Top tips for visiting Colorado on a budget

Colorado is the sweetheart of the Rockies, a place that showcases the natural beauty of the West, from mountain peaks and aspen forests to river valleys and high-desert mesas.

Granted, some of the top draws of Colorado are anything but cheap – a ski vacation in the Rockies can cost you a pretty penny – but the state has plenty of affordable activities, and some don’t even cost a dime. Bargains can be had on lodging too, and you can find deals on high-ticket items if you know where (and when) to look.

Here are our best tips for traveling on a budget in Colorado.

Flights to Denver are usually the cheapest way into the state

Denver International Airport (DIA) is the region’s hub and one of the busiest airports in the country, with direct flights to hundreds of destinations. Fortunately, the large number of flights means lots of opportunities for deals, including on low-cost airlines like Southwest, Frontier and Spirit.

If you’re headed further afield, several smaller commercial airports are located throughout the state. Flights are typically more expensive (and often involve connecting through DIA), but they let you avoid the cost and hassle of renting a car or taking a shuttle from Denver. It’s worth crunching the numbers for the total door-to-door cost before booking any flights.

Don't rent a car at the airport

Traveling by car is the most enjoyable way to see Colorado, with mountain vistas and historic towns seemingly around every bend. But car rentals don’t come cheap, often starting around $60 to $70 per day from many Coloradan airports. However, prices drop significantly if you book to pick up in town, which cuts out hefty airport taxes and fees.

A quick cab ride to the nearest town’s rental agency can save you hundreds on a week-long trip.

Take a shuttle to ski towns from Denver International Airport

If you’re traveling solo or in a small group, it can often be cheaper to take a shuttle to the mountains instead of renting a car. Epic Mountain Express and Summit Express provide door-to-door shuttle service from DIA to Aspen, plus the major resort towns along I-70, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper, Breckenridge and Keystone.

Resorts provide free bus service around town and to nearby ski resorts. If you need a car for a day or two, you can always rent one there.

The cheapest times to visit Colorado are spring and fall

From April to May (aka mud season), prices fall as Colorado's ski season winds down. October and November bring another lull as the weather begins to cool and the fall colors disappear. In mountain towns especially, low season means a slash in rates – sometimes up to half off – for everything from hotels and guided excursions to spa treatments and even pints of beer.

Still, the sun shines as bright as ever, making it easy to enjoy the outdoors without the crowds or the costs. Don’t forget about the state’s cities – discounts aren’t as pronounced, but hotel rates do fall in the low season, and cultural offerings are on year-round.

When to visit Colorado

Save money by staying in a hostel in Colorado

A growing number of Colorado’s cities and mountain towns have modern hostels, which cater to travelers on a budget but feature swanky style and boutique amenities. Most offer private rooms with shared bathrooms, though dorms are where it’s at if you’re looking for the ultimate bargain.

Rates often include breakfast, and hostels often have kitchens for making your own meals, which helps save on food costs. For hostel leads in Colorado, check out Hostelworld.

Go car camping

Car camping is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to experience Colorado. What better way to take in the state’s magnificence than to be surrounded by it?

With hundreds of private and public campgrounds offering budget-friendly overnight stays, it’s easy for travelers to drive up and set up camp in many places in Colorado. Most campgrounds have shared bathrooms and fire pits. Some even have showers and camp stores.

Campgrounds can fill up fast, especially on summer weekends, so make reservations in advance to guarantee a spot, both for federal lands and state park campgrounds.

Take your tent to the backcountry

If being out in the wild is more your pace – no one around and no amenities – dispersed camping is the way to go. This back-to-basics camping style is absolutely free and permitted on federal lands away from established campgrounds. With almost 23 million acres of public ground in Colorado, the state has countless options in national forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

Stop at ranger stations or a BLM office for maps. Most dispersed camping areas are accessible by dirt roads and marked with tent symbols. Pack out everything you pack in, and remember to bring a WAG bag or shovel to bury your poop!

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Stay in a hut

If you love the wilderness but also love a roof over your head (and maybe even electricity), consider a staying in hut. Colorado has an extensive system of backcountry huts that are accessible year-round by trails and fire roads. Some are basic dry cabins, while others are nicer affairs with solar-powered lights, wood-burning stoves and composting toilets.

Check 10th Mountain Division Hut Association and San Juan Hut System for options and reserve early for winter stays.

Shop at grocery stores and farmers markets

Dining out in Colorado can add up fast, so plan on prepping your own meals. Don’t sweat it if you don’t have a kitchen in your accommodations; you can stock up on ready-made meals, snacks and fruit at local grocery stores and farmers markets. It’s remarkable how filling sliced salami, bagged salad and a baguette can be, plus you’ll save a bundle.

Ask about discounts

Don’t be shy about asking about discounts. Tickets for museums, tours and public transportation often cost less for children, sometimes as much as half off the regular rate; ditto for students, seniors and military personnel. If you’re traveling to Denver, consider purchasing a CityPASS, a prepaid ticket package that offers significant discounts for some of the city’s top attractions.

Museums around the state often offer a monthly free day.

Buy an America the Beautiful Pass

Colorado is home to four national parks – Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison – which all have spectacular vistas, opportunities to spot wildlife, geological marvels and echoes of ancient civilizations. Each park is vastly different from the others, but all are unmissable for their hiking trails, scenic drives and outdoor adventuring.

Admission costs $25 to $35 per vehicle. If you know you’ll be visiting more than two national parks, it’s worth buying an America the Beautiful Pass ($80), which includes entry to all of the national parks in the whole country for a year. The pass also includes admission to all federal recreation lands, including Colorado’s eight national monuments.

The best places to go to find your own piece of Colorado

Find skiing and snowboarding deals

Colorado is one of the most expensive ski destinations in the country, with single-day tickets pushing $225 at some resorts. If you’re hitting the slopes for only a day or two, you can save a few bucks by buying your tickets online.

Going midweek or late in the season also often means lower lift-ticket prices. Many resorts also offer half-day tickets.

If you’ll be skiing or riding for three days or more, it might be cheaper to buy a multiday “pack” (usually good for three to five days) or even a full season pass. It may sound excessive, but buying day passes adds up fast.

Check out the various Epic and Ikon options, most of which can be used at multiple resorts, but read the fine print for restrictions and blackout days. For the best rates, buy before Labor Day (the first weekend in September).

Top ski resorts in Colorado for beginners to powder hounds

Daily costs

Ski-town shuttles: Free
Lift tickets: $85–225
State park campsite: $18–28
Hostel (dorm bed): $35–85
Basic room for two: from $90
Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): from $100
Cup of coffee: $3–5
Sandwich: $8–14
Dinner for two (without drinks): $30–100
Pint of craft beer: $6–12