get properly lost in!
- Glow at the Gardens in Denver Botanical Gardens: The Denver Botanical Gardens transform into a beautiful and spooky extravaganza. Stroll through incredibly decorated gardens and judge the local artist’s Pumpkin carving contest. It’s less of a pumpkin carving contest as much as a showcase of jaw-dropping pumpkin statues.
- Enjoy a drink from a brewery: There are so many incredible breweries in RiNo, but what if we told you there’s a cidery, too? Stop by one of Denver’s many breweries to grab a drink. Or, if you want a crisp fall taste, don’t miss Stem Ciders!
No matter the season, Denver offers a multitude of activities and experiences for every type of traveler. From winter wonderlands to vibrant spring blooms, to colorful fall foliage, there’s never a dull moment in the Mile High City.
With our guide to the best month to visit Denver you’ll be well-equipped to plan your next adventure. So pack your bags and get ready to explore all that Denver has to offer, no matter what time of year you choose to visit!
Check out these posts next:
