# Weekend getaways from Colorado Springs with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Colorado Springs for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.

Last checked: 2026-10-29.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Staycation is your best option: Colorado Springs is the regional pick this weekend. Boo at the Zoo is Friday and Saturday evening at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4 to 8:30pm. Kids 2 and under get in for 75 cents.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Denver (about 1 hr 15 min)

Santa arrives at FlatIron Crossing on Saturday morning with a free breakfast from 9:30 to 11, and Santa photo visits start that weekend.

- **Santa Photos at FlatIron Crossing**, Fri Nov 6, Varies by week (Nov 6–22: weekdays 2–7pm, Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm), FlatIron Crossing, base of the Grand Staircase. Visits free; photo packages for sale. Opens 11/06; runs through 12/24. Closed Thanksgiving. Book ahead to skip the wait. Official page: https://www.flatironcrossing.com/santaphotos
- **Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast at FlatIron Crossing**, Sat Nov 7, 9:30–11am, FlatIron Crossing, entrance by Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn. Free breakfast. Official page: https://www.flatironcrossing.com/Events/Details/559089

## Weekend of Nov 13–15

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Denver (about 1 hr 15 min)

Blossoms of Light lights up Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street, and the free Mile High Tree on the Auraria campus is lit every night from 5 to 10.

- **Blossoms of Light**, Fri Nov 20, 4:30–9pm, Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street. Timed tickets for everyone over 2. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/blossoms-light
- **Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms**, Sat Nov 21, 5–8:30pm, Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. Timed tickets. Opens 11/21; runs through 01/03. Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/trail-lights
- **Mile High Tree**, Fri Nov 20, 5–10pm nightly, Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus. Free. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/31. A 110-foot tree of LED lights with nightly light and music shows. Drone shows at 7pm. Official page: https://visitdenver.com/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree/

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Denver (about 1 hr 15 min)

The free Candlelight Walk fills Main Street in downtown Littleton on Friday evening, and McGregor Square lights its tree during the Broncos game.

- **Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton**, Fri Nov 27, 5–8pm, Main Street, Downtown Littleton. Free. Performers and a tree lighting with Santa, then a drone show. Official page: https://visitlittleton.org/events-and-programs/candlelight-walk/
- **McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting**, Fri Nov 27, 1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game), McGregor Square. Free. Photos with Dinger in a Santa suit 2–4pm; Elf on the big screen after the game. Official page: https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/event/mcgregor-skate-grand-opening-holiday-tree-lighting/

## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Denver (about 1 hr 15 min)

Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens runs all three evenings.

- **Blossoms of Light**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, 4:30–9pm, Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street. Timed tickets for everyone over 2. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/public-events/blossoms-light

## Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on.

- **Georgetown Loop Railroad**, Georgetown, CO (about 2 hr 15 min from Colorado Springs). A narrow gauge train ride out of Georgetown, and kids can pan for gold after a silver mine tour. Official page: https://www.georgetownlooprr.com/
- **Breckenridge**, Breckenridge, CO (about 2 hr 30 min from Colorado Springs). The free BreckConnect Gondola floats from town over Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve, and kids can look for elk and moose below. Official page: https://gobreck.com/
- **Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park**, Estes Park, CO (about 2 hr 45 min from Colorado Springs). The base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park, where kids can watch for elk and join the Junior Ranger program. Official page: https://www.visitestespark.com/
- **Vail**, Vail, CO (about 3 hr 15 min from Colorado Springs). A walkable European-style village along Gore Creek, with one of the largest free year-round bus systems in the country. Official page: https://www.discovervail.com/
- **Glenwood Springs**, Glenwood Springs, CO (about 4 hr 15 min from Colorado Springs). Glenwood Hot Springs Pool calls itself the world's largest hot springs pool, and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has cave tours and an alpine coaster. Official page: https://www.visitglenwood.com/
- **Taos**, Taos, NM (about 4 hr 30 min from Colorado Springs). A mountain town near the Rio Grande Gorge and its bridge, and home to Taos Pueblo. Official page: https://taos.org/
- **Steamboat Springs**, Steamboat Springs, CO (about 4 hr 30 min from Colorado Springs). Old Town Hot Springs has mineral pools right downtown, and the aqua climbing wall over the big pool comes with admission. Official page: https://www.steamboatchamber.com/

## Day trips any weekend

- **Pueblo Zoo**, Pueblo (about 45 min from Colorado Springs). A smaller zoo that's easy to see in a morning, with penguin feeding every afternoon at 3pm through April. Parking is free. Hours: Daily 9am–4pm October through April, last admission an hour before close. Cost: Adults $15.25, kids 3–17 $11.25, 2 and under free. Official page: https://www.pueblozoo.org/visit
- **Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument**, Florissant (about 1 hr from Colorado Springs). Giant petrified redwood stumps sit right beside an easy trail, and the visitor center has fossil insects and leaves found on site. Hours: Visitor center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in winter; trails stay open. Cost: $10 per adult for a 7-day pass, kids 15 and under free. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/flfo/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- **Great Sand Dunes National Park**, Mosca (about 3 hr 15 min from Colorado Springs). The tallest dunes in North America, and kids can climb and slide on them as far as they like. Bring water and sun protection. Hours: Visitor center open daily 9am–4:30pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Cost: $25 per private vehicle. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/fees.htm

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Colorado Springs with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Colorado Springs are Denver. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

**What are good day trips from Colorado Springs with kids?**
Pueblo Zoo in Pueblo (about 45 min), Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant (about 1 hr), Great Sand Dunes National Park in Mosca (about 3 hr 15 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of Colorado Springs?**
Denver (about 1 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Colorado Springs?**
Georgetown Loop Railroad (about 2 hr 15 min), Breckenridge (about 2 hr 30 min), Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park (about 2 hr 45 min), Vail (about 3 hr 15 min), Glenwood Springs (about 4 hr 15 min), Taos (about 4 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

**Why is the same city picked more than once?**
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

**Are the times and prices current?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.